Marksmanship Hunter DPS Easy Mode — Dragonflight 10.2

This build is basically equal to Readiness for pure single-target situations in most gearsets, without requiring the T31 Tier Set to be relevant.

It takes its name from the Improved Steady Shot and Precise Shots Talents not featured in the Readiness build. It is a more traditional way to play Marksmanship, historically speaking, and which build you play is mostly down to preference.

Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the best build directly into your game!

This build is optimal for pure single-target situations before you have obtained the new Hunter Marksmanship 10.2 Class Set 4pc bonus.

Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the best build directly into your game!

This is our recommended build for AoE scenarios. This works well for AoE Fights in Raids, as well as most Mythic+.

For extremely heavy AoE scenarios and Mythic+ dungeons, swap Bulletstorm for Light Ammo. The same goes for Heavy Ammo, but almost no dungeons have small pulls enough to justify this.

Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the best build directly into your game!

This is our recommended build before you have obtained the new Hunter Marksmanship 10.2 Class Set 4pc bonus. This works well for AoE Fights in Raids, as well as most Mythic+.

Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the best build directly into your game!

The goal of Marksmanship is simply to cast as many Aimed Shots and Rapid Fires as possible. To do this, you need to cast them on cooldown. Aimed Shot costs 35 Focus, while Rapid Fire generates it. Aside from this, you will need to regulate your Focus, making sure never to cap it, by using Arcane Shot as a spender and Steady Shot as a builder.

The basic rotation of Marksmanship is best summarized as a priority system. On every global, you simply want to cast the highest priority spell, if its condition is met:

1. Above all, cast Rapid Fire off cooldown.
2. Use Volley on cooldown. Macro Salvo into it.
3. Use Kill Shot on cooldown. It will randomly proc due to the Deathblow Talent, so make sure to react to those procs!
4. Use Explosive Shot on cooldown, if chosen.
5. Use Death Chakram on cooldown.
6. Activate Trueshot on cooldown, or when it suits the situation.
7. Spend Precise Shots procs (which come from Aimed Shot) on Arcane Shot on single-target, or Multi-Shot for 3 targets and above.
8. Use Aimed Shot. Do not ever let it reach 2 charges if you can help it. Your goal is to always keep it on cooldown.
9. When you have more than 55 Focus and all of your abilities are on cooldown, spend excess Focus with Arcane Shot.
10. Use Steady Shot when you have nothing else to do, and you have less than 55 Focus.

There is only one extra thing you need to worry about for Marksmanship on AoE, and that is Trick Shots. This is a buff activated by Multi-Shot that causes your next Rapid Fire or Aimed Shot. It is extremely important to ensure this buff is active for all of your Aimed Shots and Rapid Fires. Note that Volley activates Trick Shots for 6 continuous seconds. This means that in a "Volley Window", you can fit 3 or even 4 AoE'ing spells without having to activate Multi-Shot for them!

Exhilaration is your primary self-heal and it has a rather short cooldown thanks to the Natural Mending Talent. Use this when you drop below 50% HP to help out your Healer!

Aspect of the Turtle is your immunity. It can be used to completely negate the damage and effects of most spells targeted on you. Use it if you are assigned to, or in a pinch if you worry that an upcoming mechanic will kill you!

Survival of the Fittest is our most powerful defensive besides Turtle, a 40% damage reduction thanks to Nature's Endurance. Use it to reduce damage taken from hard-hitting mechanics. Remember that this ability is only good if you use it before heavy damage! Do not use it in a panic after taking a lot of damage.

Feign Death is a very unique Hunter ability. It can be used to drop aggro and combat, and it can also be used to stop casts on you — mobs will usually stop casting mid-cast if you appear to be dead!

This is just some of the key utility of Marksmanship Hunter. We highly recommend checking out the fully detailed Spell Glossary page below to see everything explained in detail.