Marksmanship Hunter DPS Easy Mode

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. What Has Changed in 7.3.2 for Marksmanship Hunter?
    • 2.1. Set Bonus Simulation
  • 3. How Does Marksmanship Hunter Work?
  • 4. Viability of Spec Choices in Antorus
    • 4.1. T19 915 Gear | T20 - 930 Gear | T21 - 960 Gear
    • 4.2. Raiding — Single-Target Focus with AoE as a secondary objective.
    • 4.3. Mythic+ — AoE Focus with single-target as a secondary objective.
  • 5. Strengths
  • 6. Weaknesses
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• ×Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics of Marksmanship Hunter
  • 2. Talent Choices of Marksmanship Hunter
  • 3. Stat Choices of Marksmanship Hunter
  • 4. Basic Rotation
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resource of Marksmanship Hunter
  • 3. Basic Abilities of Marksmanship Hunter
  • 4. Movement Tools
  • 5. Important Procs and Passives of Marksmanship Hunter
  • 6. Offensive Cooldowns of Marksmanship Hunter
  • 7. Additional Utility & Traps of Marksmanship Hunter
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Marksmanship Hunter Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 1.1. For Raiding
    • 1.2. For Mythic+ (With )
    • 1.3. For Mythic+ (No )
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 9. Pet Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression for Marksmanship Hunter
    • 1.1. Early Progression
    • 1.2. Patch 7.2 Artifact Progression
  • 2. Marksmanship Hunter Artifact Ability
  • 3. Weapon Item Level Value of Marksmanship Hunter Relic Traits
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Netherlight Crucible Relic Paths
  • 1. General Optimization for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 2. Tier 2 — Weapon Item Level Values for Each Marksmanship Hunter Trait
  • 3. Tier 3 — Weapon Item Level Values for Each Marksmanship Hunter Trait
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Important Abilities, Procs and The General Rotation of Marksmanship Hunter
    • 1.1. The Simple Version
    • 1.2. The "Proper" Version — Vulnerable Cycles
      • 1.2.1. Standard Rotation
    • 1.3. Set Bonuses, Rotational Pointers and More
      • 1.3.1. Vulnerable WeakAura
      • 1.3.2. Rotation Example Video
  • 2. Opener Sequence for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 3. Multiple Target Rotation for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 4. Short Guide to using Sidewinders as a Marksmanship Hunter
    • 4.1. Trinket Usage
    • 4.2. Focus
    • 4.3. Auto-shots and Special Shots
    • 4.4. Positioning when using Sidewinders
  • 5. Talents and the Rotation
    • 5.1. Tier 1 Talents
    • 5.2. Tier 2 Talents
    • 5.3. Tier 4 Talents
    • 5.4. Tier 6 Talents
    • 5.5. Tier 7 Talents
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Top Mistakes
  • 1. Having High Downtime
  • 2. Overcapping Focus
  • 3. Not Saving A Murder of Crows for Execute
  • 4. Aimed Shot Casts Outside Vulnerable
  • 5. Not Casting Windburst Enough
  • 6. Not Knowing How To Sim Yourself
  • 7. Analyzing Your Mistakes as a Marksmanship Hunter
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Boss by Boss Strategies
  • 1. Antorus, the Burning Throne as a Marksmanship Hunter
    • 1.1. Garothi Worldbreaker
      • 1.1.1. Talents
    • 1.2. Felhounds of Sargeras
      • 1.2.1. Talents
    • 1.3. Antoran High Command
      • 1.3.1. Talents
    • 1.4. Portal Keeper Hasabel
      • 1.4.1. Talents
    • 1.5. Eonar the Life-Binder
      • 1.5.1. Talents
    • 1.6. Imonar the Soulhunter
      • 1.6.1. Talents
    • 1.7. Kin'garoth
      • 1.7.1. Talents
    • 1.8. Varimathras
      • 1.8.1. Talents
    • 1.9. The Coven of Shivarra
      • 1.9.1. Talents
    • 1.10. Aggramar
      • 1.10.1. Talents
    • 1.11. Argus the Unmaker
      • 1.11.1. Talents
  • 2. (Old) Tomb of Sargeras as a Marksmanship Hunter
    • 2.1. Goroth
      • 2.1.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 2.2. The Demonic Inquisition
      • 2.2.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 2.3. Harjatan
      • 2.3.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 2.4. Sisters of the Moon
      • 2.4.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 2.5. Mistress Sassz'ine
      • 2.5.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
      • 2.5.2. Single-Target
      • 2.5.3. Cleave Focus
    • 2.6. The Desolate Host
      • 2.6.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 2.7. Maiden of Vigilance
      • 2.7.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 2.8. Fallen Avatar
      • 2.8.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 2.9. Kil'jaeden
      • 2.9.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
      • 2.9.2. Mythic-only Sidewinders Build
      • 2.9.3. Other Difficulties
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics of Marksmanship Hunter Stats
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding of Marksmanship Hunter Stats
    • 2.1. Choosing Gear
    • 2.2. Stat Softcaps, Distributions & Other Clarifications
    • 2.3. Statistics Explanations
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 2. Enchants for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 3. Consumables for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros for Marksmanship Hunter
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Hunters
      • 1.1.1. Aspect of the Turtle Cancelaura Macro
      • 1.1.2. Misdirection Mouseover/Focus Macro for Marksmanship/Beast Mastery
      • 1.1.3. Trap Macros for Survival
      • 1.1.4. Petattack Macros
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Marksmanship Hunters
  • 2. Addons for Marksmanship Hunter
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Hunters
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.3. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.4. Details!
      • 2.1.5. GTFO
      • 2.1.6. Pawn
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Marksmanship Hunters
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Antorus Best in Slot List for Marksmanship Hunter
  • 2. The Importance of "Simming Yourself" as a Marksmanship Hunter
  • 3. Stats
  • 4. Trinket DPS Rankings
  • 5. Set Bonuses and Their Worth
  • 6. Legion Hunter Legendaries
    • 6.1. Marksmanship Hunter Legendaries
      • 6.1.1. Marksmanship - Best in Slot
  • 7. Loot Competition
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Disclaimer Page
  • 2. Marksmanship Hunter Racial Bonus Simulation
  • 3. ChangeLog

This section is intended for players who are new to the game or class, have no intentions of raiding Mythic difficulty, or simply want a more straightforward way to play their specialization without being overwhelmed by the numerous priorities and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

1. The Basics of Marksmanship Hunter

Marksmanship is a very versatile specialization, though it generally only has one talent build that is considered best in nearly all situations. Its strengths are mostly centered around AoE damage, so it is a very powerful spec for dungeons.

2. Talent Choices of Marksmanship Hunter

The talents listed below are selected either for ease of use, or for more a more simple to understand gameplay style. Whilst in a number of cases there are alternatives on the tree that will provide more if played well, they create much more room to play incorrectly and reduce your performance. Due to this, treat this as a starting point and a primer.

• Level 15: Lone Wolf
• Level 30: Lock and Load most of the time. True Aim if you almost never swap targets.
• Level 45: Posthaste
• Level 60: Patient Sniper single-target.
• Level 75: Binding Shot
• Level 90: Volley
• Level 100: Trick Shot

Volley should always be turned on, even on single-target!

3. Stat Choices of Marksmanship Hunter

Currently, you will want to prioritize secondary stats as follows:

1. Mastery;
2. Critical Strike;
3. Haste;
4. Versatility.

4. Basic Rotation

1. Cast Windburst on cooldown in order to put up Vulnerable.
2. Cast Marked Shot when it is available (after casting Arcane Shot when it is glowing). Try to cast it at 73 Focus or above (delaying it is okay). It crucially activates Vulnerable, increasing the damage of your Aimed Shots. Ensure that Vulnerable is up before casting any Aimed Shots.
3. Cast Aimed Shot when Vulnerable is active on the target.
4. Cast Arcane Shot when it glows.
5. Spam Arcane Shot while waiting for procs, and to get Focus.
6. Cast Aimed Shot if you are about to Focus cap.

The most important aspect of the spec's basic rotation is to ensure that Vulnerable is up when you are casting Aimed Shot. You never want to cast Aimed Shot without Vulnerable active. It does not always have to be active (chasing 100% downtime is not worth it), you just want to get 2 Aimed Shots into each Vulnerable window.

If you always cast Marked Shot on 70 Focus like we recommend, you can follow this up with one Arcane Shot, followed by 2 Aimed Shots, which is optimal. When using Windburst which also refreshes Vulnerable, do the same, but cast 2 Arcane Shots instead of just 1.

About Our Author

This guide has been written by Azortharion, the main theorycrafter of the spec. He is also an accomplished player who raids in Solaris. You can also watch his stream on Twitch.

5. ChangeLog

• 04 Mar. 2018: Expanded slightly on the basic rotation and mention Vulnerable.
• 26 Aug. 2017: Simplified the rotation even further.
• 25 Jul. 2017: Noted that Volley should always be turned on.
• 13 Jun. 2017: Updated to be with a single-target Focus, Trick Shot build.
• 28 Jan. 2017: Revised stat section.
• 24 Jan. 2017: Updated to essentially be the so-called "meme-build".
• 11 Jan. 2017: Removed the Haste softcap.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Updated for Patch 7.1.5.
• 27 Nov. 2016: Added easy mode for Marksmanship Hunters.

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