A couple questions about gearing up a glass cannon BM Hunter

Chubah

Legend
Hi there,



I am aiming for maximum damage without compromising survivability of course, but I want to work on a 39 twink BM hunter that deals as much damage possible from a distance, even if it means that my HP are lower than recommended.



I checked on some BiS Hunter advice threads and decided to make some minor tweaks in order to push the maximum damage further for example:



1) Replaced the 100HP chest enchant with the +4 stats

2) Replaced the 12 Stamina wrist enchant with 24 AP

3) Using a 8 Agility & 7 Stamina Aquamarine Signet, instead of the other way around



My questions would be:



1) How important is having +5% hit? If I could use a +12 Agility to boots instead of the +10 Hit/+10 Crit one, wouldn't that be an increase in damage(especially pet and white damage)?



2) Does haste provide an advantages in a BM built? If not then I could for example use Worn Running Shoes instead of Lucien's Boots to get an extra +5 Agility.



3) If disarming effects aren't that much of a deal and my plan is to go for maximum damage instead, would it be a good idea to use a stat-heavy 2-hander such as the Obsidian Cleaver and slap a +35 Agility enchant on it, or should I go for 2 one-hand weapons and use +20 Agility to each?



This is one of the builds I am experimenting on at the moment, I have all BiS items except for the Nail Spitter, but I am not sure if the damage output and proc of the BoSA would outdps the Spitter, since I don't have it I can't compare it:



Without haste





With haste
 
Survival is key to the 39 bracket, there are very few classes who can pull off being in a glasscannon set(this is mainly because their spec allows them to).



IE: Ret Paladins can stack Str over Stam, lowering their HP but increasing both their dmg and their increasing the amount their SS bubble absorbs.



I would imagine that a Glasscannon Survival hunter would work pretty well since they have the stamina buff, but outside of that I dont think a BM hunter would make a good glasscannon.
 
Survival is king in 30-39, however as you seem insistent on trying out different things (which is to be commended). I'll try to add my input on what I have found/my opinion:



With regards to your enchant changes, if you wish to sacrifice some survivabilty for more damage, then I would agree with your changes. You can be even more extreme on the damage for example, taking the 11 Agi Aquamarine Signet.



In answer to your numbered questions:



1) You will want to be hitcapped regardless. Apart from the things we have gone through before like missing crucial shots like Scatter Shot, your pet scales 100% with hit, haste and crit and scales very well from your AP. As your pet is a large proportion of your damage in comparison to other specs, it makes it just as important.



2) As other specs, haste will affect any casted shots plus also benefit your pet as any other spec. Reduced Steady Shot cast time and marginal white dps increase and an almost unnoticeable increase in focus regen. Worn running boots is likely a slight dps increase overall over Lucien's, if you are going more damage than survivability then take WRB.



3) Disarming affects are a big deal. Now more than ever, with the increased burst damage, sitting in a 10 second disarm is undeniably bad. You don't lose hardly any stats from dual wielding and the ease with which you can macro out the OH for the same weapon with a Steel Weapon Chain on makes it a no-brainer. Dual wield all the way (for PvP).



On the Nail Spitter, as mentioned in previous threads it is BiS for all races bar Troll. This is especially true for Dwarves of course. The extra crit and AP outweighs the tiny white dps increase and the proc damage. My testing, although hardly scientific, has NS as BiS and better overall than BoSA. Technical BiS would be Troll with BoSA (in weighing up ranged weapons alone, without factoring in everything like other racials etc, Goblin would still be better overall for PvP imo).



Tbh there is not a lot in it and it is the sort of Grandfathered item that is not gamebreaking if you do not have it, as there are so little between them overall. As in, don't lose sleep over not having NS, BoSA is a more than worthy alternative.



The overall problem with BM is because your pet is such a large proportion of your damage, you need to rely on him to be on target at all times to maximise damage. The problem you have is because you don't have Bestial Wrath at this level and not high enough to get more essential PvP pet talents like Lionhearted, they are easily cc'ed. One way around that would be to put two points in Improved Mend Pet for the 50% chance to remove Magic/Curse/Disease/Poison effects. The problem with that is you have to drop pretty essential talents, and that loses you damage...



On the plus side you get a stun which can be pretty essential when added to the unique pet abilities. Overall I still believe it to be the weakest spec in 35-39 PvP atm. Too many disadvantages with the current burst and speed of PvP in the bracket these days.



Regards.
 
as a hunter in 39s, u will do just fine as any spec



yes you want the 5% hit
 
I don't know which Hunter pet to use as BM, can someone tell me which pet to aim for and which talents to use for maximum damage? Also regarding Hunter race, I assume that Orc would be the best for burst damage due to the 5% extra pet damage and the Attack Power boost when bursting down?
 
Can someone help me out pick the best damage dealing pet for BM and suggest which talents I should aim for? By the way, they are buffing BM hunters by increasing the AP bonus from 25% to 30%.
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cauz they needed it so much
 
Can someone help me out pick the best damage dealing pet for BM and suggest which talents I should aim for? By the way, they are buffing BM hunters by increasing the AP bonus from 25% to 30%.
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I believe the damage is normalised across pets. It really comes down to the Talent Tree and what special ability you want to go with on your pet. The damage is going to be equal because there is next to no difference across the pet classes for increasing damage.



At 39, Cunning/Ferocity/Tenacity all have access to Serpent Swiftness and Spiked Collar. Tenacity pets can have a 1 sec charge immobolize which might be seen as a bonus by some. While Cunning pets can have a permanent 80% Speed increase with Mobility. You take whatever you feel is most helpful.



For pure damage you will of course take 2/3 Spiked Collar and 2/2 Serpent Swiftness. I personally run with Monkey for the 4 second Disorient. There are lots of different pet abilities and the best advice is get one of each type so you can change out as and when you need/feel like it.



Just remember that getting a Stun pet like a Bat, may have diminishing returns with Intimidation, limiting it's effectiveness.



Myself I run with a Monkey with 2 in Mobility rather than Spiked Collar. 80% speed increase is worth more than 6% pet damage to me. If you are after pure damage go 2/3 Spiked Collar.



Regards.
 

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