What’s that you say? More interesting beasts to tame in Patch 4.3? Plus things with lots of apostrophes and tentacles? It’s Beast Mastery time! So, for all your BM DPS needs in the new patch, here’s a guide to talent spec, glyphs, gems and reforging, rotation / priorities, changes in 4.3 and more!
Updated 29th Nov 2011 for Patch 4.3
Changes to Beast Mastery in Patch 4.3
Beast Mastery is getting a couple of changes in this patch. First up, our Animal Handler specialisation bonus is going up to 25%. That will boost our DPS, but won’t change our rotation.
Secondly, the Worm and Chimera AOE attacks are getting buffed, with a 20% damage bonus and a wider area of effect. Again, though, this doesn’t change our rotation.
Our Tier 13 set bonuses are very nice, but again won’t cause any massive play style changes. We’re still waiting for the theorycraft to determine exactly how they work.
Beastmastery Rotation / Priorities
Like most DPS classes in Cataclysm, Beastmastery Hunters don’t have a fixed rotation any more. Instead, we have a priority system – use whichever ability is highest-priority and available.
- Top Priority: Use Kill Command if your pet is attacking your target. If it’s not already running, use Serpent Sting on the target.
- Second Priority: If it’s available, use Kill Shot. If you’re nearly full on Focus, use Arcane Shot.
- Third Priority: Use Cobra Shot if nothing else is available or you’re low on Focus.
Cooldowns: Use Bestial Wrath when you’re close to full focus. Use Fervor whenever it’s available. Use Focus Fire and Rapid Fire OUTSIDE Bestial Wrath and any Bloodlust/Time Warp effect, and otherwise as often as possible.
Buffs: Make sure you’ve got Aspect of the Hawk up, and make sure Hunter’s Mark is running on your current target.
AOE: Drop an Explosive Trap where the mobs will be tanked, using Trap Launcher. Use Misdirect on the tank – seriously. Then spam Multi-shot, using Cobra Shot to refresh Focus when you’re low.
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Beastmastery Talent Spec
Stats, reforging and gemming for Beastmastery
Agility is the most important stat for Beastmastery. After that, it’s Hit to the cap (961), then Crit, then Mastery and Haste approximately equal as least useful stat. Expertise is, obviously, useless for BM Hunters.
Reforging: Reforge to the hit cap, then reforge to Crit. Reforge from hit above the cap and Expertise first, if you have any, then Mastery and Haste.
Gems: Use a Delicate Inferno Ruby in all sockets.
Haste is a complicated stat for Hunters. The above recommendations will give you decent DPS, but if you want to get more advanced, read the Warcraft Hunter’s Union Beastmastery Haste Plateau guide.
Beast Mastery Enchants
Check to see if your profession supplies more appropriate enchants before putting these on! Inscription and Engineering in particular may have better options.
| Head | Arcanum of the Ramkahen |
| Shoulders | Greater Inscription of Shattered Crystal |
| Back | Enchant Cloak – Major Agility |
| Chest | Enchant Chest – Peerless Stats |
| Wrist | Enchant Bracer – Agility |
| Hands | Enchant Gloves – Greater Mastery |
| Belt | Ebonsteel Belt Buckle |
| Legs | Dragonscale Leg Armor |
| Feet | Enchant Boots – Major Agility or Enchant Boots – Assassin’s Step if you want run speed. |
| Weapon | Enchant Weapon – Mighty Agility |
| Ranged Weapon | Flintlocke’s Woodchucker |
Glyphs
- Prime: Kill Command, Kill Shot, Arcane Shot.
- Major: Bestial Wrath, Trap Launcher, Disengage. Can be varied depending on play style, but those are good basics.
- Minor: Revive Pet and your choice.
Links
- Warcraft Hunter’s Union Hunter guides – Really excellent resource for all Hunters, already with 4.3 resources.
- Elitist Jerks Beastmastery Guide – not as complete as some EJ guides, but still an excellent resource.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Works as a charm for me, figures everyone with enough gold should adjust to this guide.
Creds to makers.
A minor typo error, at enchants is “Marksmanship Enchants”
Well, best late than never ^^
PS: good work on all these guides
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