# Hunter leveling guide 1–60: talents and class quests

> Level as Beast Mastery: your pet tanks and does much of the damage, so you rarely stop. Marksmanship hits harder from range with Careful Aim and Sniper Shot; Survival fights in melee with Predator's Edge and Lacerating Strikes.

Page: https://polestar.guide/guides/class/hunter

Polestar is a free, open-source (GPL-3.0) leveling guide addon for World of Warcraft: Forever. Every guide here ships inside the addon: in game, `/polestar guides` opens the guide menu, and the guide window shows the steps with a waypoint arrow.

## Who can be a Hunter

- Human (Alliance): starts with [Elwynn Forest](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/human/01-elwynn-forest.md) (levels 1–13), 26 guides to level 60
- Dwarf (Alliance): starts with [Dun Morogh](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/dwarf-gnome/01-dun-morogh.md) (levels 1–13), 26 guides to level 60
- Night Elf (Alliance): starts with [Teldrassil](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/nightelf/01-teldrassil.md) (levels 1–11), 26 guides to level 60
- Skyborne (Alliance): starts with [Zephras Isle](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/skyborne/01-zephras-isle.md) (levels 1–15), 26 guides to level 60
- Orc (Horde): starts with [Durotar](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/orc-troll/01-durotar.md) (levels 1–12), 25 guides to level 60
- Troll (Horde): starts with [Durotar](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/orc-troll/01-durotar.md) (levels 1–12), 25 guides to level 60
- Tauren (Horde): starts with [Mulgore](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/tauren/01-mulgore.md) (levels 1–12), 24 guides to level 60
- Skyborne (Horde): starts with [Zephras Isle](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/skyborne/01-zephras-isle.md) (levels 1–15), 24 guides to level 60

## Leveling talent plans

Polestar marks the next pick on the talent frame (`/polestar talents`; Options, Questing, Talents) and never spends a point for you. Written for Polestar. Beast Mastery and Marksmanship follow a community talent site's builds up to level 20; Survival is Polestar's own throughout. Checked on game build 1.60.1.70450.

### Beast Mastery (31/20/0, 51 picks, levels 10–60)

| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Deadly Aspects | 1–5 | Beast Mastery | Deadly Aspects first: more from Aspect of the Hawk while your pet holds the mob. |
| 15–16 | Focused Fire | 1–2 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 17–19 | Endurance Training | 1–3 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 20–24 | Unleashed Fury | 1–5 | Beast Mastery | Unleashed Fury adds pet damage, and your pet is most of your damage. |
| 25 | Bestial Swiftness | 1 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 26–30 | Ferocity | 1–5 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 31 | Intimidation | 1 | Beast Mastery | Intimidation stuns through your pet: a breather when a mob turns on you. |
| 32–33 | Spirit Bond | 1–2 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 34 | Endurance Training | 4 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 35–39 | Frenzy | 1–5 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 40 | Bestial Wrath | 1 | Beast Mastery | Bestial Wrath is the capstone: your pet's big damage cooldown. |
| 41–45 | Lethal Attacks | 1–5 | Marksmanship | The last 20 points go to Marksmanship: more crit, attack power from Intellect, a shorter Rapid Fire and harder ranged crits. |
| 46–50 | Careful Aim | 1–5 | Marksmanship |  |
| 51–52 | Rapid Killing | 1–2 | Marksmanship |  |
| 53–55 | Efficiency | 1–3 | Marksmanship |  |
| 56–60 | Mortal Shots | 1–5 | Marksmanship |  |

### Marksmanship (20/31/0, 51 picks, levels 10–60)

| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Lethal Attacks | 1–5 | Marksmanship | Lethal Attacks first: crit for every shot. |
| 15–19 | Careful Aim | 1–5 | Marksmanship | Careful Aim adds attack power from your Intellect. |
| 20–21 | Rapid Killing | 1–2 | Marksmanship |  |
| 22–24 | Improved Stings | 1–3 | Marksmanship |  |
| 25–29 | Mortal Shots | 1–5 | Marksmanship | Mortal Shots makes your ranged crits hit much harder. |
| 30 | Trueshot Aura | 1 | Marksmanship |  |
| 31–32 | Rapid Recuperation | 1–2 | Marksmanship |  |
| 33–34 | Barrage | 1–2 | Marksmanship |  |
| 35–39 | Ranged Weapon Specialization | 1–5 | Marksmanship |  |
| 40 | Sniper Shot | 1 | Marksmanship | Sniper Shot is the capstone: a long-range opener that hits hard. |
| 41–45 | Deadly Aspects | 1–5 | Beast Mastery | The last 20 points go to Beast Mastery: a stronger Aspect of the Hawk and a tougher, harder-hitting pet. |
| 46–50 | Endurance Training | 1–5 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 51–52 | Focused Fire | 1–2 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 53–57 | Unleashed Fury | 1–5 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 58 | Bestial Swiftness | 1 | Beast Mastery |  |
| 59–60 | Pathfinding | 1–2 | Beast Mastery |  |

### Survival (0/20/31, 51 picks, levels 10–60)

| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Improved Tracking | 1–5 | Survival | Improved Tracking first: keep tracking on for its bonus against the mobs you quest on. |
| 15–19 | Survivalist | 1–5 | Survival |  |
| 20 | Deterrence | 1 | Survival | Deterrence is a dodge and parry cooldown for melee fights that go wrong. |
| 21–23 | Surefooted | 1–3 | Survival |  |
| 24–25 | Savage Strikes | 1–2 | Survival |  |
| 26 | Counterattack | 1 | Survival |  |
| 27–29 | Predator's Edge | 1–3 | Survival |  |
| 30–31 | Expose Prey | 1–2 | Survival |  |
| 32–33 | Predator's Edge | 4–5 | Survival |  |
| 34 | Strider Kick | 1 | Survival |  |
| 35–39 | Lightning Reflexes | 1–5 | Survival | Lightning Reflexes adds Agility: more attack power, crit and dodge. |
| 40 | Lacerating Strikes | 1 | Survival | Lacerating Strikes is the capstone: Mongoose Bite also makes the target bleed. |
| 41–45 | Lethal Attacks | 1–5 | Marksmanship | The last 20 points go to Marksmanship: more crit, attack power from Intellect, a shorter Rapid Fire and harder ranged crits. |
| 46–50 | Careful Aim | 1–5 | Marksmanship |  |
| 51–52 | Rapid Killing | 1–2 | Marksmanship |  |
| 53–55 | Efficiency | 1–3 | Marksmanship |  |
| 56–60 | Mortal Shots | 1–5 | Marksmanship |  |

## Hunter class quests

- [The Hunter's Charm](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/hunter/the-hunters-charm.md) (levels 50–52): Both factions, Hunter; reward: Experience
- [Rhok'delar and Lok'delar](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/hunter/rhokdelar.md) (levels 60): Both factions, Hunter; reward: Ancient Rune Etched Stave, Enchanted Black Dragon Sinew, Ancient Sinew Wrapped Lamina

## Hunter steps on the leveling routes

### Alliance

- [Dun Morogh](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/dwarf-gnome/01-dun-morogh.md) (levels 1–13): quests Etched Rune, Taming the Beast, Training the Beast
- [Elwynn Forest](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/human/01-elwynn-forest.md) (levels 1–13): quests A Scribbled Letter, Taming the Beast, Training the Beast
- [Teldrassil](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/nightelf/01-teldrassil.md) (levels 1–11): quests Etched Sigil, Taming the Beast, Training the Beast
- [Zephras Isle](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/skyborne/01-zephras-isle.md) (levels 1–15): quests The Way of the Hunter, Taming the Beast, Training the Beast

### Horde

- [Durotar](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/orc-troll/01-durotar.md) (levels 1–12): quests Etched Parchment (Orc), Etched Tablet (Troll), Taming the Beast, Training the Beast
- [Zephras Isle](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/skyborne/01-zephras-isle.md) (levels 1–15): quests The Way of the Hunter, Taming the Beast, Training the Beast
- [Mulgore](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/tauren/01-mulgore.md) (levels 1–12): quests Etched Note, The Hunter's Path, Taming the Beast, Training the Beast
- [Hillsbrad Foothills, Undercity & The Barrens](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/06-hillsbrad-foothills.md) (levels 24–28): 1 trainer visit
- [Arathi Highlands, Badlands & The Barrens](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/30-40/03-arathi-highlands.md) (levels 37–40): 1 trainer visit
- [Tanaris & Searing Gorge](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/40-50/04-tanaris.md) (levels 45–48): 1 trainer visit
- [Un'Goro Crater, Eastern Plaguelands & Burning Steppes](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/50-60/01-un-goro-crater.md) (levels 50–53): 1 trainer visit

## Hunter gear

What Polestar's gear advice counts as a Hunter's. Before any talent points are spent it uses Beast Mastery.

- Armor: Leather, Mail from level 40
- Dual wield: from level 20
- Weapons: One-handed axes, Two-handed axes, Bows, Guns, Polearms, One-handed swords, Two-handed swords, Staves, Fist weapons, Daggers, Thrown, Crossbows

Stat weights per point while leveling, against 1 for the spec's main stat:

| Spec | Stats | Own weights |
|---|---|---|
| Beast Mastery | Agility 1, Stamina 0.55, Intellect 0.35, Spirit 0.2, Strength 0.1 | To level 39 |
| Marksmanship | Agility 1, Stamina 0.5, Intellect 0.4, Spirit 0.2, Strength 0.1 | To level 39 |
| Survival | Agility 1.1, Stamina 0.55, Intellect 0.35, Spirit 0.2, Strength 0.15 | To level 39 |

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Index for language models: https://polestar.guide/llms.txt