World of Warcraft Patch 11.1 is Going to Be a Big Update for Hunters

World of Warcraft Patch 11.1: Hunter Class Overhaul

Patch 11.1 of World of Warcraft introduces significant changes to the Hunter class, impacting pet management, specializations, and overall gameplay. Key updates include customizable pet specializations, a single-pet option for Beast Mastery, and the complete removal of pets for Marksmanship. These changes, subject to player feedback during the PTR testing phase early next year (likely launching in February), will redefine the Hunter experience.

The patch, titled "Undermined," transports players to the Goblin capital, where the "War Within" storyline continues, culminating in a raid against Chrome King Gallywix. Beyond the narrative, Undermined brings extensive class adjustments, with Hunters at the forefront.

Pet and Specialization Changes:

Hunters will gain the ability to alter the specialization (Cunning, Ferocity, or Tenacity) of any pet at the stable using a dropdown menu. This allows for flexible pairing of pets, including those from events like the Feast of Winter Veil, with desired combat styles.

Specialization Reworks:

• Marksmanship: Undergoes a significant rework, eliminating the pet entirely. Instead, a Spotting Eagle marks targets for increased damage. This change has proven controversial among players.

• Beast Mastery: Offers the option of using a single, more powerful pet, increasing its damage and size. The Pack Leader talent is also revamped.

• Survival: Experiences adjustments to streamline the rotation, making choices between Butchery and Flanking Strike mutually exclusive.

Pack Leader Talent Overhaul:

The Pack Leader talent is redesigned, summoning a bear, boar, and wyvern simultaneously. This fixed summoning sequence has drawn criticism, with players preferring customizable animal companions.

PTR Feedback:

These changes are not final. The PTR (Public Test Realm) will allow players to test the adjustments and provide feedback to Blizzard before the official patch release.

Detailed Class Changes (Patch 11.1):

The following is a comprehensive list of specific Hunter class changes, including talent adjustments and ability modifications:

Hunter:

• Kindling Flare: Increased flare radius by 50%.
• Territorial Instincts: Reduced Intimidation cooldown by 10 seconds; removed pet summon functionality.
• Wilderness Medicine: Increased Natural Mending cooldown reduction by 0.5 seconds.
• No Hard Feelings: Reduced Misdirection cooldown by 5 seconds.
• Roar of Sacrifice (Marksmanship only): Pet protects a friendly target from critical strikes; disables Spotting Eagle's mark while active.
• Intimidation (Marksmanship): Line-of-sight requirement removed; utilizes Spotting Eagle.
• Explosive Shot: Increased projectile speed.
• Eyes of the Beast: Learned only by Survival and Beast Mastery.
• Eagle Eye: Learned only by Marksmanship.
• Freezing Trap: Breaks based on damage threshold, not any damage instance.
• Tooltip updates for Roar of Sacrifice, Wilderness Medicine, and No Hard Feelings to reflect Marksmanship specialization.

Hero Talents:

• Dark Ranger: Withering Fire updated; fixes to Bleak Powder's damage area.
• Pack Leader: Completely reworked with new talents including "Howl of the Pack Leader" (summoning bear, wyvern, and boar), "Better Together," "Dire Summons," "Pack Mentality," "Ursine Fury," "Envenomed Fangs," "Fury of the Wyvern," "Hogstrider," "No Mercy," "Shell Cover," "Slicked Shoes," "Horsehair Tether," and "Lead From the Front." Several talents removed.
• Sentinel: Significant buffs to Lunar Storm's damage, radius, duration, and functionality.

Beast Mastery:

• New Talents: Dire Cleave, Poisoned Barbs, Solitary Companion.
• Stomp updated for separate damage instances.
• Serpent Sting and Barrage damage increased; Barrage focus cost reduced.
• Alpha Predator multiplicative damage increase.
• Hunter's Prey adjustments.
• Dire Command summon chance reduced.
• Dire Beast visual effects and summoning updated.
• Dire Frenzy updated; Basilisk Collar removed.
• Several talents removed.

Marksmanship:

• New Ability: Harrier's Cry.
• New Passives: Manhunter, Eyes in the Sky.
• New Talents: Aspect of the Hydra, Improved Spotter's Mark, Moving Target, Obsidian-Tipped Ammunition, Shrapnel Shot, Magnetic Gunpowder, Precise Detonation, On Target, Quickdraw, Target Acquisition, Eagle's Accuracy, Headshot, Feathered Frenzy, Tensile Bowstring, Incendiary Ammunition, Bullet Hell, Improved Streamline, Windrunner Quiver, Cunning, Tenacious, Ohn'ahran Winds, Double Tap, Killer Mark, Deadeye.
• Streamline, Precise Shots, Focused Aim, Trueshot, Razor Fragments, Calling the Shots, Unerring Vision, Bulletstorm, In the Rhythm, Ammo Conservation, and many other abilities and talents updated or redesigned.
• Several talents removed.

Survival:

• New Talent: Cull the Herd.
• New Talent: Born to Kill.
• Frenzy Strikes and Merciless Blow updated.
• Alpha Predator multiplicative damage increase.
• Merciless Blow damage reduced.
• Tactical Advantage updated.
• Flanking Strike and Butchery on a choice node.
• Exposed Flank removed.

Player versus Player (PvP):

Specific PvP talent changes for each specialization are listed, including new talents and removals.

This detailed overview provides a comprehensive understanding of the substantial Hunter class changes arriving in World of Warcraft Patch 11.1. The impact of these changes will ultimately depend on player feedback and potential adjustments during the PTR testing phase.