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, titled "Undermined," introduces significant changes to the Hunter class, impacting pet management, specializations, and core abilities. These alterations, slated for a February release (pending PTR feedback), reshape the Hunter experience considerably.

Pet System Revamp:

Hunters gain the ability to change pet specializations (Cunning, Ferocity, Tenacity) at the stables, offering greater flexibility with their companions. Beast Mastery Hunters can now opt for a single, more powerful pet, while Marksmanship Hunters lose their pet entirely, gaining a Spotting Eagle that marks targets for increased damage.

Undermine and the Liberation of Undermine Raid:

Patch 11.1 introduces the "Undermined" content update, taking players into the Goblin capital. The narrative of "The War Within" continues, culminating in a raid against Chrome King Gallywix.

Hunter Specialization Changes:

• Beast Mastery: The "Solitary Companion" talent allows for a single, enhanced pet, increasing its damage and size. The Pack Leader talent is redesigned, summoning a bear, boar, and wyvern simultaneously.
• Marksmanship: Undergoes a significant rework, removing the pet entirely. A Spotting Eagle marks targets, increasing damage from Aimed Shot. Several new abilities and talents support this sharpshooter-focused playstyle.
• Survival: Streamlines the rotation, making Butchery and Flanking Strike mutually exclusive talent choices. New talents focus on enhancing bleed effects and Kill Shot damage.

Community Feedback and PTR Testing:

The changes are currently undergoing community testing on the PTR. Blizzard encourages feedback, particularly regarding the Marksmanship rework and the Pack Leader talent changes, to ensure a balanced and enjoyable experience for all Hunter players.

Detailed Class Changes (Hunter):

Numerous ability adjustments, talent reworks, and new additions are detailed below:

• Kindling Flare: Increased flare radius by 50%.
• Territorial Instincts: Reduces Intimidation cooldown; removes pet summoning.
• Wilderness Medicine: Increases Natural Mending cooldown reduction.
• No Hard Feelings: Reduces Misdirection cooldown.
• Roar of Sacrifice (Marksmanship only): Pet protects a friendly target from critical strikes. Spotting Eagle is inactive during this effect.
• Intimidation (Marksmanship): Line-of-sight requirement removed; uses 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 a damage threshold.
• Tooltip Updates: Marksmanship tooltips updated for clarity.

Hero Talents (Significant Changes):

• Dark Ranger: Withering Fire reworked for improved consistency.
• Pack Leader: Completely redesigned, offering various options for summoned beasts. Several talents removed.
• Sentinel: Lunar Storm significantly buffed in damage, radius, and duration.

Beast Mastery Specific Changes:

• New talents: Dire Cleave, Poisoned Barbs, Solitary Companion.
• Stomp damage adjusted.
• Serpent Sting and Barrage damage increased.
• Barrage focus cost reduced.
• Alpha Predator effect changed to multiplicative.
• Dire Command summon chance reduced.
• Several talents removed.

Marksmanship Specific Changes:

• New abilities: Harrier's Cry, Manhunter, Eyes in the Sky.
• Numerous new talents focusing on Spotter's Mark and Aimed Shot.
• Significant changes to existing abilities like Trueshot, Precise Shots, and Streamline.
• Several talents removed.

Survival Specific Changes:

• New talent: Cull the Herd.
• Frenzy Strikes and Merciless Blow updated.
• Flanking Strike and Butchery are now mutually exclusive talent choices.
• Exposed Flank removed.

PvP Changes (Hunter):

• New PvP talents for all three specializations.
• Several PvP talents removed.

This comprehensive overview highlights the substantial changes impacting Hunters in World of Warcraft Patch 11.1. The PTR testing phase is crucial for shaping the final implementation of these alterations.