Beast Mastery Hunter

Ranged damage, pet tank

The pet tanks, two Summon Hawks and Auto Shot do the damage. The fastest, safest levelling spec in the beta.

Beast Mastery puts its points into the pet and the new hawks. Deadly Aspects makes Aspect of the Hawk proc 30% ranged attack speed, Focused Fire adds 2% to everything while the pet is out, and Unleashed Fury and Ferocity raise both the pet and the hawks. Summon Hawk (16 points, level 25) keeps up to two hawks on the target and shares its cooldown with Arcane Shot. Intimidation at 21 points is a pet stun that also makes high threat, and Bestial Wrath at 31 needs level 40. Pets inherit your Stamina, armour, attack power and crit, so gear for yourself and the pet follows.

Strengths and weaknesses

Beast Mastery strengths and weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
The pet tanks, so it is the fastest and safest levelling spec	Summon Hawk and Arcane Shot share a cooldown
Two hawks and Auto Shot add steady ranged damage	Pets take no player buffs, so only your own buffs carry part-way to the pet
Intimidation is a pet stun that also makes high threat	A pet's stats refresh only after a relog or a stable visit, an open bug
Pets inherit your Stamina, armour, attack power and crit, so your gear covers the pet too	Pet Aggressive mode can pull extra packs, so it must stay off in dungeons
	Ammo, pet food and the 8-yard dead zone are constant chores

Stat priority

1. Ranged weapon damage
2. Hit
3. Agility
4. Critical strike
5. Intellect (with Careful Aim)
6. Spirit (levelling)
7. Stamina

Get the highest damage weapons possible and as much Agility as possible. At the level-30 list (70205), Intellect counts just as much, point for point, as Agility once Careful Aim is 5/5, attack power on gear is worth half as much, and Stamina and Strength count for nothing. Hit and crit are one stat for melee, ranged and spells in Forever. The 9% hit cap against bosses looks carried over from Classic: treat it as unverified. Your pet inherits your crit.