If Your Not Using Misdirection, You Should Be

So, as a Hunter, one of our greatest assets is the ability to help direct agro.  Misdirection is an often underused or misused tool.

Since you don’t get Misdirection until level 70, most Hunters never really take the time to learn how to use it properly.  The most you’ll get out of it is typically a quick MD macro or something.

But it can be used in so many different ways.  First, one needs to understand how Misdirection (MD from here on) works.

The tool-tip for MD states (source):

“Threat caused by your next 3 attacks is redirected to the target raid member. Caster and target can only be affected by one Misdirection spell at a time. Effect lasts 30 sec.”

Some key points need to be realized.

1. It affects your next 3 attacks (Note: ticks from stings and traps count, and Multi-Shot will use up all 3 ticks at once)
2. Each attack is redirected to the target raid member.
3. Misdirection does not stack.
4. Each MD cast lasts for 30 seconds.
   (Not Mentioned)
5. MD Target needs to be in line of sight.
6. MD Target needs to be within 100 yards of the Hunter.

So think about this in a raid situation..

You can use this to pull targets to the Tank, correct a pull gone wrong, and even help save party members (read Healers/Casters) when they’ve pulled agro.

But besides these obvious uses, it can also be a way to help the Tank maintain agro.  If you MD while fighting a Main Boss where everyone is whacking away on him and the take is struggling to maintain agro.   Fire off MD and then hit it with some powerful shots (eg. Explosive Shot, Steady Shot, Arcane Shot).  Anything that might heighten the Tanks threat.

But also remember, that if you have other hunters with you, this requires coordination since MD doesn’t stack and it has a 30 second cool down.   You need to keep this in mind. (Note: Buff timers are a HUGE help for keeping track of these things.)

So now your going.. Okay, I can be Underdog and shout “Here I come to save the day!! MD is on it’s way!!” (if you don’t know who Underdog is.. look here, one of the best classic cartoons, period!)

Now think of the possible uses.  For example, by keeping track of your shots,  you can maintain order during an otherwise chaotic pull.

1. Pull the intial mob to the tank.
2. Direct any remaining mobs off of your casters or
3. DPS and back onto your tank.
4. Retarget main Target and use last shot to bolster Tanks threat.

The best way to practice this?  Is to go out and take a a Ferocity pet.   One that can help tank, but you might pull agro if your too aggressive.  Use MD as a way to help quickly build up threat for your pet, and then burn them down.

Also, if your out farming with a Prot Pally, Bear Druid, or other tank, use it to pull mobs to the tank.   This is even a bigger help, because it helps build confidence in you and your tank on your ability of pulling and correctly directing the aggro to them and not yourself, your pet, or some other party member.  (Believe me, I’ve been there.)

Now your thinking.. “Alright Brig.  This sounds great, but it seems complicated. How do I make it work?”

There’s a few ways.

The basic method is:

1. Target Tank
2. /Cast Misdirection
3. Target Mob
4. /cast Steady Shot

But that is a bit tedious. Pretty good if you just have your tank, but we’re all about using lest buttons and clicks. So how to simplify this.

One way is to just create a MD Macro that has the Tank or Pet’s name in the first line.

/cast [target=<INSERT NAME>] misdirection
/yell Misdirect cast on %t
/cast [target=target, harm] Steady Shot
/stop casting

(Note the stop casting. This is to keep Auto Shot from casting and give you the opportunity to use a different shot if you would want. Feel free to remove this since Auto Shot is no longer on the GCD.)

Another method is using Focus. This requires you to set focus before you go so I prefer using 2 macros a “Set Focus” macro and then my MD Macro

Set Focus Macro:
/focus=target

MD Macro:
#showtooltip
/cast [target=focus,exists] Misdirection
/yell Misdirected to %focus
/cast steady shot
Note: some people really prefer not to immediately fire after casting their MD. They might want to give it a count down. In that case, just take out the /cast Steady Shot line.

Finally, there is an addon that some love to use – SimpleMD.

One of the best features I like is the cooldown bars, the automatic announcing.   Not to mention, clicking a target to set MD targets.  Honestly?  If your not into macros, I highly suggest you get this addon.

Anyways.. I hope you go out and even at Level 80, you use Misdirection to help mainain agro, pull mobs off your healers and other party members.