Class Mechanics – Hunter Racials

There must be at least a dozen posts on the Official Forums every day asking which Horde or Alliance race has the best Hunter racials.  Personally, I find this funny.  Why you ask?  Well it’s like this.   Every race that is available to Hunters have a viable racial.

Now before you go get your shorts in a wad and start blasting me.  Let’s look at them and see each one.

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Dwarves

Dwarves have some solid racials.  The ones that specifically relate to the Hunter class are:

• Stoneform : Activate to gain immunity to poison, disease, and bleed (will also remove these types of debuffs); +10% Armor; Lasts 8 seconds. 3 minute cooldown.
• Gun Specialization : increases chance to critically hit with Guns by 1% as of Patch 2.3 (was increase Gun Skill by 5).
• Frost Resistance : Reduces the chance you will be hit by Frost spells by 2%.
• Find Treasure : Activate to see treasure chests on mini map – lasts until canceled – no cooldown.  Treasure finding also marks many “node-type” quest items on the mini map.

Yes, all thes actually apply to the Dwarf.     But everyone will tell you that Stoneform is the best.  But you really can’t discount the additional 1% Crit you get for Gun Specialization and with the best starting Epic in NorthEnd being the Nesingwary 4000, it’s a solid racial.

But believe me, while leveling,  Frost Resistance, and Find Treasure can all help you reduce quest times, as you level up.

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Night Elves

The Night Elves are oft derided as being an annoying class.  But if you look at their racials, you’ll see that they really do have good Hunter racials.  Maybe not the best for everything, but solid nonetheless.

• Shadowmeld : Activate to slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until cancelled or upon moving. Any threat is restored versus enemies still in combat upon cancellation of this effect, 2 minute cooldown.
• Elusivesness: Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while Shadowmelded or Stealthed.
• Nature Resistance : Reduces the chance you will be hit by Nature spells by 2%.
• Quickness : Reduces the chance that melee and ranged attackers will hit you by 2%.
• Wisp Spirit : Transform into a wisp upon death, increasing speed by 75%.

See, the fact that you get Shadowmeld it’s not quiet a second Feign Death, but in a raid can allow you to drop agro, let the tanks regain it in a pinch.  Another great use of this especially when coupled with Elusiveness is PvP.  You basically get a whimpy stealth.   Couple that with Prowl on your pet and how sweet is that!

Now couple that with Nature Resistance and especially Quickness and you can slip through even more battles and these might mean the difference betweeen a complete wipe and a downed boss.

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Draenei

The Blueberries really dohave some really great racials.  How about an extra Heal just for one?  What else?

• Gift of the Naaru : Heals the target of 170 damage over 15sec. The amount healed is increased based on the caster’s Spell Power or Attack Power, whichever is higher. This ability does not lose casting time from taking damage. 3 minute cooldown.
• Heroic Presence : Increases chance to hit with all spells and attacks by 1% for you and all party members within 30 yards.
• Shadow Resistance : Reduces the chance you will be hit by Shadow spells by 2%.
• Gemcutting : 5 point skill bonus to Jewelcrafting (note, this also raises the cap by 5 at each level of jewelcrafting).

I already mentioned the free healing, so solo is even better, but add to this a 1% reduction in your Hit Cap!! That’s like getting a free talent point if you use Focused Aim! And if you don’t who wouldn’t like to have an extra Gem slot by because they have an extra 32.79 Hit Rating to work with!

Add shadow Resistance and you got an awesome Hunter.  No wonder we see so many of them running around.

So see the Alliance Hunters have some solid Racials.  All of them have their Pro’s and Con’s but nowadays there isn’t really one that stands out as being overly dominant.  A case can honestly be said for each of them.

But what about the Horde?  Well let’s look at them also.

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Tauren

To some the Tauren’s racials seem lackluster.  But as somone pointed, there are many times when War Stomp might keep you from getting ganked while questing, or slaughtered in the Arena or Battlegrounds.

• War Stomp : Activate to stun opponents – Stuns up to 5 enemies within 8 yards for 2 seconds. 2 minute cooldown.
• Endurance : Hitpoints increased by 5%.
• Nature Resistance : Reduces the chance you will be hit by Nature spells by 2%.
• Cultivation : 15 point skill bonus to Herbalism (note, this also raises the cap by 15 at each level of herbalism).

So let’s see, you get War Stomp which has a .5 sec cast time, and stuns up to 5 enemies for 2 seconds.  If you don’t think 2 seconds is a long time. think about it this way.. That’s a free Steadshot, it would allow your healer to get of a flash heal on you.  That’s 2 ticks of Mend Pet, get the picture?

Add to that the additional 5% Health and your ready to kick some major butt.

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Orc

The Orcs have often been called the #2 Horde Hunter Racial choice.  But I think that’s not entirely correct any longer.

• Blood Fury : Activate to increase attack power and spell damage/healing by an amount based on level/class for 15 seconds. 2 minute cooldown.
• Hardiness : Reduces duration of stun effects by 15%.
• Command : Damage done by Death Knight, Hunter and Warlock pets increased by 5%.
• Axe Specialization : Expertise with One- and Two-handed Axes increased by 5.

See, look at that Blood Fury!! It gives an additional 322 AP at level 80!! [ (Level*4)+2 = Attack power gained] that’s a free AP Trinket.

Now granted Axe Specialization might not be that useful for us.  However, look at Command! An increased 5% Pet damage!  (Now you see why so many Orcs Hunters are BM Hunters! )  And Hardiness will frustrate many a Rogue trust me!

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Troll
Everyone realizes that Trolls have great Racials. But I’m not sold that they’re to the point that it really outweighs what you could make up with skill and gear.

• Berserking : Activate to increase attack and casting speed for 10 seconds. Speed is raised by 10% at full health, increasing as health is lost to a maximum bonus of 30%. 3 minute cooldown.
• Regeneration : Increase health regeneration bonus by 10%. Also allows 10% of normal health regen during combat.
• Beast Slaying : 5% damage bonus when fighting against Beasts.
• Bow Specialization : Increase Bow critical strike chance by 1%.
• Da Voodoo Shuffle : Reduces the duration of all movement impairing effects by 15%. Trolls be flippin’ out mon!
• Throwing Specialization : Increases chance to critically hit with Throwing Weapon by 1%.

Let’s see, the only one here that really has no benefit is the Throwing Specialization.  Yeah that’s a bit of a waste.  But look closely at the others.

Berserking! That’s a free Rapid Fire, Regeration gives you a faster health regen!

Add to that Beast Slaying and a +1% Crit with Bow Specialization your a Hunter Machine!! If you wanted to be Survival, how about getting a free 1% Crit!!

Add to that Da Vodoo Shuffle to reduce ALL movement imparring effects by 15% and your now a Rogues enemy along with Orcs!

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Blood Elves

Now Blood Elves are the lowly, disrespected Hunter race.  And I’ll give you, out of all the races, the Blood Elves probably need the most love from Blizz.  But even so, their racials aren that bad.

Arcane Torrent : Activate to silence all enemies within 8 yards for 2 seconds. In addition, you gain 15 Energy, 15 Runic Power or 6% Mana. 2 min. cooldown.
Arcane Affinity : 10 point skill bonus to Enchanting (note, this also raises the cap by 10 at each level of enchanting).
Magic Resistance : Reduces the chance you will be hit by spells by 2%

Now granted, unless your into Enchanting, that one won’t help your DPS.  But look at Arcane Torrent.  If you don’t get Silencing Shot, this can help you silence a mob, AND it gives you additinal 6% Mana!  That’s pretty sweet for you Marksmanship Hunters out there!

Add to that a Magic Resistance, and those Mages will be hating you!  You will silence, suck their mana dry, and then resist any attack they may muster?  I smell pet food!

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So see, every race has a pretty solid set of racials.  If we Theorycrafted it we might see a small difference between Trolls and other Horde, or Dwarves and other Alliance but it really wouldn’t be enough to justify changing your race and sacrifice some of your player identity in my opinion.