Marksmanship Hunter DPS Artifact Talents/Traits and Relics (Legion 7.2.5)

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. What Has Changed in 7.2.5?
    • 2.1. Tomb of Sargeras Set Bonus Simulation
  • 3. How Does it Work?
  • 4. Viability of Spec Choices in Patch 7.2.5
    • 4.1. Tier 20 - Tomb of Sargeras Mythic Gear - Single-Target Spec Comparison
    • 4.2. Raiding — Single-Target Focus with AoE as a secondary objective.
    • 4.3. Mythic+ — AoE Focus with single-target as a secondary objective.
  • 5. Strengths
  • 6. Weaknesses
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Rotation
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resource
  • 3. Basic Abilities
  • 4. Movement Tools
  • 5. Important Procs and Passives
  • 6. Offensive Cooldowns
  • 7. Additional Utility & Traps
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 1.1. For Raiding
    • 1.2. For Mythic+
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 9. Pet Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• ×Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression
    • 1.1. Early Progression
    • 1.2. Patch 7.2 Progression
  • 2. Artifact Ability
  • 3. Traits versus Item Level
  • 4. Relic Choice
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Trick Shot Rotation — Pure Single-Target Focus
  • 2. "Meme" Build Rotation — Explosive Shot & Piercing Shot
  • 3. Multiple Target Rotation
  • 4. Legendaries & Rotational Changes
  • 5. Simplified Single-Target Trick Shot Rotation
  • 6. Cooldown Usage
  • 7. Opener Sequence
    • 7.1. Trick Shot — Pure Single-Target Focus
    • 7.2. Meme Build — Piercing Shot & Explosive Shot
  • 8. Rotation during Trueshot
  • 9. Optional Read: Mastering Your Marksmanship Hunter
    • 9.1. Set Bonuses
    • 9.2. Trinket Usage
    • 9.3. Focus
    • 9.4. Auto-shots and Special Shots
    • 9.5. Detailed Cooldown Usage
      • 9.5.1. Marking Targets & Hunter's Mark
      • 9.5.2. Trueshot
    • 9.6. Positioning when using Sidewinders
    • 9.7. Bullseye
      • 9.7.1. Tier 1 Talents
      • 9.7.2. Tier 2 Talents
      • 9.7.3. Tier 4 Talents
      • 9.7.4. Tier 6 Talents
      • 9.7.5. Tier 7 Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
    • 2.1. Choosing Gear
    • 2.2. Stat Softcaps, Distributions & Other Clarifications
    • 2.3. Statistics Explanations
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems
  • 2. Enchants
  • 3. Consumables
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Hunters
      • 1.1.1. Aspect of the Turtle Cancelaura Macro
      • 1.1.2. Misdirection Mouseover/Focus Macro for Marksmanship/Beast Mastery
      • 1.1.3. Trap Macros for Survival
      • 1.1.4. Petattack Macros
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Marksmanship Hunters
  • 2. Addons
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Hunters
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.3. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.4. GTFO
      • 2.1.5. JSHB 4
      • 2.1.6. Pawn
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Marksmanship Hunters
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Best in Slot List
  • 2. 7.2.5 Trinket & Legendary DPS Rankings
  • 3. Legion Legendaries
    • 3.1. Marksmanship Legendaries
      • 3.1.1. Marksmanship Legendary Ranking
  • 4. Loot Competition
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Disclaimer
  • 2. Racial Bonus Simulation
  • 3. Legendary Simulation
  • 4. ChangeLog

General Information

This page shows you how to level up the Artifact and how to choose the right Relics for your Marksmanship Hunters. It is updated for World of Warcraft Legion 7.2.5.

The other pages of our Marksmanship Hunter guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Author

This guide has been written by Azortharion, the main theorycrafter of the spec. He is also an accomplished player who raids in Solaris. You can also watch his stream on Twitch.

1. Artifact Progression

The Thas'dorah Artifact leaves you with a number of directions you can head in once you branch out from the base traits. The one we present on this page is recommended for any kind of raiding.

1.1. Early Progression

The goal of the path is to reach Rapid Killing and Bullseye as soon as possible, as those tie together to make your Trueshot cooldown extremely powerful.

1. Windburst
2. Wind Arrows
3. Called Shot
4. Mark of the Windrunner
5. Deadly Aim
6. Gust of Wind
7. Rapid Killing
8. Marked for Death
9. Bullseye
10. Windrunner's Guidance
11. Legacy of the Windrunners
12. Precision or Quick Shot
13. Call of the Hunter
14. Quick Shotor Precision
15. Critical Focus
16. Healing Shell
17. Survival of the Fittest
18. Windflight Arrows

1.2. Patch 7.2 Progression

1. Acuity of the Unseen Path (new in 7.2)
2. Unerring Arrows (new in 7.2)
3. Feet of Wind (new in 7.2)
4. Cyclonic Burst (new in 7.2)
5. Fourth rank of Quick Shot
6. Fourth rank of Windrunner's Guidance
7. Fourth rank of Precision
8. Fourth rank of Marked for Death
9. Fourth rank of Deadly Aim
10. Fourth rank of Called Shot
11. Fill out the utility trait ranks as you see fit from here.
12. Concordance of the Legionfall (new in 7.2)

2. Artifact Ability

The Marksmanship Artifact opens with the active ability, Windburst. It deals moderate damage on a 20-second cooldown, costs 15 Focus, and has a base cast time of 1.5 seconds. With the Mark of the Windrunner trait that you unlock early by following our path, it applies Vulnerable to the target.

3. Traits versus Item Level

This is a spreadsheet showing the weapon item level value of each trait. It is based on a generalized Nighthold gearset, and if you got two close options, you should sim your own character for an optimal result. For almost all cases, you can rely on this however.

4. Relic Choice

As you can see in the chart above, item level will almost always determine your choice of Relic given two choices, so you should simply pick the Relic with the highest item level most of the time.

Your best Relic trait choice for general purposes is Unerring Arrows, with Windrunner's Guidance and Precision being up there for AoE. Quick Shot is not in the chart, as it is difficult if not impossible to quantify the exact value of the trait compared to item level. See the gear and BiS section for the best Relics in the Nighthold.

5. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 30 Jun. 2017: Removed reference to the simulation page as the relic sims have been removed from there.
• 13 Jun. 2017: Updated the written section on BiS relics, Quick Shot is no longer as attractive.
• 07 May 2017: Updated BiS single-target relic. Updated the relic item level value chart.
• 04 May 2017: Added note that you cannot get Unerring Arrows relics yet.
• 17 Apr. 2017: Checked today and deemed updated.
• 27 Mar. 2017: Updates BiS single target Relic and Artifact Progression path for Patch 7.2.
• 28 Jan. 2017: Expanded Relic talk, added BiS meme build Relic.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 08 Dec. 2016: Added second-best in slot Relic.
• 17 Oct. 2016: Quick Shot is the best in slot Relic - explanation.
• 18 Sep. 2016: Talk about Precision and Quick Shot.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Added.