Marksmanship Hunter DPS Stat Priority (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

On this page, we explain what the best statistics are for Marksmanship Hunters in World of Warcraft Legion 7.2.5, how the class benefits from each of them.

The statistics priority is important as it influences itemisation choices (gear, enchants, and gems).

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. Basics

The stat priority for a Marksmanship Hunter is:

1. Mastery // Critical Strike depending on set bonuses;
2. Haste;
3. Versatility.

These statistics have been obtained by combining common sense, in-game testing, and simulations using Simulation Craft.

2. Getting a Better Understanding

2.1. Choosing Gear

Pawn is an add-on that calculates the value of items based on the stat weights you input for your character. Below you will find importable Pawn strings that you can and should use with the addon, unless you have used SimulationCraft to generate Pawn strings that are specific to your character, which is always the better option.

Marksmanship - Single-Target Trick Shot Build

( Pawn: v1: "Azor-MM": Class=Hunter, Spec=Marksmanship, Agility=19.69, Ap=18.70, CritRating=29.31, HasteRating=28.55, MasteryRating=32.77, Versatility=23.92, Dps=58.11 )

Beast Mastery - Dire Frenzy

( Pawn: v1: "Azor-BM-FrenzyBuild": Class=Hunter, Spec=BeastMastery, Agility=23.68, Ap=22.42, CritRating=21.58, HasteRating=23.02, MasteryRating=26.05, Versatility=21.26, Dps=13.63 )

Beast Mastery - Stomp/"Zoo" Build

( Pawn: v1: "Azor-BM-Stomp": Class=Hunter, Spec=BeastMastery, Agility=24.12, Ap=23.12, CritRating=30.65, HasteRating=28.79, MasteryRating=25.48, Versatility=21.85, Dps=12.92 )

Survival

( Pawn: v1: "Azor-SV": Class=Hunter, Spec=Survival, Agility=20.77, Ap=19.71, CritRating=18.64, HasteRating=20.49, MasteryRating=18.21, Versatility=19.41, Dps=26.84 )

2.2. Stat Softcaps, Distributions & Other Clarifications

Critical Strike: Critical Strike benefits a lot from the T20 set bonuses, in particular the 2-set bonus that can adds at least 7-8% to Critical Strike's value as a stat, which in many cases pushes it above Mastery. If you have the T20 2-piece or 4-piece bonus, we strongly recommend using something like RaidBots.com to sim your stat weights and figure out if you should be swapping around your enchants and gems.

Haste: While Marksmanship has Haste softcaps, there are none that are worth chasing. The most prevalent one is one at 17% that allows a Marked > 2x Arcane > 2x Aimed rotation, instead of just a single Arcane, but this is not worth going for. The same goes for all other known breakpoints that have a rotational impact.

2.3. Statistics Explanations

Mastery, through Mastery: Sniper Training, grants you increased damage on abilities that cost Focus and increases your maximum shot range.

Agility is your primary statistic. It provides you with Attack Power, which determines the damage your abilities do across the board.

Critical Strike increases your chance to critically hit with all spells and abilities, causing them to deal double damage. Marksmanship has an additional benefit from Critical Strike, with its main cooldown Trueshot increasing our Critical Strike damage by 50% (so that critical strikes do 3 times normal damage, rather than just 2 times normal damage).

Haste increases your auto attack speed and Focus regeneration, reduces your Global Cooldown from 1.5 seconds to a minimum of 0.750 seconds, and reduces the cooldown on your Sidewinders and Black Arrow abilities. It also increases how often you get a Marking Targets proc.

Versatility increases all your damage and healing done, and decreases all damage taken.

3. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 30 Jun. 2017: Added clarification that there are no Haste softcaps worth chasing for Marksmanship, and Critical Strike's increase in value with T20 set bonuses.
• 13 Jun. 2017: Page reviewed and deemed updated for 7.2.5.
• 25 May 2017: Gave the stat weights a maintenance update.
• 17 Apr. 2017: Checked today and deemed updated.
• 27 Mar. 2017: No changes needed for Patch 7.2.
• 28 Jan. 2017: Added Marksmanship-specific Crit stat explanation. Updated stat weights.
• 11 Jan. 2017: Updated stat priority and removed Agility from the listing as it does nothing but confuse at this point. Removed the Haste softcap.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Updated for Patch 7.1.5.
• 14 Nov. 2016: Pawn string for Marksmanship updated.
• 17 Oct. 2016: Ordered statistics explanation in order of priority because OCD.
• 09 Oct. 2016: Added some notes to clarify frequently asked questions.
• 26 Sep. 2016: Mastery > Agility. Windburst now affected by Mastery.
• 09 Sep. 2016: Haste now better than Critical Strike.
• 08 Sep. 2016: Updated stat weights and Pawn string.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Updated for Legion's launch.
• 18 Jul. 2016: Updated for the Legion pre-patch.