Survival 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
    • 4.1. Cooldowns
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 1.1. For Raid Encounters
    • 1.2. For Mythic+ Use
  • 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. Single Target Rotation
    • 1.1. When Mongoose Fury is not active (Filler Phase)
    • 1.2. When Mongoose Fury is active (Bite Phase)
  • 2. Multiple Target Rotation
  • 3. Legendaries & Rotational Changes
  • 4. Cooldown Usage
  • 5. Opener Sequence
  • 6. Optional Read: Mastering Your Survival Hunter
    • 6.1. Trinket Usage
    • 6.2. Focus
    • 6.3. Detailed Cooldown Usage
      • 6.3.1. Aspect of the Eagle
      • 6.3.2. Fury of the Eagle
      • 6.3.3. Snake Hunter
      • 6.3.4. Tier 1 Talents
      • 6.3.5. Tier 2 Talents
      • 6.3.6. Tier 4 Talents
      • 6.3.7. Tier 6 Talents
      • 6.3.8. Tier 7 Talents
  • 7. 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 Survival 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 Survival Hunters
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Best in Slot List
  • 2. Trinket & Legendary DPS Rankings
  • 3. Legion Legendaries
    • 3.1. Survival Legendaries
      • 3.1.1. Survival 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 Survival Hunters. It is updated for World of Warcraft Legion 7.2.5.

The other pages of our Survival 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 Talonclaw Artifact is essentially mirrored when it comes to its architecture. For obvious reasons, we simply pick the side that gives the best DPS traits early on by moving clockwise.

1.1. Early Progression

The goal of the path is to reach Aspect of the Skylord as soon as possible, following this clockwise path to the other golden traits as well.

Whilst this path does initially skip on some single-target traits like Sharpened Fang at first, the pursuit of the powerful golden traits as quickly as possible makes this worth it.

1. Fury of the Eagle
2. Iron Talons
3. Hellcarver
4. Raptor's Cry
5. Explosive Force
6. Aspect of the Skylord
7. Hunter's Guile
8. Lacerating Talons
9. Eagle's Bite
10. Fluffy, Go
11. Embrace of the Aspects
12. Bird of Prey
13. Talon Strike
14. Sharpened Fang
15. My Beloved Monster
16. Terms of Engagement
17. Hunter's Bounty

1.2. Patch 7.2 Progression

1. Ferocity of the Unseen Path (new in 7.2)
2. Jaws of the Mongoose (new in 7.2)
3. Talon Bond (new in 7.2)
4. Echoes of Ohn'ara (new in 7.2)
5. Fourth rank of Sharpened Fang
6. Fourth rank of Fluffy, Go
7. Fourth rank of Hellcarver
8. Fourth rank of My Beloved Monster
9. Fourth rank of Raptor's Cry
10. Fourth rank of Lacerating Talons
11. Fourth rank of Explosive Force
12. Fill out the utility trait ranks as you see fit from here.
13. Concordance of the Legionfall (new in 7.2)

2. Artifact Ability

The Survival Artifact opens with the active ability, Fury of the Eagle. It is a 4-second, channeled frontal cone attack on a 45-second cooldown. It has no cost, and the damage it deals is based on how many stacks of Mongoose Fury that you have active. It also adds its own cast time (4 seconds before Haste) to the remaining duration of Mongoose Fury.

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 more detail in the Simulation section, your choice of Artifact Relic will usually come down to the item level bonus. Survival is not as item level-dependent as Marksmanship, but not nearly as trait-dependent as Beast Mastery. The best single-target trait is Sharpened Fang, while Hellcarver massively boosts your AoE through Butchery in particular.

5. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 13 Jun. 2017: Updated relic/iLvl chart.
• 17 Apr. 2017: Checked today and deemed updated.
• 27 Mar. 2017: Artifact path updated for 7.2 and traits vs iLvl chart added.
• 28 Jan. 2017: Expanded slightly on Relic choice.
• 11 Jan. 2017: Updated best AoE Relic to Hellcarver.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Added.