I never know if I'm using my attacks properly. Is there any "right" order in which to do things? i.e. concussive shot, followed by serpent sting, followed by aimed shot (those are my 3 favourites). In a group, it takes me a while to figure out what everyone else is doing to see how I can compliment their attacks. On my own, I just try different things until I find the best series of actions for each situation. I also find I use serpent sting much more than scorpid sting and rarely use arcane shot and rapid fire. I guess my problem is... there are so many attacks it's hard to know or remember what to use in each situation. And, I'm afraid I may be missing out on great hunter strategies (kind of like the trap trick Widget recently taught me).

Any tips?

Wow, a great question indeed but one that requires a bit of an answer.

OK first thing you need to do is learn to assist the tank. I have a macro that assist the tank in the group, if you need help with macros it would be easier to do in-game. This way you help concentrate fire and burn down the enemies faster.

Shots:

Stings > Use serpent sting as your first shot in any engagement. Be careful to never shoot a crowd controlled mob with this shot as a dot will render sheeping/seduction useless. 1 sting lasts most mob firghts, you may have to apply a second one om bosses. The other stings are used in rare exceptions such as some mobs that need their mana drained, or if your in PVP against a caster.

Arcane Shot vs Aimed Shot > These two shots are on the same coolown timer. I recommend opening with an aimed shot after your sting and depending on the kill efficiency of the group, a second aimed shot. However, if the mob has less than half health after the cycle of the first aimed shot then use arcane shot. If the cycle allows, use a third arcane shot but most mobs are dead after 1 aimed and 1 arcane assuming the team is working together on killing mobs.

Concussion shot > I use this shot when runners have been identified and they are at low health. Most mobs take it in the face until death but some do run, this will greatly help your tank in making sure that adds are kept to a minimum. Note: If a rogue is in group using crippling poison then you will not need to do use this shot.

Rapid Fire > This is a 5 min cooldown skill that goes a good way to increasing your overall dps. If it is ready to use and a mob has more than 1/2 health use it, just do NOT use an aimed shot while this skill is in use as the delay in aimed shot will negate the weapon speed increase. Use arcane instead. If this skill cycles and the mob you are fighting is almost dead then save this skill for the next mob. Never "save it" for a good time, any time is a good time for added dps.


Hope that answers your question regarding shots, we could have a pet /trap 101 later if you would like :)

Thank you! This makes me feel better about the way I've been playing. And I bet other new hunters will find this summary VERY helpful.

Macros: I do have the macro set up to assist the tank.

Pet: I usually send Tiger in to assist the tank except if the healer is being attacked, I sometimes shift Tiger's attention to them so he can tank as best he can.

I admit I don't use eyes of the beast. What kind of situations call for this? (You showed me one the other night but are there more?)

As for my newly learned DASH and PROWL... I'll have to play around with them a bit but I may come back with more questions!

Traps: I'd love to hear more about traps and how to use each one effectively.

This young Jedi awaits her next lesson.

Pet: Sounds like you are doing the right thing with your build. A Marksman build generally uses the pet as additional dps and are best off assisting the MT than trying to OT. Cats do not have the oomph to take many hits and with little to no beastmaster skills to asssit them they are paper tigers :)

Eyes of the beat is situational. The reason I would use it is on a tricky pull. Our pets have a very low agro radius, thus allowing them to skate past things that we would normally agro. There are certain areas where it is a must like the basilisk boss in Zf.

Dash: When I used to pull in MC it was VERY helpful to do it with my boar and dash his patootie out of there and back to the MT. If things went screwy I would let my pet take the death and not endanger the raid.

Prowl: As a night elf you have your racial stealth ability. In PVP you can go stealth, stealth your cat and pop an aimed shot on someone before they knew it and have your pet out and ready to pounce. If you plan to use prowl as your pets special attack then I would reccomend using a cat with a slow hit speed, the Jaguero Stalkers in STV are noted for this, this will maxamize the initial bust of damage you get from the prowl skill.

Traps, well traps are a much misunderstood part of the hunter's skills. They allow you to:

• Assist with crowd control (Freezing trap before a pull)
  
  

• Added dps (Immolation trap at the feet of a mob before attacking)
  
  

• An emergency getaway (Feign, drop frost trap and voila all the meanies chasing you are now snared - run away!)
  
  

• Help casters with aoe dps (Lay an explosive trap where the mage/lock AOE spell is, backup and multishot/volley)
  

Ctrlalt,
Wise Guy at large

Quick note: Please know that the advice I have giving herein is pertaining to grouping. Solo tactics are another matter intirely.

I've been curious about Wyvern sting, and I'm not sure if I should keep until I get to 60, or if I should just get rid of it now. I find it useful in PvE, but I plan on doing a lot more PvP and instances so I'm not sure if it'll be useful or just get in the way.

This is a post i found very well thought out and informative (though lengthy).

http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=15211926&sid=1

Lord have mercy. That guy REALLy does his homework.