Survival Hunter 10.0 Guide
Introduction
Welcome to our guide on the Survival Specialization for the Hunter Class in WoW Dragonflight patch 10.0! This article covers everything regarding the Survival spec, such as the leveling, gearing, and min-maxing your Hunter for the most challenging PvE content in World of Warcraft - Mythic Raiding and Mythic+ Dungeons.
First, we'll check out the specialization's particularities and see why the Survival Hunter is one of the best specs in Dragonflight, Season 1. Then you'll learn how to gear your Survival Hunter, what stats to prioritize, and the best leveling spec, talents, and rotation that will get you to max level in no time.
Finally, we'll go deep into min-maxing your character for the end-game content and teach you what gear to use for Mythic Raiding and Mythic Plus dungeons. By the end of the guide, you will become a master of Hunter's Survival specialization! Sounds good, right? Let's get started!
Table of Contents
- Survival Hunters: Strengths and Weaknesses
- How to gear a Survival Hunter
- How to level a Survival Hunter. Survival Hunter leveling tips
- Best Survival Hunter talents for end-game content
- Survival Hunter in Dragonflight - FAQ
Survival Hunters in Dragonflight: Strengths and Weaknesses
In World of Warcraft, the Hunter class comes with three DPS specializations: Survival, Marksmanship, and Beast Mastery. The hunter's spending resource is called Focus. Unlike the other two DPS specs, the Survival Hunter revolves around a fast-paced melee-oriented playstyle.
The Survival Hunter represents one of the best DPS classes for Mythic Dungeons and Mythic Raiding in Dragonflight Season 1, providing a high damage output for both single-target and multi-target encounters.
In terms of weapons, the Survival Hunter uses two-handed weapons such as polearms and staves. As for raid gear, the Hunter shares the Protector Tier Token with Monks, Shamans, and Warriors for legacy content. In the Dragonflight expansion, the Vault of the Incarnates raid, hunters share the Mystic Tier Token with Druids and Mages.
In the table below, we present the Survival Hunter's strengths and weaknesses:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| + High Mobility | - No unique utility |
| + Consistent single-target damage | - Lack of single-target burst damage |
| + Massive AoE damage | - Relies on the pet to deal damage |
| + High self-sustain |
How to gear a Survival Hunter
In World of Warcraft, gearing is one of the most important aspects that enhances your character's overall performance by providing massive amounts of stats, armor, procs, and set bonuses. This guide will teach you how to properly gear up for the most challenging content in WoW Dragonflight, Mythic Raiding, and Mythic+ Dungeons.
We'll start with the basics and cover the Survival Hunter's stats priority, check out the tier set bonuses, and finally, the best in slot gear you can get from mythic raids and dungeons.
Survival Hunter stat priority
Regardless of the class and spec you roll into in World of Warcraft, the stats are a key component when gearing up and min-maxing your character for the end-game content. Survival Hunters wear Mail gear with Agility as the main stat.
As a hunter, the Agility stat increases the attack power of your abilities, in other words - the damage you are dealing to the enemies. Also, please note that a higher and adequate item level will better impact your character's performance than a perfect stat distribution, so always keep an eye on the gear's item level!
The Survival Hunter stats priority looks like this:
- 1. Agility
- 2. Critical Strike
- 3. Haste
- 4. Mastery
- 5. Versatility
So as a Survival Hunter, you will primarily value item level for Agility as the primary stat, then Critical Strike, followed by Haste, Mastery, and Versatility as secondary stats.
In other words: Agility > Critical Strike > Haste > Mastery > Versatility. And here's why:
Agility: Increases your attack power and, therefore, all the damage you are dealing to your enemies
Critical Strike: Increases the chances of dealing double damage on attacks for both you and your pet
Haste: Increases your attack speed and your focus regen rate and decreases the cooldowns of some abilities
Mastery: Increases the damage of all attacks that consume focus and heals you while you have an active pet
Versatility: Increases damage dealt and reduces damage taken
Survival Hunter Tier Set Bonus
To start with, what is a tier set in World of Warcraft?
In WoW, a tier set is a unique class armor set with powerful 2-set and 4-set specific bonuses for each specialization of that particular class. Tier set bonuses change based on the character's active talent specialization, ensuring that the bonus is appropriate and useful to that spec.
So to recap, tier sets are unique pieces of armor that, when equipped simultaneously, provide you with a bonus, different for each spec of the chosen class. This bonus is based on the number of pieces from the set you have equipped, with most tier sets providing bonuses when equipping 2 or 4 pieces.
How to get the Survival Hunter Tier Set in Dragonflight Patch 10.0
There are three ways you can get tier set items in WoW in the Dragonflight expansion:
- Vault of the Incarnates Raid: You can get tier set items from specific bosses in the Vault of the Incarnates raid.
- Revival Catalyst: You can craft Tier armor from non-set pieces of the same item level using the Revival Catalyst crafting system.
- Great Vault: You can obtain tier set items from all activities that normally give Great Vault rewards, such as raiding, Mythic+ dungeons, and PvP.
The fastest way to obtain tier set items is to take advantage of these three sources that can reward you with the Survival Hunter Tier Set items. The best advice is to complete the Vault of the Incarnates raid weekly - this is probably the fastest way to get your hands on the desired tier armor. In case you don't have a team to raid with, complete some Mythic+ Dungeons or some PvP matches.
Mythic dungeons and PvP are highly beneficial because even if you can't drop the set items while participating in these activities, you increase the chances of getting your set items at the Great Vault or the Revival Catalyst console in Thaldraszus. At the revival catalyst console, you can convert the non-set pieces obtained in dungeons or PvP into tier set items.
Let's have a closer look at the Great Vault feature:
And this is what the Revival Catalyst looks like:
Back to our Survival Hunter Tier Set. Now that you learned how to obtain the tier set, let's see some set bonuses and particularities, shall we?
The Survival Hunter Tier set is called Stormwing Harrier's Camouflage. It comes with the following bonuses for two pieces and four pieces equipped:
- 2-Set: - Increases the damage of Raptor Strike/ Mongoose Bite and Carve/ Butchery by 15%.
- 4-Set: - Raptor Strike/ Mongoose Bite and Carve/ Butchery have a 20% chance to make your next Raptor Strike/ Mongoose Bite and Carve/ Butchery cost 0 Focus and deal 50% more damage.
In the table below, we present you the sources for Survival Hunter Tier Set items:
| Slot | Tier Piece | Source |
| Helm | Stormwing Harrier's Skullmask | Raszageth |
| Shoulders | Stormwing Harrier's Pinions | Broodkeeper Diurna |
| Chest | Stormwing Harrier's Cuirass | Kurog Grimtotem |
| Gloves | Stormwing Harrier's Handguards | Dathea, Ascended |
| Legs | Stormwing Harrier's Greaves | Sennarth |
The remaining tier set items (Cloak, Wrists, Waist, and Boots) can be obtained by using the Revival Catalyst in Thaldraszus.
As previously stated, you unlock the tier set bonuses for your Survival Hunter when you equip any two or four pieces of the Stormwing Harrier's Camouflage set. Your four pieces of tier set as a Survival Hunter will be the Helm, Shoulders, Chest, and Gloves for itemization and build optimization.
Raid Best in Slot (BiS) Gear for Survival Hunters
In the table below, you can find the best item to use in each slot from the raid as a Survival Hunter:
| Slot | Item Name | Encounter |
| Helm | Stormwing Harrier's Skullmask | Raszageth |
| Neck | Eye of the Vengeful Hurricane | Dathea, Ascended |
| Shoulders | Stormwing Harrier's Pinions | Broodkeeper Diurna |
| Cloak | Decorated Commander's Cindercloak | Eranog |
| Chest | Stormwing Harrier's Cuirass | Kurog Grimtotem |
| Wrists | Surging-Song Conductors | Kurog Grimtotem |
| Gloves | Stormwing Harrier's Handguards | Raszageth |
| Waist | Unnatural Dripstone Cinch | Sennarth |
| Legs | Tassets of the Tarasek Legion | Broodkeeper Diurna |
| Boots | Daring Chasm-Leapers | Dathea, Ascended |
| Ring #1 | Seal of Diurna's Chosen | Eranog |
| Ring #2 | Seal of Filial Duty | Broodkeeper Diurna |
| Trinket #1 | Manic Grieftorch | Broodkeeper Diurna |
| Trinket #2 | Whispering Incarnate Icon | Kadros Icewrath |
| Main Hand | Awak'mani, Grimtotem's Legacy | Kurog Grimtotem |
Mythic+ Best in Slot (BiS) Gear for Survival Hunters
In the table below, you can find the best item to use in each slot from the Mythic+ Dungeons as a Survival Hunter:
| Slot | Item Name | Location |
| Helm | Collar of Honorable Exultation | Halls of Valor |
| Neck | Pendant of the Stormforger | Halls of Valor |
| Shoulders | Spaulders of Wild Growth | The Azure Vault |
| Cloak | Cape of Entanglement | Temple of the Jade Serpent |
| Chest | Sharpeye Chestguard | Shadowmoon Burial Grounds |
| Wrists | Sharpeye Bracers | Shadowmoon Burial Grounds |
| Gloves | Hopecrusher Gauntlets | Temple of the Jade Serpent |
| Waist | Arcane-Bound Gale Chain | Court of Stars |
| Legs | Egg Tender's Leggings | Ruby Life Pools |
| Boots | Boots of Explosive Growth | Algeth'ar Academy |
| Ring #1 | Unstable Arcane Loop | The Azure Vault |
| Ring #2 | Jeweled Signet of Melandrus | Court of Stars |
| Trinket #1 | Hunger of the Pack | Halls of Valor |
| Trinket #2 | Windswept Pages | Temple of the Jade Serpent |
| Weapon | Backdraft Cleaver | Ruby Life Pools |
Best in Slot (BiS) Trinkets for Survival Hunters
The best Survival Hunter trinkets for end-game content are:
| Tier | Item Name | Drop Location |
| S | Manic Grieftorch | Broodkeeper Diurna - Vault of the Incarnates |
| S | Whispering Incarnate Icon | Kadros Icewrath - Vault of the Incarnates |
| S | Storm-Eater's Boon | Dathea, Ascended - Vault of the Incarnates |
| A | Ruby Whelp Shell | Melidrussa Chillworn - Ruby Life Pools |
| A | Hunger of the Pack | Fenryr - Halls of Valor |
| A | Algeth'ar Puzzle Box | Echo of Doragosa - Algeth'ar Academy |
| A | Bottle of Spiraling Winds | The Raging Tempest |
| A | Windswept Pages | Zao Sunseeker-Temple of the Jade Serpent |
| B | Decoration of Flame | Eranog - Vault of the Incarnates |
| B | Windscar Whetstone | Advisor Melandrus - Court of Stars |
| B | Darkmoon Deck Box: Dance | Inscription / Auction House |
| C | Spiteful Storm | Vault of the Incarnates |
| C | Controlled Current Technique | Kurog Grimtotem - Vault of the Incarnates |
This wraps up everything you should know about gearing your Survival Hunter: the stats priority, how to obtain the tier set, and what items to use in the end-game activities. Moving on to the next section of our guide, we'll teach you how to level your Survival Hunter in Dragonflight patch 10.0. Sounds good, right? Let's dive in!
How to level a Survival Hunter. Survival Hunters leveling tips
Before leveling your Survival Hunter, you must first create and customize the character. That brings us to the first question: what race should you go for when creating the character? Let's find out, shall we?
Best Survival Hunter Races
When it comes to racials, with so many options to choose from, you are probably wondering what would be the best race for your hunter. In World of Warcraft, each race has different racial abilities and spells, but no races offer an immediate advantage compared to others regarding the Survival spec. I highly recommend choosing the race you like the most, aesthetically speaking.
However, in the table below, you can see the top 10 best races for Survival Hunters based on performance gain:
| Race | Performance Gain |
| Troll | +1.33% |
| Mechagnome | +1.26% |
| Orc | +1.18% |
| Human | +1.02% |
| Zandalari Troll Paku | +0.97% |
| Gnome | +0.93% |
| Goblin | +0.91% |
| Void Elf | +0.90% |
| Dwarf | +0.90% |
| Night Elf | +0.88% |
Now, if you want to make an idea of what race players generally choose for their Survival Hunters:
- For Alliance: Human, Dark Iron Dwarf, Dwarf, Worgen, Gnome
- For Horde: Orc, Blood Elf, Troll
Best Survival Hunter Leveling Talents and Rotation in Dragonflight 10.0
The best talents to use while leveling to level 60 as a Survival Hunter are:
What is the best leveling pet for Survival Hunters? The best leveling pet for Survival Hunters is any Ferocity type of pet, as these pets heal themselves whenever they deal damage, allowing you to make larger pulls and rely on their own damage for self-healing.
Now let's check out how you should prioritize your abilities. Here is what most people consider to be the best single-target and multi-target rotations for a Survival Hunter:
Survival Hunter Single Target Rotation
- 1. Spend your Focus on Mongoose Bite.
- 2. Use Wildfire Bomb to keep a charge on cooldown at all times.
- 3. Use Kill Command on cooldown if you won't overcap on Focus.
- 4. Use Harpoon (with Terms of Engagement) to get to the next enemy!
Survival Hunter AoE Rotation
- 1. Use Explosive Shot whenever you can for massive damage in your group of enemies.
- 2. Use Wildfire Bomb to keep a charge on cooldown at all times.
- 3. Use Butchery with Frenzy Strikes to reduce the cooldown of Wildfire Bomb.
- 4. Use Kill Command on cooldown if you won't overcap on Focus.
- 5. If you have excess Focus and you can't do 1 or 2, use Mongoose Bite.
Follow the rotations, and you'll get to max level in no time! Now that we've covered the leveling part, it's time to move on to the end-game.
In the next section of our Survival Hunter Guide, we'll present the best talents to use for PvE end-game content, such as raiding and Mythic+ dungeons. In the end game, it's crucial to use the right talents and prioritize the skills you use depending on the activity. Choosing the best talents will significantly impact your performance as a DPS!
Best Survival Hunter End-game Talents
From the PvE perspective, there are two main end-game activities we'll take into consideration: Mythic raiding and Mythic+ Dungeons. We'll treat them separately to keep things clear and avoid confusion.
Best Talents for Mythic Raiding in Season 1 (patch 10.0)
In the picture below, you can see the best talents for mythic raiding as a Survival Hunter:
Best Talents for Mythic+ Dungeons in Season 1 (patch 10.0)
As a Survival Hunter, these are the talents you should use to maximize your damage in M+ Dungeons:
Tyrannical Build:
Burst AoE Build:
Survival Hunters in Dragonflight - FAQ
1. Are Survival Hunters good in Dragonflight 10.0?
Yes, Survival Hunter represents one of the strongest specs in WoW Dragonflight in Season 1.
2. Is Survival Hunter easy to play?
Yes. The Survival Hunter specialization qualifies as one of the most accessible specs in WoW Dragonflight.
3. What is the stats priority for Survival Hunters?
The stats priority for Hunter's Survival specialization looks like this: Agility > Critical Strike > Haste > Mastery > Versatility.
4. Which hunter spec is best for leveling in 10.0?
Overall, the Beast Mastery Specialization is the best spec for hunter leveling.
5. What is the best race for Survival Hunters in Dragonflight?
- Alliance's best Survival Hunter races are Human, Dark Iron Dwarf, Dwarf, Worgen, and Gnome.
- For Horde, the best Survival Hunters races are Orc, Blood Elf, and Troll.
Final thoughts
This wraps up everything you should know regarding the Hunter's Survival specialization in World of Warcraft Dragonflight for Season 1, patch 10.0. By reading this guide, you should now better understand the Survival Hunters' spec and particularities and how they perform in certain circumstances and different end-game activities. It's one of the game's strongest specs in Dragonflight, so you should definitely give it a try!