WoW Patch 11.1: Major Update for Hunters

Author: Hazel May 05,2025

WoW Patch 11.1: Major Update for Hunters

Summary

  • In WoW Patch 11.1, Hunters will gain the ability to change pet specializations, opt for a single pet in Beast Mastery, and lose pets entirely in Marksmanship.
  • Patch 11.1 introduces the Undermine and the Liberation of Undermine raid, featuring a battle against Chrome King Gallywix.
  • Player feedback on the Hunter changes in Patch 11.1 will be crucial as the adjustments are tested on the PTR early next year.

World of Warcraft is bringing significant updates to the Hunter class with Patch 11.1, scheduled for release in February. Hunters will now have the flexibility to switch their pet's specialization, enhancing the versatility of their companions. Beast Mastery Hunters will have the option to use just one pet, which will be larger and deal increased damage, while Marksmanship Hunters will see a complete overhaul, losing their traditional pet in favor of a spotter eagle that enhances their sharpshooting abilities. Additionally, the Pack Leader Hero Talent will now summon a bear, boar, and wyvern to aid in combat, though this change has received mixed reactions from the community.

The newly announced Patch 11.1, dubbed Undermined, delves into the subterranean city of the Goblins, continuing the narrative from The War Within. Players will face off against Chrome King Gallywix and his cronies in the Liberation of Undermine raid, promising an engaging and challenging experience.

Alongside the new content, Patch 11.1 introduces extensive class changes, with Hunters at the forefront. One of the most significant changes is the ability to switch pet specializations at the stables, allowing any pet, including event-specific ones like the Dreaming Festive Reindeer from the Feast of Winter Veil, to adopt Cunning, Ferocity, or Tenacity specializations. This flexibility allows Hunters to tailor their pets to different combat scenarios, enhancing the strategic depth of the class.

Marksmanship Hunters will undergo a major transformation to emphasize their sharpshooter role. They will no longer use a pet but will instead utilize a spotter eagle that marks targets for increased damage. Beast Mastery Hunters can now choose to field a single, more powerful pet, while the Pack Leader Hero Talent will summon a trio of beasts to assist in combat.

The Hunter community has mixed feelings about these changes. While the ability to switch pet specializations and the option for a solo pet in Beast Mastery are widely appreciated, the removal of pets from Marksmanship and the fixed selection of summoned animals in the Pack Leader talent have sparked debate. Many feel these alterations may detract from the traditional Hunter fantasy in World of Warcraft.

These changes are still subject to player feedback, which will be crucial as they are tested on the Patch 11.1 PTR early next year. Hunters are encouraged to participate actively in providing feedback to ensure the adjustments align with the community's expectations and enhance the overall gameplay experience.

World of Warcraft Patch 11.1 Hunter Changes

  • Pet specializations can now be changed in the stable via a dropdown menu.

Class Changes

  • HUNTER

    • Kindling Flare has been redesigned to increase the radius of Flare by 50%.

    • Territorial Instincts now reduces the cooldown of Intimidation by 10 seconds and no longer summons a pet if you don't have one out.

    • Wilderness Medicine now increases the cooldown reduction effect of Natural Mending by 0.5 seconds.

    • No Hard Feelings now reduces the cooldown of Misdirection by 5 seconds.

    • Roar of Sacrifice for Marksmanship Hunters instructs the pet to protect a friendly target from critical strikes, making attacks against that target unable to be critical strikes for 12 seconds. During this time, the Spotting Eagle cannot apply Spotter’s Mark.

    • Intimidation for Marksmanship spec now uses the Spotting Eagle and does not require line of sight.

    • Explosive Shot projectile speed has been increased.

    • Eyes of the Beast is now exclusive to Survival and Beast Mastery Hunters.

    • Eagle Eye is now exclusive to Marksmanship Hunters.

    • Freezing Trap now breaks based on a small damage threshold instead of any damage.

    • Tooltips for Roar of Sacrifice, Wilderness Medicine, and No Hard Feelings have been updated to be relevant to Marksmanship Hunters.

    • Hero Talents

      • Dark Ranger

        • Withering Fire now triggers from casting Black Arrow during Trueshot/Bestial Wrath, no longer auto-firing Black Arrow instead of gaining Deathblow.
          • Developers’ notes: This change aims to balance the consistency of Withering Fire, reducing its randomness floor and ceiling to provide more predictable gameplay while retaining high moments.
        • Fixed an issue preventing Bleak Powder’s cone from dealing damage over its intended area.
      • Pack Leader

        • Howl of the Pack Leader: Every 30 seconds, your next Kill Command summons a Bear, Wyvern, or Boar, each with unique combat abilities.
        • Better Together: Reduces the cooldown of Howl of the Pack Leader and increases pet attack power.
        • Dire Summons: Reduces the cooldown of Howl of the Pack Leader with various abilities.
        • Pack Mentality: Increases the damage of the next Kill Command after Howl of the Pack Leader.
        • Ursine Fury and Envenomed Fangs: Choice nodes affecting the Bear's abilities.
        • Fury of the Wyvern: Enhances the Wyvern's damage bonus and duration.
        • Hogstrider: Enhances the Boar's combat effectiveness.
        • No Mercy: Triggers pet rage and pouncing on the target after Kill Shot.
        • Shell Cover: Summons a Turtle to reduce damage taken when health drops below 40%.
        • Slicked Shoes and Horsehair Tether: Choice nodes affecting movement and control abilities.
        • Lead From the Front: Summons a Beast and increases Beast damage during Bestial Wrath/Coordinated Assault.
        • Removed several talents to streamline the Hero Talent tree.
      • Sentinel

        • Lunar Storm has increased damage, radius, and duration, with reduced frequency and added initial damage. It now slowly follows its target and has updated visual effects and tracking options.
          • Developers’ notes: These changes aim to enhance Lunar Storm's impact and usability, making it a more significant event in combat.
    • Beast Mastery

      • Developers’ notes: Beast Mastery is performing well, but new talents provide more area of effect options.
      • Dire Cleave: Dire Beasts gain Beast Cleave for 8 seconds upon summoning.
      • Poisoned Barbs: Barbed Shot has a chance to explode and deal Nature damage to nearby enemies.
      • Solitary Companion: Increases pet damage and size, offering a choice between solo or dual pet playstyles.
        • Developers’ notes: This talent caters to players preferring a solo pet while maintaining balance.
      • Stomp now deals separate damage instances to primary and secondary targets.
      • Increased damage for Serpent Sting and Barrage, with reduced focus cost for Barrage.
      • Alpha Predator now increases Kill Command’s damage multiplicatively.
      • Additional Kill Shots from Hunter’s Prey target enemies regardless of health.
      • Reduced summon chance for Dire Command and updated visual effects for Dire Beasts.
      • Dire Frenzy is now a 2-point node, replacing Basilisk Collar.
      • Removed several talents to streamline the spec.
    • Marksmanship

      • Developers’ notes: Marksmanship is being reimagined to focus on the sharpshooter fantasy, losing pet functionalities for a unique Eagle companion.
      • Harrier’s Cry: Increases party and raid Haste for 40 seconds, with a 10-minute cooldown.
      • Manhunter: Reduces healing received by enemies damaged by Aimed Shot.
      • Eyes in the Sky: Replaces Call Pet with a Spotting Eagle that marks targets for increased damage.
      • New talents like Aspect of the Hydra, Improved Spotter’s Mark, and Moving Target enhance Aimed Shot and Explosive Shot effectiveness.
      • Obsidian-Tipped Ammunition and Shrapnel Shot increase Auto Shot and Arcane Shot damage.
      • Magnetic Gunpowder and Precise Detonation affect Explosive Shot cooldowns and damage.
      • On Target, Quickdraw, and Target Acquisition improve Haste and Aimed Shot cooldowns.
      • Eagle’s Accuracy, Headshot, and Feathered Frenzy enhance Spotter’s Mark and Trueshot effects.
      • Tensile Bowstring and Incendiary Ammunition extend Trueshot and increase critical strike damage.
      • Bullet Hell and Improved Streamline affect Rapid Fire and Volley cooldowns.
      • Windrunner Quiver and Cunning/Tenacious enhance Precise Shots and Eagle specializations.
      • Ohn’ahran Winds, Double Tap, Killer Mark, and Deadeye provide additional damage bonuses and Kill Shot enhancements.
      • Streamline, Precise Shots, and Focused Aim have been updated for better gameplay flow.
      • Trueshot has been redesigned to enhance critical strike chance and damage.
      • Increased damage for Aimed Shot, Rapid Fire, Volley, and Steady Shot, with adjustments to their cooldowns and mechanics.
      • Removed several talents to streamline the spec and focus on the new sharpshooter fantasy.
    • Survival

      • Developers’ notes: Survival's rotational complexity is being addressed by making Butchery and Flanking Strike mutually exclusive.
      • Cull the Herd: Increases damage units receive from Bleed effects after Kill Shot.
      • Born to Kill: Enhances the chance to gain Deathblow and extends Cull the Herd duration.
      • Frenzy Strikes and Merciless Blow now enhance Flanking Strike's damage and bleeding effects.
      • Alpha Predator now increases Kill Command’s damage multiplicatively.
      • Merciless Blow’s Butchery bleed damage has been reduced.
      • Tactical Advantage now increases Butchery's damage.
      • Flanking Strike and Butchery are now on a choice node.
      • Removed Exposed Flank to streamline the spec.

Player Versus Player

  • HUNTER

    • New PvP Talent: Explosive Powder enhances Bursting Shot's knockback and snare effects.
  • Beast Mastery

    • Dire Beast: Basilisk now triggers automatically when casting Call of the Wild.
  • Marksmanship

    • New PvP Talents: Sniper’s Advantage increases shot range during Trueshot and Volley, and Aspect of the Fox allows Aimed Shot while moving during Aspect of the Cheetah.
    • Ranger’s Finesse no longer increases Bursting Shot's effectiveness.
    • Removed several PvP talents to focus on new mechanics.