Survival Hunter Leveling Guide

Control-heavy, trap-centric leveling with strong DoTs and group utility. Survival excels at kiting, CC, and safe questing. Classic, TBC, and WotLK talent paths and rotations from 1-80.

Updated 2026 Control / Utility Supports Classic / TBC / WotLK

Why Survival in Classic?

Great control and melee/ranged hybrid tools. Slower than BM for pure speed but safer with traps, CC, and improved melee when needed.

Strengths

Strong CC: Improved Traps, Scatter Shot, Wyvern Sting (later).
Stamina/avoidance talents improve safety.
Solid melee fallback (Raptor Strike/Mongoose Bite) if cornered.

Weaknesses

Lower pet damage; more personal attention to CC.
Mana management required; less raw throughput than BM.
Weapon upgrades still key; ranged DPS matters.

Talents by Level (Classic 1-60)

Early (10-29)

Improved Raptor Strike (optional), Savage Strikes for crits.
Thick Hide/Survivalist for stamina.
Deflection 5/5; Improved Wing Clip for root proc.

Mid (30-44)

Deterrence; Trap Mastery; Clever Traps.
Surefooted 3/3 for hit/resist; Improved Feign Death optional.
Scatter Shot (Marks splash) for control.

Late (45-60)

Lightning Reflexes 5/5; Wyvern Sting if available pre-patch.
Expose Weakness not in Classic; focus on Stamina/crit talents.
Marks splash: Lethal Shots/Improved Hunter’s Mark.

Playstyle: Trap/Kite control—Freezing/Ice traps, Concussive → Serpent/Auto/Arcane; melee if rooted targets.

Rotation & Control

Single Target

Hunter’s Mark → Serpent Sting → Arcane/Auto weave.
Raptor Strike/Counterattack when mobs reach you (if rooted).
Use traps to reset; Feign Death if threat issues.

AoE/CC

Explosive Trap for packs; Immolation Trap for added DoT.
Freezing Trap to CC; Scatter Shot (Marks) for emergency stop.
Improved Wing Clip root to kite elites.

Survival

Aspect swapping (Hawk/Cheetah/Viper for mana).
Bandage to save time; keep pet happy if using one.
Use Deterrence when overwhelmed.

Zone Route (Classic)

Bracket	Zones	Notes
1-20	Starter → Barrens/Westfall	Control-focused; practice trapping.
20-30	Ashenvale/Duskwood	Deadmines/Stockades weapons.
30-40	STV/Desolace	SM for mail/ranged; trap casters.
40-50	Feralas/Tanaris/Hinterlands	Use Ice/Freezing traps on elites.
50-60	Felwood/WPL/EPL	Dungeons for gear; plenty of CC value.

Why Survival in TBC?

Survival gains Expose Weakness (raid utility) and strong control. Still slower than BM for pure leveling but viable and useful in groups.

Spec: Deep Survival to Expose Weakness, Lightning Reflexes; Trap Mastery; Resourcefulness. Marks splash for Lethal Shots/Go for the Throat.

Talents by Level (TBC 60-70)

Early (60-64)

Survival Instincts, Savage Strikes; Deflection.
Trap Mastery; Surefooted for hit.
Lightning Reflexes 5/5.

Mid (65-67)

Expose Weakness (big AP gain on crits).
Thrill of the Hunt for mana return.
Killer Instinct 3/3.

Late (68-70)

Resourcefulness (trap cooldown), Wyvern Sting.
Marks splash: Go for the Throat, Lethal Shots.
Hawk Eye if you want extra range.

Rotation (TBC)

Single Target

Serpent Sting → Steady/Auto weave; Arcane Shot filler.
Maintain Sting to proc Expose Weakness; crit fuels uptime.
Kill Command on proc; Viper when low.

AoE/CC

Explosive Trap on packs; Freezing Trap + Wyvern Sting for CC.
Multi-Shot; Volley carefully (threat).
Feign Death if pulling aggro.

Survival/Mana

Thrill of the Hunt refunds mana on crits.
Trap kiting: Ice/Freezing into distance; Concussive Shot.
Use pet for off-tanking; keep Mend Pet up.

Zone & Dungeon Path (TBC)

Level	Zone/Dungeon	Notes
60-62	Hellfire / Ramps / BF	Trap casters; Expose Weakness helps party.
62-65	Zangarmarsh / SP / UB	Good crit mail; lots of beasts.
65-68	Terokkar / Sethekk / SLabs	Wyvern/Trap CC valuable.
68-70	Nagrand / Netherstorm / Mech	Badge farm; crit gear for Expose Weakness.

Why Survival in WotLK?

Survival becomes top DPS early WotLK with Explosive Shot and strong crit scaling. Excellent control and kiting; great for solo and dungeons.

Spec: Survival deep to Explosive Shot, Lock and Load, Thrill of the Hunt, Noxious Stings. Off-tree Marks for Lethal Shots/Go for the Throat.

Talents by Level (70-80)

Early (70-74)

Lock and Load; Trap Mastery; Resourcefulness.
Thrill of the Hunt for mana; Noxious Stings.
Expose Weakness replaced by Hunting Party (Replenishment).

Mid (75-77)

Explosive Shot (core); Wyvern Sting.
Sniper Training for damage when stationary.
Point of No Escape (trap crit) optional.

Late (78-80)

Marked for Death (Marks tree) for AP; Improved Tracking.
Lethal Shots for crit; Go for the Throat.
Filler into Improved Stings/Expose Weakness equivalent talents.

Rotation (WotLK)

Single Target

Hunter’s Mark → Serpent Sting → Explosive Shot priority.
Black Arrow to trigger Lock and Load; use ES x2-3 during LnL without clipping ticks.
Aimed/Chimera not in Survival; use Steady/Auto filler; Kill Command on proc.

AoE

Explosive Trap + Volley; Multi-Shot on CD.
Misdirection to tank/pet; Feign Death after big pulls.
Ice Trap for kiting; Deterrence/Disengage if caught.

Survival/Mana

Hunting Party grants Replenishment to group.
Aspect of the Viper when low; swap back for damage.
Keep traps rolling to fish for Lock and Load.

Zone & Dungeon Path (WotLK)

Level	Zone/Dungeon	Notes
70-72	Borean Tundra / Howling Fjord	Lock and Load from traps/explosive; Nexus/UK drops.
72-75	Dragonblight / AN/OK	Explosive Shot excels on short fights.
75-77	Grizzly Hills / Zul'Drak	Drak'Tharon badge runs; good kiting terrain.
77-80	Sholazar / Storm Peaks / Icecrown	Gundrak/HoL/HoS badge farms; Black Arrow on CD.

Gear, Weapons, and Enchants (All Versions)

Stat Priority

Agility > Hit (cap) > Crit > Attack Power > Armor Pen (WotLK) > Haste.
Ranged weapon DPS priority.

Weapons

Always upgrade ranged first; melee for stats.
Use high-DPS ammo; keep quiver/bag updated.

Enchants

Classic: Scope; +Agi to gloves.
TBC: Stabilized Eternium Scope; Nethercobra Leg Armor.
WotLK: Heartseeker Scope; Icescale Leg Armor; +Agi enchants.

Pro Tips & Control

Leveling Speed

Use traps offensively: Freezing into Explosive Trap for LnL (WotLK).
Stutter-step to avoid clipping Autos; manage focus on pet with Go for the Throat.
Aspect swap frequently for mana.

Control

Keep Freezing Trap primed; Wyvern Sting for ranged CC.
Scatter Shot + Trap for instant CC (pre-trap launcher).
Disengage/Deterrence for emergencies; Concussive/wing clip kiting.

Group Utility

Misdirection (TBC/WotLK) to tank; Replenishment (Hunting Party) for group mana.
Traps for trash control; pet interrupts if available.
Keep Hunter’s Mark up; use Trueshot Aura baseline (WotLK) if not MM.

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