The Honor Codex

Class PvP guides for WoW Forever

Pick your class below. Learn how it wins, the buttons that matter, and how to beat every class you meet.

Each guide: talents, key buttons, your opener, every matchup, and your job in each battleground.

Hunter

Wins the fight before it reaches you.

Hunters hit hard from long range and control fights with traps, stings and a pet. In Forever every Hunter learns Aimed Shot, and traps can be laid in combat. Their weakness is the dead zone: shots need 8 yards, so very close they cannot shoot. Good Hunters move all the time.

PvP roles
Ranged damageControl
Newcomer friendlyGood first pick
PvP gearOne set for all specs.

Hunter basics

What powers you

Mana. Your shots, stings, traps and aspects cost it, but Auto Shot is free. Your pet keeps fighting even when you are out of mana.

Cloth and leather from the start, mail at level 40. You can dual wield, and you need a ranged weapon for your shots.

Range and the dead zone

Your shots work from 8 to 35 yards. Closer than 8 yards you cannot shoot, so keep distance. Wing Clip and Raptor Strike are your melee tools.

Pets

Tame Beast at level 10 gives you a pet. It does a big share of your damage. Feed it to keep it happy, Mend Pet heals it, and Revive Pet brings it back.

Aspects

One aspect at a time. Hawk adds ranged attack power, Monkey adds dodge, Cheetah adds speed but you are dazed if hit. Aspect of the Beast makes you untrackable.

Traps

In Forever you can lay traps in combat. Freezing Trap freezes the first enemy who steps on it, and Frost Trap makes a slowing ice patch.

Abilities you unlock, by level

  1. 8Concussive Shot
    Slows the target by half so you can keep range.
  2. 10Tame Beast
    Get your first pet.
  3. 10Aspect of the Hawk
    More ranged damage. Your main aspect in fights.
  4. 12Wing Clip
    Slows melee who reach you so you can step back.
  5. 20Aimed Shot
    Trainable in Forever. A big hit with a 2 second cast.
  6. 20Freezing Trap
    Freezes one enemy. Works in combat now.
  7. 30Scatter Shot
    (talent) Disorients a close target for 4 seconds so you can get range.
  8. 30Feign Death
    Play dead so enemies may drop you as a target.
  9. 36Viper Sting
    Drains mana from healers and casters.

PvP while you level

10-19

Get your pet at 10. You have Serpent Sting, Arcane Shot, Concussive Shot, Wing Clip at 12 and Immolation Trap at 16. Send your pet in, slow with Concussive Shot and shoot.

20-29

Aimed Shot, Freezing Trap, Disengage and Aspect of the Cheetah at 20. Rapid Fire at 26 and Frost Trap at 28. Deterrence is a talent at 20. Lay Freezing Trap at your feet when melee come for you.

30-39

Feign Death at 30, and talents give Scatter Shot, Intimidation or Strider Kick. Aspect of the Beast makes you untrackable. Flare at 32 shows stealthed Rogues and Druids. Viper Sting at 36 drains healers.

40-49

Mail at 40, plus Volley and Aspect of the Pack. Talents give Sniper Shot or Bestial Wrath. Fight from max range and keep moving.

50-59

Higher ranks of your shots and traps. Alterac Valley opens at 51. Pick off casters and slow enemy flag runners.

60

All tools unlocked. Marksman hits hard from far away, Survival controls melee with traps, Beast Master lets the pet do the work. Always keep range and keep moving.

Set up your bars

Keys 1-6Aimed Shot, Arcane Shot, Concussive Shot, Serpent Sting or Viper Sting, Multi-Shot and Scatter Shot if you have it.
Shift + keysFreezing Trap, Frost Trap, Wing Clip, Raptor Strike, Disengage and Feign Death.
Aspect barAspect of the Hawk, Monkey, Cheetah and Beast on easy keys.
Pet barPet attack, follow and stay, plus Mend Pet, Intimidation or Bestial Wrath if you have them.
Utility barRapid Fire, Deterrence, Flare, Hunter's Mark, Eagle Eye, Call Pet, Revive Pet and Feed Pet.
ControllerIn Gamepad mode, use the Hunter pet flyout for pet commands. Keep face buttons for Aimed Shot, Concussive Shot and your trap, and a modifier layer for Wing Clip and Feign Death.

New Hunter questions

Why can't I shoot this target?

They are closer than 8 yards, in the dead zone. Wing Clip, step back, then shoot.

Can I lay traps in combat?

Yes. In Forever traps work in combat.

Do I need a talent for Aimed Shot?

No. Every Hunter learns it at level 20. It shares a cooldown with Multi-Shot.

Why do my shots stop when I move?

Auto Shot only fires when you stand still for a moment. Stop briefly between moves, and use instant shots while you run.

Which aspect should I use in PvP?

Hawk for damage. Monkey if melee are on you. Cheetah only to travel, because a hit dazes you.

My pet keeps running off. What do I do?

Set it to follow or stay on the pet bar, and only send it to attack the target you want.

Talents and PvP builds

New to talents?

  • You get your first talent point at level 10 and one more each level. That is 51 points at level 60.
  • Every class has three trees. Each row opens once you spend 5 points per row above it in that tree.
  • A line between two talents means the lower one needs the upper one maxed first.
  • Changed your mind? Your class trainer resets your talents for a fee.
  • Pick a PvP build below. Lit icons show where its points go. Hover or tap any talent to read what it does.

Marksman Sniper

Long range, big shots, and a Scatter Shot to escape.

0Beast Mastery31Marksmanship20Survival

Shoot from as far away as you can with Aimed Shot and the new Sniper Shot. When melee reach you, Scatter Shot, step back and trap them.

Best for: Battlegrounds and duels

Level 60: the full build, all 51 points.

Beast Mastery0 pts
Marksmanship31 pts
Survival20 pts

Gold = fully rankedGreen = some ranksGlow = key talentBlue dot = new in Forever

Full leveling order, level 10 to 60
  1. Levels 10–12Hawk Eye 3/3 Marksmanship
  2. Levels 13–17Lethal Attacks 5/5 Marksmanship
  3. Levels 18–20Improved Stings 3/3 Marksmanship
  4. Levels 21–25Careful Aim 5/5 Marksmanship
  5. Levels 26–30Mortal Shots 5/5 Marksmanship
  6. Level 31Scatter Shot 1/1 Marksmanship
  7. Levels 32–33Rapid Killing 2/2 Marksmanship
  8. Level 34Trueshot Aura 1/1 Marksmanship
  9. Levels 35–39Ranged Weapon Specialization 5/5 Marksmanship
  10. Level 40Sniper Shot 1/1 Marksmanship
  11. Levels 41–45Deflection 5/5 Survival
  12. Levels 46–50Survivalist 5/5 Survival
  13. Levels 51–53Surefooted 3/3 Survival
  14. Level 54Deterrence 1/1 Survival
  15. Levels 55–57Improved Wing Clip 3/3 Survival
  16. Levels 58–59Survival Tactics 2/2 Survival
  17. Level 60Counterattack 1/1 Survival

Key talents in this build

Scatter Shot
Disorients a target for 4 seconds so you can get range or trap them.
Sniper Shot
New in Forever: a long-range shot that adds 10 yards to your next 3 shots.
Hawk Eye
6 more yards of range, so you can shoot before they reach you.
Improved Stings
Viper Sting comes back 6 seconds sooner to drain casters.
Surefooted
Slows and roots on you last 30% less.
Deterrence
Dodge and parry most melee hits for 10 seconds.
Mortal Shots
Your ranged crits hit much harder, which is where your burst comes from.

Strengths

  • Huge damage from long range
  • Good escapes from melee
  • Drains casters with Viper Sting

Weaknesses

  • Weak in the dead zone up close
  • Rogues and druids can get on top of you

Open this build in the talent calculator

Your action bar

Put these on keys you can reach without looking. Buttons marked Talent only exist if your build takes that talent.

Concussive Shot
Slows the target by half for 4 seconds.
Aimed Shot
Big hit with a 2 second cast. Shares a cooldown with Multi-Shot.
Freezing Trap
Freezes the first enemy to step on it. Works in combat now.
Viper Sting
Drains mana from casters. Now has a 15 second cooldown.
Wing Clip
Melee slow for when an enemy reaches you.
Feign Death
Play dead so enemies may lose you.

The opener, in order

  1. Start at max range with Aimed Shot.
  2. Concussive Shot to slow them, then keep shooting.
  3. Send your pet at their healer or caster.
  4. If melee reach you, Wing Clip, step back and lay Freezing Trap. Marksmen can Scatter Shot first.
  5. Viper Sting any caster or healer.

Know your enemy

How a Hunter usually fares one on one. Pick the class you are fighting.

HunterRogue
Hard

Flare shows stealthed Rogues. Lay a Freezing Trap at your feet before they open.

  1. FirstUse Flare where you think they are, and lay Freezing Trap at your feet before they open.
  2. ThenWing Clip and step back the moment they reach you. Keep your pet on them so they cannot restealth.
  3. Watch forWatch for Cheap Shot and Blind. Deterrence helps if your build has it, and Flare again after they Vanish.
  4. If it goes wrongRun toward your team or a guard. Feign Death can make them lose you.
Their buttons to watch
  • Cheap Shot
  • Kidney Shot
  • Gouge
  • Blind
Your answers
  • Concussive Shot: Slows the target by half for 4 seconds.
  • Aimed Shot: Big hit with a 2 second cast. Shares a cooldown with Multi-Shot.
  • Freezing Trap: Freezes the first enemy to step on it. Works in combat now.
  • Viper Sting: Drains mana from casters. Now has a 15 second cooldown.

Your job in each battleground

Warsong Gulch

Levels 10–60 · 10 vs 10

Trap the flag room door and slow carriers.

Arathi Basin

Levels 20–60 · 15 vs 15

Pick off defenders from range. Scout with Eagle Eye.

Darkspear Islands

Levels 30–60 · 15 vs 15 · new

Slow enemy flag runners on the beach.

Gear

Your PvP gear path

One set for all specs. Honor and Marks buy the gear; your rank unlocks the upgrades.

  1. Blue PvP setLevel 55. Buy each piece with Honor plus Marks from battlegrounds. No rank needed.
  2. PvP trinketRank 2. Removes slows and loss-of-control effects, 5 min cooldown. Get it first: it wins more fights than any armor.
  3. Faction cloakRank 3.
  4. Epic upgradesTurn a blue piece in with an Emboldened Seal. Wrist and waist at Rank 8, feet 9, hands 10, legs and shoulders 12, chest and head 13.
  5. Rank 14 weaponGrand Marshal or High Warlord. Earliest in week 10 of a season.

Don’t sit on Honor: you can hold 25,000 at most, and anything past that is lost. Beta prices and ranks may change.

Stats to look for

Stamina first, then Agility and Attack Power, with some Intellect. Based on the set stats.12

Forever has no Resilience. Developers said they are not adding it. Stamina gives 10 health per point, like Classic. Hit and crit are one stat each now, for spells and attacks alike. Hit cap against players of your level: 5% melee and ranged, 4% spells, 24% dual wield (beta client). A beta bug halved crit damage in PvP. Blizzard called it a bug and fixed it in the Oct 8 notes. Most damage and healing over time can crit now. Expertise is new. It lowers the target's dodge and parry chance. Every PvP set piece is Stamina-heavy. The sets are the clearest guide to what each spec should stack.

Honor and Marks, in plain words

  • Rare pieces need level 55 and no rank. You pay Honor plus Marks of Honor.
  • Each slot needs Marks from one battleground: WSG for hands, legs, wrists; AB for shoulders, chest, waist, cloaks; AV for head and two-handers; Darkspear for feet, necklace, one-handers, ranged, shields, off-hands.
  • A win gives 3 Marks, a loss 1. You can carry up to 30 of each.
  • Full rare set of 8 pieces (6 set + wrist + waist): 59,200 Honor plus Marks (35 WSG, 35 AB, 15 AV, 10 Darkspear).
  • Epic seals for 8 pieces: 14,000 Honor plus the head seal (price unknown).
  • Honor cap is 25,000, so you will visit the vendor several times.
  • Vendors: Champions' Hall in Stormwind (Captain Dirgehammer armor, Captain O'Neal weapons, Master Sergeant Biggins accessories) and Hall of Legends in Orgrimmar (Lady Palanseer, Sergeant Thunderhorn, Brave Stonehide).
13467891011121314

Your PvP sets

Lieutenant Commander's Pursuit (Alliance) / Champion's Pursuit (Horde)All specs (ranged)Rare (blue), item level 60, needs level 55
  • 2 pieces: +20 Agility.
  • 4 pieces: Reduces the cooldown of your Concussive Shot by 1 sec.
  • 6 pieces: +20 Stamina.
6 pieces · 6 pieces together: 48,700 Honor + 75 Marks of Honor
  • Head: Premier Chainmail Helmet (Alliance) / Premier Chain Headguard (Horde). +10 Agi, +19 Sta, +7 Int, +12 AP. 9,000 Honor + 15 AV Marks.
  • Shoulders: Premier Chainmail Pauldrons (Alliance) / Premier Chain Shoulders (Horde). +13 Agi, +19 Sta, +12 AP. 6,350 Honor + 10 AB Marks.
  • Chest: Premier Chainmail Hauberk (Alliance) / Premier Chain Breastplate (Horde). +14 Agi, +19 Sta, +8 Int, +14 AP. 9,350 Honor + 15 AB Marks.
  • Hands: Premier Chainmail Gauntlets (Alliance) / Premier Chain Gauntlets (Horde). +8 Agi, +20 Sta, +6 Int, +12 AP. 7,500 Honor + 10 WSG Marks.
  • Legs: Premier Chainmail Leggings (Alliance) / Premier Chain Leggings (Horde). +13 Agi, +19 Sta, +9 Int, +0.5% dodge. 9,000 Honor + 15 WSG Marks.
  • Feet: Premier Chainmail Boots (Alliance) / Premier Chain Boots (Horde). +11 Agi, +19 Sta, +5 Int, +12 AP. 7,500 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks.
12
Field Marshal's Pursuit (Alliance) / Warlord's Pursuit (Horde)All specs (ranged)Epic, item level 65, needs level 60
  • 2 pieces: +20 Stamina.
  • 3 pieces: Reduces the cooldown of your Concussive Shot by 1 sec.
  • 6 pieces: +20 Agility.
6 pieces · Seals for 6 pieces: 11,300 Honor + the head seal (price not known yet)
  • Head: Premier Field Marshal's Chainmail Helm (Alliance) / Premier Warlord's Chain Helmet (Horde). +18 Agi, +34 Sta, +12 Int, +24 AP. Seal at rank 13, earliest week 9.
  • Shoulders: Premier Marshal's Chainmail Spaulders (Alliance) / Premier General's Chain Shoulders (Horde). +17 Agi, +26 Sta, +18 AP. Seal at rank 12, earliest week 8, 2,250 Honor.
  • Chest: Premier Field Marshal's Chainmail Breastplate (Alliance) / Premier Warlord's Chain Chestpiece (Horde). +18 Agi, +34 Sta, +12 Int, +24 AP. Seal at rank 13, earliest week 9, 2,650 Honor.
  • Hands: Premier Lieutenant Commander's Chainmail Grips (Alliance) / Premier Champion's Chain Gloves (Horde). +10 Agi, +27 Sta, +10 Int, +18 AP. Seal at rank 10, earliest week 7, 2,250 Honor.
  • Legs: Premier Marshal's Chainmail Legguards (Alliance) / Premier General's Chain Legguards (Horde). +17 Agi, +34 Sta, +12 Int, +1% dodge. Seal at rank 12, earliest week 8, 2,650 Honor.
  • Feet: Premier Knight-Champion's Chainmail Boots (Alliance) / Premier Centurion's Chain Sabatons (Horde). +14 Agi, +26 Sta, +7 Int, +18 AP. Seal at rank 9, earliest week 6, 1,500 Honor.
12

Items worth chasing

Greater Insignia of the Alliance / Greater Insignia of the HordeRank 2, 5,250 Honor

PvP trinket. Removes all movement impairing and loss of control effects. 5 min cooldown. Same trinket for every class.1513

Premier Sergeant's CapeRank 3, 4,500 Honor + 10 AB Marks

+16 Sta, +67 bonus armor. Every class can wear it.1

Premier Sergeant's CloakRank 3, 4,500 Honor + 10 AB Marks

+8 to Str, Agi, Sta, Int and Spi. Every class can wear it.1

Premier Master Sergeant's Insignia (Alliance) / Premier Senior Sergeant's Insignia (Horde)Rank 4, 7,500 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks

Necklace, +16 Sta, +7 Spi.1

Premier Grand Marshal's Bullseye (Alliance) / Premier High Warlord's Recurve (Horde)Rank 14, 12,000 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks

Bow. +6 Sta, +32 AP. Rank 14 ranged weapon. Crossbow and gun versions have the same stats.12

Premier Grand Marshal's Glaive (Alliance) / Premier High Warlord's Pig Sticker (Horde)Rank 14, 22,500 Honor + 20 AV Marks

Polearm. +23 Str, +35 Sta, +1% crit. Two-hand Strength polearm. No Agility on it.12

Sentinel's Chain Leggings (Alliance) / Outrider's Chain Leggings (Horde)Exalted with Silverwing Sentinels or Warsong Outriders, level 60 version

Level 60 legs from Warsong Gulch. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Highlander's Chain Pauldrons (Alliance) / Defiler's Chain Pauldrons (Horde)Exalted with The League of Arathor or The Defilers, level 60

Level 60 shoulders from Arathi Basin. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Gnoll Skin Bandolier / Harpy Hide QuiverRevered with Stormpike Guard or Frostwolf Clan, level 55

AV ammo bags. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Ice Threaded Arrow / Ice Threaded BulletHonored with Stormpike Guard or Frostwolf Clan, level 51

AV ammo.4

Stormpike Soldier's Pendant and Cloak (Alliance) / Frostwolf Legionnaire's Pendant and Cloak (Horde)Honored with Stormpike Guard or Frostwolf Clan, level 55

Physical-fighter neck and back from AV. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Premier Chainmail Girdle (Alliance) / Premier Chain Girdle (Horde)Honor vendor, Rare waist. 6,000 Honor + 10 AB Marks

+12 Agi, +19 Sta, +7 Int. Not part of the set bonus.12

Premier Knight-Captain's Chainmail Girdle (Alliance) / Premier Legionnaire's Chain Girdle (Horde)Honor vendor, Epic waist. Seal at rank 8, earliest week 5, 1,500 Honor

+17 Agi, +26 Sta, +10 Int. Not part of the set bonus.12

Premier Chainmail Armguards (Alliance) / Premier Chain Bracers (Horde)Honor vendor, Rare wrists. 4,500 Honor + 10 WSG Marks

+15 Sta, +7 Int, +8 AP. Not part of the set bonus.12

Premier Knight-Captain's Chainmail Bracers (Alliance) / Premier Legionnaire's Chain Wristguards (Horde)Honor vendor, Epic wrists. Seal at rank 8, earliest week 5, 1,200 Honor

+21 Sta, +10 Int, +12 AP. Not part of the set bonus.12

Gear tips

  • The set cuts Concussive Shot cooldown by 1 sec (4 rare or 3 epic pieces).
  • The rare 2-piece bonus is +20 Agility. Good early value.
  • The rank 14 ranged weapons cost 12,000 Honor, cheaper than the two-handers.

Enchants

  • All Classic Era enchants remain, so Crusader is still the melee weapon pick. Spell Power and Healing Power for casters and healers.
  • New 2H weapon: Strength (+25 Str), Mighty Spell Power (+55), Mighty Healing Power (+100 healing).
  • New 1H weapon: Recovery (heal 5% max health on parry or dodge), Revelation (next spell +100% crit, diminishing), Insight (Spirit proc).
  • New chest: Absorption (25% chance to absorb 50 damage per hit).
  • New necklace enchants: +5 Str, +5 Agi, spell power, healing power, +5 defense.
  • New bracer and cloak options include Superior Agility (+9), Superior Intellect (+9) and cloak Agility (+5).

Consumables

  • Rank 5 reward: Combat Potions (contents not detailed by Blizzard).
  • BG quartermasters sell Superior and Major Healing and Mana Draughts, bandages and rations from Friendly or Honored.
  • Minor, Lesser and plain Healing Potions moved to First Aid.
  • Alchemists get Mixology: their own elixirs and flasks last twice as long and are stronger.
  • Draught of Predatory Senses is now a potion on the shared combat potion cooldown.

Professions

  • Engineering is the most common PvP pick. Bombs and gadgets give burst and control.
  • SAF-T and EZ-Thro explosives can be used by non-engineers, so you can buy them.
  • Mining at 300 is reported to give +5% max health. Good for PvP, check on live.
  • Gnome racial no longer gives +15 Engineering. It makes devices more reliable.
  • Alchemy's Mixology helps if your battleground allows your elixirs.

Not published yet: Price of the Emboldened Head Seal (rank 13) is not published. All set stats and prices are beta data. Check the vendor on live realms. No tested PvP stat priority at level 60 yet. The beta stopped at level 30. Stats of the battleground reputation rewards in Forever are not checked here.

Racials and mistakes

Racials

Alliance: Night Elf (Shadowmeld), Dwarf (Stoneform clears bleeds and poisons) or Human (new for Hunters; Will to Survive breaks stuns). Horde: Troll (Berserking), Orc (Blood Fury, and your pet deals 5% more damage) or Tauren (War Stomp). The new Skyborne race can also be a Hunter.

Common mistakes

  • Standing still too long. Only stop for Aimed Shot.
  • Fighting in the dead zone.
  • Forgetting your pet is a big part of your damage.

Veteran tip

Keep moving. A still Hunter is a dead Hunter.

How ranks work

Battlegrounds and weekly PvP quests give Rank Points. Everyone needs the same points, and nothing takes them away.

Fourteen ranks

From Private or Scout up to Grand Marshal or High Warlord. Rank 2 gives the PvP trinket; Rank 14 gives the epic weapons.

Weekly cap

The highest rank you can reach rises each week. Rank 14 opens in week 10 of a season at the earliest.

Read the full rank guide