Beastcleave2.0 or PHD2 aka BM/fDK/x, How to get started as a Hunter

[CaptianCrook]

BM > MM
I've ran this comp as both MM/BM.
The way I've seen this comp ran there's absolutely no reason not spec BM for it. You gain the ability to rush down opposing healers like other DK/X comps and you gain a CC break early in the game, among other pros/cons. I'm not going to get into in-depth strategies or tactics with this comp I'm more-so giving an overview of how to get started and tips along the way.

Hunter
Pets to use:
SPIRIT BEAST and DEVILSAUR!
Petopia: Spirit Beasts /// Petopia: Devilsaurs
Training your pets, my other guide
http://www.mmowned.com/forums/world-...ml#post2080936

Pet Spec: Hunter Pet Calculator - Wowhead

Hunter Spec: http://www.wowhead.com/talent#cf0ffoGdRRozZhrM
Update: Change to Hunter spec

Details about this spec:
There seems to be a pig resetting Pet focus to 100% so as of now (before any hotfix) 0/3 Bestial Discipline isn't needed, which means we have points to put into Killing Streak / Kindred Spirits / Imp Ment Pet / Focus Fire / Efficiency (MM tree). So you're left with these options. Taking a 1 point out of Kindred Spirits / Imp Mend Pet and placing it into Focus Fire. AND. Not taking Survival Tactics in the Survival Tree and pointing 2 more points into Efficiency for 3/3 in that spot. If you wan't efficiency/Focus Fire I would suggest leaving 1 point out of Imp Mend Pet and not getting Survival Tactics, this will give you a lot more Arcane Shot/Kill Command spam early in the game.


Opener from a Hunter's Viewpoint:
Start every game with a Spirit Beast. Start in Camo w/ Aspect of the Cheetah. The most important thing to watch out for is the enemy team rushing you and popping you out of camouflage. Depending on your healer you can easily get rushed down before your DK gets on target, which means you lose a lot of offensive pressure that may determine if you win or lose the game. Using the "Move To" pet command I send my pet towards our initial target while I Chris Johnson whoever is chasing me around. Make sure your pet stays in LOS of you so you can pop BW as soon as your DK opens. BW will get you out of a Deep Freeze/Chains of Ice/Cheapshot/etc,etc. Hurting their opening and strengthening yours.

If the game permits it after your first BW is down dismiss and switch to your second pet, either another Spirit Beast (more heals) or Devilsaur (rebuff +5% crit). Replacing your pet does 2 of 3 positive things for you. It gives you a 2nd or 3rd heal sooner, and refreshes your Call of the Wild CD. OR rebuffs you with +5% crit and refreshes your Call of the Wild CD.

Hunter Playing Defensively tips!
Using a Spirit Beast / Devilsaur you no longer have Roar of Sacrifice but don't fret, your replacing it with Spirit Mend which is arguably much easier to chain together. Also you gain a CC breaker (BW) but lose a Readiness/Deterrence. Not as big of a deal as you'd think.

1. Don't immediately BW when you jump your first target, if possible us it to break whatever initial CC is put on you. This puts you into DRs from the other team decreasing their offensive pressure and/or defensive peels.
2. Spec Entrapment
3. DO MORE WITH YOUR DETERRENCE. With only 1 deterrence you need to do everything you can with it.
3.1 Fear Beast @ a Feral while deterred. You can now use Stoneform while in deter so remove those bleeds and diseases or mitigate warlock dot damage if you're very low.
3.2 Spirit Mend yourself then dismiss/recall and Spirit mend again! (Important, you must wait 1 second after summoning a new spirit beast before you Spirit Mend again or he doesn't inherit your stats and the heals are drastically reduced.
4 While Deterr'd keep using Kill Command to keep up offensive pressure.


Spirit Mend information Spirit Mend - Spell - World of Warcraft
With base stats on a PvP geared hunter a single Spirit Mend will heal for 18k damage over 10seconds.
With CDs popped a single Spirit mend will heal for over 26k dmg over 10seconds.
Spirit Mend STACKS with itself. This coupled with Spirit Bond gives you the most self-healing out of any of the hunter specs. Just replace any RoS macros you had with new Spirit Mend macros.

Death Knight
Spec: http://www.wowhead.com/talent#j0hZGcRrfzRd0ufM
This Spec includes Desecration. If you play this comp correctly you shouldn't be needing the 2nd Strangulate and considering Melee Cleave teams are running rampant Desecration adds a lot of room for better peels on your healer.

My experience with the frost DK class is only been on this comp and playing my Alt DK since the patch, but this is a short overview of what you (the DK) or your partner should go for.

Reforge Hit --> Mastery
With Dk's innate Spell Hit and the incredible mastery bonus it's worth it to lose 2-3% of your hit to replace it with Mastery. Spam HB and FS until somethings dead :P

Healer: THE X
This position is very debatable. I would like to get some more practice on the tourny realm with different healers but this comp may very well work with any of them. I've ran it with a rDruid and with Hots + Spirit Mend and druid peels its worked out quite well. Many people are reporting Priest and Shamans are great for the comp. Priest fear out of Hungering Cold can be devasting, and of course shaman heal power + more survivability to being trained down by the opposing team.


Finally, why this comp is so strong

The pure rush down power of a BM hunter and Frost DK is insane. Anyone trying the same strategy on your healer will always lose their healer before you, and seeing how this is ever so popular with all of the frost DK rush down comps it is very easy to skyrocket rating.



I'm sorry if this guide is very vague, I've written a lot more than I anticipated and don't have time atm to re-read and check over everything. If questions arise or I've said something incredibly stupid ill do my best to get back quickly and answer questions or fix the guide.

this is a screenshot of my Action bar 2.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/542/ss1t.png/
I will update the post later with a guide on how I tamed all of these spirits beasts, and how you can do it quickly too.

[Jbott]

You mean... PHD?

"Reforge Hit --> Mastery
With Dk's innate Spell Hit and the incredible mastery bonus it's worth it to lose 2-3% of your hit to replace it with Mastery. Spam HB and FS until somethings dead :P"

You want to reforge crit/haste/exp to Mastery and keep 5% hit. You spam NS, not Howling Blast.

Sigh.

[CaptianCrook]

You mean... PHD?

"Reforge Hit --> Mastery
With Dk's innate Spell Hit and the incredible mastery bonus it's worth it to lose 2-3% of your hit to replace it with Mastery. Spam HB and FS until somethings dead :P"

You want to reforge crit/haste/exp to Mastery and keep 5% hit. You spam NS, not Howling Blast.

Sigh.

Thanks, yes I meant PHD.

And no, you don't want to spam NS. 4x HB , Froststrike Spam > NS spam. The most you'll get from NS running this comp is if you're specced into Desecration, so NS to get that down on the ground.

DK Frost Mastery = 2.0% Increase to Frost Dmg per 1% of mastery. So reforging 3% Hit --> Mastery = 6% increase in Overall DMG.

Since you're suggesting to Spam NS you obviously haven't played a Frost DK since the patch so please don't try to tell everyone how to play it. Also, this guide isn't for EVERY fDK or BM hunter, its for fDK's and BM Hunter's running this comp.

[Jbott]

Thanks, yes I meant PHD.

And no, you don't want to spam NS. 4x HB , Froststrike Spam > NS spam. The most you'll get from NS running this comp is if you're specced into Desecration, so NS to get that down on the ground.

DK Frost Mastery = 2.0% Increase to Frost Dmg per 1% of mastery. So reforging 3% Hit --> Mastery = 6% increase in Overall DMG.

Since you're suggesting to Spam NS you obviously haven't played a Frost DK since the patch so please don't try to tell everyone how to play it. Also, this guide isn't for EVERY fDK or BM hunter, its for fDK's and BM Hunter's running this comp.

I've played Frost DK to 2300+. yes, inb4 'LOLZ N00B I PLAYD @ GLAD!!!!!!!' but I'm just saying with Pillar of Frost and trinket, your NS are really high and a better use then HB.

You're a fool, sir.