Gear Your Hunter FAST! Hunter Phase 1 Pre-Raid Gearing Guide!

Hey dudes. Silvite Soltis here again with another gearing guide.

Having covered casters, healers, tanks, and rogues in one form or another already, there's really only one more class that NEEDS to have its own specific gearing guide - Classic's only physical ranged dps class, the hunter. This class is a super-fast leveler, so there's a really high chance that many, if not most of the first 60s on WoW Classic will be these marksmen with pets. And so, they're the ones that will probably benefit from this guide the most in phase 1.

But anyway, let's get right into the guide...

Alliance Step 1 - Do LBRS Once

Assuming you're already level 60, the first thing you should do as an Alliance hunter is to run LBRS at least once to obtain some great quest rewards, as well as up to 13 possible drops. Bijou's questchain (starting in the Troll section of the dungeon) awards gloves with 2% hit, which is excellent for hunters who need to aim for 9% total. Though you'll have to run out and in a couple of times to complete this quest chain in a single run, it's definitely worth it to do so.

Also, pick up the item General Drakkisath's Command off the final boss in order to get a short quest chain to defeat General Drakkisath in UBRS for a nice trinket. Since you'll have to do UBRS anyway, you might as well get this 2% crit trinket along the way.

In summary:

Maxwell's Mission [Alliance] awards the same gloves (2% hit) as the Horde Onyxia attunement.
General Drakkisath's Demise [Alliance] awards the same trinket (2% crit) as the Horde Onyxia attunement.
13 Useful Item Drops (see below for full list)

Step 1 - Do MC and Onyxia Attunements

No matter if you're Horde or Alliance, you'll need to complete the following two quests at some point if you plan on raiding in Classic. Pick up the appropriate quests from their respective locations: Attunement to the Core from the high elf outside BRD's entrance, Dragonkin Menace from Morgan's Vigil if you're Alliance, and Warlord's Command if you're Horde. Work through any portions of the quest chains that don't require dungeon runs first (Alliance), then run through BRD, LBRS, and UBRS as the quests require.

The reason you want to get this done before focusing on dungeons is simply to kill two birds with one stone - get attuned and possibly pick up some items along the way.

In summary:

Attunement to the Core which awards no gear, but requires a BRD run and has to be done anyway.
Onyxia Attunement [Alliance] [Horde] award gloves (2% hit) and trinket (2% crit) for Horde.
BRD - 20 Useful Item Drops (see below for full list)
LBRS - 13 Useful Item Drops (see below for full list)
UBRS - 13 Useful Item Drops (see below for full list)

Step 2 - Do these quests

After, or even between portions of, the attunement quests, work to complete these quests to obtain a great chest, trinket (Horde), neck, and bow, if needed:

Job Opening: Guard Captain of Revantusk Village (Hinterlands) awards a trinket (1% hit) for Horde only. Quest was initially added in Patch 1.5 though, so may not be available at launch!
High Chief Winterfall (Winterspring) awards a wonderful green quality chest.
In Dreams (EPL/WPL) awards a neck.
Order Must Be Restored / The Scarlet Oracle, Demetria (EPL) awards a ranged weapon.

Step 3 - Run more BRD, LBRS, and/or UBRS (more hit gear)

After finishing up your attunements and knocking out quests with appropriate gear, consider running more BRD, LBRS, or UBRS. BRD is the most lucrative in terms of item drops, with nearly every slot covered. However, there is a general lack of items with +hit there and there may be significant competition from rogues and dps warriors for the items that drop, so it might make more sense to run a different dungeon instead.

LBRS is great for hunters because it holds a considerably better selection of items, including 2 Beaststalker's items (shoulders and gloves) and two excellent ranged weapons - Riphook and Blackcrow. Plus, if you're running with guildmates who need the quests that you should've already gotten finished, you can build better friendships along the way.

However, my guess is that by this point you'll need more +hit in order to not miss all the time in raids. In this case, it would probably make the most sense to run UBRS. There are 13 useful items in this 10 man dungeon and all of them are highly sought after by rogues and warriors, but that's for good reason. They just have so much hit!

But really, any of these three dungeons will suit the bill just fine.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it. Do some quests, get attuned, and run some dungeons. Pretty easy, right?

Overall, gearing a hunter shouldn't be too difficult, but as you get more gear you do want to pay attention to what slots you're still missing and run the dungeon with the most usable items at that point. To that end, and as always, I've included a list below of all the dungeon drops hunters can make use of, including both leather and mail items, as well as what boss they drop from. So take a look and see what's available.

But anyway, that's it for today. If you liked this guide or found it useful, remember to follow my blog by adding yourself to my mailing list for new guides and content when they're released. Also, consider checking out my videos over on YouTube as I make all of these guides into videos over time as well. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for updates or to chat about WoW Classic at your leisure, and consider supporting me over on Patreon if you'd like to see more even after Classic launches. But no matter what, I'll see you all in Azeroth on August 27th!

Take it easy!

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Dungeon Loot

Blackrock Depths

20 Possible Items Total

Head
Savage Gladiator Helm from Hedrum the Creeper (arena)
Ragefury Eyepatch from Hurley Blackbreath (+2 crit)
Ghostshroud from the Trial of Seven

Neck
Imperial Jewel from Emperor Dagran Thaurissan

Shoulders
x

Back
Blackveil Cape from Gerstahn
The Emperor's New Cape from Emperor Dagran Thaurissan

Chest
Mixologist's Tunic from Plugger Spazzring.
Deathdealer Breastplate from the Trial of Seven (+2 crit)

Wrists
Rubicund Armguards from Eviscerator (arena)
Pyremail Wristguards from Lord Incendius

Hands
x

Waist
x

Legs
Searingscale Leggings from Pyromaster Loregrain

Feet
Fleetfoot Greaves from Houndmaster Grebmar
Swiftwalker Boots from Princess Moira Bronzebeard

Fingers
x

Trinkets
Hand of Justice from Emperor Dagran Thaurissan

Main Hand
Grizzle's Skinner from Grizzle (arena)

Offhand
x

Ranged
Houndmaster's Bow from Houndmaster Grebmar
Houndmaster's Rifle from Houndmaster Grebmar

Stratholme Live

9 Possible Items Total

Head
Mask of the Unforgiven from the Unforgiven
Crown of Tyranny from Balnazzar

Neck
x

Shoulders
Shadowcraft Spaulders from Cannon Master Willey
Wyrmtongue Shoulders from Balnazzar

Back
Archivist Cape from Archivist Galford (random stats)

Chest
Songbird Blouse from Hearthsinger Forresten (rare spawn)

Wrists
x

Hands
Skul's Fingerbone Claws from Skul (rare spawn)

Waist
Foresight Girdle from Archivist Galford (random stats).

Legs
x

Feet
Timmy's Galoshes from Timmy the Cruel

Fingers
x

Trinkets
x

Main Hand
x

Offhand
x

Ranged
x

Stratholme Undead

7 Possible Items Total

Head
x

Neck
x

Shoulders
x

Back
Stoneskin Gargoyle Cape from Stonespine (rare spawn)
Cape of the Black Baron from Baron Rivendare

Chest
x

Wrists
x

Hands
x

Waist
x

Legs
Beaststalker's Pants from Baron Rivendare
Shadowcraft Pants from Baron Rivendare

Feet
Beaststalker's Boots from Nerub'enkan

Fingers
Band of Flesh from Ramstein the Gorger (mostly for stam)

Trinkets
x

Main Hand
Bonescraper from Baron Rivendare. Could also be an offhand.

Offhand
x

Ranged
x

Scholomance

18 Possible Items Total (10 of which are shared loot from mini-bosses with low drop chances)

Head

Bone Ring Helm from Rattlegore
Beaststalker's Cap from Darkmaster Gandling
Shadowcraft Cap from Darkmaster Gandling

Neck

x

Shoulders

x

Back

x

Chest

Tombstone Breastplate from Darkmaster Gandling (2% crit)

Wrists

Shadowcraft Bracers from Instructor Malicia (and trash mobs)

Hands

x

Waist

Frostbite Girdle from Ras Frostwhisper

Legs

x

Feet

Windreaver Greaves from Kirtonos the Herald (1% hit)
Shadowcraft Boots from Rattlegore

Fingers

x

Trinkets

x

Main Hand

x

Offhand

x

Ranged

x

Other

Cadaverous and Bloodmail Sets (Chest, Hands, Belt, Legs, Feet) from the 6 mini bosses, all low drop chance.

LBRS

13 Possible Items Total

Head
x

Neck
Talisman of Evasion from War Master Voone (for agi)

Shoulders
Beaststalker's Mantle from Overlord Wyrmthalak

Back
x

Chest
x

Wrists
Slashclaw Bracers from Halycon (1% hit)

Hands
Trueaim Gauntlets from Shadow Hunter Vosh'gajin
Shadowcraft Gloves from Shadow Hunter Vosh'gajin
Beaststalker's Gloves from War Master Voone
Slaghide Gauntlets from Urok Doomhowl (event; random enchantment)

Waist
Cloudrunner Girdle from Quartermaster Zigris
Chiselbrand Girdle from Bannok Grimaxe (rare spawn)

Legs
x

Feet
Swiftdart Battleboots from Spirestone Battle Lord (rare spawn)
Pads of the Dread Wolf from Halycon

Fingers
x

Trinkets
x

Main Hand
x

Offhand
x

Ranged
Riphook from Shadow Hunter Vosh'gajin
Blackcrow from Shadow Hunter Vosh'gajin (1% hit)

UBRS

13 Possible Items Total

Head
Eye of Rend from Warchief Rend Blackhand (2% crit)
Dragoneye Coif from Gyth

Neck
Emberfury Talisman from Pyroguard Emberseer (1% crit)

Shoulders
Truestrike Shoulders from Pyroguard Emberseer (2% hit)

Back
x

Chest
Nightbrace Tunic from Solakar Flamewreath
Beaststalker's Tunic from General Drakkisath
Shadowcraft Tunic from General Drakkisath


Wrists
Blackmist Armguards from The Beast (1% hit)

Hands
x

Waist
x

Legs
Blademaster Leggings from The Beast (1% hit, 1% crit)
Tristam Legguards from The Beast

Feet
x

Fingers
Painweaver Band from General Drakkisath (1% crit)

Trinkets
x

Main Hand
Dal'Rend's Sacred Charge from Warchief Rend Blackhand (high competition and only good for set bonus)

Offhand
Dal'Rend's Tribal Guardian from Warchief Rend Blackhand (high competition and only good for set bonus)

Ranged
x

A special thanks to itemization.info, vanillawowdb.com, and Atlasloot for providing all of the data used to compile this guide.