Survivalist
5 Point Talent
Description: Increases your Stamina by 2/4/6/8/10%.
Overview
Survivalist increases the Hunter’s stamina by up to 10%. It’s also a prerequisite for Hunter vs. Wild, which increases the attack power of the Hunter and pet by up to 30% of the Hunter’s stamina.
Why take it?
10% additional Stamina is pretty fantastic for everything outside of raiding, especially PvP. However, raiding SV Hunters will want this talent too, as it is a prerequisite for Hunter vs. Wild.
It’s a nice survivability boost for PvPing MM Hunters.
Why not take it?
Aside from SV, it’s not really that useful for any other PvE Hunter builds, and definitely not for raiding BM or MM.
Effective BM PvP Hunters won’t have the points to spare for this talent. Most successful BM PvP builds don’t put any points into Survival, and if they do, it’s usually only a handful. 1 or 2 points into Improved Tracking or Hawk Eye would be the max, so no Survivalist for PvPing BM Hunters.
Scatter Shot
1 Point Talent
Description: A short-range shot that deals 50% weapon damage and disorients the target for 4 sec. Any damage caused will remove the effect. Turns off your attack when used.
Overview
This is the Hunter’s sawed-off-shotgun-loaded-with-rock-salt ability. It’s a short range shot that can be delivered from under 5 yds. It doesn’t do a lot of damage, but it disorients the target and allows precious seconds for the Hunter to either further CC the target, or to get range.
Why take it?
It’s an awesome skill for allowing a Hunter to escape from melee range, or to setup a Freezing Trap. For Survival And Marksman Hunters this is a tremendous ability for PvP.
Why not take it?
The shot has low damage, a very short range and high mana cost, so it’s not practical for Hunters to use this in a raid setting.
BM Hunters could benefit from this talent, but there’s no way to effectively build a BM spec that’s able to pick up this talent, as well as Aimed Shot. Aimed Shot and the added DPS from the BM and MM trees are far more imprtant than Scatter Shot for Beast Mastery Hunters.
Deflection
3 Point Talent
Description: Increases your chance to parry by 1/2/3%, and reduces the duration of all Disarm effects used against you by 16/25/50%. This does not stack with other Disarm duration reducing effects.
Overview
Deflection is a pre-requisite for Counterattack, which is an ability that procs off of a Hunter’s parry. In addition to that, It reduces the duration of Disarm effects used against you.
Why take it?
If you plan on going for Counterattack, then you’ll need to invest three points in here.
Why not take it?
Most serious PvP Hunters do not spend the necessary 4 talent points for Counterattack. The hardcores will instead dual wield and throw a Titanium Weapon Chain on one of the weps. Although a Titanium Weapon Chain lacks the +% to parry (whoop-dee-doo), it produces the same reduction to disarm effects, and gives you 28 hit rating. Hit rating isn’t included in much of the Gladiator Gear, so that makes the weapon chain an even better value.
Best of all, a Titanium weapon Chain doesn’t require any talent points to acquire. Plus, if you’re not in an arena match with a class or spec that can disarm you, then equip your hard-hitting 2H stat stick instead.
The 3% parry is only useful if you plan on going the extra point needed for Counterattack. Spend these 4 points on DPS or other offensive talents, which work against all classes, not just melee.
Survival Tactics
2 Point Talent
Description: Reduces the chance your Feign Death ability and all trap spells will be resisted by 2/4%, and reduces the cooldown of your Disengage ability by 2/4 sec.
Overview
Survival Tactics is a nice PvP talent, since it not only lessens your opponents’ resistance to traps, but also reduces the cooldown on Disengage. In addition to those things, it also reduces Feign Death resistance in PvE.
Why take it?
If only for the reduced cooldown on Disengage, it’s a nice talent to have for PvP. The 2/4% reduced resistance to traps is nice too. It’ a decent talent for both MM and SV PvP Hunters.
Why not take it?
It’s primarily a PvP talent, so unless you engage in player versus player combat, you could safely pass this one up.