Improved Concussive Shot

2 Point Talent

Description: Increases the duration of your Concussive Shot’s daze effect by 1/2 sec.

Overview

This talent was changed in Patch 3.0.2 to increase the length of the daze effect on the target, as opposed to the chance on hit to stun the target. Prior to that patch, this was actually a fairly decent talent for PvP. This talent basically just extends the 50% slow of Concussive Shot to 5 or 6 seconds, up from 4.

Who needs it?

No one really. I suppose there are those who like to utilize it for PvP, but there are just so many other more beneficial talents I feel that you could spend points on instead of this. I have debated grabbing it from time to time, but I can never justify dropping points in another talent in order to take this one. 4 seconds of daze is plenty for me along with our other tools to create distance.

Who doesn’t need it?

Refer to “Who needs it?”

Focused Aim

3 Point Talent

Description: Reduces the pushback suffered from damaging attacks while casting Steady Shot by 23/46/70%, and increases your chance to hit by 1/2/3%.

Overview

This talent lessens the interrupts you may receive while casting Steadies “if” you’re taking damage. It also increases your hit % by 1, 2 or 3 depending on how many points you invest.

Who needs it?

Hunters who are under the hit cap. If gems, enchants and racial traits don’t get you to 8%, then you need to put points in here. If you’re way under the cap, then go 3/3. If you only need less than a percent or two, then simply throw 1 or 2 points in here.

Remember, Hunters need to have at least +8% hit because Blizz rounds down to the nearest whole number when it calculates our pet hit. While 7.98% might be good enough for you to not miss, the 7% that your pet will be getting will not cut it. Just throw as many points as necessary in here to reach the desired hit cap of 8%.

The pushback bit is pretty lame if you ask me. I can’t really see any instance where this talent would be worthwhile without the added hit %. In PvE, if you’re taking damage you’ll most likely want to reposition yourself outside of where it is you’re standing. You’re probably not going to just stand there and cast Steadies while a meteor shower is reigning down on you, but then again, maybe that’s your style. 😉

“Your meteors don’t scare me..! Watch as I remain mostly uninterrupted by these attacks enabling me to unleash the wrath of my lowest priority shot with little pushback. FEAR THE STEADY!!!”

In PvP you utilize mostly instant cast shots, so the pushback prevention is pretty useless here too. Steady is a really low priority shot in PvP. Of course, I’m thinking mainly of arena. In BGs you may be able to sit back in your group and settle into your raid rotation, but anytime you are able to do this, you’re probably not taking damage anyway. At any rate, my point is, take this talent for the +hit and nothing else.

As you obtain more +hit via gear, just re-apportion points from here into other talents as needed.

Who doesn’t need it?

Anyone who is hit capped already.

Lethal Shots

5 Point Talent

Description: Increases your critical strike chance with ranged weapons by 1/2/3/4/5%.

Overview

Not much to explain here… this talent increases your crit rating with ranged weapons by up to 5%.

Who needs it?

All Hunters should grab this talent. Our primary tool of destruction is our ranged weapon. Adding 5% crit is a no-brainer. For PvE and PvP this talent is mandatory.

Who doesn’t need it?

Eventually all Hunters should have this talent, but there is one case where I would forego taking it. This would be if you are leveling. It is wise to wait awhile before picking this talent up as the additional crit will give you more burst, thus pulling the aggro off of your pet.

When leveling, just fortify Fluffy’s ass-kicking abilities first before you start to boost your own ranged weapon damage. I would probably wait at least until somewhere around level 35 before taking it.