src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73445">
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While
browsing my way across various forums it seems to me that there is one
particular recurring question among new players that is asked
regardless of faction choice, or class. “What race is the
best for the class I want to play?” This question is
sometimes met by the various communities with laughter, ridicule or
even those “I can’t believe you didn’t
know that, it’s so obvious” responses. While these
responses are understandable, I do feel sometimes people should reach
out and lend more of a helping hand, after all it wasn’t so
long ago that we were starting out.
This week I plan to reach out that helping hand to those in the Hunter
class who are stuck staring at their character selection screen lost
and confused. There are three main things that one should consider
before choosing the race of their future toon. The first is starting
stats. Listed below are the starting stats for the races available to
Hunters.
style="width: 555px; text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="font-weight: bold;">Alliance
style="font-weight: bold;">STR
style="font-weight: bold;">AGI
style="font-weight: bold;">STA
style="font-weight: bold;">INT
style="font-weight: bold;">SPR
Humans
23
20
22
20
20
Dwarf
22
19
24
19
20
Night Elf
17
28
20
20
21
Draenei
21
20
20
21
23
style="width: 555px; text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="font-weight: bold;">Horde
style="font-weight: bold;">STR
style="font-weight: bold;">AGI
style="font-weight: bold;">STA
style="font-weight: bold;">INT
style="font-weight: bold;">SPR
Orc
23
20
23
17
24
Tauren
25
18
23
15
23
Troll
21
25
22
16
22
Blood Elf
17
25
19
24
20
browsing my way across various forums it seems to me that there is one
particular recurring question among new players that is asked
regardless of faction choice, or class. “What race is the
best for the class I want to play?” This question is
sometimes met by the various communities with laughter, ridicule or
even those “I can’t believe you didn’t
know that, it’s so obvious” responses. While these
responses are understandable, I do feel sometimes people should reach
out and lend more of a helping hand, after all it wasn’t so
long ago that we were starting out.
This week I plan to reach out that helping hand to those in the Hunter
class who are stuck staring at their character selection screen lost
and confused. There are three main things that one should consider
before choosing the race of their future toon. The first is starting
stats. Listed below are the starting stats for the races available to
Hunters.
border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
As
you can see, race by race, the stats vary only slightly. I took the
time to post them in one place to better enabled new players
to see
this fact. It is my humble opinion that the stats should basically be
ignored and should not really play a big part as a deciding factor in
your choice. Let’s face it one or two more agility come end
game really isn’t going to benefit you all that much.
The second area that you will need to look at while choosing the
perfect Hunter class is racial abilities. Once again I have listed the
racial abilities of all classes able to be Hunters and separated them
into Alliance and Horde.
you can see, race by race, the stats vary only slightly. I took the
time to post them in one place to better enabled new players
to see
this fact. It is my humble opinion that the stats should basically be
ignored and should not really play a big part as a deciding factor in
your choice. Let’s face it one or two more agility come end
game really isn’t going to benefit you all that much.
The second area that you will need to look at while choosing the
perfect Hunter class is racial abilities. Once again I have listed the
racial abilities of all classes able to be Hunters and separated them
into Alliance and Horde.
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Alliance
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Human style="font-style: italic;">
![]()
250px="" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73444" height="">
style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">Diplomacy
- (Passive) Reputations gains increased by 10%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Every
Man for Himself - Removes
all movement impairing effects and all
effects which
cause loss of control of your character. Shares a cool
down with other similar
effects.
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Mace
Specialization - (Passive)
Expertise with Maces an Two - Handed
Maces
Increased
by 3
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Sword
Specialization - (Passive)
Expertise with Swords and Two-Handed
Swords Increased
by 3
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">The
Human Spirit - (Passive)
Spirit Increased by 3%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Human style="font-style: italic;">
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73444" height="">
style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">Diplomacy
- (Passive) Reputations gains increased by 10%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Every
Man for Himself - Removes
all movement impairing effects and all
effects which
cause loss of control of your character. Shares a cool
down with other similar
effects.
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Mace
Specialization - (Passive)
Expertise with Maces an Two - Handed
Maces
Increased
by 3
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Sword
Specialization - (Passive)
Expertise with Swords and Two-Handed
Swords Increased
by 3
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">The
Human Spirit - (Passive)
Spirit Increased by 3%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
style="font-style: italic;">
![]( "Dwarf")
style="float: right; width: 200px; height: 224px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73443"> style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73443"> style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
style="font-style: italic;">
style="font-style: italic;">Dwarf
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Find
Treasure - Allows the dwarf
to
sense nearby treasure, making it
appear on the minimap.
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Frost
Resistance - (Passive)
Reduces the chance you will be hit by
Frost spells by 2%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Gun
Specialization - (Passive)
Your chance to critically hit with Guns
is increased by 1%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Mace
Specialization - (Passive)
Expertise with Maces and Two-Handed
Maces increased by 3%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Stone
form - Removes all poison,
disease, and bleed effects and
increases your armor by 10% for 8 seconds
![]()
187px="" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73447" height=""> style="font-style: italic;">Night Elf style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Elusiveness - (Passive)
Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you
while Shadowmelded or Steallthed
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Nature
Resistance - (Passive)
Reduces the chance you will be hit by
Nature spells by 2%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Quickness
- (Passive) Reduces the chance that melee and ranged
attackers will hit you by 2%
Shadowmeld
- Causes the Night Elf to slip into the shadows, reducing
the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until cancelled
or upon moving. Any threat is restored versus enemies still in combat
upon cancellation. Two minute cool down.
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Wisp
Spirit - (Passive) Transform
into a wisp upon death, increasing
speed by 25%
![]()
287px="" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73442" height=""> style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
style="font-style: italic;">Draenei style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Gem cutting - (Passive)
Jewelcrafting skill increased by 5
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Gift
of the Naaru - Heals the
target of 50 damage over 15 sec. The
amount healed is increased based on the caster’s Spell Power
or Attack Power, whichever is higher. 3 minute cool down.
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Heroic
Presence - (Passive)
Increases the chance to hit with all spells
and attacks by 1% for you and all party members within 30 yards
Shadow Resistance - (Passive) Reduces the chance you will be hit by
Shadow Spells by 2%
Find
Treasure - Allows the dwarf
to
sense nearby treasure, making it
appear on the minimap.
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Frost
Resistance - (Passive)
Reduces the chance you will be hit by
Frost spells by 2%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Gun
Specialization - (Passive)
Your chance to critically hit with Guns
is increased by 1%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Mace
Specialization - (Passive)
Expertise with Maces and Two-Handed
Maces increased by 3%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Stone
form - Removes all poison,
disease, and bleed effects and
increases your armor by 10% for 8 seconds
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73447" height=""> style="font-style: italic;">Night Elf style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Elusiveness - (Passive)
Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you
while Shadowmelded or Steallthed
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Nature
Resistance - (Passive)
Reduces the chance you will be hit by
Nature spells by 2%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Quickness
- (Passive) Reduces the chance that melee and ranged
attackers will hit you by 2%
Shadowmeld
- Causes the Night Elf to slip into the shadows, reducing
the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until cancelled
or upon moving. Any threat is restored versus enemies still in combat
upon cancellation. Two minute cool down.
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Wisp
Spirit - (Passive) Transform
into a wisp upon death, increasing
speed by 25%
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73442" height=""> style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
style="font-style: italic;">Draenei style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Gem cutting - (Passive)
Jewelcrafting skill increased by 5
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Gift
of the Naaru - Heals the
target of 50 damage over 15 sec. The
amount healed is increased based on the caster’s Spell Power
or Attack Power, whichever is higher. 3 minute cool down.
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Heroic
Presence - (Passive)
Increases the chance to hit with all spells
and attacks by 1% for you and all party members within 30 yards
Shadow Resistance - (Passive) Reduces the chance you will be hit by
Shadow Spells by 2%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Horde
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">![]()
style="float: left; width: 125px; height: 250px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73448">
style="font-style: italic;">Orc style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Axe
Specialization - (Passive)
Expertise with Fist Weapons, Axes, and Two-Handed Axes increased by 5
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Blood
Fury - Increases attack power
by 6.(scales with Level) Last 15 sec. Two minute cool down
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Command
- (Passive) Damage dealt by pets increased by 5%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Hardiness
- (Passive) Duration of Stun
effects reduced by an additional 15%
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73448">
style="font-style: italic;">Orc style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Axe
Specialization - (Passive)
Expertise with Fist Weapons, Axes, and Two-Handed Axes increased by 5
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Blood
Fury - Increases attack power
by 6.(scales with Level) Last 15 sec. Two minute cool down
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Command
- (Passive) Damage dealt by pets increased by 5%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Hardiness
- (Passive) Duration of Stun
effects reduced by an additional 15%
style="float: right; width: 150px; height: 206px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73449">
Tauren
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Endurance
- (Passive) Base Health increased by 5%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Nature
Resistance - (Passive)
Reduces the chance you will be hit by
Nature spells by 2%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">War
Stomp - Stuns up to 5 enemies
within 8 yards for 2 seconds. 2
minute cool down.
style="float: left; width: 150px; height: 224px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73450">
Troll
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Beast Slaying - (Passive)
Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Berserking
- Increases your attack speed
by 20% for 10 seconds. 3 minute cool down
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Bow
Specialization - (Passive)
Your chance to critically hit with Bows is increased by 1%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Da
Voodoo Shuffle - (Passive)
Reduces the duration of all movement impairing effects by 15%
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Regeneration
- (Passive) Health regeneration rate increased by 10%. 10% of total
Health regenerated may continue during combat
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Throwing
Specialization - (Passive)
Your chance to hit with Throwing Weapons is increased by 1%
197px="" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/73441" height="">
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
style="font-style: italic;">Blood Elf style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Arcane
Affinity - (Passive)
Enchanting skill increased by 10
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Arcane
Torrent - Silence all enemies
within 8 yards for 2 seconds and restores 6% of your Mana
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Magic
Resistance - (Passive)
Reduces the chance you will be hit by spells by 2%
After going over this rather daunting list of racial abilities, it is
clear (at least to me) that for the Horde the choice is clear and easy.
Orc is the way to go when rolling a Horde hunter. With Axe
Specialization, Bloodfury and Command Orcs are a formidable race. If
you are looking for max damage output you will never regret choosing an
Orc.
The choice is not so clear when you look at the Alliance races. None of
them have overly impressive racials for the Hunter class, however two
do stand out slightly. The Dwarf who has Gun Specialization, and the
Draenei who has Heroic Presence. The other Dwarf specific racial
abilities are lackluster at best (at least for a Hunter). The Draenei
ability however affects not only the player, all party members within
range which would make it my personal choice. Increasing others damage
while increasing mine at the same time is just pure win. Not to mention
the Draenei have a small heal ability that could at some point save
your life.
The third and final thing to keep in mind when choosing the race of
your Hunter, or any other toons you may make is if you truly like the
race. Will you enjoy playing it in the furture? Does playing the race
make you cringe? These are the real questions you need to be asking
yourself.
If you despise Orcs with a passion, don’t play an Orc. If it
has always been your dream to level a Night Elf, do it, regardless of
what others might think, or if the racial abilities suck. If you hate
the race you have picked, you will regret it forevermore and it may
even show in the damage you do. Do not stick yourself with a race you
don‘t find pleasure in playing, remember you will be playing
this toon for a long time to come, and after all it is your 15 dollars
a month, you might as well make it as enjoyable as possible.
Join us on our forums to discuss your favorite race or which race you
think is best for your particular class.
style="font-style: italic;">Blood Elf style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
Arcane
Affinity - (Passive)
Enchanting skill increased by 10
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Arcane
Torrent - Silence all enemies
within 8 yards for 2 seconds and restores 6% of your Mana
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Magic
Resistance - (Passive)
Reduces the chance you will be hit by spells by 2%
After going over this rather daunting list of racial abilities, it is
clear (at least to me) that for the Horde the choice is clear and easy.
Orc is the way to go when rolling a Horde hunter. With Axe
Specialization, Bloodfury and Command Orcs are a formidable race. If
you are looking for max damage output you will never regret choosing an
Orc.
The choice is not so clear when you look at the Alliance races. None of
them have overly impressive racials for the Hunter class, however two
do stand out slightly. The Dwarf who has Gun Specialization, and the
Draenei who has Heroic Presence. The other Dwarf specific racial
abilities are lackluster at best (at least for a Hunter). The Draenei
ability however affects not only the player, all party members within
range which would make it my personal choice. Increasing others damage
while increasing mine at the same time is just pure win. Not to mention
the Draenei have a small heal ability that could at some point save
your life.
The third and final thing to keep in mind when choosing the race of
your Hunter, or any other toons you may make is if you truly like the
race. Will you enjoy playing it in the furture? Does playing the race
make you cringe? These are the real questions you need to be asking
yourself.
If you despise Orcs with a passion, don’t play an Orc. If it
has always been your dream to level a Night Elf, do it, regardless of
what others might think, or if the racial abilities suck. If you hate
the race you have picked, you will regret it forevermore and it may
even show in the damage you do. Do not stick yourself with a race you
don‘t find pleasure in playing, remember you will be playing
this toon for a long time to come, and after all it is your 15 dollars
a month, you might as well make it as enjoyable as possible.
Join us on our forums to discuss your favorite race or which race you
think is best for your particular class.
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
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