Patch 12.1 Hunter Sims

Simmed on build 69875 · 19 September 2026

My latest Hunter Sims. Based on BiS gear with the best talents I've been able to produce for single-target and Mythic+. I have updated and maintained the Default APL's for all 3 specs on SimC and the APL's are thus public and you can run these sims yourself.

SimulationCraft 1210-01 for World of Warcraft 12.1.0.69875 Live (hotfix 2026-09-19/69875) · commit 9f6eac06 · Marksmanship's Trick Shots and Volley buffs and Survival's Wildfire Bomb retuning are manually overridden. SimulationCraft's game data does not carry them yet. · target_error 0.1

Last updated 2026-09-19 · See what changed

2026-09-19 Re-simmed everything with next week's Hunter tuning applied manually: the Marksmanship Trick Shots and Volley buffs, and the Survival Wildfire Bomb retuning. Marksmanship gains up to 8% at high target counts. Survival is unchanged on a single target, as intended, and gains up to 4.5% in AoE.
2026-08-29 Re-simmed everything with the Font of Venomous Rage fix: it was undersimming by around 25% and is now Marksmanship's #2 trinket. The numbers include the 7% Beast Mastery and Survival aura buffs going live this week.
2026-08-25 Updated BM and MM APLs. The numbers already include the BM and SV buffs that went live today.
2026-08-22 Updated the gear of all profiles, updated MM APL to account for the recent fixes to Rapid Fire clipping (still a thing on AoE, guides are updated shortly), and there were some bugfixes under the hood to MM in SimC as well.
2026-08-17 A SimC bug was fixed where Sentinel's Marks were not being consumed properly by Trick Shotted Aimed Shots.
2026-08-17 Updated with fresh APL's, BM tier set buff, trinkets, and underlying SimC bug fixes (and implementations).
2026-08-14 Aspect of the Hydra is bugged and only affects half of Rapid Fire's ticks in-game which the sim now accounts for, so Marksmanship Cleave is down about 4.4%. I also updated Beast Mastery and Marksmanship gear.
2026-08-11 Updated Mythic+ Route and charts. Group DPS measures the full group's dps, the actual completion time of the key. Uses simc's built in fake dps players to simulate teammates. This is the most relevant metric for High M+. Chart still shows personal DPS as well. Now uses the improved retargeting APL's for dungeonroute, which has superseded my old tech.
2026-08-10 Updated Survival's Sentinel Single-Target Build.
2026-08-06 Updated Survival's Embellishments to Adorned Fang for a small gain. Not a gain for the other specs.
2026-08-05 Updated the BM Pack Leader ST Build to take advantage of a positive bug with the Razor Sharp Talent. Updated MM Talent Builds to use Tenacious at a small DPS cost since I think competitive Hunters will run it most of the time, so it is more accurate to assume it is picked.
2026-08-02 Updated gear (especially Trinket) choices and updated Trinket APL's.
2026-08-01 Updated Gear for several profiles.
2026-08-01 Updated MM Sentinel ST talent build for +0.2% ST after recent nerfs.
2026-07-31 Updated for the MM and BM Hunter nerfs on the 31st of July.
2026-07-28 Re-simmed everything with a Beast Mastery rotation/APL update. The Mythic+ chart's 2T column now runs the M+ build for every spec instead of MM using the cleave build. The Beast Mastery Dark Ranger M+ build now takes Razor Sharp over Kill Cleave: it's around 0.5% better on DRoute, even at a 3% 8T AoE loss.

Raid

A raid-focused set of sims, focused on single-target, cleave (lots of cleave this raid, just like Season 1), and execute.

Beast Mastery

Pack Leader

257.1Kbest

331.8K−8.1%

263.7K−14.7%

−9.8%single target given up

Survival

Sentinel

248.1K−3.5%

357.8K−0.9%

252.2K−18.4%

−6.4%single target given up

Marksmanship

Sentinel

246.6K−4.1%

357.7K−0.9%

309.1Kbest

−5.4%single target given up

Survival

Pack Leader

239.6K−6.8%

361.0Kbest

243.9K−21.1%

−4.6%single target given up

Marksmanship

Dark Ranger

220.3K−14.3%

323.2K−10.5%

259.5K−16.0%

−3.3%single target given up

Beast Mastery

Dark Ranger

220.2K−14.3%

298.8K−17.2%

225.5K−27.0%

−7.2%single target given up

ST and Execute use single-target profiles. 2T is the Hydra-Cleave setup for MM, and M+ profiles for BM/SV since they do not have dedicated 2-target cleave builds.
Execute is just like a normal sim, but sub-20% HP only.
The AoE Tax is how much single-target the spec loses when it goes from its ST build to its M+ build. Smaller loss is better.

Mythic+

A Mythic+-focused chart. The M+ Route Sim I use is based on reading real PTR M+ Logs and looking at the actual target counts and durations in the new dungeons. The route gets updated all the time (throughout the season too). In addition it shows AoE numbers at various target counts to give you an idea of how spec damage changes on big AoE vs small cleave etc.

Survival

Pack Leader

228.6K−2.1%

361.0Kbest

668.6K−2.3%

841.6K−14.5%

1.04M−25.8%

182.8Kbest

1.39Mbest

419.6K−5.1%

Beast Mastery

Pack Leader

232.0K−0.6%

331.8K−8.1%

684.6Kbest

984.8Kbest

1.40Mbest

173.6K−5.1%

1.37M−1.0%

442.0Kbest

Survival

Sentinel

232.3K−0.5%

357.8K−0.9%

669.6K−2.2%

886.5K−10.0%

1.10M−21.2%

173.2K−5.2%

1.37M−1.1%

417.3K−5.6%

Beast Mastery

Dark Ranger

204.4K−12.5%

298.8K−17.2%

630.1K−8.0%

928.1K−5.8%

1.29M−7.7%

158.9K−13.1%

1.33M−4.0%

406.2K−8.1%

Marksmanship

Sentinel

233.4Kbest

299.9K−16.9%

673.3K−1.6%

945.6K−4.0%

1.16M−17.1%

151.8K−17.0%

1.32M−5.2%

397.4K−10.1%

Marksmanship

Dark Ranger

213.1K−8.7%

285.9K−20.8%

608.9K−11.1%

874.8K−11.2%

1.13M−19.1%

148.0K−19.0%

1.30M−6.6%

374.1K−15.4%

Route Prio is simply the priority target damage from the M+ Route sim.
M+ Route is the damage of a full, simulated M+ group that the Hunter is part of. It is the best measure of what actually completes a dungeon more quickly, as it emphasizes prio and single-target realistically in ways that ordinary solo sims or AOE sims cannot. Personal is the Hunter's own damage.

Secondary stat spread

Shows the secondary stats of the profiles I have used for these sims. Gives you a rough idea of what stats are good across the board.

CritHasteMasteryVers

Beast Mastery

Pack LeaderST

1,03536.5%

99325.0%

1,29278.1%

1075.0%

Beast Mastery

Pack LeaderM+

1,61648.6%

3029.0%

1,42483.3%

1075.0%

Beast Mastery

Dark RangerST

1,03536.5%

99325.0%

1,29272.4%

1075.0%

Beast Mastery

Dark RangerM+

1,61648.6%

3029.0%

1,42477.6%

1075.0%

Marksmanship

SentinelST

1,69950.2%

35010.1%

1,42825.6%

1235.3%

Marksmanship

SentinelM+

1,69950.2%

35012.3%

1,42825.6%

1235.3%

Marksmanship

Dark RangerST + M+

1,69953.2%

35010.1%

1,42825.6%

1235.3%

Survival

Pack LeaderST + M+

87733.1%

1,08427.1%

1,42239.8%

1075.0%

Survival

SentinelST + M+

1,04836.8%

91923.3%

1,42237.2%

1075.0%

Talent Swap DPS Losses

Shows you how much DPS it will cost to run 1 pet as BM, running a pet for MM, or grabbing the Tenacious Talent for MM, and some other talent swaps.

Beast Mastery Pack Leader4 swaps

2 Pets vs 1 Petspec
ST · single targetAnimal CompanionSolitary Companion−9.8%
M+ RouteAnimal CompanionSolitary Companion−13.7%
spec
ST · single targetSnakeskin QuiverCobra Senses−2.6%
M+ RouteSnakeskin QuiverCobra Senses−1.4%
hero
ST · single targetWyvern's GazeHoof and Blade−0.7%
M+ RouteWyvern's GazeHoof and Blade−0.5%
hero
ST · single targetUrsine FurySharpened Claws−3.4%
M+ RouteUrsine FurySharpened Clawsbasically equal

Beast Mastery Dark Ranger4 swaps

2 Pets vs 1 Petspec
ST · single targetAnimal CompanionSolitary Companion−8.0%
M+ RouteAnimal CompanionSolitary Companion−13.0%
hero
ST · single targetThe Bell TollsBanshee's Mark−3.7%
M+ RouteThe Bell TollsBanshee's Mark−4.0%
spec
ST · single targetSnakeskin QuiverCobra Senses−2.6%
M+ RouteSnakeskin QuiverCobra Senses−1.5%
hero
ST · single targetThrough the EyesEbon Bowstring−1.3%
M+ RouteThrough the EyesEbon Bowstring−0.5%

Marksmanship Sentinel7 swaps

Pet vs Petlessspec
ST · single targetAvian SpecializationUnbreakable Bond−3.5%
M+ RouteAvian SpecializationUnbreakable Bond−1.8%
spec
ST · single targetNot part of this build.
M+ RouteTrick ShotsAspect of the Hydra−11.0%
spec
ST · single targetUnerring VisionCalling the Shots−3.0%
M+ RouteUnerring VisionCalling the Shots−0.9%
hero
ST · single targetStalk and StrikeTwilight Requiem−1.3%
M+ RouteStalk and StrikeTwilight Requiem−0.8%
spec
ST · single targetObsidian ArrowheadOn Target−0.4%
M+ RouteOn TargetObsidian Arrowheadbasically equal
hero
ST · single targetStargazerOpen Fire−1.3%
M+ RouteOpen FireStargazerbasically equal
spec
ST · single targetUnstable TriggerTactical Reloadbasically equal
M+ RouteUnstable TriggerTactical Reloadbasically equal

Marksmanship Dark Ranger7 swaps

Pet vs Petlessspec
ST · single targetAvian SpecializationUnbreakable Bond−2.4%
M+ RouteAvian SpecializationUnbreakable Bond−1.2%
spec
ST · single targetNot part of this build.
M+ RouteTrick ShotsAspect of the Hydra−7.2%
hero
ST · single targetThe Bell TollsBanshee's Mark−1.6%
M+ RouteThe Bell TollsBanshee's Mark−2.3%
hero
ST · single targetThrough the EyesEbon Bowstring−1.7%
M+ RouteThrough the EyesEbon Bowstring−1.2%
spec
ST · single targetUnerring VisionCalling the Shots−1.7%
M+ RouteUnerring VisionCalling the Shots−0.5%
spec
ST · single targetObsidian ArrowheadOn Target−0.5%
M+ RouteNot part of this build.
spec
ST · single targetUnstable TriggerTactical Reload−1.2%
M+ RouteUnstable TriggerTactical Reload−0.5%

Survival Pack Leader6 swaps

spec
ST · single targetShrapnel BombFlamebreak−9.4%
M+ RouteShrapnel BombFlamebreak−7.6%
spec
ST · single targetMongoose RoundsWildfire Shells−3.6%
M+ RouteMongoose RoundsWildfire Shells−5.0%
spec
ST · single targetBloody ClawsWallop−1.0%
M+ RouteBloody ClawsWallop−3.2%
spec
ST · single targetVulnerabilityBlackrock Munitions−1.5%
M+ RouteVulnerabilityBlackrock Munitions−1.3%
hero
ST · single targetWyvern's GazeHoof and Blade−0.6%
M+ RouteWyvern's GazeHoof and Blade−0.5%
hero
ST · single targetUrsine FurySharpened Clawsbasically equal
M+ RouteUrsine FurySharpened Clawsbasically equal

Survival Sentinel6 swaps

spec
ST · single targetShrapnel BombFlamebreak−6.6%
M+ RouteShrapnel BombFlamebreak−9.8%
spec
ST · single targetMongoose RoundsWildfire Shells−4.1%
M+ RouteMongoose RoundsWildfire Shells−4.0%
spec
ST · single targetBloody ClawsWallopbasically equal
M+ RouteBloody ClawsWallop−2.1%
hero
ST · single targetStargazerOpen Fire−1.9%
M+ RouteStargazerOpen Fire−1.3%
hero
ST · single targetTwilight RequiemStalk and Strikebasically equal
M+ RouteStalk and StrikeTwilight Requiem−0.9%
spec
ST · single targetVulnerabilityBlackrock Munitions−0.9%
M+ RouteBlackrock MunitionsVulnerability−0.5%

Every talent swap is simmed on the ST builds for ST, and M+ build on the M+ Sim.

picked → alternate: The DPS loss of making this talent swap, with pet-related stuff specifically highlighted.
basically equal: They simmed within margin of error and are basically equal. Any differences are going to be feels and vibes.

If you do not need Tenacious / Cunning, what do you take instead?

Tenacious and Cunning are the MM version of having a pet. You get to choose between +5% HP + 3% damage reduction, or 8% Movement Speed + Master's Call which is a freedom effect for you or anyone else. Survivability is always useful and so for competitive content, if the DPS loss is small enough, I recommend you pick up Tenacious. I'd probably give up about 1% for it. On some raid fights, maybe more. It is your judgment call, though.