This post is intended for those seeking tips on adapting and countering the scorpid hunter. The objective here is not to downplay concerns but to engage in a discussion on how to effectively play against this archetype in the interim.
Understanding that the pet constitutes over 50% of the hunter’s Beast Mastery (BM) damage and is most impactful when it manages to connect, we can explore various strategies to minimize its effectiveness.
- Leverage Terrain: Exploit the pet’s limited intelligence by utilizing the environment. Fences, tree roots, and other obstacles can impede the pet’s movement. Given its marginally faster speed compared to a player, kiting becomes a viable tactic. Lead the pet around obstacles, forcing it to navigate carefully.
- Platform Evasion: Induce the pet into an “evade” state by positioning yourself on platforms, ledges, or tree roots. In Warsong Gulch (WSG), for instance, there are numerous locations where the scorpid (and pets in general) may become temporarily non-threatening, allowing you to retaliate without fear. While in this state, you can attack the pet without any repercussions.
- Height Advantage in WSG: If you find yourself being pursued by a hunter on a roof in WSG, jumping can create a significant delay for the pet to navigate around and catch up. This can buy you precious time to reposition or escape.
- Indoor LoS (Line of Sight) Strategies: Hunters excel outdoors, where they can freely run or chase targets. However, indoor environments with ample LoS opportunities allow you to neutralize their DPS effectively. Break their line of sight, rendering their pet less impactful.
- Observing Pet Targeting: The pet’s slow speed and visible targeting can be advantageous. Being aware of its targeting allows you to predict its movements and adjust your positioning accordingly.
- Crowd Control on the Pet: Utilize crowd control spells such as Sheep, Fear, or Sleep on the pet. These spells provide full control, and by the time the pet recovers, it may need an additional 10 seconds or more to traverse the distance back to you.
- Outdoor Despawning: In outdoor scenarios, the pet has the potential to despawn if it strays too far from the hunter. This allows the hunter to call it back. However, in WSG, the pet never despawns. Seize this opportunity to eliminate the pet, especially if it’s considerably distant from the hunter.
- Awareness of Pet Despawn Mechanism: Recognize that outdoor despawning is a mechanic that can be exploited. If the pet is too far from the hunter, it may despawn, and the hunter can summon it back. However, in WSG, the pet remains present. Understanding this mechanic provides insights into strategic decisions.
In essence, countering scorpid hunters involves a combination of smart positioning, leveraging terrain, and utilizing crowd control to disrupt the pet’s effectiveness. Whether it’s exploiting the pet’s limited intelligence or strategically utilizing LoS indoors, adapting your playstyle can significantly mitigate the impact of a scorpid hunter. Remember, the goal is not to dismiss concerns but to equip players with the knowledge to navigate and counter this particular challenge effectively.
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