Best Hunter race

Every race a class can be in WoW Forever, simulated at level 60 for each spec on the fight chosen above. Every race plays its faction’s searched setup for the fight (gear, talents and rotation), so a race’s number is its racials and base stats on top of that set. The mean is over thousands of iterations; ± 95 % is 1.96 standard errors.

Only racials that act in a boss fight are simulated. The benchmark boss is a Dragonkin, so Beast and Elemental slaying never apply. Tanks are ranked by their focus (threat, Survival or threat per health bar), healers by healing.

Spec	Best race	Best Alliance	Best Horde	Spread
Beast Mastery	Night Elf 791.3 DPS	Night Elf	Orc −1.5%	2.9%
Marksmanship	Night Elf 897.1 DPS	Night Elf	Orc −1.4%	2.9%
Survival (melee)	Night Elf 1,005.7 DPS	Night Elf	Orc −1.5%	3.3%

Spec

Best race

Best Alliance

Best Horde

Spread

Beast Mastery

Night Elf 791.3 DPS

Night Elf

Orc −1.5%

2.9%

Marksmanship

Night Elf 897.1 DPS

Night Elf

Orc −1.4%

2.9%

Survival (melee)

Night Elf 1,005.7 DPS

Night Elf

Orc −1.5%

3.3%

Spec

1 boss · 1 min

1 boss · 2 min

1 boss · 3 min

3 bosses · 1 min

3 bosses · 2 min

3 bosses · 3 min

Beast Mastery

Night Elf +1.5%

Night Elf +0.86%

Night Elf +0.34%

Night Elf +1.2%

Night Elf +0.68%

Night Elf +0.43%

Marksmanship

Night Elf +1.4%

Night Elf +0.98%

Night Elf +0.49%

Night Elf +1.4%

Night Elf +0.89%

Night Elf +0.38%

Survival (melee)

Night Elf +1.1%

Human ≈0.30%

Human +0.88%

Night Elf +1.2%

Human ≈0.21%

Human ≈0.26%


1Night Elf	791.3	±0.82	best
2Orc	779.6	±0.83	1.48%	·
3Troll	776.4	±0.82	1.88%	·
4High Order	775.3	±0.80	2.02%	·
5Windshaper	774.0	±0.82	2.18%	·
6Tauren	772.0	±0.80	2.44%	·
7Human	771.2	±0.80	2.54%	·
8Dwarf	768.1	±0.79	2.94%	·

770780790

Night Elf

791.3

±0.82

best

Orc

779.6

±0.83

1.48%

Troll

776.4

±0.82

1.88%

High Order

775.3

±0.80

2.02%

Windshaper

774.0

±0.82

2.18%

Tauren

772.0

±0.80

2.44%

Human

771.2

±0.80

2.54%

Dwarf

768.1

±0.79

2.94%


1Night Elf	897.1	±1.08	best
2Orc	884.6	±1.05	1.39%	·
3High Order	880.5	±1.04	1.85%	·
4Windshaper	880.1	±1.04	1.89%	·
5Troll	879.0	±1.04	2.02%	·
6Tauren	878.3	±1.03	2.10%	·
7Human	874.7	±1.05	2.49%	·
8Dwarf	871.4	±1.04	2.86%	·

870880890

Night Elf

897.1

±1.08

best

Orc

884.6

±1.05

1.39%

High Order

880.5

±1.04

1.85%

Windshaper

880.1

±1.04

1.89%

Troll

879.0

±1.04

2.02%

Tauren

878.3

±1.03

2.10%

Human

874.7

±1.05

2.49%

Dwarf

871.4

±1.04

2.86%


1Night Elf	1,005.7	±1.70	best
2Human	994.3	±1.68	1.13%	·
3Orc	990.4	±1.66	1.52%	·
4Troll	986.3	±1.66	1.93%	·
5Windshaper	980.9	±1.65	2.46%	·
6High Order	980.6	±1.65	2.49%	·
7Tauren	978.4	±1.62	2.71%	·
8Dwarf	972.9	±1.64	3.26%	·

9801,000

Night Elf

1,005.7

±1.70

best

Human

994.3

±1.68

1.13%

Orc

990.4

±1.66

1.52%

Troll

986.3

±1.66

1.93%

Windshaper

980.9

±1.65

2.46%

High Order

980.6

±1.65

2.49%

Tauren

978.4

±1.62

2.71%

Dwarf

972.9

±1.64

3.26%

Race	Racials in the sim	Base stats vs Human
Human	Sword Specialization: +2% crit with a sword +5% Spirit	the baseline
Dwarf	Stoneform: −10% physical damage taken for 8 s · 3 min cooldown Mace Specialization: +1% crit with a mace Big Game Hunter: +5% damage to Beasts	+2 Str · −4 Agi · +3 Sta · −1 Int · −1 Spi
Night Elf	Elune’s Light: +10% crit for 15 s · 3 min cooldown +1% dodge, +2% movement speed	−3 Str · +5 Agi · −1 Sta
High OrderSkyborne	Read Ley Line: mana regeneration doubled for 15 s (2 s cast) · 2 min cooldown Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals +1% attack and casting speed	−1 Str · +1 Agi · −1 Sta · +1 Int
Orc	Blood Fury: +10% attack power, spell damage and healing for 15 s · 2 min cooldown Shatter Curse: −15% magic damage taken for 8 s · 3 min cooldown Axe Specialization: +1% crit with an axe	+3 Str · −3 Agi · +2 Sta · −3 Int · +3 Spi
Tauren	+1% hit with attacks and spells, +5% health	+5 Str · −5 Agi · +2 Sta · −5 Int · +2 Spi
Troll	Berserking: +10% attack and casting speed for 10 s · 3 min cooldown Beast Slaying: +5% damage to Beasts	+1 Str · +2 Agi · +1 Sta · −4 Int · +1 Spi
WindshaperSkyborne	Skysight: +10% movement speed for 30 s (0.5 s cast) · 2 min cooldown Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals +1% attack and casting speed	−1 Str · +1 Agi · −1 Sta · +1 Int

Race

Racials in the sim

Base stats vs Human

Human

Sword Specialization: +2% crit with a sword
+5% Spirit

the baseline

Dwarf

Stoneform: −10% physical damage taken for 8 s · 3 min cooldown
Mace Specialization: +1% crit with a mace
Big Game Hunter: +5% damage to Beasts

+2 Str · −4 Agi · +3 Sta · −1 Int · −1 Spi

Night Elf

Elune’s Light: +10% crit for 15 s · 3 min cooldown
+1% dodge, +2% movement speed

−3 Str · +5 Agi · −1 Sta

High OrderSkyborne

Read Ley Line: mana regeneration doubled for 15 s (2 s cast) · 2 min cooldown
Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals
+1% attack and casting speed

−1 Str · +1 Agi · −1 Sta · +1 Int

Orc

Blood Fury: +10% attack power, spell damage and healing for 15 s · 2 min cooldown
Shatter Curse: −15% magic damage taken for 8 s · 3 min cooldown
Axe Specialization: +1% crit with an axe

+3 Str · −3 Agi · +2 Sta · −3 Int · +3 Spi

Tauren

+1% hit with attacks and spells, +5% health

+5 Str · −5 Agi · +2 Sta · −5 Int · +2 Spi

Troll

Berserking: +10% attack and casting speed for 10 s · 3 min cooldown
Beast Slaying: +5% damage to Beasts

+1 Str · +2 Agi · +1 Sta · −4 Int · +1 Spi

WindshaperSkyborne

Skysight: +10% movement speed for 30 s (0.5 s cast) · 2 min cooldown
Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals
+1% attack and casting speed

−1 Str · +1 Agi · −1 Sta · +1 Int

Best Hunter race

Every race a Hunter can be in WoW Forever (Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, High Order, Orc, Tauren, Troll, Windshaper), simulated at level 60 for each Hunter spec.

1 boss · 1 min · 5,000 iterations a race

Best Hunter race by spec

Beast Mastery
Best race
Night Elf 791.3 DPS
Best Alliance
Night Elf
Best Horde
Orc −1.5%
Spread
2.9%
Marksmanship
Best race
Night Elf 897.1 DPS
Best Alliance
Night Elf
Best Horde
Orc −1.4%
Spread
2.9%
Survival (melee)
Best race
Night Elf 1,005.7 DPS
Best Alliance
Night Elf
Best Horde
Orc −1.5%
Spread
3.3%

On every fight

Spec	1 boss · 1 min	1 boss · 2 min	1 boss · 3 min	3 bosses · 1 min	3 bosses · 2 min	3 bosses · 3 min
Beast Mastery	Night Elf +1.5%	Night Elf +0.86%	Night Elf +0.34%	Night Elf +1.2%	Night Elf +0.68%	Night Elf +0.43%
Marksmanship	Night Elf +1.4%	Night Elf +0.98%	Night Elf +0.49%	Night Elf +1.4%	Night Elf +0.89%	Night Elf +0.38%
Survival (melee)	Night Elf +1.1%	Human ≈0.30%	Human +0.88%	Night Elf +1.2%	Human ≈0.21%	Human ≈0.26%

Beast Mastery Hunter · DPS by race

Build page

Best: Night Elf at 791.3 DPS ±0.82 · clear of every other race


1Night Elf	791.3	best
2Orc	779.6	1.48%	·
3Troll	776.4	1.88%	·
4High Order	775.3	2.02%	·
5Windshaper	774.0	2.18%	·
6Tauren	772.0	2.44%	·
7Human	771.2	2.54%	·
8Dwarf	768.1	2.94%	·

Marksmanship Hunter · DPS by race

Build page

Best: Night Elf at 897.1 DPS ±1.08 · clear of every other race


1Night Elf	897.1	best
2Orc	884.6	1.39%	·
3High Order	880.5	1.85%	·
4Windshaper	880.1	1.89%	·
5Troll	879.0	2.02%	·
6Tauren	878.3	2.10%	·
7Human	874.7	2.49%	·
8Dwarf	871.4	2.86%	·

Survival (melee) Hunter · DPS by race

Build page

Best: Night Elf at 1,005.7 DPS ±1.70 · clear of every other race


1Night Elf	1,005.7	best
2Human	994.3	1.13%	·
3Orc	990.4	1.52%	·
4Troll	986.3	1.93%	·
5Windshaper	980.9	2.46%	·
6High Order	980.6	2.49%	·
7Tauren	978.4	2.71%	·
8Dwarf	972.9	3.26%	·

Hunter races and racials

Human
Racials in the sim
- Sword Specialization: +2% crit with a sword
- +5% Spirit
Base stats vs Human
the baseline
Dwarf
Racials in the sim
- Stoneform: −10% physical damage taken for 8 s · 3 min cooldown
- Mace Specialization: +1% crit with a mace
- Big Game Hunter: +5% damage to Beasts
Base stats vs Human
+2 Str · −4 Agi · +3 Sta · −1 Int · −1 Spi
Night Elf
Racials in the sim
- Elune’s Light: +10% crit for 15 s · 3 min cooldown
- +1% dodge, +2% movement speed
Base stats vs Human
−3 Str · +5 Agi · −1 Sta
High OrderSkyborne
Racials in the sim
- Read Ley Line: mana regeneration doubled for 15 s (2 s cast) · 2 min cooldown
- Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals
- +1% attack and casting speed
Base stats vs Human
−1 Str · +1 Agi · −1 Sta · +1 Int
Orc
Racials in the sim
- Blood Fury: +10% attack power, spell damage and healing for 15 s · 2 min cooldown
- Shatter Curse: −15% magic damage taken for 8 s · 3 min cooldown
- Axe Specialization: +1% crit with an axe
Base stats vs Human
+3 Str · −3 Agi · +2 Sta · −3 Int · +3 Spi
Tauren
Racials in the sim
- +1% hit with attacks and spells, +5% health
Base stats vs Human
+5 Str · −5 Agi · +2 Sta · −5 Int · +2 Spi
Troll
Racials in the sim
- Berserking: +10% attack and casting speed for 10 s · 3 min cooldown
- Beast Slaying: +5% damage to Beasts
Base stats vs Human
+1 Str · +2 Agi · +1 Sta · −4 Int · +1 Spi
WindshaperSkyborne
Racials in the sim
- Skysight: +10% movement speed for 30 s (0.5 s cast) · 2 min cooldown
- Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals
- +1% attack and casting speed
Base stats vs Human
−1 Str · +1 Agi · −1 Sta · +1 Int