Level 30 Hunter Gear

WHU hunter and dues payer Saelle has put together for us this list of optimal level 30 hunter gear. I trimmed things down a bit and did some tweaking with an aye to dps over mana preservation, but we still have a handful of options in most slots.

Note of course that this list does not include heirloom items, which most of the WHU baby hunters don’t have access to. Don’t forget that hit remains an important stat even at these low levels, especially because of the huge impact it has on your pet’s ability to hold aggro (since it gets expertise with your hit, it’s damage goes way up on anything it’s tanking when you’re hit capped).

Chest
Dusky Leather Armor – Easy choice at level 30 made by leatherworkers.  Until then use Tunic of Westfall from a quest line that starts with Bryan Stoutmantle in Westfall.

Head
Skirmisher’s Cover – Long level 30 quest line that starts with Inspecting the Ruins from Captain Vimes in Theramore.  You will need friends to complete this but this helm is worth it.
Craftsman’s Monocle – Only for engineers.

Cloaks
Tigerstrike Mantle – Best cloak available.  Limited availability.
Parachute Cloak – Great stats with a parachute as well.  Only for engineers.
Watch Master’s Cloak – Good cloak if you didn’t get one from your level 19 twinking.  Questline starts with Sven’s Revenge though be prepared to do a bit of running (be thankful for mounts at level 20).

Shoulders

Barbaric Bracers – Made by Leatherworkers.  Save your small lustrous pearls and large fangs.
Drakewing Bands – BOE for additional hit.

Hands
Toughened Leather Gloves – Leatherworking gloves.  Need 2 Spider Silk and 2 Elixir of Defense to create so it might be a bit tough to find the mats.  I wonder if the guild has any flower picking elf-wannabes?
Prospector Gloves – You need to find items just outside the Uldaman instance for a questline that starts with Ironband Wants you.  A bit tough for level 30s so make sure you bring along some friends.

Waist
Highlander’s Padded Girdle – PVP Trinket for 300 Honor, sold by Samuel Hawke at Refuge Point in Arathi Highlands.
Deviate Scale Belt – Made by Leatherworkers

Legs
Triprunner Dungerees – Reward from The Grand Betrayal in Gnomeregan.  Given by High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque.
Dusky Leather Leggins – Leatherworking Legs you can use until you get your Triprunner’s.

Feet
Highlander’s Mail Greaves – PVP Trinket for 300 Honor, sold by Samuel Hawke at Refuge Point in Arathi Highlands.

Finger
Ironspine’s Eye – Drops from Ironspine in the Scarlet Monastery Graveyard.
Protector’s Band – PVP ring at 100 honor.  Sold by Illiyana Moonblaze at the entrance to Warsong Gulch in Ashenvale.
Signet of Argas – Starts with a drop of Diabolical Plans from demons Southeast of Splintertree Post in Ashenvale.
Monkey Ring – Quest in Razorfen Kraul from Willix the Importer
Ring of Precision – Blackfathom deep drop you can find on the Auction house.

Neck
Sentinel’s Medallion – PVP neck at 100 honor.  Sold by Illiyana Moonblaze at the entrance to Warsong Gulch in Ashenvale.
Darkmoon Pendant – As the Darkmoon Faire just ended there might be a few of these on the AH.  While it is possible for a scribe to get mats before the next event I’m guessing this would be quite costly to make.  Not sure the difference between this and the Sentinel’s Medallion (+12 AP -2 Agility) is worth the gold/effort.
Amulet of Truesight – A good item if you have the gold since +hit items are hard to find at this level. The guild bank is stocking these in the level-capped tab.

Trinket

Rune of Duty – PVP Trinket for 300 Honor at the entrance to Warsong Gulch in Ashenvale.  It is sold by Illiyana Moonblaze.
Talisman of Arathor – PVP Trinket for 300 Honor, sold by Samuel Hawke at Refuge Point in Arathi Highlands.

One Hand Weapon (dual wield @ 20!!!)
Thornspike – Drops from the first boss in Razorfen Kraul (Aggem Thorncurse – 67% drop rate) and allegedly can be solo’ed at 30 if you are an elite skilled hunter.
Sentinel’s Blade – PVP weapon that costs 400 honor.  Sold by Illiyana Moonblaze at the entrance to Warsong Gulch in Ashenvale.
The Butcher – BOE that drops in the Scarlet Monastery.  Good if you are looking for more Stamina.

Two Hand Weapon
Armor Piercer – Dropped in Razonfen Kraul from Razorfen Spearhide (50% drop rate) who guard Overlord Ramstuk.
Haunting Blade – 2 Handed Sword that drops from Deathsworn Captain in Shadowfang Keep.

Ranged
Master Hunter’s Rifle – Quest reward from the godfather of all hunters (ok now it’s his son).  You are going to need lots of friends for this quest line.  Can start it at level 28.
Shrapnel Blaster – Quest line that starts with Sergeant Yohwa.  You will need friends for this.  Starts at level 30.
Glass Shooter – Drop from a Gnomeregan rare mob.
Ironweaver, Chesterfall Musket- BOE drops for those with the money.
Outrunner’s Bow -  PVP bow that costs 400 honor.  Sold by Illiyana Moonblaze at the entrance to Warsong Gulch in Ashenvale.

Hopefully I’ve limited the mistakes and I’m sure I’ve missed a few items but I think that is a good start to a BIS list.

My strategy is to level to 28 in the battlegrounds then pay the 10 gold to stop xp so I can farm instances for the other items.  Once I have everything I want I’m turning xp on then heading to the battlegrounds for 2 levels of serious hunter pwnage.

The BIS PVP items cost 1800 honor (waist, feet, neck, ring, one hand, trinkets) so make sure you get that before you hit level 30 as it will be almost impossible to get honor after that point.  I also am considering switching to engineering just for the parachute cloak.

-Saelle