I've been asked about raising a Hunter's DPS a lot. So I put together this mini-guide on it. This is not all-inclusive, and not the only way to good DPS by any stretch...but it's simple and it works. With 3500 Attack Power, Crit% of only 26%, and Hit rating of 154, this rotation was doing 2100 reliably, spiking to 2300+ when Rapid Fire was available.

As far as Gear goes, stress Attack Power and Agility as your primary goal. Crit% and Haste are also important, but you also need to make sure your Hit Rating is as close being capped as you can.

This is a part of a bar from a hunter's UI

. . 1 . . . .2 . . . .3 . . . .4 . . . .5 . . . .6 . . . .7 . . . .8 . .

1 = Hunter's Mark
2 = Serpent Sting
3 = Black Arrow
4 = Rapid Fire
5 = Aimed Shot
6 = Explosive Shot
7 = Steady Shot
8 = Kill Shot

You should choose your weapon based on it's dps range, look for one with as high a max damage as possible. This will typically be one with a very slow fire rate...this is ok.

With Hunters mark active and in Aspect of Hawk, or Aspect of Dragonhawk, you are ready.

It's pretty much a simple mash-the-mouse kind of rotation. As soon as one pops up, click it!

You will make one complete run through the numbers:
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Then comes the mash the mouse game...Key 7(steady shot) will pop up almost as soon as it goes down, don't miss it.

Key 6(explosive shot) will come up every 3-4 times you hit key 7. When it pops up...hit it!

Key 5(Aimed Shot) will come up about every 2 times you hit key 6. Again, when it pops up...hit it!

Keep an eye on key 3(Black Arrow)! It will refresh about every 2 times you hit key 5. Try to organize it so you have keys 4, 5, and 6, up and ready when you press #3. That way you can run down the keys and rack up a bunch of spiked DPS.

Key 8(kill shot) will only be useable after your target is low on health, so when you see it go up, HIT IT! Kill the wabbit!

Be sure to refresh key 2(serpent sting) about every 30 sec...so like every 2nd time you hit key 6, go and hit key 2 as well to keep up the poison DOT.

To those hunters in our guild that are doing very well: Please post your successes here and how you got them!