Alliance Hunter: Choosing a Race

This information is verified to be accurate as of World of Warcraft Patch 3.3.x.

When it comes to choosing an Alliance race for your new hunter, you have three choices: drainei, dwarf, or night elf. Each race has unique talents that may or may not be useful to the hunter class. If you are interested in choosing the best race for your new hunter, you'll need to take these racial talents into consideration. That being said, I strongly recommend you choose a race that best fits your play style or personality. Racial talents have changed over time, and basing your character decision on a racial talent that exists now may end up backfiring in the long run.

Although every race starts with different stats, these differences prove inconsequential at level 80. Assuming you are planning to play your hunter beyond level 10, you should not make your decision based on these minor differences. Below, I'll list the racial traits that affect the hunter class. Finally, I'll give my recommendation at the very end. If you prefer, you can jump directly to my recommendation.

Draenei

• Gift of the Naaru
  A very limited, instant cast heal over time (1,250 HP over 15 seconds at level 80) that can be used on any friendly target (including the hunter or pet). The spell has a long cooldown making it very situational. Although the heal is small, it can be a lifesaver in an emergency.
• Heroic Presence
  The truly defining racial talent for the draenei. This talent grants a +1% chance to hit to the hunter and party members. As all classes try to increase their chance to hit, this talent automatically gets the hunter 1% closer to maxing out.

Dwarf

• Stoneform
  Although this talent increases the hunter's armor by 10% for 8 seconds, the real usefulness of this talent is that it removes all poison, disease, and bleed effects. Despite the relatively long 2 minute cooldown, this talent can be incredibly useful in both PVE and PVP situations.
• Gun Specialization
  Dwarves are a gun loving folk, and this talent recognizes that love. Dwarves' chance to critically hit with guns is increased by 1%. The good news here is that there are always good guns to be had.

Night Elf

• Shadowmeld
  Every 2 minutes, night elves can stealth in a fashion similar to rogues. This ability is only active while the night elf is motionless. This talent is only useful in PVP.
• Quickness
  The night elf is 2% less likely to be hit than other races. The usefulness of this is extremely limited in PVE as hunters are rarely targeted. In PVP, a 2% chance to be hit is certainly nice, but not game changing.

Therefore...

Based on the above information, night elves are the weakest Alliance hunter race. Draenei are the best race based on the importance of hit percentage in increasing damage output. Although the increased chance to score a critical hit with guns makes dwarves attractive, the fact that this talent is limited to guns makes it problematic. Of course, if you are choosing a race based on how cool the toon looks, you have to go dwarf!

 
Which Alliance race is best for hunter?
Short answer: Draenei