Hunter Runes & Locations – Season of Discovery (SoD)

Rune Engraving is a new system for Season of Discovery. It allows each class to tailor their gameplay experience by unlocking new unique abilities! In this guide you’ll find all of the runes that are currently available for Hunters in Phase 6 of SoD as well as some new skill books and class items.

Hunter Epic Class Discoveries

Although Hunters already had Rhok’delar & Lok’delar, they gained a new class quest in Phase 5 that awards another epic set of weapons, the dual swords Kestrel and Peregrine. To find out how to get your hands on these powerful new items, check out our Kestrel & Peregrine Guide.

Hunter Skill Books

In addition to runes, there are also skill books in the game that will teach you new spells. Here are the skill books that are available for Hunters in Season of Discovery. Like the runes listed below, these skill books can now all be purchased from the Rune Broker in each race’s starting zone for 1 copper.

Skill Book	Spell	Discovery
Treatise of the Falcon	Aspect of the Falcon	Aspect of the Falcon Guide
Treatise on Aspect of the Viper	Aspect of the Viper	Aspect of the Viper Guide
Treatise on the Heart of the Lion	Heart of the Lion	Heart of the Lion Guide

Hunter Runes

Hunter Runes From Rune Brokers

All runes can now be purchased from Rune Brokers in starting zones and major cities for 1 copper a piece. Each of these vendors is simply named “Rune Broker” and can be easily spotted by their purple glow, lurking very close to where new characters enter the game. You can see all of their locations in our guide below.

Aspect of the Falcon and Healing Specialization are not currently available from Rune Brokers for Hunters.

Slot	Rune	Item
Spell	Aspect of the Viper	Treatise on Aspect of the Viper
Spell	Heart of the Lion	Treatise on the Heart of the Lion
Head	Catlike Reflexes	Rune of the Jungle Cat
Head	Lock and Load	Rune of Firepower
Head	Rapid Killing	Rune of the Ravenous
Back	Improved Volley	Rune of Shelling
Back	Resourcefulness	Rune of the Resourceful
Back	Hit and Run	Rune of the Guerrilla
Chest	Cobra Strikes	Rune of Cobra Strikes
Chest	Lone Wolf	Rune of Lone Wolf
Chest	Master Marksman	Rune of Marksmanship
Chest	Beast Mastery	Rune of Beast Mastery
Wrist	Focus Fire	Rune of Focused Fire
Wrist	Raptor Fury	Rune of the Raptor
Wrist	T.N.T.	Rune of Detonation
Hands	Carve	Rune of Carve
Hands	Chimera Shot	Rune of the Chimera
Hands	Cobra Slayer	Rune of Cobra Slayer
Hands	Explosive Shot	Rune of Explosive Shot
Waist	Expose Weakness	Rune of Exposure
Waist	Melee Specialist	Rune of Close Combat
Waist	Steady Shot	Rune of Steady Shot
Legs	Flanking Strike	Rune of Flanking
Legs	Kill Shot	Rune of Kill Command
Legs	Serpent Spread	Rune of Serpent Spread
Legs	Sniper Training	Rune of the Sniper
Feet	Dual Wield Specialization	Rune of the Scrapper
Feet	Wyvern Strike	Rune of Invigoration
Feet	Trap Launcher	Rune of the Trapper
Finger	Arcane Specialization	Rune of Arcane Specialization
Finger	Axe Specialization	Rune of Axe Specialization
Finger	Dagger Specialization	Rune of Dagger Specialization
Finger	Fire Specialization	Rune of Fire Specialization
Finger	Fist Weapon Specialization	Rune of Fist Weapon Specialization
Finger	Frost Specialization	Rune of Frost Specialization
Finger	Meditation Specialization	Rune of Meditation Specialization
Finger	Nature Specialization	Rune of Nature Specialization
Finger	Pole Weapon Specialization	Rune of Pole Weapon Specialization
Finger	Sword Specialization	Rune of Sword Specialization
Finger	Ranged Weapon Specialization	Rune of Ranged Weapon Specialization

Hunter Rune Discoveries

Here are all of the Hunter runes that can be acquired in Season of Discovery. Our guides can walk you through the process of discovering them in the game if you choose to forgo the easy path of purchasing them from a Rune Broker.

Slot	Rune	Phase	Discovery
Head	Catlike Reflexes	3	Catlike Reflexes Guide
Head	Lock and Load	3	Lock and Load Guide
Head	Rapid Killing	3	Rapid Killing Guide
Back	Improved Volley	4	Improved Volley Guide
Back	Resourcefulness	4	Resourcefulness Guide
Back	Hit and Run	4	Hit and Run Guide
Chest	Cobra Strikes	1	Cobra Strikes Guide
Chest	Lone Wolf	1	Lone Wolf Guide
Chest	Master Marksman	1	Master Marksman Guide
Chest	Beast Mastery	1	Beast Mastery Guide
Wrist	Focus Fire	3	Focus Fire Guide
Wrist	Raptor Fury	3	Raptor Fury Guide
Wrist	T.N.T.	3	T.N.T. Guide
Hands	Carve	1	Carve Guide
Hands	Chimera Shot	1	Chimera Shot Guide
Hands	Cobra Slayer	1	Cobra Slayer Guide
Hands	Explosive Shot	1	Explosive Shot Guide
Waist	Expose Weakness	2	Expose Weakness Guide
Waist	Melee Specialist	2	Melee Specialist Guide
Waist	Steady Shot	2	Steady Shot Guide
Legs	Flanking Strike	1	Flanking Strike Guide
Legs	Kill Shot	1	Kill Shot Guide
Legs	Serpent Spread	1	Serpent Spread Guide
Legs	Sniper Training	1	Sniper Training Guide
Feet	Dual Wield Specialization	2	Dual Wield Specialization Guide
Feet	Wyvern Strike	2	Wyvern Strike Guide
Feet	Trap Launcher	2	Trap Launcher Guide
Finger	Arcane Specialization	4	Arcane Specialization Guide
Finger	Axe Specialization	4	Axe Specialization Guide
Finger	Dagger Specialization	4	Dagger Specialization Guide
Finger	Fire Specialization	4	Fire Specialization Guide
Finger	Fist Weapon Specialization	4	Fist Weapon Specialization Guide
Finger	Frost Specialization	4	Frost Specialization Guide
Finger	Healing Specialization	5	Healing Specialization Guide
Finger	Meditation Specialization	5	Meditation Specialization Guide
Finger	Nature Specialization	4	Nature Specialization Guide
Finger	Pole Weapon Specialization	4	Pole Weapon Specialization Guide
Finger	Sword Specialization	4	Sword Specialization Guide
Finger	Ranged Weapon Specialization	4	Ranged Weapon Specialization Guide

Starting Locations & Level Requirements

The table below can help you plan your route or simply see if you’ve acquired all of the runes in your current zone. Levels with a single asterisk (*) are runes that have a specific level requirement while those with a double asterisk (**) are our recommendations based on the level of enemies in the area or other factors such as abilities that will make the process easier.

Rune	Starting Locations	Level
Chimera Shot	Dun Morogh, Teldrassil Durotar, Mulgore	2*
Flanking Strike	Dun Morogh, Teldrassil Durotar, Mulgore	4**
Master Marksman	Dun Morogh, Teldrassil Durotar, Mulgore	4**
Explosive Shot	Dun Morogh, Teldrassil Durotar, Mulgore	4**
Carve	Dun Morogh, Teldrassil Durotar, Mulgore	10*
Beast Mastery	Darkshore, Westfall Silverpine Forest, The Barrens	10**
Serpent Spread	Darnassus, Ironforge, Stormwind City Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff, Undercity	10**
Lone Wolf	The Barrens	10**
Sniper Training	Darkshore, Loch Modan, Westfall The Barrens	20**
Kill Shot	Stonetalon Mountains	25*
T.N.T.	Ashenvale, Duskwood, Feralas, The Hinterlands	25**
Cobra Strikes	Hillsbrad Foothills	25**
Cobra Slayer	Wetlands	25**
Trap Launcher	Desolace	30*
Dual Wield Specialization	Stranglethorn Vale	32*
Steady Shot	Arathi Highlands	35**
Wyvern Strike	Swamp of Sorrows	35**
Expose Weakness	Badlands	38**
Lock and Load	Felwood	40*
Catlike Reflexes	Feralas	40**
Melee Specialist	Deadwind Pass	40**
Raptor Fury	Tanaris	42**
Rapid Killing	Searing Gorge	45*
Focus Fire	Searing Gorge	45**
Hit and Run	Burning Steppes	58**
Resourcefulness	Eastern Plaguelands	58**
Improved Volley	Silithus	60**

Phase 2 Hunter Runes

Dual Wield Specialization Rune

Dual Wield Specialization is a Hunter Rune for the Boots slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Go to the area north of Grom’Gol in Stranglethorn Vale, around 32, 16, and run around until you get the Danger! debuff.
• Use Track Hidden and Flares to locate the source of the debuff, a Bloodscalp Guerilla.
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Explosive Shot Rune

Explosive Shot is a Hunter Rune for the Gloves slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Kill one of the following enemies to loot the rune:
  • Arra’chea, a level 11 in Mulgore
  • Edan the Howler, a level 19 rare in Dun Morogh
  • Old Icebeard, a level 11 elite in Dun Morogh
  • Rageclaw, a level 10 in Teldrassil
  • Sarkoth, a level 4 scorpid in Durotar
  • The Rake, a level 10 rare in Mulgore

Expose Weakness Rune

Expose Weakness is a Hunter Rune for the Belt slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Kill Dustbelcher Brutes and Dustbelcher Ogres in Badlands until one drops a Primitive Drawing.
• Trade the drawing to Hemet Nesingwary in Stranglethorn Vale (35.7, 10.8) for an Empty Bait Cage.
• Use the Empty Bait Cage on any critter to capture it.
• Return to Badlands and use the captured critter at a nest in the southwest (22.4, 66.7) to summon Gharrik, a level 40 beast.
• Kill it to loot a trophy which you can take back to Hemet Nesingwary to get the rune.

Melee Specialist Rune

Melee Specialist is a Hunter Rune for the Belt slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Speak with the Dalaran Agent at Ariden’s Camp in the northeast of Deadwind Pass (52, 36) to get Ariden’s Sigil.
• Equip Ariden’s Sigil and look for locations where you get the Dark Presence buff:
  • Arathi Highlands (60, 40)
  • Badlands (58, 54)
  • Deadwind Pass (43, 29)
  • Desolace (65, 25)
  • Duskwood (23, 47)
  • Swamp of Sorrows (69, 28)
  • The Barrens (52, 36)
• In each of the above locations, use Ariden’s Sigil to summon a Dark Rider, a level 41 elite, and kill it to loot a relic.
• When you have all seven relics, return to the Dalaran Agent to trade them in for your rune.

Steady Shot Rune

Steady Shot is a Hunter Rune for the Belt slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Kill Needletooth, the level 35 fish in the pond at Witherbark Village in Arathi Highlands (68, 66).
• Loot the rune.

Trap Launcher Rune

Trap Launcher is a Hunter Rune for the Boots slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Pick up the quest Highway Robbery from an Extinguished Campfire near the Kodo Graveyard in Desolace (47, 54).
• Speak with Bibbly F’utzbuckle at the northern crossroads in Desolace (63, 39) to progress the quest to On the Lam.
• Speak with Tokal inside the inn at Booty Bay in Stranglethorn Vale (27, 77) to pick up the quest Cherry for Your Thoughts?.
• Buy a Cherry Grog from the nearby vendor, Nixxrax Fillamug, and bring it to Tokal to get the quest No Honor Among Thieves.
• Use the boat on the southern shore of Arathi Highlands near the bridge (53, 91) to travel to the east coast.
• Speak to Illari Duskfeather and either agree with her (Alliance only) or fight her to get Illari’s Key.
• Use the key to open the nearby Jewel-Encrusted Box to loot the rune.

Wyvern Strike Rune

Invigoration is a Hunter Rune for the Boots slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Buy an Entomology Starter Kit from Amaryllis Webb in western Swamp of Sorrows (24, 54).
• Open the Entomology Starter Kit to get a Bug Catching Net and a Field Guide.
• Use the Bug Catching Net to catch bugs at the following locations:
  • Stranglethorn Vale: on a tree stump at the Venture Co. Base Camp (45, 19)
  • Arathi Highlands: the stable at Northfold Manor (31, 28)
  • Desolace: the Kodo Graveyard (51, 59)
• Return to Amaryllis Webb to trade the bugs for the rune.

Phase 1 Hunter Runes

Beast Mastery Rune

Beast Mastery is a Hunter Rune for the Gloves slot. Here’s how to get it:

Darkshore:

• Kill Blackwood furbolgs in Darkshore until one drops Crab Treats. You can also get this item by fishing in Darkshore.
• Use the Crab Treats on a Young Reef Crawler along the coast of the zone to get the rune.

Loch Modan:

• Locate an Empty Tropy Display in the southeast corner of the zone (83.6, 65.5).
• Loot it to get the rune.

Silverpine Forest:

• Kill Ferocious Grizzled Bear in the northern part Silverpine Forest until a Grizzled Protector appears, a level 16 elite.
• Kill it to loot your rune.

The Barrens:

• Drop a Freezing Trap in the path of a Patrolling Cheetah north of Camp Taurajo in The Barrens.
• Kill it to loot your rune.

Westfall:

• Kill goretusks in Westfall until one drops a Goretusk Haunch.
• Use the Goretusk Haunch at the coast to lure Silverspur. Kill it to loot your rune.

Carve Rune

Carve is a Hunter Rune for the Gloves slot. Here’s how to get it:

Dun Morogh:

• Kill Rockjaw Troggs in Gol’Bolar Quarry in Dun Morogh until one drops a Rabbit Musk.
• Use the Rabbit Musk when near a Rabbit and then use your Tame Beast ability on the critter.
• Speak with Toby at Amberstill Ranch (64, 50) to trade the rabbit for the rune.

Durotar:

• Kill quillboars in Durotar until one drops an Adder Pheromone.
• Use the Adder Pheromone when near an Adder and then use your Tame Beast ability on the critter.
• Speak with Razzil at Razor Hill (52, 44) to trade the adder for the rune.

Mulgore:

• Kill gnolls in southern Mulgore until one drops a Prairie Dog Musk.
• Use the Prairie Dog Musk when near a Prairie Dog and then use your Tame Beast ability on the critter.
• Speak with Takoda Sunmane at Bloodhoof Village (46, 60) to trade the prairie dog for the rune.

Teldrassil:

• Kill furbolgs in Teldrassil until one drops a Deer Musk.
• Use the Deer Musk when near a Deer and then use your Tame Beast ability on the critter.
• Speak with Relaeron in the Cenarion Enclave in Darnassus (40, 9) to trade the deer for the rune.

Chimera Shot Rune

Chimera Shot is a Hunter Rune for the Gloves slot. Here’s how to get it:

Dwarf:

• Reach level 2 and pick up the quest Trek Through the Caves from the Hunter Trainer in Dun Morogh.
• Enter the cave in the south of Coldridge Valley and loot the rune from a Frostmane Loot Cache chest.

Night Elf:

• Reach level 2 and pick up the quest A Hunter’s Strength from the Hunter Trainer in Teldrassil.
• Enter the cave in the north of Shadowglen and kill Githyiss the Vile to loot the rune.

Orc:

• Reach level 2 and pick up the quest Hunt for the Rune from the Hunter Trainer in Durotar.
• Kill nearby Scorpid Workers until one of them drops the rune.

Tauren:

• Reach level 2 and pick up the quest A Hunter’s Strength from the Hunter Trainer in Mulgore.
• Enter the Brambleblade Ravine cave in the southeast of the zone and kill Bristleback Battleboar to get the rune.

Troll:

• Reach level 2 and pick up the quest Rugged Terrain from the Hunter Trainer in Durotar.
• Kill nearby Scorpid Workers until one of them drops the rune.

Cobra Slayer Rune

Cobra Slayer is a Hunter Rune for the Chest slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Enter the cave just north of Dun Algaz in southern Wetlands (53, 64).
• Kill Carrodin, a level 25 elite owl, to loot the rune.

Cobra Strikes Rune

Cobra Strikes is a Hunter Rune for the Chest slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Buy Freshwater Snapper Bait from Zixil, the goblin vendor who patrols the central road in Hillsbrad Foothills.
• Use the Freshwater Snapper Bait at a boat in the pond near Tarren Mill to spawn Koartul, a level 25 elite.
• Kill it to loot your rune.

Flanking Strike Rune

Flanking Strike is a Hunter Rune for the Pants slot. Here’s how to get it:

Dun Morogh:

• Kill boars in Morogh until one drops a Dun Morogh Pig Meat.
• Use the Dun Morogh Pig Meat inside the cave near Brewnall Village to summon Jorul.
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Durotar:

• Kill boars in Durotar until one drops a Durotar Pig Meat.
• Use the Durotar Pig Meat on the northern island of the Echo Isles to summon Raluk.
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Mulgore:

• Kill swoops and plainstriders in Mulgore until one drops a Mulgore Bird Meat.
• Use the Mulgore Bird Meat around 36, 57 to summon Mokwa.
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Teldrassil:

• Kill owls in Teldrassil until one drops a Teldrassil Bird Meat.
• Use the Teldrassil Bird Meat around 48, 31 to summon Mowgh.
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Kill Shot Rune

Kill Shot is a Hunter Rune for the Pants slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Pick up the quest Wild Wyvern Wrangling from Jixo Madrocket in the hut at the entrance to Windshear Crag in Stonetalon Mountains (60, 62).
• Kill furbolgs in Ashenvale until one drops a Wild Magic Essence.
• Craft or purchase a Greater Magic Wand and combine it with the Wild Magic Essence to get a Gnarled Wand of Wild Magic.
• Defeat Mutanus the Devourer, the last boss in the Wailing Caverns, to loot a Hypnotic Crystal.
• Return to Jixo Madrocket and progress the quest to Wrangling a Wild Wyvern.
• Watch Jixo tame a wyvern and then turn in the quest to get your rune.

Lone Wolf Rune

Lone Wolf is a Hunter Rune for the Chest slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Visit Grizzby inside the inn at Ratchet in The Barrnes.
• Purchase a Rune of Lone Wolf from him for 3 gold and use it to get the rune.

Master Marksman Rune

Master Marksman is a Hunter Rune for the Chest slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Use Hunter’s Mark on a Rustling Bush in any of the following places:
  • Dun Morogh: near Brewnall Village (29, 50)
  • Durotar: west of Razor Hill (40.5, 52)
  • Mulgore: northeast of Bloodhoof Village (59, 54)
  • Teldrassil: near the center of the zone (47, 46)
• Kill the mob that spawns to loot the rune.

Serpent Spread Rune

Serpent Spread is a Hunter Rune for the Pants slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Hand in Waylaid Supplies crates until you reach Friendly reputation with  Azeroth Commerce Authority or  Durotar Supply and Logistics.
• Purchase the rune from a Supply Officer. Supply Officers can be found near the Auction House in each major city.

Sniper Training Rune

Sniper Training is a Hunter Rune for the Pants slot. Here’s how to get it:

Darkshore:

• Pick up a Gnarled Harpoon that is sticking out of a rock along the northern coast of Darkshore.
• Throw the Gnarled Harpoon at Paxnozz, a level 20 elite thresher off the northern coast (48, 15).
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Loch Modan:

• Kill Kackle, an elite crocolisk on the southern island in The Loch (53, 56).
• Loot the rune.

The Barrens:

• Buy a Fishing Harpoon from Kilxx at the dock in Ratchet in The Barrens.
• Throw the Fishing Harpoon at Bruuz, a level 20 elite shark off the coast (65, 40).
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Westfall:

• Kill Defias Scout, an elite near Sentinel Hill (52, 56).
• Loot the rune.