Hunter or Warlock for End Game?

[wham]

I have a level 60 hunter and lock and since I haven't experienced end game level 70 raids/instances, I was hoping for some advice on which to use as my "main" for PvE at 70?

I've read that locks are very destructive in PvP and PvE so does that mean that my lock is more viable in both environments than my hunter?
Does the only benefit of leveling a hunter to 70 end up being extreme ease in grinding and farming materials?

I'm just hoping someone who has done the late game raids and heroics can give me some insight on which class will end up being more dominant (and helpful) in PvE (and PvP if possible).
TIA!

[Aerath]

If you want any chance of invites, grab a Warlock.

Most people are still hesitant to invite a hunter unless they know it's a good player.

[ocellaris]

What WoW really lacks right now is *GOOD* Hunters. Hunters can get from L1 to L70 with almost no skill, get gear by default, and think they are good while doing this. The end result is it devaules their whole class since so many of them are bads. If you want to put in the time and effort to learn the class more than the other nubs, and be an exceptional player, go with the Hunter.

I can recognize probably 15+ good Warlocks on my server. And maybe 3 Hunters.

[xDarkDrifterx]

My stance: Some end game content heroics ran - no raids yet . . . TONS of PVP.

Hunters can get from L1 to L70 with almost no skill, get gear by default, and think they are good while doing this.

:banghead:

with almost no skill: If you go BM from the start then you have a much easier time yes - so go MM as I did from day 1as it makes you a better hunter IMO then someone who once the big red pet isn't red anymore sucks . . .

get gear by default: Point me to this line cause I'll jump up front for this . . . .lol . . . incorrect - you have to search out and look for gear etc just like every other class (if you want the best) . . . quest rewards are out there for hunters just like everyone else.

and think they are good while doing this: Not if you're on a PVP server, though you may think you're good - till that first BG or big world pvp fight you get into that seperates the men from the boys.

If you love comments like the above from people you're deciding on the correct 2 classes lol

It may be that way if you're starting a second toon or soemthing , but my first time through was not so easy all the time while you're learning the game + mechanics + instances + grouping + etc etc. But w/e on that point.

People say that type of stuff about both classes, we're both OP, we're both easy mode (except lock has some more intricacies) . . . blah blah . . ..

As a "Pretty Damned Good" not just a "Good" 70 Hunter I'd say go with a lock, as there are way to many hunter at least on my server. I don't have trouble finding groups because I'm a hunter - I just have trouble finding groups for certain instances on occasion becuase no one is PUGing it that day.

Both are considered utility mostly and both are great in instances, pvp, raids, etc when played correctly. I'm 95% of the time at the top of the BG's in Damage Done and Kills (usually par with a good lock), if we as hunters have a healer we're deadly. There are things to learn about each such as chain trapping, kiting, etc. Locks can have huge crits (and so can MM hunters - which I was before respeccing BM for areana). As a hunter though, you have issues if you can't keep range (which you HAVE to learn how to do well, or you end up sucking). Locks have no issues with range, melee, etc (in so far as being able to actually attack someone = no dead zone) so that alone is something to think about, but in the end to me - it's casters FTW - b/c spells don't take into consideration armor as arrows do.

p.s. - the fact of what the lock can offer to the party as a whole shadows waht a hunter can offer 10 fold IMO . . . hunters can just offer a buff or two.

[YamahaGuy]

I have a level 60 hunter and lock and since I haven't experienced end game level 70 raids/instances, I was hoping for some advice on which to use as my "main" for PvE at 70?

I've read that locks are very destructive in PvP and PvE so does that mean that my lock is more viable in both environments than my hunter?
Does the only benefit of leveling a hunter to 70 end up being extreme ease in grinding and farming materials?

I'm just hoping someone who has done the late game raids and heroics can give me some insight on which class will end up being more dominant (and helpful) in PvE (and PvP if possible).
TIA!

If I wanted to I could recruit 5 hunters in one evening.

They are everywhere.

A half decent avilable warlock would take a while to find.

[Beruen]

with almost no skill: If you go BM from the start then you have a much easier time yes - so go MM as I did from day 1as it makes you a better hunter IMO then someone who once the big red pet isn't red anymore sucks . . .

Agreed wholeheartedly.

get gear by default: Point me to this line cause I'll jump up front for this . . . .lol . . . incorrect - you have to search out and look for gear etc just like every other class (if you want the best) . . . quest rewards are out there for hunters just like everyone else.

I think he's just saying that a BM "send pet and autoattack" hunter doesn't need to go out of his way to get good gear to level fast. I'd say that if that's his point, he's right.

and think they are good while doing this: Not if you're on a PVP server, though you may think you're good - till that first BG or big world pvp fight you get into that seperates the men from the boys.

I don't consider myself a good hunter. Paradoxially, I do consider myself a better than average hunter. I've been with good hunters, and I feel like I'm a kid shooting rubber dart arrows at the mobs when I'm around them. I've also been around hunters that just don't seem to get their class. A guildie, who at lvl 70, has HALF the AP and a third the crit rate I had when I came through the dark portal, and almost as much STR as AGI (He's a PvPer, and I think he expects the same stuff to work well in PvE, though why he insists on leaving aspect of the pack up while meleeing is beyond me). Hunters that don't understand when and why they should turn growl off when in groups. Not that need to be reminded, but that will argue the point.

The difference between a good and a bad hunter is probably greater than in any other class in this game.

[Aerath]

As long as I run into Hunters wondering why their pet loses aggro when they have both Growl and Cower on, I'll take a random warlock over a random hunter any day of the week. Specially when said hunter continous to proclaim their own godliness and how they murderise people in PvP... and then complain about never getting groups.

Sure - it's not you. It's hunters. Trust me.

[Naolin]

Warlock have an easier time getting into groups (although.. lately I been hearing some complains from my guilds locks)
However if you are a good hunter and people know you are that, groups will be easy as well.

but if you want the easy road to groups out of the 2 classes I would say Lock.

[lofta]

Good hunters are a rare thing. Exceptional warlocks the same. Fair to average warlocks are many.

I'd go hunter and be exceptionally good.

[wham]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I found a guild that is actually high on hunters and low on locks so I've opted to go with the warlock for the time being. Perhaps until I better learn the mechanics of the game and can actually become an exceptional hunter. :)

Cheers.

[Justinledwards]

Locks are very, very useful in end-game - but there are many who have gotten to 70 like the reputation hunters have - solo, with big aggro issues and little understanding of group dynamics or working with a party / raid leader

e.g. I always call nuke on raids... so after a couple of bad pulls, the lock asked, so you mean, by wait for nuke, no dots or anything???

/facepalm

Play what you enjoy playing. Good hunters are invaluable. The hunter I have in my raid can keep two mobs trapped - unreal

[ocellaris]

get gear by default: Point me to this line cause I'll jump up front for this . . . .lol . . . incorrect - you have to search out and look for gear etc just like every other class (if you want the best) . . . quest rewards are out there for hunters just like everyone else.

Not every Hunter wants to be the best, or they would try a hell of a lot harder. Right now, Hunters are by far the most poorly played Class in WoW for PVE. Blizzard does not really put anything in the game to make Hunters "required" as a class. A well played Hunter is an amazing thing, however extremely rare. I have been doing Heroic PUGs for the last week to farm ~100 badges, 2 to 3 Heroics a night. And in this time, I have come across 4 well geared Hunters that were not even aware of how to use Misdirection for pulls. Also they would do stupid stuff like pull bad, run back to the group, THEN FD after everyone else was put into combat. I've also wiped a few times because they are complete nubs and leave pets on follow when jumping across gaps. This is just in the last week, I could write a book about how bad most hunters are.

Other than those 4, I also grouped with an amazing Hunter that saved multiple wipes, was CCing two mobs at a time without a problem, and putting out awesome DPS the whole time.

Someone can play average on a Warlock and make it look good. An Average hunter is just another bad...

[Califtw]

Hmm...I say go with whatever you enjoy playing more. I have a level 64 Belf Hunter and i never have a problem finding a group, even when i have to pug it. If you get a good reputation for yourself and are a good hunter, groups will be a breeze, as it is rare to find a good hunter so when there is a good one everyone finds out about it :grin: