All hunters begin the game knowing how to use one type of ranged weapon (bows, crossbows or guns) and one type of melee weapon (axes, daggers or swords). This means that starting players can only equip and use those specific types of weapons.
However, this does not mean that hunters are forever limited to those starting weapon skills and no other. In all the major cities are NPCs known as ‘Weapon Masters’ or which are identified by guards as a ‘Weapon Trainer’. It is in this manner that hunters can learn how to use and wield a variety of different weapons.
Bows, crossbows and guns are the primary ranged weapon abilities – all three hunters can learn to use. Thrown Weapons is the other ranged ability, but are of minimal use to a hunter as none of the hunters ranged abilities work in concert with thrown weapons. For melee abilities, the hunter can train Daggers, Fist Weapons (which will show up as ‘Unarmed’ on the Skills tab), One-Handed Axes, Two-Handed Axes, One-Handed Swords, Two-Handed Swords, Polearms and Staves. Hunters are restricted from using One-Handed Maces, Two-Handed Maces, Shields or Wands (although Shields and Wands are not taught at Weapon Trainers, but instead are a starting ability for those classes who can use them).
Each weapon skill costs either 10 silver or 1 gold to train in its usage. Not all Weapon Masters teach every type of weapon skill, so some travel to alternate cities may be necessary. Alliance players cannot train at Horde Weapon Masters and vice versa.
- Ilyenia Moonfire (Darnassus) – Bows, Daggers, Fist Weapons, Staves, Thrown
- Bixi Wobblebonk (Ironforge) – Crossbows, Daggers, Thrown
- Buliwyf Stonehand (Ironforge) – Fist Weapons, Guns, One-Handed Axes, Two-Handed Axes
- Woo Ping (Stormwind City) – Crossbows, Daggers, One-Handed Swords, Polearms, Staves, Two-Handed Swords
- Handiir (The Exodar) – Crossbows, Daggers, One-Handed Swords, Two-Handed Swords
- Duelist Larenis (Eversong Woods) – Bows, Daggers, One-Handed Swords, Polearms, Thrown, Two-Handed Swords
- Hanashi (Orgrimmar) – Bows, One-Handed Axes, Staves, Thrown, Two-Handed Axes
- Sayoc (Orgrimmar) – Bows, Daggers, Fist Weapons, One-Handed Axes, Thrown, Two-Handed Axes
- Ileda (Silvermoon City) – Bows, Daggers, One-Handed Swords, Polearms, Thrown, Two-Handed Swords
- Ansekhwa (Thunder Bluff) – Guns, Staves
- Archibald (Undercity) – Crossbows, Daggers, One-Handed Swords, Polearms, Two-Handed Swords
Weapon Skill
Weapon skill represents your proficiency with a particular Weapon. The basic formula for your maximum weapon skill at a particular level is (5 * level). Attacking evading enemies will not increase your weapon skill.