Havoc Demon Hunter DPS Spec, Builds, and Talents - Dragonflight 10.2.7 (2024)

Cycle SingleIgnition AoEIgnition SingleNo Movement

Due to the higher amount of secondary stats and proc effects in Season 4,utilizing a Low Movement build that focuses on Cycle of Hatred and Metamorphosis has the most potential in exclusivelysingle-target situations:

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This build mostly makes use of the amplified level of secondary statsat this point in the season to maintain a high Metamorphosis uptime,leveraging the additional Haste. It also makes use of Cycle of Hatredto reset Eye Beam frequently while generating a huge amount of Furyto spend aggressively. It takes the Vengeful Retreat talents due bothto their efficiency and the additional resources it provides, and is muchmore open to timers rather than relying on windows like other builds. Thiscan also be played without the set bonus if you are still gearing up byremoving the Throw Glaive and making the following talent swaps:

• Accelerated Blade and Furious Throws for a second pointin Blind Fury and Looks Can Kill.
• Soulscar switched out for Essence Break

"Ignition" builds combine Inertia and A Fire Inside tocreate explosive burst windows that can be planned around. This is the bestoption in fights that have high AoE requirements, or Mythic+.

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Similar to the single-target build, this leverages the powerful synergybetween Inertia and A Fire Inside to set up strong burstwindows for AoE. It completes the Immolation Aura path as well,unlike in single-target, picking up Ragefire to add even more AoEdamage to the package. The final talent point to bring everything togetherin the final row depends on your preference:

• Glaive Tempest - capped at 8 targets and gives an extrarotational AoE Fury spender that can more comfortably fit into the rotation.Particularly in Fortified weeks, this is a good pick when more AoEdamage is required.
• Essence Break - easier to execute and plan around due to onlyhaving a 40-second cooldown. It plays much more more comfortably whenforced into single-target or dealing with priority enemies, but itsacrifices some AoE to do so.
• Fel Barrage - this provides high burst on a 1.5-minutecooldown, but is target capped at 5. The build can sustain the resources tokeep it up for the whole 8 seconds, and keep it buffed via double Unbound Chaosto deliver a large amount of up-front damage. The limitation on targets pairedwith the resource drain and the current tuning point makes this hard tojustify, but is still a niche option for specific scenarios.

"Ignition" builds combine Inertia and A Fire Inside tocreate explosive burst windows that can be planned around. This providesa strong Single-target and Cleave option, this is the strongest buildwhenever extra targets or add waves are present.

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The single-target Ignition revolves heavily around the combination of A Fire Inside, Inertia and Essence Break. It leveragesthe condensed damage boost of Inertia much better than it does the alternative Momentum, heavily empowering the strength of each Essence Break window.It also allows it to set up and execute extremely powerful Metamorphosisburst via Chaotic Transformation by using the two Immolation Auracharges to blanket the cooldown window.

No matter the variation on the build, whenever playing Ignition it requiresyou to be using both Fel Rush for Unbound Chaos and Vengeful Retreat for Tactical Retreat. This meansplanning and positioning is key, because your burst windows are soshort in the follow-up.

In some encounters, it is not realistic to make use of the heavy movementtalents, or simply your preference may be a more static gameplay loop. Thisis an alternative that, while behind top builds by roughly 5%, may be more comfortablefor you to play:

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Recent encounters have shown that, in some cases, it is not only unsafebut simply unrealistic to keep full uptime while using movement tools efficiently.When that appears, this is an alternative that comes at a modest performance hit,removing the entire Fel Rush and Vengeful Retreat suitein exchange for the strongest upfront damage tools we can get hold of.

It still goes for Cycle of Hatred as the central block of talentshave the least dependencies on other talents. Alongside this, it picks upstrong enabler talents for Eye Beam and Chaos Strike as theyform the bread and butter of the build's damage delivery.

Spec Rows 1-4Spec Rows 5-7Spec Rows 8-10Class Talents

Ability	Explanation
Critical Chaos	Thanks to the other talents on the Havoc tree and the general leaning toCritical Strike, this confers extra benefits to Chaos Strikefrom the stat you will likely be stacking. Due to how busy the top ofthe tree is this is not always taken, but is a strong generation tool.
Demon Blades	Removes the need to actively generate via Demon's Bite, givingmuch more efficient generation. This is paired with Felblade tostill maintain an active generator tool.
Burning Hatred	Provides additional Fury from Immolation Aura. Due tothe increased focus on this later in the tree, and it now being mandatorypathing, this is always taken.
Insatiable Hunger	Increases the damage and Fury generation of Demon's Bite.Unfortunately, the GCD compression of Demon Blades that it competes withsimply cannot be beaten, and the extra low-value globals this consumesmeans it should be avoided.
Dash of Chaos	Allows you to Fel Rush back to your starting position immediatelyfollowing a cast. This does give extra Momentum uptime, but ismore of a quality-of-life option which simply does not fit into a treethat is very squeezed for points.
Improved Fel Rush	Boosts the damage of Fel Rush, but not nearly enough to makeit a desirable pick so should be avoided.
Improved Chaos Strike	Only rarely taken, and even then only in single-target focused builds.It simply lacks the throughput and flexibility of alternatives at thisstage in the tree.
First Blood	Taken in every build and forms the core of keeping Blade Dancerelevant in all situations as a use-on-cooldown rotational ability.
Accelerated Blade	Adds further damage to your Throw Glaive and compliments theother options later in the tree. Becomes a mandatory pickup with the Tier31 bonus to empower it further.
Demon Hide	Provides a flat 3% increase to Magic damage done alongside 5% Physicaldamage reduction as well. Solid talent that is usually worth the pointinvestment for its flexibility.
Netherwalk	A potent defensive tool that allows you to immune all damage, but ona long cooldown. Previously, this was hard to acquire, but is now mandatorypathing and is heavily recommended over Desperate Instincts.
Deflecting Dance	Another defensive tool that adds a modest absorb shield during your Blade Dance casts. This provides some good active defense and ismandatory pathing, so unless you need the healing reductionfrom Mortal Dance is strongly recommended.

The first 4 rows have a handful of key talents, such as First Blood,but mostly exist to set up the building blocks of where you will godeeper in the tree and the abilities you focus on. The way you paththrough here will often decide which sides of the tree you can efficientlyaccess, so decisions here are important.

Ability	Explanation
Initiative	Provides an additional (but short) burst window at the start ofan encounter and following Vengeful Retreat casts. Taken inthe majority of builds, unless you are avoiding movementtalents - which comes at a DPS loss.
Scars of Suffering	Grants a flat 4% Versatility and reduces threat generated by 8%.A high-value stat node that has the added benefit of reducing the chanceenemies turn around and kill you, so is always taken.
Chaotic Transformation	Causes your Metamorphosis casts to also reset the cooldownof Blade Dance and Eye Beam. Empowers the up-front powerof our 2-minute cooldown, and is always taken.
Furious Throws	The key building block to set up the Throw Glaivepackage that is completed later in the tree with Soulscar and Accelerating Blade. Required when playing with the Season 4 setbonus.
Trail of Ruin	Adds an additional Chaos damage DoT to your Blade Dancecasts that applies to all targets hit. Given the already high-priorityof Blade Dance, this simply adds extra free damage to our best button.
Tactical Retreat	Adds further benefit to casting Vengeful Retreat by grantinga surge of Fury generation while also reducing the cooldown, increasingthe number of Initiative triggers possible.
Blind Fury	Provides a good path through to single-target options that furtherimprove Eye Beam, and provides a good damage increase in allsituations. Hard to fit in, however due to the point squeeze in the centreof the tree.
Looks Can Kill	Guarantees your Eye Beam to critically strike. Generally anoptional talent due to the point squeeze alongside the already veryhigh Critical Strike level at this point in the expansion.
Dancing with Fate	Leans in further to Blade Dance to empower the final strike,and is also always taken.
Growing Inferno	Causes Immolation Aura to ramp up damage the longerit is active, adding a large amount overall and working well withother Immolation Aura-related talents.
Unbound Chaos	Adds benefit to each Immolation Auracast by empowering your next Fel Rush. Also becomes the activatorfor Inertia if taken.
Isolated Prey	Adds a pure single-target component to Eye Beam and Immolation Aura and is valuable, but should only betaken if there are no adds present in an encounter to deactivateit. This limitation makes it hard to fit in for most builds dueto high-value alternatives.
Furious Gaze	A strong follow-up Haste window for your Eye Beam castsand Demonic windows. Strong, but sometimes hard to fit inbecause of the central block.
Serrated Glaive	Causes Chaos Strike and Throw Glaive to increasethe target's damage taken by those abilities for 15 seconds. Very easyto activate and gains a lot of value, especially with the Season 4 setbonus.
Burning Wound	Adds a significant damage increase to Immolation Aura thatis easy to maintain but can only be applied to 3 targets. Works well inall scenarios and feeds into Ragefire in cleave.

Rows 5-7 form a lot of the core rotation, rounding out which abilitiesare essential to focus on and how the rotation cycle works with your mid-rangecooldown abilities and effects. A lot of these talents are taken inblocks and dictate which of the final rows you have access to.

Ability	Explanation
Momentum	A powerful flat damage increase that can be easily maintained so long as youare actively using movement abilities like Fel Rush. If taken, this shouldhave full uptime, but still gains a lot of its value from abilities you pressrotationally on cooldown, regardless.
Inertia	A stronger alternative to Momentum that requires additional gameplay to execute.This also relies on A Fire Inside to grant additional access to the Unbound Chaos activators, and these casts have a condensed high damagewindow to use with high power abilities.
Glaive Tempest	A strong AoE ability that goes up to 8 targets, but unfortunately has a lot ofcompetition below the 20-point gate.
Chaos Theory	A solid boost to your Blade Dance by causing each cast to empower yournext Chaos Strike, but the value and lack of flexibility makes it hard tojustify a point here, considering what it competes with.
Inner Demon	Powerful damage in all situations, adding bonus damage component to eachof your Eye Beam's Demonic triggers, and Metamorphosiscasts.
Restless Hunter	Increases the damage of your next Blade Dance or Death Sweepafter leaving Metamorphosis by 50%. This also triggers if you refresh thebuff by casting Metamorphosis, so makes good use of Chaotic Transformation.Unfortunately, it simply cannot compete with Inner Demon as a choice node here.
Soulscar	Adds a Mastery scaling component to Throw Glaive that amplifies itsdamage significantly, synergizing strongly with the other Throw Glaive talents onthe tree. Rounds out the Season 4 set bonus build.
Relentless Onslaught	While a good single-target node with better pathing than previously, simplycannot compete in Tier 31 and has some very strong talents, it does not outperformup against it.
Ragefire	Deals excellent AoE damage, funneling your Critical Strikes intoa large explosion at the end. Works well with the other Immolation Auraenhancing talents on the tree.
Know Your Enemy	Causes Critical Strike to scale significantly better, increasing the damagedealt when you do, and is taken in every build. Also extends to trinkets andunique item effects.
Cycle of Hatred	Predominantly single-target focused, significantly reducing the cooldownof Eye Beam.
Chaotic Disposition	Adds a 7.77% chance to trigger damage events additional times wheneveryou deal damage. Think of this as just another form of Critical Strike and aproc that makes everything do a bit more, tuned very well.
A Fire Inside	Grants Immolation Aura a second charge, a 25% chancewhenever you cast it to not trigger the cooldown, and allows multiple Aurasto overlap. Amplifies the other Immolation Aura-related talents on the tree,and pairs extremely well with Inertia to form the Ignition build.
Essence Break	A powerful AoE and single-target burst cooldown that can be overlappedwith the numerous other short-duration tools Havoc has. While short, thereis enough room to fit in Death Sweep and at least two Annihilationcasts every time.
Shattered Destiny	Spending Fury extends the duration of your active Metamorphosisform. While this was previously extremely good, the increased cost to triggermeans it simply does not get the same value and is outperformed by alternatives.
Any Means Necessary	Converts the majority of non-Chaos abilities into Chaos, allowing it to scalewith 80% of your Mastery bonus. It works especially well in AoEsituations, and makes Mastery one of the two dominant stats.
Fel Barrage	A potent 1.5-minute cooldown burst AoE tool, but is cappedat 5 targets. This puts extreme strain on your Fury while active, costing256 total to maintain for the full 8 seconds, but deals massive damageif you are able to last the entire time. Due to the additional planningrequired, the payoff is not really worth the investment, but has someniche uses in certain encounters.

The final 3 rows contain some potent effects that increaseHavoc's scaling potential, how the rotation fundamentally flows, and whattarget counts it is most effective at. You will almost always want a full 10points spare to spend down here, as each point here is at a premium.

Below, we will look at the Class tree talents, dividing them up betweenthose that are used for Throughput (and the reason why), Defense/Mobilityand finally, Utility:

Ability	Explanation
Unrestrained Fury	Increases the Fury cap to 120, allowing more room to generate withoutovercapping and is always taken.
Bouncing Glaives	Increases the target count of Throw Glaive which is extremelyimportant for the Cleave build on the spec tree.
Champion of the Glaive	Pairs well with the other Throw Glaive talents on the spec treeif you are taking those by adding flexibility with a second charge.
Felblade	Adds a high Fury generation tool that works well with Demon Blades,which can trigger the reset. Only has a half-GCD, allowing it to fill in GCDsthat were lost from Demon's Bite easily and is always taken.
Aura of Pain	A flat increase to Immolation Aura Critical Strike chance.While modest, it is useful and works well with Immolation Aura-focused buildsin the spec tree.
Demonic	Almost always taken over First of the Illidari because it drasticallyimproves your Metamorphosis uptime alongside having better synergy withother talents on the Havoc spec tree.
Collective Anguish	Adds a secondary damage (and healing) effect to your Eye Beamcasts for a good damage increase in all situations and is always taken.
Rush of Chaos	Reduces Metamorphosis' cooldown to 2 minutes, making it lessawkward to line up with other cooldowns and is always taken.
Flames of Fury	Significantly increases the damage of Sigil of Flame, making ita potent AoE tool and a more worthwhile filler in single-target.
The Hunt	Deals a heavy amount of burst damage to both your target and enemies aroundit, alongside being a charge. It can also be converted to Chaos damage via Any Means Necessary further empowering it and is always taken, especiallythanks to the Season 4 set bonus.

The majority of these talents are always taken as there is a limited numberof points that can be spent on the tree that purely affect damage - which isthe aim of the game for Havoc.

Ability	Explanation
Blazing Path	Adds an additional charge to Fel Rush, effectively making ita mandatory pick not only for the pathing but for the sheer amount offlexible movement it provides. Is locked in if taking Momentum.
Charred Warblades	Additional passive healing for a single point that is generally worthgrabbing on top of Havoc's other good self-healing options.
Soul Rending	Passive Leech that is enhanced during Metamorphosis, providinga large amount of sustain and is always taken.
Infernal Armor	While Armor only reduces Physical damage taken, the high uptime on Immolation Aura for some builds makes this worth taking,and helps you path through to other important nodes.
First of the Illidari	Strong passive magic damage reduction that is also required pathing toget to throughput talents, so it is always taken.
Will of the Illidari	Flat additional max Health that is a strong boost to passive survival.It can be awkward to access the tree, but it is recommended in all situationswhen possible.
Pursuit	Causes Mastery rating to increase your movement speed, providing freeadditional, passive movement at all times.

Havoc has some good options for both Mobility and Defense on top of itsbaseline toolkit within the tree, and as these are usually recommended tograb alongside the throughput talents in most of your builds.

Ability	Explanation
Sigil of Misery	Provides an AoE stop for enemy crowd control and is usually a goodpickup if you have the points spare.
Imprison	While niche, has some applications in certain dungeons as enemieswill not engage in combat while under the effect.
Improved Disrupt	Additional range on your interrupt is a nice quality-of-life boost.
Consume Magic	Should the content you are doing require a dispel, this is a goodpickup both being at range and having the option to take Swallowed Angerto generate some Fury to compensate for the GCD. Is also required pathingfor Aura of Pain.
Chaos Nova	AoE stun that is taken in any situation where they are needed (forexample Mythic+).
Precise Sigils	A quality of life talent that allows you to fire Sigils at yourtarget instead of aiming them, alongside a duration increase to the effects.This can be useful if you need help to use them efficiently.
Darkness	Powerful point-blank raid cooldown that is almost always taken.
Pitch Black	Reduces the cooldown of Darkness to 3 minutes and is oftenthe go-to enhancement pick for the ability.

Many of the above tools are niche enough that they are selected basedon the content you are doing if they are deemed necessary. The tree isflexible, has enough extra points to access most of thesewithout much issue, and can tailor your build based on your groupcomposition or needs.