Updated Nov 2, 2026
Havoc Demon Hunter
PvE guide, updated for Patch 12.1.5
DPS Rotation & Cooldowns
How to play Havoc Demon Hunter in each rotation style: the full rotation SimulationCraft sims play by default, and the game’s Assisted Highlight and One Button rotations beside it.
Rotation style comparison
How Havoc Demon Hunter’s DPS compares when using the game’s assisted modes instead of the full rotation, based on Single Target simulations.
- Full rotationBaseline
- Assisted Highlight-41.0%
- One Button-47.0%
The full rotation is the one SimulationCraft’s sims play by default. Its priority list is SimC’s own for the spec, read here for one build and one kind of fight.
Rotation
Beta15 abilitiesBeta. This view is new. Some specs’ steps still read as long chains of conditions, and we’re working on making them simpler to follow.
- 1Metamorphosis
- 2The Hunt
- 3Vengeful Retreat
- 4Pick Up Fragment
- 5Reaver's Glaive
- 6AnnihilationWhen ready
- 7Essence Break
- 8Death SweepWhen ready
- 9Abyssal Gaze
- 10Eye BeamWhen ready
- 11Immolation AuraWhen ready
- 12FelbladeWhen ready
- 13Blade DanceWhen ready
- 14Chaos StrikeWhen ready
- 15Racial abilityWhen ready
Every step also needs the ability off cooldown and affordable. Range checks are left out. A blank Targets cell means any number of targets.
Before the pull
Things to do before entering combat.
Cooldowns
When each cooldown was used across the sample fight, so you can see how often each comes back and which ones line up.
Sample opener
One simulated fight from the start, played by this list on the profile in the Gear section with the guide’s Single target build, whichever build the list above is read for. Procs and timing change the order from fight to fight, so use it to get a feel for the start rather than as a script.
Time
Ability
New
Gone
Up
Pre-pull
0:00.000
Pull
The full priority list
simc@710c240Everything above is read from this SimulationCraft list, including the steps the page hides (the potion and on-use items) and the branches your build and fight leave out.
demonhunter_havoc.simc, 58 lines
# This default action priority list is automatically created based on your character. # It is a attempt to provide you with a action list that is both simple and practicable, # while resulting in a meaningful and good simulation. It may not result in the absolutely highest possible dps. # Feel free to edit, adapt and improve it to your own needs. # SimulationCraft is always looking for updates and improvements to the default action lists. # Executed before combat begins. Accepts non-harmful actions only. actions.precombat=snapshot_stats actions.precombat+=/variable,name=tab_target_burning_wound,op=reset,default=1 actions.precombat+=/variable,name=rg_ds,default=0,op=reset actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket1_special,value=0 actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket2_special,value=0 actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket1_crit,value=!variable.trinket1_special&trinket.1.has_cooldown&trinket.1.has_use_damage&!trinket.1.is.font_of_venomous_rage actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket2_crit,value=!variable.trinket2_special&trinket.2.has_cooldown&trinket.2.has_use_damage&!trinket.1.is.font_of_venomous_rage actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket1_steroids,value=!variable.trinket1_special&trinket.1.has_cooldown&trinket.1.has_use_buff actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket2_steroids,value=!variable.trinket2_special&trinket.2.has_cooldown&trinket.2.has_use_buff actions.precombat+=/immolation_aura # Executed every time the actor is available. actions=auto_attack # Default auto attack to spread Burning Wound, use tab_target_burning_wound=0 to spread with Throw Glaive instead actions+=/retarget_auto_attack,line_cd=1,target_if=min:debuff.burning_wound.remains,if=talent.burning_wound&active_dot.burning_wound<(spell_targets>?3)&variable.tab_target_burning_wound actions+=/retarget_auto_attack,line_cd=1,target_if=min:!target.is_boss,if=talent.burning_wound&active_dot.burning_wound=(spell_targets>?3)&variable.tab_target_burning_wound actions+=/immolation_aura,if=talent.violent_transformation&talent.a_fire_inside&cooldown.metamorphosis.remains<gcd.max*3 actions+=/metamorphosis,if=(!talent.chaotic_transformation|!cooldown.blade_dance.up&cooldown.eye_beam.remains>8)&!action.death_sweep.demonsurge_available&!action.annihilation.demonsurge_available # actions+=/metamorphosis,if=!talent.chaotic_transformation|!cooldown.blade_dance.up&!cooldown.eye_beam.up actions+=/the_hunt,if=(!talent.eternal_hunt|cooldown.eye_beam.remains<10&cooldown.metamorphosis.remains>15|!cooldown.eye_beam.up&cooldown.metamorphosis.up|!hero_tree.felscarred)&!buff.reavers_glaive.up actions+=/vengeful_retreat,use_off_gcd=1,if=gcd.remains<0.3&cooldown.metamorphosis.remains&cooldown.eye_beam.remains<gcd.max*0.3&!buff.initiative.up|cooldown.metamorphosis.up&cooldown.eye_beam.remains&cooldown.blade_dance.remains&!buff.eternal_hunt.up actions+=/call_action_list,name=items actions+=/pick_up_fragment,type=all,use_off_gcd=1,if=fury<=40 actions+=/reavers_glaive,if=buff.rending_strike.down&buff.glaive_flurry.down actions+=/annihilation,if=buff.rending_strike.up&buff.glaive_flurry.down&debuff.reavers_mark.stack<2|buff.rending_strike.up&active_enemies>=2 actions+=/essence_break,if=action.death_sweep.demonsurge_available|action.annihilation.demonsurge_available actions+=/death_sweep,if=debuff.essence_break.up|action.death_sweep.demonsurge_available actions+=/annihilation,if=debuff.essence_break.up|action.annihilation.demonsurge_available actions+=/throw_glaive,if=active_enemies>1&talent.burning_wound&!talent.screaming_brutality&active_dot.burning_wound<(spell_targets>?3)&!variable.tab_target_burning_wound actions+=/immolation_aura,if=talent.a_fire_inside&talent.burning_wound&(charges=2|full_recharge_time<gcd.max*2) actions+=/abyssal_gaze,if=!action.death_sweep.demonsurge_available&!action.annihilation.demonsurge_available actions+=/eye_beam actions+=/immolation_aura,,if=action.immolation_aura.demonsurge_available&buff.demonsurge.remains<gcd.max actions+=/felblade,if=buff.inertia_trigger.up actions+=/essence_break,if=cooldown.eye_beam.remains>4 actions+=/death_sweep actions+=/blade_dance actions+=/immolation_aura,if=active_enemies>1&(talent.a_fire_inside|talent.burning_wound) actions+=/annihilation actions+=/felblade,if=hero_tree.felscarred&fury<=100 actions+=/chaos_strike actions+=/felblade actions+=/immolation_aura actions+=/arcane_torrent actions.items=potion,use_off_gcd=1,if=cooldown.metamorphosis.up&(cooldown.eye_beam.up|!talent.chaotic_transformation)|fight_remains<=30 actions.items+=/use_item,slot=trinket1,use_off_gcd=1,if=variable.trinket1_steroids&(!variable.trinket2_special|trinket.2.cooldown.remains>20)|fight_remains<15 actions.items+=/use_item,slot=trinket1,use_off_gcd=1,if=variable.trinket1_crit&(buff.initiative.up|!talent.initiative)&(!variable.trinket2_special|trinket.2.cooldown.remains>20)|fight_remains<15 actions.items+=/use_item,name=font_of_venomous_rage,if=buff.initiative.up&buff.initiative.remains>2&(!buff.metamorphosis.up|fight_remains<buff.metamorphosis.remains)&!debuff.essence_break.up|fight_remains<19 actions.items+=/use_item,slot=trinket2,use_off_gcd=1,if=variable.trinket2_steroids&(!variable.trinket1_special|trinket.1.cooldown.remains>20)|fight_remains<15 actions.items+=/use_item,slot=trinket2,use_off_gcd=1,if=variable.trinket2_crit&(buff.initiative.up|!talent.initiative)&(!variable.trinket1_special|trinket.1.cooldown.remains>20)|fight_remains<15
Is this rotation built for your talents?
The rotation follows your talent build. Sim your highest-DPS build on your own gear, for the mode and rotation style you play.