DPS Rotation & Cooldowns

This rotation guide provides a quick, basic understanding of which abilities to prioritize when playing a Havoc Demon Hunter, along with additional details on important cooldowns at the bottom. Updated for the latest patch in World of Warcraft: The War Within (11.0.5).

Single Target

Ensure Immolation Aura is active before the encounter begins.

• Death SweepView detailsDuring Essence Break debuff.
• AnnihilationView detailsDuring Essence Break debuff.
• Reavers GlaiveView detailsIf available.
• Fel RushView detailsWith Unbound Chaos active.
• Immolation AuraView detailsTo trigger Unbound Chaos.
• Vengeful RetreatView detailsTo trigger Initiative.
• The HuntView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Sigil Of DoomView detailsDuring Metamorphosis.
• Eye BeamView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Blade DanceView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Chaos StrikeView detailsUse to spend Fury.
• Immolation AuraView detailsUse to generate Fury.
• Throw GlaiveView detailsTo fill.

Start with Death Sweep and Annihilation during Essence Break. Use Reavers Glaive and Fel Rush as they become available. Maintain Immolation Aura and use The Hunt on cooldown. Follow up with Eye Beam and Blade Dance while spending Fury with Chaos Strike.

AoE

• Death SweepView detailsDuring Essence Break debuff.
• AnnihilationView detailsDuring Essence Break debuff.
• Reavers GlaiveView detailsIf available.
• Fel RushView detailsWith Unbound Chaos active.
• Immolation AuraView detailsTo trigger Unbound Chaos.
• Vengeful RetreatView detailsTo trigger Initiative.
• The HuntView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Sigil Of DoomView detailsDuring Metamorphosis.
• Eye BeamView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Blade DanceView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Chaos StrikeView detailsUse to spend Fury.
• Immolation AuraView detailsUse to generate Fury.
• Throw GlaiveView detailsTo fill.

In AoE, prioritize Death Sweep and Annihilation during Essence Break. Use Reavers Glaive and Fel Rush as they become available. Maintain Immolation Aura and use The Hunt on cooldown. Follow up with Eye Beam and Blade Dance while spending Fury with Chaos Strike.

Cooldowns

• MetamorphosisView details3-minute cooldown, increases damage.
• Eye BeamView details40-second cooldown, high damage.
• The HuntView details1.5-minute cooldown, deals heavy damage.

Use Metamorphosis for a major damage boost, Eye Beam for consistent damage, and The Hunt for burst damage on cooldown.