WoW Forever hunter changes from the October 8 build

The October 8 WoW Forever beta build fixes three problems that matter when you play with a pet. Hunter pets should no longer gain health repeatedly at low health, Unleashed Fury should increase pet damage again, and dropping Lone Wolf should not leave you with a 4% damage penalty while a pet is active.

The same development notes also fix two Survival talents. This is a smaller hunter update than the level 30 build, but the pet fixes are worth checking before you settle on a build.

What changed for hunters on October 8?

Here is the short version of the hunter section in the October 8 notes:

The build also opens the City of Dalaran dungeon. That is useful context for the patch, but it does not change the pet roster or where you tame your next companion.

What happened to pets at low health?

Blizzard's note says it fixed a bug that made hunter pets gain health repeatedly while they were at low health. The note does not say whether players were seeing a display problem, effective healing, or both, so it is best not to assume more than that.

If you saw your pet's health move strangely in an earlier beta build, take it into ordinary combat again. Keep an eye on it while it is low rather than judging the fix from a single full-health pull. The WoW Forever pet guide still has the site's known taming bugs and the practical steps for checking a new pet.

Does Unleashed Fury increase pet damage now?

Yes. The October 8 notes say Unleashed Fury now correctly increases pet damage. They do not give a new percentage or a damage test, so there is no reason to invent one here.

That makes the talent worth another look for a Beast Mastery hunter who had discounted it because the bonus was not working. Try it with the pet you actually plan to level with, then compare that choice with the families and abilities in best pets for leveling. If you are still choosing a companion, the tame finder lets you narrow the list by family and zone.

What was the Lone Wolf respec penalty?

Lone Wolf is meant for a hunter without an active pet. Before this fix, talenting out of it could leave the hunter with a 4% damage penalty even after an active pet was back. The October 8 notes say that penalty no longer remains.

That is good news if you were moving between a petless setup and a pet build. After a respec, summon your pet and check your setup in real combat. You do not need to abandon a pet you like just because you tried Lone Wolf earlier.

What changed for Strider Kick and Lacerating Strikes?

The Survival changes are straightforward. Lacerating Strikes can now land critical hits. Strider Kick now increases movement speed by 30% for 3 seconds.

Both are changes to talent behavior, not new tame requirements. You can still compare pet families on their own strengths while deciding whether a Survival build fits how you want to play. If you are testing these talents in the beta, retest the low-health pet behavior and Unleashed Fury too. They are the hunter-pet fixes in this build that can change what you see right away.