Quick Links
Hunters have long been the best soloing class inWorld of Warcraft, but its playstyle has barely changed over the last two decades. In theSeason of Discovery Hunter Runesgive the class some great variety, one of the best utility Runes in the form of the new Aspect of the Lion (Blessing of Kings), as well as new options to bring solo, melee Survival builds up to par.
In Phase One, there were a total 12 SoD Hunter Runes, available for the Chest, Legs, and Gloves slots. In Phase Two, six more Hunter Runes were added for the Boots and Belt slots, making for a total of eighteen across all five. This guide details both the effects and locations of all Hunter SoD Runes added in Phase One and Phase Two.
Updated June 06, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: As players prepare to enter the third phase, and pick up new Runes, Phase 1 SoD Hunter Runes and Phase 2 SoD Hunter Runes aren’t going anywhere. Though we don’t yet know if there will be an easier way to get the first two phases' Runes in P3, the original methods to get Hunter Runes from SoD hase One and Two should still work. What hasn’t remained the same. throughout the numerous WoW SoD patches. are the specific effects of the P1 and P2 SoD Hunter Runes. This guide has been updated to specifically list all Runes available in the first two SoD Phases for Hunters, and will no longer be updated to include later phases' runes. Additionally, the effects of these Runes have been updated to match their current in-game effects accurately, as of the publish date.
To preserve the sense of mystery intended for the Season of Discovery, each P1/P2 SoD Hunter Rune location is hidden by default. Open the “Click to Reveal” box to show details on how to get all Phase One and Phase Two Hunter Runes in SoD.
Aspect of the Lion, Cobra Strikes, Lone Wolf, & Master Marksman
Cobra Strikes Rune
Purchase Freshwater Snapper Bait from a faction-neutral vendor in Hillsbrad Foothills. Climb onto a boat in the lake near Tarren Mill and use the bait on the water to spawn a unique elite enemy.
Lone Wolf Rune
Purchased from Grizzby in the Ratchet Inn after completing a series of quests requiring several items – 24 Fish Oil, 20 Dark Iron Ordinance, and 16 Shredder Turbochargers. Players have at least 5 Gold to interact with Grizzby.
Master Marksman Rune
Dwarfcharacters must find a Rustling Bush in Dun Morogh, and cast Hunter’s Mark on it to spawn a unique enemy.
Night Elfcharacters must must find a Rustling Bush in Teldrassil, and cast Hunter’s Mark on it to spawn a unique enemy.
Taurencharacters must must find a Rustling Bush in Mulgore, and cast Hunter’s Mark on it to spawn a unique enemy.
Orc and Trollcharacters must must find a Rustling Bush in the Durotar, and cast Hunter’s Mark on it to spawn a unique enemy.
Heart of the Lion Rune
All characters must go to a cave in the Wetlands to defeat a unique elite Owl named Carrodin.
All Hunter Legs Runes (PHASE ONE)
Kill Command Rune
All characters must kill Furbolgs across Ashenvale to get the Gnarled Wand of Wild Magic. Combine this with a Greater Magic Wand, then defeat the final boss of the Wailing Caverns to get a Hypnotic Crystal. Finally, head to a unique vendor in the Stonetalon Mountains to trade the items for the Rune.
Kill Command Effect
Purchased from Waylaid Supply vendors after reaching Honored with the new faction, the Azeroth Commerce Authority/Durotar Supply and Logistics.
Flanking Strike Rune
Dwarfcharacters must gather Dun Morogh Pig Meat to spawn a unique elite named Jorul, who can be tamed or killed to earn the Rune.
Night Elfcharacters must gather Teldrassil Bird Mea to spawn a unique elite named Mowgh, who can be tamed or killed to earn the Rune.
Taurencharacters must gather Mulgore Bird Meat to spawn a unique elite named Mokwa, who can be tamed or killed to earn the Rune.
Orc and Trollcharacters must gather Durotar Pig Meat to spawn a unique elite named Raluk, who can be tamed or killed to earn the Rune.
Sniper Training Rune
Hordeplayers must use a Fishing Harpoon to spear an elite Shark enemy near Ratchet. The Fishing Harpoon can be purchased nearby on the docks.
Allianceplayers must kill the Defias Scout, just above Sentinel Hill. The elite despawns very quickly, so be prepared to stun and nuke him. Alternatively, players can use the Gnarled Harpoon to kill an elite enemy in the waters near a Beached Sea Turtle.
Beast Mastery, Carve, Chimera Shot, & Explosive Shot
Carve Rune
Dwarfcharacters must acquire Rabbit Musk from Rockjaw Troggs, then tame a Rabbit and bring it to Amberstill Ranch.
Night Elfcharacters must acquire Deer Musk from the Furbolg, then tame a Deer and bring it to the Cenarion Enclave.
Taurencharacters must acquire Prairie Dog Musk from Gnolls, then tame a Prairie Dog and bring it to Bloodhoof Village.
Orc and Trollcharacters must acquire Adder Pheromone from the Quillboars, then tame an Adder and bring it to Razor Hill.
Explosive Shot Rune
Dwarfcharacters must kill Vagash, an elite quest enemy in Dun Morogh
Night Elfcharacters must kill Rageclaw, an elite quest enemy in Teldrassil
Taurencharacters must kill Arrachea, an elite quest enemy in Mulgore
Orc and Trollcharacters must kill Sarkoth, an elite quest enemy in Durotar
Chimera Shot Rune
All characters earn Chimera Shot after completing the Level 2 quest that introduces the Rune system, each of which requires players to kill one of several basic enemies in the starting zone.
Beast Mastery Rune
Allianceplayers must kill Furbolg in Darkshore to get Crab Treats, then feed them to a Young Reef Crawler.
Hordeplayers must summon the unique Grizzled Protector elite by killing Ferocious Grizzled Bears in Silverpine Forest.
All Hunter Belt Runes (PHASE TWO)
Steady Shot Rune
Head to the Arathi Highlands and locate an elite Level 35 enemy named Needletooth at about (66, 60) in the Witherbark Village lake. Kill Needletooth to get the Rune of Steady Shot.
Expose Weakness Rune
To get the Rune of Expose Weakness, head to the Badlands and kill Dustbelcher Ogres, in the south and west of the zone, until one drops a Primitive Drawing. Accept the quest that the item triggers, then go to Hemet Nesingwary in northern Stranglethorn Vale.
After getting the Empty Bait Cage from Nesingwary, capture any critter, then head back to the Badlands. Go to (22, 66.5) to find a Large Nest, and use the Bait Cage (with the critter inside) to bait out a level 40 Carrion Bird named Gharrik.
Kill it to get the Crimson Trophy Quill, and go back to Hemet Nesingwary to turn it in and get the Rune.
Melee Specialist Rune
The Rune of Close Combat (and the Melee Specialist rune) unlocks via the Phase Two Dark Rider questline. To begin, head to Ariden’s Camp in Deadwind Pass at around (52, 34.5) in the zone. Talk to the Dalaran Agent at the camp to get Ariden’s Sigil. He will ask you to recover seven Dalaran Relics from Dark Riders throughout Azeroth. Each of the Dark Riders is about as difficult as a Dungeon boss at 40, but because all classes have one Rune tied to the SoD Dark Rider, it’s not too hard to get a five to ten-man group together.
The Dark Riders can be found in Duskwood, Deadwind Pass, Swamp of Sorrows, Badlands, The Barrens, Desolace, and the Arathi Highlands. After killing each one, head back to the Dalaran Agent and give him the recovered Dalaran Relics. After completing each quest (which reward about 1.5g at Level 40), the Agent will give you a bag containing the Rune.
Invigoration, Trap Launcher, & Dual Wield Specialization
Invigoration Rune
To get the Rune of Invigoration, both factions must first head to the Swamp of Sorrows. On the road that forks south from the western entrance from Deadwind Pass, Hunters will find a new NPC named Amaryllis Webb. Buy her Entomology Starter Kit for 50 silver, which contains a Guide and a Net, then head to three zones to capture three different creatures.
In theArathi Highlands, go to Northfold Manor at (31, 28) and look for the Hay Weevil in any of the Stables in the nearby area. Use the net on the Weevil to catch it. It should look like a small purple spider.
InDesolace, go to the Kodo Graveyard around (52, 58) and look around all of the bone piles for a Flesh Picker. It should look like a small black and red scorpion, which stands out against the sand and bones.
InStranglethorn Vale, head to Lake Nazferiti and look for a stump at (45, 19). Use the Net on the Arbor Tarantula on the stump. It should look like a small orange spider.
Trap Launcher Rune
To get the Rune of the Trapper (and thus the Trap Launcher Rune), head to Desolace, and look for an extinguished Campfire just northwest of the Kodo Graveyard (slightly north of the “D” in “Kodo” on the map). Pick up the quest Highway Robbery, then go directly northwest to find Kormek’s Hut on the ridge overlooking the graveyard. Turn in Highway Robbery, pick up the next quest On The Lam, then head to Booty Bay.
In the Inn, talk to Tokal to continue the questline and pick up Cherry For Your Thoughts. Purchase some Cherry Grog from the barkeep and give it to her to continue onto the next part, No Honor Among Thieves.
Go to the border of the Wetlands and the Arathi Highlands and look for a boat underneath the Thandol Span bridge. Jump down into the water and interact with this boat to teleport to the far eastern shore of the Highlands. Talk to Illari Duskfeather, choose either Dialogue option, and kill her to get Illari’s Key. Open the nearby Illari’s Loot Cache to get the Rune.
Dual Wield Specialization Rune (Hunter)
To get the Rune of the Scapper (which unlocks the Dual Wield Specialization Rune), go to an area just southwest of Hemet Nesingwary’s camp in northern Stranglethorn Vale, around the first troll ruins as you head southwest from the famous hunter. You’ll know you’re in the right spot when you get a “Danger!” buff. ensure you have the Flare ability trained, and use it to reveal a Bloodscalp Guerrilla while in the area (if you are close to its current location). Kill it to get the Rune.
