Elite Hunter BuildsThis article will focus on some of the best class builds for various playstyles with the Hunter. If you’ve got your own preferred build, be sure to share it with us!

If you’d like more tips and tricks for a particular subclass, check out these guides.

We also have fully upgraded reviews for each of the Exotic Hunter armor.

What is a Class “Build”?

A “build” is the selection of talents you choose from your character. It’s the process of carefully selecting your perks and weapons to suit your playstyle.

You’ll want to play around with different combinations to suit different circumstances, it all depends on how you prefer to play.

Passives

Tier 1

Path Forgotten +2 Armor, +2 Agility

Path Forbidden +2 Recovery, +2 Agility

Path Unknown +2 Armor, +2 Recovery

Tier 2

Way of the Drifter +2 Armor, +1 Recovery, +2 Agility

Way of the Fearless +5 Armor

Way of the Nomad +4 Recovery, +1 Agility

Assassin

Subclass:             Bladedancer
Playstyle:             Methodical

Engagements:     Close Quarters
Strengths:            Rewards patience

Grenade Type: Skip Grenade Primary Weapon: Hand Cannon Double Jump: Blink Special Weapon: Patience and Time Arc Blade: Vanish Heavy Weapon: Machine Gun Blink Strike: Escape Artist   Path I: Path Forgotten Alt Primary: Pulse Rifle Ability Modifier: Shadowjack Alt Special: Shotgun Path II: Way of the Drifter Alt Heavy: Rocket Launcher Ability Modifier: Stalker Ideal Exotic Armor: Don’t Touch Me

Designed especially for methodical and patient players, this build gives you an advantage in Crucible: stealthily weave through the map and strike unsuspecting Guardians.

This build heavily revolves around the invisibility effect that Bladedancer’s are known for. It encourages players to deceive their opponents and make it substantially more difficult for them to be engaged by combatants.

This class is more about the use of special weapons, grenades and abilities. Your opponents will find it difficult to react to a charging shotgun user, distant sniper, or grenade disposer. With proper cloaking, you can get the drop on your enemy before they have a chance to fully recognize you’re there.

In raids and other PvE modes, this is an invaluable setup. It makes it impossible for enemies to detect you, making it possible to flank and distract them.

Deceiver

Subclass:             Bladedancer
Playstyle:             Agile

Engagements:     Close Quarters
Strengths:            Opponent confusion

Grenade Type: Flux Grenade Primary Weapon: MIDA Multi-Tool Double Jump: Blink Special Weapon: Shotgun Arc Blade: Vanish Heavy Weapon: Rocket Launcher Blink Strike: Escape Artist   Path I: Path Forbidden Alt Primary: Auto Rifle Ability Modifier: Quick Draw Alt Special: Sniper Rifle Path II: Way of the Drifter Alt Heavy: Machine Gun Ability Modifier: Stalker Ideal Exotic Armor: Radiant Dance Machines

This build is especially deadly when used by someone with nerves of steel and a steady aim. Its purpose is to dent the opposition’s forces by making distracting and divertive actions that make it difficult for them to retaliate to your team’s assault.

It is a build like this that will break the stalemate of Control battles; getting behind enemy lines and distracting them with swift & brief attacks. Taking advantage of Blink, Cloaking and powerful long-range weapons will make you hard to kill and may panic the opposing team.

There isn’t much of an advantage in PvE with this build, it’s much better suited for PvP.

Sharp Shooter

Subclass:             Gunslinger
Playstyle:             Marksman

Engagements:     Long-Range
Strengths:            Support

Grenade Type: Tripmine Primary Weapon: MIDA Multi-Tool Double Jump: Triple Jump Special Weapon: Sniper Rifle Golden Gun: Deadeye Heavy Weapon: Rocket Launcher Throwing Knife: Circle of Life   Path I: Path Unknown Alt Primary: Pulse Rifle Ability Modifier: Gunslinger’s Trance Alt Special: Path II: Way of the Fearless Alt Heavy: Machine Gun Ability Modifier: Chain of Woe Ideal Exotic Armor: Achlyophage Symbiote

A build that comes straight from the Hunter’s stereotypical image, this setup is built for long range engagements. Everything is centered around picking off foes from a distance and your focus should be being careful and staying alive.

Grab your best sniper and navigate the outside of the map, always with a watchful eye on high-traffic areas. A high Impact scout rifle works awesome for this build as well, to drop anyone quickly who gets too close for comfort.

Stalker

Subclass:             Gunslinger
Playstyle:             Tracking

Engagements:     Medium
Strengths:            Lone Wolf

Grenade Type: Tripmine Primary Weapon: Thorn Double Jump: Triple Jump Special Weapon: Shotgun Golden Gun: Gunfighter Heavy Weapon: Machine Gun Throwing Knife: Incendiary Blade   Path I: Path Forgotten Alt Primary: Pulse Rifle Ability Modifier: Gunslinger’s Trance Alt Special: Plan C Path II: Way of the Fearless Alt Heavy: Ability Modifier: Gambler’s Dagger Ideal Exotic Armor: Knucklehead Radar

The Stalker is all about pursuit, hunting down the weak and offering one option: death. This build compliments aggressive players in the Crucible and ideal for quickly assaulting easier missions in PvE.

These perks are all focused on short term, but powerful boosts in combat. After exhausting your abilities or killing your target, a quick relocation and dash for safety is duly necessary to stay alive until your next encounter.

A Tripmine can be great for sealing off escape routes, while igniting knives can make it much more difficult for your opponents to escape.

Your Builds

Have a favorite build not listed here or in the video? Be sure to share it with us! What abilities do you prefer using, and why?

For more “Elite” builds, check out our Titan edition.