This section will cover each of the fixed talents in the build, with a brief explanation as to why they should be taken.

• 3/3 Pathing: provides 3% ranged haste, which translates into a direct DPS increase.
• 2/2 Improved Serpent Sting: provides substantial boosts to one of your DoTs, and thus offers a great DPS gain, not only in single target fights, but also in AoE ones thanks to Serpent Spread, which is covered below.
• 3/3 Trap Mastery: this talent is chosen for the increase in damage done to your Black Arrow.
• 3/3 Thrill of the Hunt: provides you with occasional focus-return, thus allowing you to cast more shots and do more damage.
• 2/2 Lock and Load: this talent provides you with Lock and Load, a proc which plays an important part in your rotation, and allows you to take another talent which further affects Lock and Load.
• 2/2 T.N.T.: gives your Lock and Load a 12% chance to proc off the periodic damage from Black Arrow and Explosive Trap, of which you should always be using one or the other.
• 3/3 Resourcefulness: reduces the cooldown of one of your most important abilities by 6 seconds, translating into a direct DPS increase.
• 2/2 Toxicology: increases the critical strike damage of both your DoTs by 100% and is an unquestionable DPS increase.
• 1/1 Wyvern Sting: this talent does not provide you with any kind of DPS increase, but it does allow you to take two other talents which are both essential to competitive Survival DPS. In addition to this, it provides a moderately useful form of crowd control.
• 2/2 Noxious Stings: increases your damage done to targets affected by Serpent Sting by 10%, basically meaning a 10% increase to all of your damage done.
• 1/1 Hunting Party: increases your Agility by 2% and also provides your raid with a 10% increased melee and ranged attack speed buff.
• 3/3 Sniper Training: provides a 15% critical strike chance increase to one of your hardest-hitting abilities, and also increases damage done by one of the most used abilities after you remain stationary for at least 6 seconds.
• 1/2 Serpent Spread: for single-target, this talent provides no benefit whatsoever. However, it is a key element in Survival AoE DPS, and has good synergy with Improved Serpent Sting, as each Multi-Shot will also deal instant damage equal to 30% of the damage of Serpent Sting.
• 1/1 Black Arrow: this is one of your most important abilities and an integral part of your rotation.
• 3/3 Efficiency: another straightforward increase to your damage dealt, by reducing the focus cost of your shots.
• 3/3 One with Nature: increases your attack power while in Aspect of the Hawk by 30% and provides some extra focus regeneration while in Aspect of the Fox.

This section will cover each of the optional talents and provide a brief explanation of why and when they should be taken.

• 2/3 Hunter vs. Wild: offers more stamina and, therefore, more survivability.
• 2/2 Survival Tactics: offers a cooldown reduction to Disengage, which provides you with more mobility.
• 2/2 Entrapment: roots targets affected by your Ice Trap for 4 seconds. May be useful on AoE fights where the targets are not normally stunnable. It should be mentioned that only targets which are in the Ice Trap area when it is triggered are affected, as opposed to any targets which become slowed by it later.
• 2/2 Point of No Escape provides you with a 6% increased critical strike chance on targets affected by your Ice Trap, and may prove to be a DPS increase on AoE heavy fights.
• 2/2 Go for the Throat: a straightforward increase to the damage your pet deals, by granting it more of its resource.
• 2/2 Sic 'Em!: grants your pet focus-free attacks, increasing its damage output.
• 2/2 Careful Aim: greatly increases your critical strike chance with Cobra Shot on targets above 90% health.
• 2/3 Bestial Discipline: increases your pet's focus regeneration, but more importantly allows you to unlock the next talent tier.
• 2/3 Frenzy: provides a large attack speed increase to your pet.