Survival feels like a hollow shell of its former self. It has lost its identity and feels like just another melee burst spec now while not really excelling at anything. For me Survival was most fun when it had a more sustained damage profile. In a possible “fantasy” rework I came up with some suggestions for Blizzard to consider. These changes are somewhat inspired from the fantasy of “a rugged tracker who favors using explosives, animal venom and traps” (and most of them are just things we recently lost tbh).
Tripwire
Talent
30 yard range
Instant
45 sec cooldown.
Places a tripwire that will knockdown and stun enemies that cross it for 4 seconds. The trap will exist for 1 minute.
Comment: Placing the tripwire should be similar to how you place an Ice Wall with about the same area of effect. If placed in camouflage the trap is not visible to enemies. Follow up node in talent tree could be some damage options; explosive (fire damage) or shrapnel (bleed damage). This would replace binding shot but be a bit more unique with the ability to seal off a larger area. Also; more traps!
Serpent Sting
Talent
40 yard range
Instant
Fire a poison-tipped arrow at an enemy, dealing nature damage instantly and an additional damage over 12 sec.
Comment: More sustained damage. I guess we can give up Hatchet Toss for this lol.
Latent Poison
Talent
Instant
Serpent Sting damage applies Latent Poison, stacking up to 10 times. Your Raptor Strike consumes all application of Latent Poison.
Comment: More sustained damage and added synergy with Raptor Strike.
Wyvern Sting
Talent
40 yard range
1,5 second cast
25 second cooldown
A stinging shot that puts the target to sleep for 1 minute. Any damage will cancel the effect. When the target wakes up the target will take nature damage over 6 seconds. If dispelled, deals instant damage to the dispeller and puts them to sleep for the remaining duration of the sleep effect.
Comment: Wyvern Sting will replace Freezing trap and the downside will be that some dps will be available to dispell it but the dispell protection is very potent. The dispeller will take damage equivalent to Unstable Affliction dispell and get slept and after the sleep a nature damage dot. The upside will be that it will be a lot more reliable to land (and that shadow priests, demon hunters and warlocks will never be able to dispell your cc).
Steel Trap
Talent
40 yard range
Instant
30 sec cooldown
Hurls a Steel Trap to the target location that snaps shut on the first enemy that approaches, immobilizing them for 20 sec and causing them to bleed over 20 sec.
Comment: Tracker’s Net should be removed from pvp talents to keep roots in check. Tracker’s Net is a bit stronger in a well coordinated setting due to its effect but a root with a higher damage threshold is arguably better in a lot of scenarios. And a steel trap fits better into the rugged trapper identity while also not occupying a pvp talent slot. Also; more traps!
Takedown
Talent
15 yard range
Instant
10 sec cooldown
You and your pet leap to your target and strike as one. Your pet frees itself from roots when it leaps. Only usable on enemies with less than 20% health. Generates 50 focus.
Comment: The change of Takedown is part of making a shift from a burst spec to a more sustained damage profile. Through talents and procs Takedown could have the ability to be usable on your target regardless of its health (like Kill Shot in SL) thus adding more sustained damage.
Scatter Shot
Talent
20 yard range
Instant
30 sec cooldown
A short-range shot that deals damage and incapacitates the target for 4 seconds. Any damage caused will remove the effect. Removes all harmful damage over time effects.
Comments: Scatter Shot would help a lot with survivability.
Napalm
Talent
Instant
Using Wildfire Bomb on enemies affected by Tar Trap will cause them to burn for fire damage for 6 seconds.
Comment: This would probably be more of a pve talent but I thought it would be a cool interaction. Maybe have it replace Boomstick?