Hunter

“	Hunters once prowled the wilderness and wastelands, taking big risks for even bigger rewards. You're no outlaw—at least, not anymore—but making your own luck has always meant bending the rules. Your unique brand of daring and ingenuity is needed now more than ever.^[1]

The Hunter is a Guardian class which specializes in agility. Hunters are "quick on the trigger and deadly with a blade," so much so that they have earned a fearful reputation^[2] and are known as the "Masters of the Frontier."^[3]

History

Hunters were once survivors that roamed the wastelands and wilderness making their own luck. Through manipulation of the Traveler's energies, Hunters learned how to survive in the wild.^[2] This heritage has led to their characteristic tendency of bending the rules to suit their particular situation. Being the trailblazers^[2] amongst Guardian classes, Hunters serve as invaluable scouts when surveying hostile and dangerous territory combining their trademark daring and ingenuity.^[1]

Some fear them as being too reckless and dangerous, but their bravery has led to many discoveries dating back to the Golden Age.^[2]

Distinguishing Features

Hunters can be easily distinguished in-game by their signature hooded cloaks, thin builds, and lightly armored outfits,^[1]^[4] which contain an armor-to-cloth ratio of about 50:50.^[5]

Also, as with the other player classes, in addition to helmets, chest armor, gauntlets, and leg armor, Hunters have a special fifth armor slot that is unique to their class and further helps to distinguish them:^[6] a cloak worn on the head and back.^[6]

While Hunters, like all Guardians, can use any and all weapons in-game, they employ a unique utility blade, the Hunter Knife, for stealth kills and melee combat.^[7]

Abilities

Hunters' method of attack has an emphasis on dealing high damage from short and medium range.^[8]

Subclasses

Armor

Notable Hunters

Ana Bray (deceased)
Anahera-3
Andal Brask (deceased)
Cayde-6
Dredgen Yor (deceased)
Efrideet
Eris Morn (formerly)
Gheleon (deceased)
Jaren Ward (deceased)
Omar Agah (deceased)
Pahanin (deceased)
Perun (deceased)
Sai Mota (deceased)
Shin Malphur (deceased)
Shiro-4
Tevis (deceased)

Trivia

During Bungie's GDC 2013 Panel, Bungie said that the Hunter class is meant to be reminiscent of the classic "bounty hunter," citing influences such as Han Solo and classic characters from old Western films such as Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name.^[9] For players, choosing the Hunter class "satisfies a survivalist fantasy."^[7]
Hunters are the only class to holster a Hand Cannon on their hip and not the back of their belt. This could have also been done because of the long Cloaks they wear.
According to some sources, Hunters suffer from insomnia more than the other Guardian classes.^[10]
Hunters are the only Guardians who immediately acquire a sniper rifle when they start the game, Warlocks and Titans can only acquire shotguns. Presumably this was done as a character build as Hunter's are made out to be effective long range shooters.