theHunter: Call of the Wild Classes & Characters: Complete Guide

Q: How many reserves are there?

Nineteen as of August 2026. Layton Lake District and Hirschfelden come with the base game and the other seventeen are separate reserve purchases, most recently the Peru reserve on 16 June 2026 and the Scotland reserve in December 2025.

Q: What does animal class actually control?

It sets which ammunition is legal on that animal. Classes run 1 to 9, from hares and waterfowl up to bison, buffalo, lion and tiger, and firing a cartridge rated below the animal's class fails the Harvest Check and costs you a medal tier.

Q: Why did my perfect shot only score Silver?

Medal tier and Harvest Check are separate things. The medal is a percentage of the species maximum for its trophy measurement, so a small animal shot perfectly is still a small animal. Under 20 percent is Bronze, 20 to 60 Silver, 60 to 90 Gold and 90 to 100 Diamond.

Q: Is there player versus player?

No. The game is single-player and online co-op for up to eight players, with no competitive mode, no split-screen and no crossplay. Groups compete informally through host-set challenges such as first to a given number of harvests.

Q: Is the game still supported?

Yes. Expansive Worlds shipped the Multi-Class Weapon Pack in April 2026, the Peru reserve in June 2026 and Hotfix 9.2.1 in July 2026. No sequel has been announced and no end-of-support notice has been published.

Every theHunter: Call of the Wild build and class explained. Strengths, weaknesses, best gear, and which to pick for your playstyle.

EarlyGuides Editorial Team

Researched and editorially reviewed. Updated August 12, 2026.

Expansive Worlds released theHunter: Call of the Wild on 16 February 2017 through Avalanche Studios, and it is still receiving reserves nine years later, with the Peru map arriving on 16 June 2026 as the nineteenth destination. Every animal sits in a class from 1 to 9, every cartridge is rated for a class range, and the game checks your ammunition, your shot placement and your shot count before it awards a medal. Around 128 huntable species are spread across reserves that run from the Pacific Northwest to Nepal.

Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.

Quick Comparison

Build	Tier	Playstyle	Best Equipment	Beginner Friendly?
Stalker skill tree	A	Balanced	Ranger .243	Yes
Ambusher skill tree	A	Balanced	.270 Huntsman	Yes
Rifle perks	A	Balanced	.300 Canning Magnum	Yes
Shotgun perks	A	Balanced	Miller Model 1981	Yes
Archery perks	A	Balanced	Hawk Edge CB-70	Yes

New player? Start with Ambusher skill tree. See our beginner's guide for why.

Stalker skill tree

Stalker skill tree is a strong option in theHunter: Call of the Wild.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Ranger .243
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Need Zones

Strengths

Highest overall performance across all content types
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Ranger .243

Weaknesses

Popular choice, competition for resources
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Layton Lake District to learn Stalker skill tree-specific mechanics
Focus on Need Zones. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Ranger .243 as your first major upgrade
See our full Stalker skill tree build guide for the optimal gear progression

Ambusher skill tree

Ambusher skill tree is a strong option in theHunter: Call of the Wild.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	.270 Huntsman
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Wind and scent

Strengths

Most versatile, adapts to any situation
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with .270 Huntsman

Weaknesses

Lower peak damage than S-tier options
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Layton Lake District to learn Ambusher skill tree-specific mechanics
Focus on Wind and scent. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize .270 Huntsman as your first major upgrade
See our full Ambusher skill tree build guide for the optimal gear progression

Rifle perks

Rifle perks is a strong option in theHunter: Call of the Wild.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	.300 Canning Magnum
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Hunting Pressure

Strengths

Best survivability for learning hard content
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with .300 Canning Magnum

Weaknesses

Slower progression speed
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Layton Lake District to learn Rifle perks-specific mechanics
Focus on Hunting Pressure. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize .300 Canning Magnum as your first major upgrade
See our full Rifle perks build guide for the optimal gear progression

Shotgun perks

Shotgun perks is a strong option in theHunter: Call of the Wild.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Miller Model 1981
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	The Harvest Check

Strengths

Excellent in group and cooperative content
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Miller Model 1981

Weaknesses

Less effective solo
Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively

Recommended Progression

Start in Layton Lake District to learn Shotgun perks-specific mechanics
Focus on The Harvest Check. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Miller Model 1981 as your first major upgrade
See our full Shotgun perks build guide for the optimal gear progression

Archery perks

Archery perks is a strong option in theHunter: Call of the Wild.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Hawk Edge CB-70
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Trophy Rating and medal bands

Strengths

Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Hawk Edge CB-70

Weaknesses

Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively

Recommended Progression

Start in Layton Lake District to learn Archery perks-specific mechanics
Focus on Trophy Rating and medal bands. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Hawk Edge CB-70 as your first major upgrade
See our full Archery perks build guide for the optimal gear progression

Which Build Should You Pick?

For Beginners

Ambusher skill tree is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.

For Maximum Performance

Stalker skill tree is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Ranger .243 for the strongest overall setup.

For a Challenge

Archery perks offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.

For Group Play

Shotgun perks shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.

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