Both sit at S tier on our leveling tier list, and both send a pet in first. They still play very differently.

Hunter

  • Physical damage from range, the longest in the game.
  • The pet scales with your gear. Foxes are a new family.
  • Traps work in combat, and Aimed Shot is baseline at 20.
  • Weak spot: the 8-yard dead zone, and no stun or interrupt of its own.
  • Upkeep: ammo, pet food, pet happiness.

Warlock

  • Shadow and fire spells, damage over time and drains.
  • Demons scale with your stats. The Voidwalker tanks.
  • Life Tap scales with Spirit, and Drain Soul has a growing chance to give a soul shard.
  • Weak spot: fragile without the pet, and shards need managing.
  • Upkeep: soul shards and reagents.

Which to choose

Pick the Hunter if you like moving, kiting and a pet you choose and keep. Pick the Warlock if you like a steady rhythm, rarely stopping, and lots of tools: Fear, Banish, Healthstones and Soulstones. In groups, both are wanted for damage. A Warlock also brings summons, and a Hunter brings pulling and tracking.