I believe the optimal rotation changed in 7.1.5 due to many changes in the class... changes are below, but i'm not sure what needs changed in the rotation.
2. What Has Changed in 7.1.5?
The changes for Marksmanship Hunter in 7.1.5 are centered around trying to neuter its extreme AoE capability previously, while addressing its issues with sustained single-target as well. Maximizing Aimed Shots around Vulnerable windows is now even more important, and for the first time in Legion we will not be stuck with Sidewinders being the only level 100 talent worth taking. Other talents are being retuned as well in hopes of more varied playstyles being viable for different situations.
Changes made to Marksmanship in 7.1.5 include:
- Marksmanship can now use Tar Trap and Freezing Trap, previously Survival-only spells.
- The chance of getting a Marking Targets proc has been increased by roughly 45%.
- Marksmanship now has a focus pool of 130, up from 120.
- Aimed Shot damage has been increased by 35%.
- Arcane Shot damage has been increased by 54%.
- Bursting Shot damage has been increased by 50%.
- The Quick Shot artifact trait now reduces Trueshot's cooldown by 8 seconds per point, down from 10.
- Vulnerable does not stack by default anymore, and it always lasts 7 seconds and increases Aimed Shot and Piercing Shot damage by 100%. Essentially, Patient Sniper's previous effect is now baseline for the debuff.
- Marked Shot is no longer affected by Vulnerable. Its base damage has been buffed by 120% to compensate, and its focus cost has been reduced to 25, from 30.
- Aimed Shot now deals 100% increased damage to targets that you have not hit before.
- The level 15 talent Steady Focus now only needs 2 Arcane Shots in a row to activate its effect, down from 3.
- The level 30 talent Black Arrow's focus cost was reduced to 10 focus, down from 40.
- The level 30 talent True Aim now gives 2% increased damage to certain shots and stacks 10 times, up from 8 times.
- The level 45 talent Farstrider now gives active ability critical strikes a 15% chance to reset the cooldown on Disengage, up from a 10% chance.
- The level 60 talent Explosive Shot's focus cost was changed to 20. It previously cost no focus.
- The level 60 talent Patient Sniper has been redesigned as its previous effect is now baseline. It increases the damage bonus of Vulnerable by 10% for every second of its duration.
- The level 60 talent Sentinel has been redesigned. It allows you to place a reticule that applies Hunter's Mark to all targets within it. After 6 seconds, Hunter's Mark is applied again, and this happens thrice with the final application being after 18 seconds of placing the reticule. It now has a 1 minute cooldown.
- The level 90 talent Barrage now no longer deals double damage to the current target. Instead, it deals the same, low damage to all targets. This is to make it less viable for single-target when it is meant to be an AoE talent.
- The level 100 talent Piercing Shot's damage has been reduced by 26%, but it is now affected by Vulnerable.
- The level 100 talent Sidewinders's focus generation has been reduced to 35 from 50