Zandalari Anklerender

The Anklerender is a fairly common drop (~1%) from mobs in the Isle of Giants off the north of Kun-Lai. Or you can buy it cheap on the AH.

While the Zandalari Anklerender, Zandalari Kneebiter, and Zandalari Footslasher don’t have exactly the same moveset, they do all have the same stats for each breed, and the critical combination Black Claw / Hunting Party. When people talk about “Zandalari raptors”, they usually mean these three. You can often substitute one for another.

Both the S/S breed, to get an extra round in, and the P/P breed, for its extra power, are very much used.

The Anklerender is a Bleed & Stampede glass cannon, often used after a Unborn Val'kyr has already applied its Curse and Haunt.

Discussion: Like Ikky, who has a similar use as a Bleed & Stampede glass cannon, this is a very simple playstyle. Black Claw followed by Hunting Party does a ton of damage.

Applying a debuff or DoT before starting the raptor’s run is an option. The Valk's Curse of Doom + Haunt synergises very well.

The raptor’s Beast racial, extra damage below half health, usually applies by the second round of Hunting Party, increasing damage further.

Usually, the raptor is left at low health after Hunting Party, and Hunting Party is on cooldown. If the raptor can get in one more hit without dying, Leap is usually the choice. Leap, with the Beast racial and Shattered Defences, hits hard, and if it survives that round, the 100% speed increase after a Leap means that the raptor will probably get in one more Leap by going first before dying. However, Primal Cry can make for interesting tactics in a few cases, if slowing the enemy for a few rounds can make a big difference.