No other class uses ranged weapons with real effectiveness. Hunters can send in a flurry of arrows or barrage of shells for solid raw damage, but also command a variety of special Shots and Stings. These can daze, disorient, silence, sleep, poison, drain mana, or cause clumsiness in their targets. Hunters have the only permanent, personalizable pets. Almost any species of beast in a wide array of colorings can be tamed. Pets make soloing much easier, as your own pocket tank. Tuned damage dealing pets can significantly boost your DPS. And they allow for certain distraction tactics.