Focus
In addition to Power, Hunters use another resource: Focus. Some abilities generate Focus (such as 
Quick Shot), while others, generally more powerful abilities, consume Focus. Focus-consuming skills can only be used if the Hunter has generated the required Focus on their resource bar. A Hunter can have a maximum of 9 Focus (each 'pip' on the Focus meter represents 3 Focus, also marked by a small crosshairs icon).
A Hunter must stand still to maintain their Focus. The Focus meter will start to deplete if a Hunter begins moving, and can quickly empty to zero if a Hunter moves too much. Choosing to specialize in the Huntsman (blue) trait tree will entirely remove this penalty. To generate Focus outside of combat, Hunters have access to the Focus skill, which grants the Hunter max focus over the course of 3 seconds.
It's important for Hunters to monitor their Focus, as many of their most powerful skills require the resource to be used. Because Focus generation is sometimes dependent on additional variables (granted through traits), the rate of Focus generation is not always consistent. The Hunter has access to emergency skills and items that grant immediate Focus to help mitigate this difficulty.
Focus Builders
Several of the Hunter's abilities are classified as Focus Builder skills:
| Skill | Focus | Trait Tree |
|---|---|---|
| Ranged Skills | ||
| Quick Shot |
+1 | None |
 Improved Swift Bow |
+3 | None |
 Barbed Arrow |
+1 | None |
 Bard's Arrow |
+1 | None |
 Lingering Wound |
+1 | Huntsman |
 Long Shot |
+3/6 | Bowmaster |
 Heart Seeker |
+5 | Bowmaster |
 Distracting Shot |
+1 | Trapper of Foes |
| Melee Skills | ||
 Low Cut |
+3 | None |
 Scourging Blow |
+2 | Huntsman |
 Agile Rejoinder*** |
+3 | Huntsman |
 Dazing Blow |
+3 | Trapper of Foes |
Note: despite not being labeled as Focus Builder skills on their tooltips, the melee skills (other than Agile Rejoinder) also benefit from the below interactions.
Interactions
- The trait
Volley in the Huntsman trait tree makes these skills consume all stacks of Volley on the Hunter. - The trait
Exsanguinate in the Huntsman trait tree makes these skills have up to a 15% chance to make 
Exsanguinate temporarily available for use. - The trait
Draw Weight in the Bowmaster trait tree increases the damage of these skills by up to 15%. - The trait
Bodkin Arrows in the Bowmaster trait tree increases the damage of these skills by up to 15%. - The tracery Focus Builder Damage increases the damage of these skills by up to 11%.
Traits & Traceries Improving Focus Generation
- The trait
Quick Shot Focus in the Huntsman trait tree makes Quick Shot have up to a 20% chance to generate 1 additional Focus. - The tracery Quick Shot Focus Chance increases the chance that Quick Shot will generate 1 additional Focus by up to 27.5%.
- The trait
Swift and True in the Bowmaster trait tree makes each of the 3 hits Improved Swift Bow makes have a 25% chance to generate 1 additional Focus. When specialized in the Huntsman trait tree, the proc chance is reduced to 10%. - The trait
Long Shot in the Bowmaster trait tree and increases the chance of receiving bonus Focus from Long Shot by up to 25% (base 15% chance). - The trait
Determination in the Trapper of Foes trait tree makes Melee Focus Builders have up to a 25% chance to generate 1 additional Focus. - The tracery Melee Blindside increases the chance that Melee Focus Builders will generate 1 additional Focus by up to 5%.
Focus Generation
Other than Focus Builder skills, the Hunter has several other means of restoring Focus in the midst of combat:
- Several non-damaging skills generate +9 Focus, either immediately or over time:
- The trait
Deadly Precision in the Bowmaster trait tree makes the Hunter generate 1 Focus whenever a skill lands as a critical hit. - The set bonus
Precision in the Huntsman trait tree makes the Hunter passively generate 1 Focus every 3 seconds. - Hunter Potions generate up to 6 Focus when used.
Focus Spenders
Several of the Hunter's abilities are classified as Focus Spender skills:
| Skill | Focus | Trait Tree |
|---|---|---|
 Penetrating Shot |
-3 | None |
 Blood Arrow |
-3 | None |
 Oromë's Arrow |
-2 | None |
 Merciful Shot |
-6 | None |
 Barrage |
-3 | Huntsman |
 Huntsman's Shot |
-4 | Huntsman |
 Split Shot |
-3 | Huntsman |
| Exsanguinate |
-2 | Huntsman |
 Rain of Arrows |
-5 | Bowmaster |
 Upshot*** |
-All | Bowmaster |
 Pinning Shot |
-2 | Trapper of Foes |
 Hail of Arrows |
-3 | Trapper of Foes |
 Blasting Arrow |
-3 | Trapper of Foes |
 Rain of Thorns |
-6 | Trapper of Foes |
 Tangle-dart |
-2 | Trapper of Foes |
 Piercing Arrow |
-2 | Trapper of Foes |
| Oromë's Volley |
-2 | Trapper of Foes |
 Explosive Arrow |
-3 | Trapper of Foes |
Note: Upshot consumes all Focus from the Hunter, and gains +33% Damage per Focus removed.
Interactions
- The skill
Rapid Fire removes the Focus cost of these skills for 10 seconds. - The trait Volley in the Huntsman trait tree makes these skills apply a stack of Volley to the Hunter. This effect stacks up to 3 times. Further ranks increase the potency of the effect by up to 10%.
- The set bonus
Intensified Fire in the Huntsman trait tree makes these skills apply or tier up Rapid Fire on the Hunter, up to 10 stacks, for 20 seconds after using Rapid Fire. - The set bonus
Suppressing Stings in the Trapper of Foes trait tree makes 
Focus and Combat Focus make these skills apply Weakness to all targeted enemies. - The trait
Strong Arm in the Huntsman trait tree increases the damage of these skills by up to 10%. - The tracery Focus Spender Damage increases the damage of these skills by up to 11%.
Traits & Traceries Altering Focus Consumption
- The trait
Strength of Blood in the Huntsman trait tree increases the Focus cost of Blood Arrow by up to 2 to increase the skill's healing. - The set bonus Strong Draw in the Bowmaster trait tree reduces the Focus cost of Penetrating Shot by 1.
- The set bonus Swift Mercy in the Bowmaster trait tree makes Improved Swift Bow have a 20% chance to apply Swift Mercy to the Hunter. While active, the Focus cost of Merciful Shot is reduced by 2.
- The tracery Swift Mercy Chance increases the proc chance of Swift Mercy by up to 6.6%.
Volley
When Volley is traited, Focus Spenders apply a stack of Volley to the Hunter. This effect stacks up to 3 times, and increases the damage of all ranged skills. Focus Builders consume all stacks of this effect, but benefit from the extra damage.
The best way to utilize this trait is to use a series of Focus Spenders when the Hunter reaches 9 Focus until they can't use any more. Skills like Intent Concentration and Combat Focus and Focus Potions allow the Hunter to use more Focus Spenders in a row.
Melee Focus Builder skills do not interact with this trait. This means that they can be used to generate Focus while Volley is active on the Hunter without consuming the effect.