Choosing your first pet is one of the most exciting parts of playing a Hunter in WoW Forever. Each pet family has its own strengths, abilities and stat bonuses, making some better suited to solo levelling while others shine in dungeons and group content. If you’re just starting out as a Hunter, here are some of the best pets worth looking out for on your travels!
Boars: A Solid First Tame
If you’re new to Hunter, a boar is a great place to start. They’re sturdy, relatively easy to find and have an ability that makes them quite useful when you’re fighting multiple enemies or trying to keep a target away from yourself. Their unique ability is “Charge”, which lets them rush towards an enemy and immobilize them, also helping them get into combat quickly. This ability also increases the boars attack power to it’s next attack.
You can find Mottled Boars in both Durotar and Battleboars Mulgore, making them an accessible option for Horde Hunters starting their adventure. Alternatively, Alliance players can pick up a boar in either Teldrassil (Young Thistle Boar), Dun Morogh (Crag Boar) and Westfall (Goretusk). They’re not the strongest damage dealers, but their survivability and abilities make them a comfortable first companion.
Cats: Your Purr-fect Combat Companion
Cats have access to “Prowl”, which allows them to stealth and prepare for an attack. This makes them an excellent choice for Hunters who want to kill enemies quickly while levelling. Combined with abilities such as “Bite”, “Claw” and “Dash”, they make versatile companions for solo adventures.
On the one hand, Alliance Hunters can find Young Nightsabers in Teldrassil, Moonstalkers in Darkshore, and Juvenile Snow Leopards in Dun Morogh. On the other hand, Horde players can look for Flatland Cougars in Mulgore, or Durotar Tigers in Durotar. Cats are a good choice if you want a pet that does a lot of damage, though you should be aware that cats are accessible around levels 7-8.
Wolves: Supporting the Pack
Wolves are a great choice too if you plan on spending plenty of time playing alongside other people. Their unique ability, “Furious Howl”, increases the melee attack power of nearby party and raid members within 15 yards, giving them a useful role beyond dealing damage. Although wolves don’t have the same damage as cats, their group utility makes them a popular choice for dungeons and raids. They’re also easy to find in several early-game zones.
Alliance Hunters can look for wolves in Dun Morogh and Coyote Packleaders in Westfall, while Horde Hunters can find Worgs in Silverpine Forest and Prairie Wolf Alphas in Mulgore. Most wolves are tameable around levels 9-12, however wolves in Dun Morogh are accessible from earlier levels!
Bears: The Sturdy Sidekick
Sometimes, the best pet isn’t the one that deals the most damage. Bears are a solid option for Hunters who want a companion that can survive longer fights and help manage groups of enemies. They have their unique ability, “Swipe”, which deals damage to multiple nearby enemies. This can be useful when you’re dealing with several enemies at once.
Bears are also quite flexible when it comes to food, eating everything from meat and fish to fruit, bread and cheese. If you’re still learning how to manage your pet both during combat and keeping them happy, then they can be a very forgiving choice!
You can find bears in an array of places, but the earliest you can access them are in Dun Morogh for Alliance (levels 7-8) and Silverpine Forest for Horde (levels 11-12).
Carrion Birds: A Little Screech Goes a Long Way
Carrion birds are another family that you should consider, especially if you’re looking for a little extra help when fighting multiple enemies. Their unique ability, “Demoralizing Screech”, reduces the attack power of nearby enemies, helping to make incoming damage more manageable. This makes them useful for Hunters who regularly find themselves fighting several mobs at once.
Alliance Hunters can look for Greater Fleshrippers in Westfall from levels 10-17, while Horde players can find Taloned Swoops in Mulgore from around level 5-10. They’re a useful alternative to bears if you want a pet that offers some defensive utility without sacrificing the flexibility of a damage-focused companion.
A Few Things to Know Before Taming Your First Pet
Before heading out to find your new companion, there are a few things every beginner Hunter should know.
- Hunters learn Tame Beast at level 10, so you’ll need to reach this milestone before collecting your first pet.
- Make sure you check a creature’s level before attempting to tame it, as you cannot tame a beast above your level.
- Different pet families have different diets, so make sure you have the right food in your bags! You don’t want your pet to get hungry or sad…
- You can’t tame a new beast while you already have an active pet. Visit a stable master to store your current companion before trying another tame. At this current time, you can unlock up to 2 stable slots for your pets, but Blizzard have hinted at adding more in the future!
It’s also good to remember that rare pets aren’t automatically stronger than ordinary ones. Many Hunters choose rare beasts for their unique appearances, so don’t feel pressured to spend hours searching for one when you’re just getting started!
Which Hunter Pet Should You Choose?
Ultimately, the best pet depends on how you want to play. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different families as you explore, especially since all 18 families have unique abilities in Forever! Your choice of pet is subjective, so if you find a pet that isn’t on this beginner list and you love to play with it, then stick with it. You might find that the pet you enjoy playing alongside isn’t necessarily the one at the top of a damage ranking. After all, a Hunter’s companion is part of what makes the class so much fun to play.
If you’d like to know more about hunters and how to play them in WoW Forever, then check out our guide here!