Top 10 World of Warcraft Pets

If you’ve ever played a Hunter in World of Warcraft, you’re constantly on the lookout for a more powerful pet. Even though you may have become emotionally attached to that bear or panther you tamed at level 10, there are many creatures that make much better World of Warcraft pets than good old “Mr. Whiskers”.

Although some pets are better in certain situations than others depending on whether you want a tank or dps, there are a few animals that stand head and shoulders above the rest. Here’s a list of the Top 10 World of Warcraft Pets along with where they’re found, their ability modifiers, skills, and whether they make a better tank, dps, or general pet.

10. Nether Ray
Found in Outland, this WoW pet has a body much like a stingray with a long tail and two feathery plumes. It has crystalline growths and stripes running down its body, and all types are brightly colored. Nether Rays can be found in Netherstorm, Zangarmarsh, and Shadowmoon Valley (caster stats) with the Fen Ray from the Underbog as the only-non caster of this creature.

Nether Rays get a big bonus to health (+10%), a smaller bonus to damage (+3%), but take a hit with well below average armor (-10%) and can be considered a hybrid dps/tank pet with the emphasis on dps. Their big “coolness” factor puts the Nether Ray at number 10 over other average to above average pets.

9. Wolf
Wolves are indigenous to many parts of Azeroth and are a very popular Hunter pet due to their large variety of skins and locations to find them at along with their Furious Howl and Dash skills. Wolves are average in damage and health but have above average (+5%).

8. Crocolisk
A crocolisk is a lizard-like creature, massive in length, and covered in thick, rough scales that run from the end of its tail to the tip of its maw. Mottled green in color with yellowish fangs, the beast is supported by six squat legs with webbed feet, each of which ends in short, black claws. Crocolisks are usually found near bodies of water and, in particular, in Durotar, Loch Modan, and the Wetlands.

This World of Warcraft pet can learn Cower, Bite, and Growl but offer no unique pet skill. Some Hunters are annoyed by the hissing noise they make when sitting still, but their high armor (+10%) can make up for that and their lower health (-5%) if you’re looking for a tanking pet.

7. Gorilla
Gorillas are found only in Stranglethorn Vale, Feralas, and Un’Goro Crater and can learn Cower, Growl, Bite, and their unique skill Thunderstomp which inflicts area nature damage and causes a lot of threat. Gorillas are not very popular as a WoW pet due to their scarceness and fussy diet (fruit and fungus) but their unique skill, medium health bonus (+4%) and damage bonus (+2%) make them a good tough pet.

6. Wind Serpent
A brightly-colored, winged serpent with a feathered head - essentially a flying snake. Found primarily in Horde territory, the Wind Serpent has high damage (+7%) with average health and armor. What makes the Wind Serpent a special World of Warcraft pet is it’s lightning breath skill which deals a decent amount of ranged nature damage that scales with the hunter’s ranged attack power. Unless fighting monsters with low armor or innate nature resistance, a Wind Serpent will have the highest dps of any pet. Be careful though, a large number of Wind Serpents have caster stats if you tame them as a pet. Stick with those found in Barrens, Thousand Needles, and Feralas just to be on the safe side.

5. Spider
Spiders can be found nearly everywhere in World of Warcraft and, although they’re not very popular with Hunter’s due to their lack of a special skill (they can learn Cower, Growl, and Bite), they have high damage output (+7%) and no penalties to health or armor giving them one of the highest net bonus totals among all WoW pets.

4. Owl
Like Spiders, Owls have one of the highest net bonus totals among all pets with their high damage (+7%) and average health and armor. Although some Hunters dislike the Owl becuase their large wings can interfere with targeting, their huge skill set (Claw, Cower, Growl, Dive, and their unique Screech skill) make them very popular especially for pet tanking. So popular, lower level Horde Hunters have been know to sneak into Teldrassil (the only place Owls are found pre-level 48) to tame one.

3. Bat
There are a number of Bat species in Azeroth which can be cound in Tirisfal Glade, Blackrock Depths, Razorfen Kraul, the Eastern Plaguelands, and the Ghostlands. Bats have the same skills as Owls with the same high damage output (+7%) and average health and armor. More available to Horde than Owls, Bats do get a slight edge over Owls for number 3 due to their fearsome looks although the novelty of a Horde Hunter with an Owl may outweigh the coolness factor for some.

2. Ravager
Ravagers are World of Warcraft pets that are found in Outland and Azuremyst Isle and Bloodmyst Isle in the low-level Draenei areas. Ravagers have low health (-7%) but more than make up for it with very high damage (+10%) and good armor (+5%). Ravagers can learn Cower, Growl, Bite, Dash, and Gore which is a cheap instant attack that does small damage but has a 50% chance to do double damage (or quadruple damage on a critical hit). The Ravager’s useful skills and high-end damage make them a very good Hunter pet.

1. Cat
Cats are by far and away the most popular Hunter pet. Their appealing looks, commoness throughout Azeroth, large amount of availible skills (Bite, Growl, Cower, Claw, Dash, and Prowl), and variety make them the top choice. Their Prowl ability works very well with a Night Elf Hunter’s Shadowmeld skill. Cats also have the highest net bonuses at +8% with high damage (+10%), lower than average health (-2%) and average armor. Unless you dislike the idea of having the most popular World of Warcraft pet, cat is the way to go.