Best Hunter Pets In World Of Warcraft: Dragonflight

Highlights

• The Dragon Isles in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight offer a variety of unique pets for Hunters to tame.
• These pets not only have cool appearances but also provide useful skills for different situations.
• Some notable pets include N.U.T.Z., Deadly Gloomstalker, U’cha, Armored Devilsaur, Glacial Icemaw, Hydra, Scintillex, and Mana Saber.

While the Dragon Isles offers up brand-new factions, landscapes, and villains to defeat, for Hunters, there are a variety of interesting new pets just waiting to be tamed. As can be expected, the pets found in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight appear primitive and ancient, just like the continent adventurers find themselves on.

The Dragon Isles will allow hunters to fill their stable with unique species, as well as run dungeons and raids with an incredibly cool elemental-themed companion by their side. It’s not all about looks, however, as many of the best hunter pets in Dragonflight mentioned below belong to families that provide useful skills for different situations.

Updated December 21, 2023 by Rhenn Taguiam: The world-soul of Azeroth appears to be calling for aid from both the Alliance and the Horde. The upcoming The War Within expansion for World of Warcraft is at the cusp of unraveling the mysteries behind an unprecedented threat. For Hunters who want to gear up for such opposing forces, finding the best companions as Pets can make them more effective fighting units, whether in solo play or with parties in raids. While players can technically tame most creatures in the game, some Hunter Pets outshine the rest in terms of aesthetic and innate abilities.

18 N.U.T.Z.

Angry Mecha Squirrel for Oddity

Unlike typical squirrels, N.U.T.Z. has a penchant for raining death on opponents at the behest of their owner. They can be tamed in Azhara’s Secret Lab by a Gnome, a Goblin, or a possessor of the Mecha-Bond Imprint Matrix. N.U.T.Z. is a Cunning pet within the Mechanicals family, possessing Pathfinding and Master’s Call that enhances their speed.

As a Mechanical, N.U.T.Z. also has special attacks. Bite deals twice as much damage for twice the cost at high Focus. Meanwhile, Defense Matrix gives the squirrel 50% Damage Reduction across 12 seconds, making them an adorable emergency tank.

17 Deadly Gloomstalker

Venomous, Exotic Appearance

The epitome of a venomous creature, the Deadly Gloomstalker boasts purple skin with green details. As part of the Warp Stalker family of Cunning pets, the Deadly Gloomstalker has a 50% Movement Speed Reduction debuff to foes. This can make quick work of enemies with the right combos.

The Deadly Gloomstalker also gives players options to cancel out movement debuffs affecting them via Master’s Call, while Pathfinder gives an additional 8% Movement Speed. Compared to other pets, the Deadly Gloomstalker can become a reliable companion for players hoping to speedrun content before venturing into the endgame.

16 U’cha

Traditional Gorilla Gives a Menacing Vibe

A member of the Ferocity family of pets, U’cha has a predominantly red color and is found in the Un’Goro Crater. Unlike Pets that players may appreciate for their appearance, U’cha and other Gorillas are useful for their skills. Silverback boosts their survivability, as getting below 40% HP activates 60% damage mitigation for 15 seconds.

Additionally, Primal Rage can give 30% Haste, while Predator’s Thirst gives U’cha 10% Leech. An ideal strategy is to use U’cha as a tank before healing them once their shield activates.

15 Black-Armored Black Horde Devilsaur

Armored T-Rex Secures a Unique Aesthetic

The only tameable Armored Devilsaur in the game, the Black-Armored Black Horde Devilsaur proves that a pet T-Rex is even more awesome when it’s armored with an assortment of spiked plates. As an Exotic Ferocity pet, the Armored Devilsaur is only tameable by Beast Masters.

In terms of Special Abilities, the Armored Devilsaur’s Monstrous Bite can debilitate healing on enemies for as long as 10 seconds. They also possess Feast, which can heal them for 20% Health and 20 Focus over 6 seconds if they eat a Beast or Humanoid corpse.

14 Glacial Icemaw

Two-Headed Dragon Adds Twice the Impact

The dual-headed Glacial Icemaw is an Exotic Ferocity pet, tameable only by Beast Master Hunters. As a Ferocity pet, this Chimaera possesses Primal Rage and Predator’s Thirst, which boosts their combat prowess.

However, the Glacial Icemaw also possesses special abilities. Frost Breath inflicts a 50% Movement Speed reduction to a target for as long as 6 seconds. Likewise, Froststorm Breath can deal channeled AOE damage within 12 yards for an 8-second duration.

13 Hydra

Multi-Headed, Threatening Pet

Dragonflight players who want to engage in the intense PVP scene should know that most of their enemies will likely want to target their pet and try to kill them as fast as possible. To counter this, Beast Mastery Hunters should choose a Tenacity Pet for the added durability, and this is where the Hydra comes in. Their best asset is their Fortitude of the Bear, where not only do players and their pets get a bonus 20% health but also get an instant heal of that same amount.

Moreover, the Hydra has access to other debilitating attacks and status effects. Acid Bite special attack can inflict Mortal Wounds on the target, making healing less effective for 10 seconds. In PVP matches, Mortal Wounds can create an opening for the fighter. Moreover, Tenacity specializations such as Survival of the Fittest and Endurance Training add both damage reduction and maximum health boosts, further improving their survivability.

12 Scintillex

Rock Scorpion for Insect Lovers

Players who fancy spiders may want to consider a Shade Beast like Scintillex as a Pet. While players can encounter various Shade Beasts throughout the game’s taverns, Scintillex is one of the few Rare Shale Beasts that players can tame that retain their original name, immediately giving it an air of prestige. Players can encounter Scintillex along a ledge in Dustwallow Marsh.

Compared to other beasts in the game, Shade Beasts take the form of stone spiders with glowing insides, implying they are powered by magic. Hunters who prefer leveling and exploration companions may want to get a Scintillex in their team, as not only do they get a speed boost via Pathfinding, but they can also get themselves out of crowd control effects via Master’s Call.

11 Mana Saber

A Callback To Tyrande

Present majorly in the Moon Guard Stronghold – the Mana Saber perfectly represents the hidden ferocity of the peaceful Night Elves in World of Warcraft. Resembling tigers with purple fur, Mana Sabers don’t have ordinary stripes but instead have glowing blue veins of magic surrounding their bodies. While mostly found at Level 45, a Mana Saber can accompany Beast Master Hunters in Raids due to their immense support potential.

At its core, the Mana Saber being a Tenacity Pet means Hunters can get much-needed healing and buffs during tough DPS sessions in dungeons. Self-healing courtesy of Spirit Mend can serve as a neat boost when paired with other defensive spells, such as the healing from Exhilaration and damage mitigation via Survival of the Fittest.

10 Oondasta

Unique Armor Fits Colorful Gear

As if Devilsaurs that resemble the T-Rex isn’t enough for players, Hunters of World of Warcraft can crank up the scary meter by taming Oondasta. This time around, players can secure themselves an Armored Devilsaur, with Oondasta boasting an ornate headdress with tusks and a ceremonial skull-themed armor that puts necromancers to shame. Adding to Oondasta’s aggressive appeal is its nature as a Ferocity Pet capable of boosting its owner’s combat prowess courtesy of continuous attack buffs.

Key to Oodasta’s efficiency is its nature as a Devilsaur. It has immediate access to speed-buffing Primal Rage and Leech-boosting Predator’s Thirst, immediately adding to the Hunter’s DPS. Moreover, its Monstrous Bite can trigger healing reduction via Mortal Wounds, further boosting the efficiency of some of the Hunter’s damage-over-time skills.

9 Magmammoth

Fiery Elephant Makes an Imposing Bodyguard

While World of Warcraft: Dragonflight injects several new mammoths into the game, the most impressive of the debuting creatures is the selection of Magmammoths. Some of these fiery beasts have different combinations when it comes to appearance, including longer horns, shorter horns, spikes on their back, broken horns, or spikes on their head.

Magmammoths can be found in The Waking Shores, around Scalecracker Keep and Burning Ascent: Emberflow. Many of these beasts are level 60 to level 70 Elites, so they can pack a punch when taming them. Magmammoths are part of the Tenacity family specialization, which makes them ideal for solo content, with the Trample skill slowing down enemies by 50%.

8 Veilwing

Sleek Drake Companion for Stylish Hunters

Veilwings are just one of the new Lesser Dragonkin added to World of Warcraft. These creatures can be tamed after the Hunter reaches Renown level 23 with the Valdrakken Accord. There are currently four different color variations of Veilwings, which include blue and green, orange, red, and violet.

Those who thought Shadowlands was behind them may be in for a surprise, as Veilwings can only be found in Mistveil Tangle in Ardenweald. These Dragonkin have the Ferocity family specialization, making them great for DPS and solo content.

7 Thundering Black Cloud Serpent

A Change from the Medieval Look

Hunters that dreamed of taming a Cloud Serpent back in Mists of Pandaria have finally got their wish. While Pandaren Hunters will automatically be able to tame Cloud Serpents, other races will have to speak to San Redscale at The Arboretum in The Jade Forest. Once the player purchases the How to School Your Serpent tome, they can begin taming the mystical creatures.

While there are several fantastic designs to choose from, spread all across Pandaria, one that certainly sticks out is the Thundering Black Cloud Serpent. This Dragonkin can be found during Island Expeditions or on the Timeless Isle.

6 Ice Bear

The Traditional Ferocious Look

Several color variations of Ice Bears have been introduced in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, including blue, dark, green, gray, light, and purple. Ice Bears can be found around the Azure Span, with the blue variation, Frostjaw, only being found at Winterpelt Hollow, as it is a quest spawn.

The other colors are far more complicated to catch. The Hunter needs to be a skinner and have the Bait Crafter specialization. They then need to spend 10 points of Knowledge in Bait, and then another 20 points in the Mastery subspecialization so that they can create the correct bait to catch an Elite NPC. It may take a while to catch the Elusive Rimeclaw Bear, especially a specific color, as the bait catches several types of NPCs.

5 Magmasnail

Cute But Deadly

Beast Masters will be able to add an exotic pet to their collection in the form of the Magmasnail. These pets are great for solo content that requires more defense, as this creature’s special ability reduces damage.

There are four different color variations of the Magmasnail: blue, orange, red, and yellow. All of these Carapids can be found on The Waking Shores, especially in areas with lava. They can also be found around Dragonbane keep, with the blue version located south of Dragonbane Keep, locked in battle with Lava Snails.

4 Coastal Salamanther

Unconventional Lizard Look

Coastal Salamanthers come in a wide variety of colors, including pink and green. These lizard pets can be tamed in Ohn’ahran Plains and can give enemies a nasty surprise thanks to its Grievous Bite special ability, which reduces the effectiveness of healing.

Besides color, Coastal Salamanthers have two different appearances. Some have gills and fins, while others have neither. Whichever one is caught is down to the personal preference of the player. The Tenacity family specialization is great for tanking, which makes a Salamanther the perfect questing companion.

3 Ottuk

Cute Otter Shouldn’t Be Taken Lightly

Just because a Hunter needs a beast to aid them in battle, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be adorable. Although Ottuks are based on otters, they have been placed in the rodent family as that is the best match for them out of the available categories.

Ottuks come in five different colors: black, blue, brown, pale, and yellow. They can be found in the Ohn’ahran Plains and the Azure Span. Hunters will have to reach Renown rank 11 with the Iskaara Tuskarr and complete the quest “While the Iron Is Hot” to be able to tame these cute little critters.

2 Sylvern

Classic Menacing Hunter Pet

Slyverns are crosses between a fox and a wyvern. These beasts are found all over the Dragon Isles, although they are more common in Ohn’ahran Plains and the Azure Span.

There is only one snag when it comes to taming Slyverns. It all depends on whether the player obtained the Tome of Hybrid Beast Taming in Legion. If they didn’t, they must complete the class order hall, the achievement “Breaching the Tomb,” and then complete the quest “Night of the Wilds” to purchase the tome.

1 Vaniik The Stormtouched

Elegant Pet for the Stylish Hunter

Players got to learn all about the legendary Ohn’ahra during their time in Ohn’ahran Plains. This deity is worshipped by Clan Ohn’ir, who often shares advice with her people through mystics who then interpret her thoughts. Hunters have a chance of capturing a piece of the Wind God, although it is her corrupted child.

Vaniik the Stormtouched is a rare spawn, which means Hunters could be waiting hours for it to turn up, and that’s not to say other players won’t kill her first. This model is unique for its windswept effect and the two horns.