New PvP Pets

[Antares]

What's good, what's not?

Pre-Patch I was using Chimaeras high level and Ravagers low-level. [Ravage] stun and knockdown was great for PvP. But, it's gone now. And I would I also use a Warp Stalker. [Warp] let them get to places I couldn't reach (like on top of the stables in Arathi Basin). But, again, it's gone.

Any suggestions? What are your experiences?

[Rhyela]

Spiders, Silithids, and Crabs all still have a root (and Dogs will as well in the expansion), so that's useful.

Bats still have their stun and Wasps now do, too.

Chimaeras retain their slowing ability, and now Crocolisks and Warp Stalkers share this ability as well.

Birds of Prey have their disarm still, and now Scorpids do, too.

Hope that helps!!!

[Lisaara]

Basically, any cunning pet is wonderful for pvp. There is no one better than the other. Cunning pets are built for pvp.

[Antares]

Well, what do my fellow Petopians prefer and why?

[Lisaara]

Well I think its just what people like.

My favorite cunning pets are Chimaeras, Birds of Prey, and Wind Serpents.

[Rhyela]

I personally love Chimaeras and Spiders. Chimaeras just look sweet IMO, plus I figure if every 1 out of 10 enemies gets disoriented by having a giant flappy thing in their face, then it's a victory. Their ability has a short cooldown, so you can basically leave it on auto-cast and it will do its job.

Spiders are great against melee for me. While a Chimaera will slow a melee, a Spider will stop them dead in their tracks just long enough for me to get some extra distance. However, being on a longer cooldown, it's probably an ability you'll want to micromanage to ensure that you get the web off when you need it most.

It's really hard for me to decide between the two. I suppose I would have to give first place to spiders because I adore Naphthali (so I'm a little biased), but chimaeras are a very, very close second.

I personally couldn't get into the disarming and stunning pets. I'm not sure why. The abilities are good, I'm sure, but somehow they don't fit my playstyle, I suppose.

[Lisaara]

Oh! I forgot to mention...theres one pet outside the cunning tree that I love pvping with and it's the Warpstalker.

[Kalliope]

I personally find the root to still be the most effective all-purpose tool in PvP, so I'm still running with my spider. I also have a crab on hand now again (eee, I have both finally!) and am planning on a silithid in Cata (sure, I'm technically doing it for the raid buff, but the root+fort combo is pretty appealing for PvP too). Dogs will be getting a root as well in Cata, though a ferocity pet doesn't really appeal to me on that front (nor do the dogs, in all honesty), so I am not planning on one.

That said, I have loved running with a bat before for their stun and currently have a wasp for that stun, just in case. I picked up a rhino tonight and am absolutely addicted to the knockback. Despite being single target, it's a BIG knockback. Heeeeee. Worms are actually a possibility now as well, since they get an AoE stun/damage ability (will have to test mine out to see if it's worthwhile, since the stun is channeled). I'm also looking forward to a monkey with disorient (think of it as scatter shot for your pet). The snares from chimeras, crocs, and warpies are also pretty decent contenders.

The more "niche" pets for PvP are only useful against certain classes, which is generally why you don't see as many of them. Nether rays, moths, and gorillas all have a caster interrupt. Spore bats and core hounds slow casting speeds. These abilities won't do much for you against melee classes. Tallstriders and foxes have physical attack power speed reductions. Birds of prey and scorpids disarm. These abilities are useless against caster classes.

In the end, it comes down to playstyle and personal preference....but there IS a reason there's usually a definitive PvP pet. It's cause it works.

[Antares]

Oh! I forgot to mention...there's one pet outside the cunning tree that I love pvping with and it's the Warp Stalker.

I feel like they were much better pre-Patch 4.0.1 due to Warp allowing them to get to places we couldn't. I have yet to PvP on any of my Hunters, yet. So I haven't tried their new ability...

I can also attest to the might of the chimera...Never underestimate the advantage of huge flappy wings in your face.

[Lisaara]

yeah but their time slowing ability is just as nice. I do miss the teleport. I scared many a caster with it.

[Zaphoed]

I think if you are bm and want a spider you should prob go with a silithid as they do the same web but also give a nice stamina boost as well.

spirit beast are nice now since you can macro their heal to target you and give you that nice heal and back to your target.

[Theaden]

The new beast changes will just bring a variety of pets to BGs and Arenas. Use what your comfortable with. I will use Spirit Beast for the Heal and the Buff for BGs and anything pet that can slow for Arena

Vanilla=Broken Tooth or a ZG Bat
TBC=Scorpid
WotLK=Crab or Spider
CAT=??

[Tudyk]

Disclaimer: I'm a big fan of kiting and haven't done much arena. I tend to switch between my Chimaera (Khorium) and my Spider (Jäger). Khorium if just having my enemies slowed is enough (like messing with people trying to move between nodes in AB), Jäger if LoS is an issue and I want to be able to choose exactly where my target stops (if I'm hanging around either base in WSG, for example).

[GreenSea]

From what I've been doing my core hounds been a nice force on the battlefield with the same slowing ability and the new boost he can give us all. Problem is he's not doing quite as much damage. Rhino is turning out to be a blast. The knock back is a lot of fun. Gorilla and moth have actually been surprisingly effective too. Although I haven't tried the worm, devilsaur, or spirit best yet in PvP, but I'm lookin forward to trying all three. They sound pretty epic too.

[Gungnir]

Worms are actually a possibility now as well, since they get an AoE stun/damage ability (will have to test mine out to see if it's worthwhile, since the stun is channeled).

The worm AOE ability does not stun. This is a misconception due to mobs stopping movement while the worm burrows. The mobs are still attacking however even though it does not show the animation. Worms have AOE dps, but no stun or snare.

I find spirit beast very useful as a NE hunter. Prowl + spirit mend works wonders especially guarding nodes in AB. I usually prevent ninja caps by hiding in the shadows waiting for 1 or 2 people to come.

[Kalliope]

Worms are actually a possibility now as well, since they get an AoE stun/damage ability (will have to test mine out to see if it's worthwhile, since the stun is channeled).

The worm AOE ability does not stun. This is a misconception due to mobs stopping movement while the worm burrows. The mobs are still attacking however even though it does not show the animation. Worms have AOE dps, but no stun or snare.

Oh thank you; I knew there was another thread that needed that corrected in, but forgot where it was. xD Yes, the stun effect noted on the worm's info page on sites like Wowhead just refers to the worm being stunned.

[Acherontia]

As a BM hunter:

I'm absolutely loving Spirit Beast in PvP. I assume that in more organized groups such as arenas, premade bgs or grouped wPvP, a Devilsaur's MS effect (which stacks with Widow Venom for 50% MS) would be great; but the heals from a Spirit Beast in solo PvP are just freaking amazing. I actually expect it to be thoroughly nerfed. Mine will generally do 10k+ over the course of one heal, and it's on a fastish cd. Almost all of the hunters I'm seeing in BGs and WG are flaunting a Loque or a Skoll.

If I want a slowing pet, I'll whip out my Chimaera, but honestly, I think a hunter has enough snaring tools as it is.