Chimera in arenas

[Splaticus]

Never before today would I have gone after a chimera, but for some reason I thought it would be good to try one out. So I got lucky and went and found The Razza. I must say, it's probably one of the best pets I've had to pvp with. Anyone else like them as much? I know there was a thread where someone was asking about BM arena pets and people were suggesting corehounds and devilsaurs and spirit beasts. I have all of these, and pulling out the core hound did prove handy for a couple of healer teams (even though ancient hysteria is no longer available in arenas )

I jokingly named my Razza Toilet Paper, and it seemed appropo since he's so good at cleaning up in arenas XD

[Vephriel]

I would hardly call myself a PvPer, but in the rare occassions that I do partake in a battleground or such I *love* bringing Xerxes, my Nuramoc. The constant slow is just amazing. Chimaeras are definitely my favourite choice.

[Acherontia]

I'd take a Chimaera over a Core Hound or a Devilsaur any day. Their slow is absolutely awesome.

That said, the Chimaera is Cunning, so you're missing out on Ferocity damage--and specifically on the heal/dmg buff from a Spirit Beast. I'd go Cunning when low on resilience and SB when geared, personally, but if I find myself up against a rogue repeatedly, or a DK or Ret, or even a Feral sometimes, the Chimaera is awesome.

I don't find it quite as useful against warriors, as they have too many gapclosers (read: charge->stuns) that will disregard snares.

[Splaticus]

I started out using the spirit beast, but since I roll with a resto druid making the need for the heal less important and the slow/aoe of the chimera is just so handy I love it. And the cunning quasi-execute talent is great too. I feel like what ever I dps I am missing from the agi cat shout is made up by the pet's dps.

[Kurasu]

I've never done arenas other than a little, but I know in Tol Barad (which is the only PVP I do regularly) I always used my hydra-lisk. The crocolisk 'slow' ability is just plain awesome when used against just about anything, and there's almost zero down time. Plus, while the damage isn't as much as for Ferocity or Cunning, they're damned near unkillable. In a 5-man arena, it would probably work well, though with only two you'd probably want the higher damage to compensate for a 'lack of backup'.

[Splaticus]

I love tenacity pets and they are ok for mass pvp like bg/tb but for arenas the dps is needed and they just don't have it. I've been looking at getting a moth or netherray for the interrupt. Anyone prefer one to the other?

[Acherontia]

Moths are Ferocity (better for damage) and have a "smart" interrupt, and Nether Rays are cunning (less damage) and have a "stupid" interrupt.

For arena you'd want to take the interrupt off autocast regardless, so it's a matter of preference.

By the way, when you say

I feel like what ever I dps I am missing from the agi cat shout is made up by the pet's dps.

A Ferocity pet will do better damage, and with the cat/SB special, it will definitely outdo a Chimaera's damage. The agility/strength shout buffs you and the pet, as does Rabid, Call of the Wild, etc. That was half my point--a Spirit Beast has the highest damage possible, both solo and combined with yours (tied with cat) when excluding other buffs, PLUS the heal.

If you're running with a healer, you may want to consider a Ferocity pet regardless simply for the added damage. You could try a Dog for the root, although it's channeled--and a Dog won't have the agi/str buff I would really only ever use a Cunning pet if I'm low on resilience and need to focus on surviving rather than damage-dealing.

[7seti]

Moths are Ferocity (better for damage) and have a "smart" interrupt, and Nether Rays are cunning (less damage) and have a "stupid" interrupt.

For arena you'd want to take the interrupt off autocast regardless, so it's a matter of preference.

Nether rays have a shorter cooldown on their interrupt, so if you're not making use of the smart autocast I'd say nether rays are better. The difference in damage between ferocity and cunning is pretty small.

[Splaticus]

I pull out whatever pet is necessary, but I get put up against more teams where I don't have the luxury of standing back and dpsing. I can't get away from people with a spirit beast. I wasn't arguing on the stand point that on paper Spirit Beast will have more dps. In just about every situation I've been in the chimaera has saved my day. If I were rolling around with another dps in my 2's team (which is all I do for now, for points. I quit playing a while ago and I need to catch up.) I would become the less attractive target to attack. No one wants to double attack a resto druid and let a hunter wail on them.

As far as the moth and nether ray go, I bind all my pets specials that would be better used timed by me and not on auto pilot. However as beast mastery I prefer to use exotic pets.

[Acherontia]

The only issues I've ever really had in not being able to get away from people in arena are when I've had a dk + other melee (dk/warr, dk/feral) sitting on me. The whole of last season I was doing hpala/BM, although we were only playing for weekly cap, not rating.

But as your original post was more along the lines of asking who else likes Chimaeras, I was pointing out that I *do* like them, they're very good situationally and as I mentioned, I would definitely take one over a Devilsaur or a Core Hound in a lot of situations.

I just wouldn't bring a chimaera over a Spirit Beast personally, as I don't find it anywhere near as good. Obviously though that's down to playstyle/preference

[Jatbirkkal]

I arena with a rogue, so honestly I need to focus on survival a bit more than DPS. For that, I use my Silithid. Venemu has saved me countless times, and his stam buff is lovely. Another favorite of mine: Shale Spider. The buff is good, and the stun is only one second shorter than a web from Ven. So, yeah, I use my little Amithyst quite a bit.

And, I have yet to use a Chimera in arenas, but in BGs I've used mine (Mostly in AV, when people pack up at the base of the hill. AoE the (Censored) out of them! HAHAHAH! That, mixxed with SEVERAL traps from like three other hunters? It is a beautiful sight.)

[Splaticus]

So I know I've been going on and on about how much I hate purple. But after looking at my gear today and the season 10 conquest gear yet to be earned I decided to go look for Nuramoc again even though I looooooove my Razza.

Of course they made a Chimaera to match my gear exactly.

[pop]

I've found that my pet wasp, or bat is the best pet for arena for 2vs2. Shale spider is good too but the lack of dash make it a bit lack luster. While pinning and web are good it doesn't really stop spell casters and other range but the shorter cds make it awesome too.

[Splaticus]

This isn't about "whats best". Y'all misunderstand this completely. This is my proclimation of surprise about how I like the Chimaera because I had never considered one before a few days ago and prefer it myself.

[pop]

I've used chimear in arena and like I said, unless you are facing only melees, stun would be better.