Most notable rares?

[Teigan]

What are the most notable rares from each expansion? The ones you think of right away when you think about a certain expansion? I'm working a silly taming project. I may not finish it, but I'm collating a list of rares anyway.

No idea really for vanilla. I wasn't around then. I think Brokentooth was important? What others?

But, for Outland zones, we have Nuramoc, Goretooth, Hawkbane and Marticar. I know Marticar and Hawkbane were after BC, but they're there. And I think Hawkbane was originally there, then removed, then put back. Or something like that?

For WotLK, I think it's an obvious roster. King Krush, Aotona, Loque'nahak, Skoll, Arcturis, Gondria, Terror Spinner, Icehorn

For Cataclysm, the "big" rares are probably Ghostcrawler, Terrorpene, Jadefang, Maddex, Sambas, Karoma, Magria, Ankha, Ban'thalos, Kirix, Skitterflame, Anthriss, Solix, Deth'tilac, Skarr and Karkin.
But, Cata went completely nuts with adding lesser rares literally everywhere. Do you think there are any of those that particularly notable? Five new families were added (beetles, shale spiders, dogs, foxes, monkeys) Only one of these families has a really notable rare: Jadefang. I guess Gib the Banana Hoarder is sort of notable, in his own way, as is Ashtail.

In Mists of Pandaria, we got 7 new families: basilisks, cranes, goats, porcupines, quilen, direhorns and water striders. We got a rare for each new family, except the direhorns. The most prominent rares, the tracking tames, were Glimmer, Savage, Patrannache, Bloodtooth, Bombyx, Bristlespine, Stompy, Rockhide, Hexapos, and Portent.
Then we got spirit porcupines, which was an odd choice considering the other expansion appropriate beasts available. But, Gumi, Degu and Hutia were now our new best friends. Sort of.
Were there other rares added? I don't recall.

After MoP, rares got weird. They're almost always up. There are so many new ones even in current content. Rares just aren't so rare. But that said...

Warlords of Draenor. It ushered in rylaks, stags, hydras, riverbeasts and clefthooves. Rares started to get weird here, with being almost always up and basically just loot pinatas, and also no longer "rares" but "vignettes". We got a rare for each family and then some, which was nice I guess. But personally I think they went overboard.
What was notable? Anything?
The list of rares is rather long. Maybe too long to make any of them particularly special. And since the advent of always-up vignettes, it's even harder to call one special.
Amaukwa <Breath of the Moon>, Rockhoof, Velos, Insha'tar, Killmaw in Shadowmoon Valley. Stonespite, Sunderthorn, Blightglow, Jiasska the Sporegorger, Varasha, Echidna in Spire of Arak. Taladorantula, Klikixx, Hammertooth, Glimmerwing, Ra'kahn, Gennadian, Hen-mother Hami, No'losh in Talador. Tura'aka, Flinthide, Bergruu, Nakk the Thunderer, Thek'talon, Greatfeather, Xelganak, Vileclaw, Gnarlhoof the Rabid, Direhoof, Gaz'orda, Aogexon, Grizzlemaw in Nagrand. Reassigned Warbeast, Steelsnout, Magwia, The Goreclaw, Broodlord Ixkor, Shadowthrash in Tanaan Jungle. Mother Araneae, Berthora, Mogamago, Riptar, Hive Queen Skrikka, Venolasix in Gorgrond. Canyon Icemother, Chillfang, Giantbane, Coldstomp the Griever, Coldtusk, Slogtusk the Corpse-Eater, Jabberjaw <Devourer of Ogres> in Frostfire Ridge.
Are any of those rares notable to you?
The pets/tames that stand out to me aren't actually rares, technically: Gara (who's not really a rare but a quest), the fel wolf, who isn't a rare but is a rare PITA and the fel boar.

And that brings us to Legion. We once again got new families. Mechanicals, oxen, scalehides. There is at least one rare for each new family.
Once again, rares really aren't too rare. At least there are fewer of them.
Baconlisk, Pinchshank, Tideclaw, Mar'tura, Myonix <Manasaber Matron>, Pashya, Maia the White in Suramar. Bulvinkel, Starbuck in Stormheim. Gorebeak, Bahagar in Val'sharah. Arru <The Terror>, Tamed Coralback, Sekhan in Highmountain. However, there are some that should be rares in my opinion, but apparently aren't. Rush and Treble come to mind. There are rares outside the Broken Isles in the new families that deserve mention too, I think, by virtue of being new and fairly unique. Arra'chea, Gruff, Thunderstomp, Ironfur Steelhorn, and then the mechs, of which some are rares and some are not. I think it's too soon to say which ones will stand out as defining pets of the expansion.
Legion also brought us the very first non-rare spirit beasts. It's a very strange feeling to go pick up a spirit beast on a whim, knowing it and many others just like it are just kinda hanging around. I suppose it's nice not to have the camp. But, maybe they could have made them tracking tame or...something. I dunno. So, all you cool cats hanging around Suramar, you guys can't be on the list cause you're just normal mobs.

In both WoD and Legion, there are named elites that feel like they should be on the list, but aren't.

So, in doing this little project which someday I may finish and inflict on the forums, hehe, I've come to the conclusion that I don't like where rares went after WotLK, with the exception of the tracking rares and tricky tames like good ol' Deth'tilac. Their special-ness has been stripped away. I think it also messes up taming the old rares, since new players are of the mindset that all rares come back in a few minutes.

But anyway, what defines each expansion to you? Did I miss any big ones? And how do you feel about the not-so-rare rares?

Oh, also, two things I noticed about the pet search. Petopia needs a search category for those vignette mobs, since they don't turn up if you search rares, and mechs, oxen and scalehides aren't in the searchable families.

[SpiritBinder]

For Vanilla, would personally have to add these guys

Takk

http://www.wowhead.com/npc=5842/takk-the-leaper

This guy was so insanely fast he could actually run down and attack epic mounted players.

Humar

http://www.wowhead.com/npc=5828/humar-the-pridelord

This fellow was one of hell of a prize to tame. His erratic and insanely long spawn timers made him very rare and elusive. Being an all black lion just made him all the more sexy. I'm sure many a hunter can testify hanging out in that dang tree, with his hungry cohort below, camping... oh so much camping.

Old Cliff Jumper

http://www.wowhead.com/npc=8211/old-cliff-jumper

While not amazing for any of his abilities, his shear elusiveness and unique skin still made him special back in the day.

Rak'shiri and Shy-rotam

http://www.wowhead.com/npc=10200/rakshiri

http://www.wowhead.com/npc=10737/shy-rotam

Now from memory both these used to be rare spawns, one using the blue and the other purple skins. I think these two stunning cats where unique skins and had very long spawn timers (compared to the purple skin now being used on a common). In conjunction, the purple one was even harder to get due the fact it matched the Winterspring Frostsaber Mount.

And Brokentooth

As you mentioned, who was legendary due to having the fastest attack speed in the game, and multiple spawn locations (Like Loq). Why was this important? It was not for Dps so much, but back in vanilla, every hit a caster took (Pve or PvP), knocked back thier cast time a notch, the faster and more hits you could deliver, the more you delayed their spell. And there was no diminishing returns on this back then either, and Brokentooth was a casters absolute nightmare.

Not So Rare....

A special mention has to go to..

Bloodseeker Bat

http://www.wowhead.com/npc=11368/bloodseeker-bat

While not in the Vanilla launch, they were added in the ZG patch. These guys had an attack speed that rivaled Brokentooth's. Being in a raid and very dangerous made them still tricky to get but you can still find old videos of how to track one down and tame it solo.

and I'd like to add

Echeyakee

http://www.wowhead.com/npc=3475/echeyakee

Again not a rare, but was the white counter part to Humar. He was a standout for a few reasons. He could only be spawned from a horde quest, making it tricky for an Alliance hunter to tame without coordination, and his damn cute frosty whiskers (just a small issue with unclean masking on the lions skin file.) He has a very specail place in many hunters hearts

And yes, I'm an old (grumpy?) hunter.... Now where did I put those rose tinted spectacles

[Teigan]

Thanks for telling me a bit of history about those pets. It's really kinda touching to hear how special they were then. It makes them more special now <3 I wish the Bloodseeker Bats were still around. It's sad that such a unique and cool bit of history is gone. And, Shy-Rotam and Rak'shiri used to look different? Interesting! And that is AWESOME about Takk! I have new respect for him.

[SpiritBinder]

Yeah I have a real soft spot to Takk too (even if he wasn't my 1st ) He's a little slow in his old age but he's still my favorite raptor. Personally I think the model/skin has aged really well too, and while I think they did an AMAZING job on the new ones, none of them have the beads, bands or feathers which was such a neat little nod to their intelligence. I'm a bit of a sucker for the little nuances

[Aweena]

Rak'shiri and Shy-rotam

http://www.wowhead.com/npc=10200/rakshiri

http://www.wowhead.com/npc=10737/shy-rotam

Now from memory both these used to be rare spawns, one using the blue and the other purple skins. I think these two stunning cats where unique skins and had very long spawn timers (compared to the purple skin now being used on a common). In conjunction, the purple one was even harder to get due the fact it matched the Winterspring Frostsaber Mount.

dont forget the white lion mate Sian-rotam but he was the only other way of getting that skin apart from Echeyakee

and the ghost saber in darkshore was not rare rare but pretty hard to get.

Deathmaw who used to be black now he is brown...

Personally i camped brokentooth and had the white lion i believe it was sian i had but back then i was asked to dismiss my pets in dungeons by eletist warriors and our raid leader preferred pet less hunters.

Rose tinted glasses maybe but today you may get asked where the hell your pet is in dungeons when back then you would be asked to get that thing the hell out of there.
Good luck with the project

[Quiv]

Oh neat idea! I started WoW in later BC so this reflects that.

Vanilla: There are several Vanilla rares I have found memories of. Humar, Shadowclaw, Uhk'loc, Giggler. However it comes down to two rares that I was obsessed with: Grunter (Blasted Lands rare boar) and King Mosh (Un'Goro Crater rare devilsaur). Both had ridiculously long spawn timers. I've seen the old King Mosh and was able to solo when I was around that level, a feat I was super proud of because back then he was a bad mamajama. I have tamed the more reasonably spawning Cata version of Mosh and named it Legend, as it was my first true "trophy" hunt in game. As for Grunter, I never saw the pre-Cata version ever. He was a plain black boar if I recall correctly. I am glad the Cata revamp gave him a unique skin. I tamed it and named it Myth because the old version, to me, was.

BC:
Nothing really in BC strikes me personally as notable. Goretooth was the closest simply because he was so stupid rare.

Wrath
A lot of great choices here for me, but King Krush and Aotona take the cake. Aotona was my lottery rare, I saw the thing spawn right before my eyes on my hunter at level. I regret releasing it. Thanks CRZ. King Krush is notable because of the priest I had to pay to fear ward me. Spent around 15 minutes trying to find a priest, explain what I needed, and get the tame off. 15 minutes doesn't sound long, but considering how the rares in Northrend work, seeing Krush up was very nerve racking. I was praying no one would come along and kill for the loot, and luckily I got my tame back then.

Cata
Even more great choices, but I think the most notable rare here for me is Sambas. I just love that model and wish they would use it more or make an updated version. Jadefang brings back memories camping it for the pet. Deth also is a fond memory because I loved helping people work the mechanic and tame it.

MoP
Pat is my main memory here. I remember painstaking mapping this dumb birds path on beta. I have a lot of great memories with all the tracking rares in MoP and helping others find them (except the Basilisk that practically no one wanted).

WoD
Not much notable here in the rare department since they went to vignettes. Gara is about it, and thats not a true rare. Coldstomp the Griever always pulled at my heart strings though. Makes me sad. I homed him for a while.

Legion
Not been out long enough to say.

[Boven]

I can't remember his name, but there was also the rare wolf in Duskwood that did shadow damage. He was pretty darned amazing until it was inevitably fixed.

[zedxrgal]

Idea is so clever it makes me sick. Also makes me want to try it or something VERY close to it.

However everyone has already offered what I would have.

Don't forget about Snarler in Feralas. He was always a go to wolf. And Mist Howler in Ashenvale. Probably add more as they come to me.

[peanutbuttercup]

I can't remember his name, but there was also the rare wolf in Duskwood that did shadow damage. He was pretty darned amazing until it was inevitably fixed.

Lupos. His damage was subpar for PvE in most cases because of it but he was a surprise in PvP since no one expected shadow damage from a pet.

Brokentooth was the must-have PvE pet. I got very lucky and happened to come across him while riding out to join someone in a dungeon or something... just remember seeing him with no one else around and snagging him as quick as I could.

[GAJones4221]

There was a cat that back in classic you had to kill for a quest in stv named king bangalash, blizzard as they usually do nerfed him pretty hard to the point where he dies with little effort even from players well below his level.

But amongst noob hunters in classic he was a legend to many.

[Aleu]

I'm surprised no one mentioned Araga. At the time she was the only lioness with that brown neck making her a unique tame. While I don't think she was highly sought after I only have a couple of memories of seeing hunters with her.

[Boven]

I can't remember his name, but there was also the rare wolf in Duskwood that did shadow damage. He was pretty darned amazing until it was inevitably fixed.

Lupos. His damage was subpar for PvE in most cases because of it but he was a surprise in PvP since no one expected shadow damage from a pet.

Brokentooth was the must-have PvE pet. I got very lucky and happened to come across him while riding out to join someone in a dungeon or something... just remember seeing him with no one else around and snagging him as quick as I could.

Lupos! That's the one. Yeah, he'd tear through people in PvP. Honestly, Brokentooth was pretty good against casters back in the olden days when spell pushback was a thing.