!A fantasy hunter with wolf companion holding a glowing bow in autumn forest
WoW Forever Beta Best Hunter Pets by Level
Hunter pets in WoW Forever give +5% pet damage bonus per pet family spec (e.g., 5/5 Ferocity = +5% pet damage). The right pet can double your DPS at high level. This guide covers the best pets by level, family bonuses, and exotic pets unlocked at level 20.
For broader Hunter info, see our Hunter Guide and Pet Battle Guide articles.
Quick summary: Best leveling pet: Boar (Boar Charge stun). Best tank: Bear. Best DPS pet: Wolf (Furious Howl). At level 20, Tenacity (tank) or Ferocity (DPS) families are BiS.
Pet family bonuses
Ferocity (DPS)
- 5/5 Ferocity: +5% pet damage
- Best pets: Wolf (Furious Howl), Cat (Dash + Claw), Raptor (Savage Strikes)
Tenacity (Tank)
- 5/5 Tenacity: +5% pet HP, plus Last Stand cooldown
- Best pets: Bear (Bash), Turtle (Shell Shield), Boar (Boar Charge)
Cunning (Utility)
- 5/5 Cunning: +5% pet damage + Master’s Call (free root)
- Best pets: Spider (Web), Bird of Prey (Swoop), Chimera (Froststorm Breath)
Best leveling pets (1-20)
Tier 1: Boar (Boar Charge)
Stats: Tenacity, tanky Ability: Boar Charge — stuns target for 1 second Why: Best CC pet early. Stun prevents adds from running to caster. Location: Multiple zones (1-15) Tame level: 10
Tier 2: Cat (Claw)
Stats: Ferocity, balanced Ability: Claw — bonus damage Why: Strong DPS pet, decent HP. Location: Starting zones (5-20) Tame level: 1
Tier 3: Wolf (Furious Howl)
Stats: Ferocity, balanced Ability: Furious Howl — +damage to next attack Why: Burst damage pet, good for short fights. Location: Duskwood, Ashenvale (15-20) Tame level: 15
Tier 4: Bear (Bash)
Stats: Tenacity, very tanky Ability: Bash — stuns target for 2 seconds (5 sec CD) Why: Best tank pet, longer stun than Boar. Location: Multiple zones (10-20) Tame level: 10
Best DPS pets at level 20
Wolf (Furious Howl)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Family | Ferocity |
| Tame level | 15 |
| Location | Duskwood, Ashenvale |
Why best DPS: Furious Howl provides +damage on burst fights. Wolf is fast and has good HP.
Cat (Dash + Claw)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Family | Ferocity |
| Tame level | 1 |
| Location | Starting zones |
Why good DPS: Dash provides +movement speed, Claw is bonus damage. Most accessible pet.
Raptor (Savage Strikes)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Family | Ferocity |
| Tame level | 20 (rare drop) |
| Location | Stranglethorn Vale |
Why: Savage Strikes is high-damage talent. Best raw DPS pet.
Best tank pets at level 20
Bear (Bash)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Family | Tenacity |
| Tame level | 10 |
| Location | Multiple zones |
Why: Highest HP, longest stun (2 sec). Best tank.
Turtle (Shell Shield)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Family | Tenacity |
| Tame level | 15 (rare drop) |
| Location | Stranglethorn Vale |
Why: Shell Shield reduces damage taken. Best mitigation pet.
Best utility pets at level 20
Spider (Web)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Family | Cunning |
| Tame level | 15 |
| Location | Duskwood |
Why: Web slows targets. Best CC pet for PvP.
Bird of Prey (Swoop)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Family | Cunning |
| Tame level | 20 (rare drop) |
| Location | Wetlands |
Why: Swoop + movement speed. Good for kiting.
Exotic pets (level 60+)
These unlock at Beast Mastery spec + level 60, but worth planning ahead:
| Exotic pet | Ability | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chimaera | Froststorm Breath | Best caster exotic |
| Devilsaur | Strong pet, fast attacks | Best raw DPS exotic |
| Spirit Beast | Spirit Mend (heal) | Best solo exotic |
| Silithid | Sand Trap | Best AoE exotic |
Pet selection by Hunter spec
Beast Mastery (BM)
- Best pet: Any Ferocity pet (scaling with BM damage bonus)
- Recommended: Wolf for solo, Bear for dungeons
- Note: BM gets 5% pet damage bonus from spec, stacks with Ferocity 5%
Marksmanship (MM)
- Best pet: Tank pet (Tenacity) for survivability
- Recommended: Turtle or Bear
- Note: MM relies on Hunter damage, not pet DPS
Survival (SV)
- Best pet: Cunning (Melee DPS bonuses from SV specs)
- Recommended: Spider or Cat
- Note: SV does melee damage, pet choice matters
Pet taming tips
Tame flow
- Approach pet carefully (avoid aggro)
- Cast Tame Beast (8 second cast)
- Distract pet with Feign Death if aggroed
- Use worm as food (sometimes needed)
- Don’t tame too high-level pets (will be uncontrollable)
Pet specialization
After taming, use Beast Training NPC (in capital cities) to:
- Set pet specialization (Ferocity / Tenacity / Cunning)
- Spend training points on pet talents
- Unlocks at level 10 with Beast Mastery / Marksmanship / Survival spec
Pet leveling tips
Fast leveling
- Use higher-level pets if you can solo them
- Feed pet between fights (use pet food)
- Use Mend Pet when HP <50%
- Don’t over-pull — pet dies and you lose XP
Specific strategies
- Low level (1-10): Tame pets same level as you
- Mid level (10-15): Tame pets +1 level above you
- High level (15-20): Tame pets +2 levels above you (with care)
Common pet questions
Which pet family is best for DPS?
Ferocity (+5% pet damage, fastest killing speed).
Which pet family is best for tank?
Tenacity (+5% HP, Last Stand cooldown).
Can I have multiple pets?
Yes — up to 50+ pets in stables. Stable slots increase with training.
Do pets benefit from my gear?
Mostly no. Pets scale with pet-level and family bonus.
When do exotic pets unlock?
Level 60 with Beast Mastery spec.
Final verdict
Best leveling pet (1-10): Boar (stun CC).
Best DPS pet (10-20): Wolf (Furious Howl burst).
Best tank pet (10-20): Bear (high HP + Bash).
Best PvP pet (15-20): Spider (Web slow).
Whatever your spec, pick a pet that matches your playstyle:
- Solo leveling: Boar or Bear (tanky)
- Raiding: Wolf or Raptor (DPS)
- PvP: Spider (CC)
For more Hunter info, see our Hunter Guide, Pet Battle Guide, and Best Skyborne Combinations articles.
