Pet Guide

This guide is designed to show new players which pets players use for hunting and why, it ignores all low level pets such as Polar Bears because when you get to higher levels of skill these pets become pointless; the guide gives new players pets to aim for and hopefully shows there is some light at the end of the long initial taming tunnel and that there is some fun to be had!

Ratings: I have rated the pets based on their long term use as a hunting pet, this is determined by comparing it to other pets; this makes certain pets such as Dragons and Bake Kitsunes very low but I have included these because for new players it is likely they will own these less useful pets before they can get hold of some of the higher level pets

At the end of this guide I have also included a short section on other high level pets such as the Reptalon which are high level pets but are not used very often with an explanation why

Control Chance: Generally you can control pets before you can tame them so most players start with friends giving them high level pets, the best way to work out your chance of controlling a given species is by going here. If you do not have enough skill to control a given creature, it will ignore you in battle, you will be unable to bond with it and repetative failed commands will result in it going wild if it is not fed often
The control level stated below is only meant to give you a rough idea which order you can control the pets, the rating is 1-7 easiest to hardest; it is worked out using this link; you should always enter your skills into this calculator to identify your personal control chance
The very minimum you need to control a pet is not a good level for hunting, you should look to hunt with pets which will respond to you at least 50% of the time otherwise you will need to carry a lot of food on you to keep it happy

See the Pet Training Guide for information on how to train these pets

Pets

Bake Kitsune

Rating: *
Control level: 1
Advantages: Your First high level pet!; Can control 2 at a time doubling your potential Veterinary gains
Disadvantages: Once you get higher level pets these are pretty pointless; They have no pack instincts; They cannot be ridden
Notes:

This is the entry level pet used for high level hunting
Only really useful for players with low levels of Animal Taming and Animal Lore skills and often released when higher level pets can be owned
Great way for younger players to gain experience in hunting
Main use is to gain in Veterinary and Animal Lore through hunting

Rune Beetle

Rating: ***
Control level: 2
Advantages: Lethal poison attack; Used in Nightmare / Rune Beetle combo
Disadvantages: As a solo pet the Cu Sidhe is often a better choice
Notes:

Often used in Nightmare / Rune Beetle combo for high level monsters
Most tamers have this combo in their stable for certain monsters

Nightmare

Rating: ***
Control level: 3
Advantages: Can control 2 at a time doubling your potential Veterinary gains; Powerful in a Nightmare / Rune Beetle combo; Can be ridden
Disadvantages: As a rideable individual hunting pet it has been superseded by Cu Sidhe
Notes:

Often used in Nightmare / Rune Beetle combo for high level monsters
Most tamers have this combo in their stable for certain monsters
Often next pet you will own after a Bake Kitsune

Dragon

Rating: **
Control level: 2
Advantages: Can we used in combination with Nightmare
Disadvantages: Superceeded by the Greater Dragon and other high level pets
Notes:

Used to be one of the toughest pets in the game
Often a pet younger players will own before the top level pets

Cu Sidhe

Rating: *****
Control level: 6
Advantages: Best rideable pet in the game; Heals itsself and you; Bleed attack; Can solo a lot of high level monsters
Disadvantages: Takes up to many control slots for a pet combo or tameing
Notes:

This is the standard rideable pet of all tamers
A must for any high level tamer

Greater Dragon

Rating: *****
Control level: 7
Advantages: Toughest pet in the game; Can solo a lot of high level monsters; Powerful fire breath attack
Disadvantages: takes up 5 control slots
Notes:

A must in every tamers stable

Not so usefull high level pets

White Wyrm

Rating: **
Control level: 4
Advantages: More powerful than a Dragon
Disadvantages: Has been superseded by newer tougher more useful pets
Notes:

Used to be one of the most powerful pets in the game

Reptalon

Rating: ***
Control level: 6
Advantages: Very tough pet when trained; Fire breath attack; Can be ridden
Disadvantages: Takes up to many control slots to make it a useful pet
Notes:

Very tough pet to tame
A strong pet however due to number of control slots needed no combo with other pets are possible and there are better pets to solo hunt with

Unicorn

Rating: **
Control level: 3
Advantages: Special abilities; Can be ridden; Can control 2 at a time
Disadvantages: There are better pets that can be ridden; Nightmare does more damage; only ridden by female characters
Notes:

Female version of Ki-Rin
Looks nice and has good poison immunity
Does less damage than a Nightmare

Ki-Rin

Rating: **
Control level: 3
Advantages: Special abilities; Can be ridden; Can control 2 at a time
Disadvantages: There are better pets that can be ridden; Nightmare does more damage; only ridden by male characters
Notes:

Male version of Unicorn
Looks nice and has good magic attack
Does less damage than a Nightmare

Lesser Hiryu

Rating: **
Control level: 5
Advantages: Dismount attack; Can be ridden
Disadvantages: There are better pets that can be ridden; Weak compared to other pets
Notes:

Baby version of the Hiryu
As rideable pets go this is pretty weak and cannot be used in a combo

Hiryu

Rating: ***
Control level: 5
Advantages: Tough pet; Can be ridden
Disadvantages: As a ridable pet there are better pets to use
Notes:

Can be tough to tame
High level needed to control, there are better pets to own at the same level
As ridable pets go this is pretty weak and cannot be used in a combo

Fire Steed

Rating: **
Control level: 8
Advantages: Looks great; Pack instincts and two Fire Steeds to a lot of Damage
Disadvantages: Very hard to tame; There are better ridable pets at this control level
Notes:

Requires above 106 Animal Taming to tame
Often tamed just for the rights to say so
Considering the high level of control needed you will likely have better pets before you can even control this one