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 1-8 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

See the Pets section for more detailed information on your pets and how to control them

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: They have no pack instincts; They cannot be ridden.
Notes:

This is the entry level pet used for high level hunting.
Two can be used at once by players with low levels of Animal Taming and Animal Lore skills. Worth keeping at least one later on as they're slightly more powerful than a Nightmare (just not rideable).
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, Armor Corruption attack, Bleed Attack. Can be used with a Nightmare or Bake Kitsune.
Disadvantages: As a solo pet the Cu Sidhe is often a more reliable choice. Completely outclassed by the Greater Dragon.
Notes:

Often used in Nightmare / Rune Beetle combo for high level monsters.
Most tamers have this combo in their stable for certain monsters.
If Armor Corruption triggers the target becomes more vulnerable to all attackers.

Dragon

Rating: **
Control level: 2
Advantages: Can be 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.

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: Weaker then a Bake Kitsune, requires a lot of skill considering its lack of power.
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 decent pet you will own after a Bake Kitsune.

Dread War Horse

Rating: ***
Control level: 7
Advantages: The only ridable three-slot that can fight and/or use Magery. Roughly as powerful as a Dragon.
Disadvantages: Requires loads of skill to control. Slightly less powerful then a Rune Beetle.
Notes:

Considered more useful in PvP then anywhere else.
No permanent spawn, considered somewhat rare.

Cu Sidhe

Rating: *****
Control level: 6
Advantages: Best ridable pet in the game; Heals itself and you; Bleed attack; Can solo a lot of high level monsters.
Disadvantages: Takes up too many control slots for a pet combo or taming. Less damage (but more reliable) than a Rune Beetle combo, completely outclassed by the Greater Dragon.
Notes:

This is the standard ridable 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, bleed attack.
Disadvantages: Takes up 5 control slots so get ready to walk.
Notes:

A must in every tamers stable.
Can both give AND take more damage than any other pet or pet combo.

Not So Useful High Level Pets

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.

White Wyrm

Rating: **
Control level: 4
Advantages: More powerful than a Dragon. One of the few pets to deal loads of cold damage.
Disadvantages: Has been superseded by newer tougher more useful pets.
Notes:

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

Lesser Hiryu

Rating: **
Control level: 5
Advantages: Dismount attack; Can be ridden and used in a combo, can lower target resists.
Disadvantages: There are better pets that can be ridden; quite weak for a three slot.
Notes:

Baby version of the Hiryu.
As rideable pets go this is pretty weak.
Usually used by Bushido masters (if at all).

Hiryu

Rating: ***
Control level: 5
Advantages: Tough pet; Can be ridden, can dismount targets and lower their resists.
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.
Deals slightly more damage then the Cu Sidhe but somewhat harder to keep alive. Cannot be used in a combo.

Reptalon

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

Very tough pet to tame.
A strong pet.

Fire Steed

Rating: **
Control level: 8
Advantages: Looks great; Pack instincts and two Fire Steeds do 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.