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Level Up Your Companions: A Comprehensive Guide to Higher Tier Pets in Black Desert Online

The desire for a powerful and efficient pet is a common goal for many adventurers in Black Desert Online (BDO). Pets in BDO are more than just cute companions; they significantly contribute to your gameplay by automatically looting dropped items, providing unique buffs, and even sporting unique appearances. If you’re looking to maximize your pet potential, understanding how to increase their tier is essential.

The most straightforward answer to the question “How do you get higher tier pets in BDO?” is through a combination of breeding lower tier pets and completing a specific training questline for the final tier. Let’s break down the process in detail:

Breeding Your Way Up the Pet Tiers

The foundation of increasing pet tiers in BDO is pet breeding. Here’s how it works:

Tier Limitations: Pets can initially be bred to increase their tier up to Tier 4.
Breeding Mechanics: When breeding pets, you combine two pets of the same or different tier to produce a new pet. The resulting pet’s tier will usually be one tier higher than the lower of the two parent pets, but it can also fail.
Destructive Breeding: Keep in mind that breeding pets destroys the parent pets. This means that you will only keep the newly created pet.
Selecting Breeding Partners: When breeding you can select two pets of the same or different tier; however, the tier of the offspring is related to the tier of the lower tier pet.
Appearance Changes: As your pets increase in tier, their appearance will change. This provides a visual cue to their progress.

For instance, breeding two Tier 1 pets will typically result in a Tier 2 pet. Similarly, breeding two Tier 3 pets will, with some luck, produce a Tier 4 pet.

Tier 5 Pets: The Training Questline

Reaching Tier 5 requires a different approach. You cannot breed a Tier 4 pet into a tier 5 pet. Instead, it involves a special Tier 5 Pet Training Questline. Here’s how to unlock it:

Level 10 Tier 4 Pet: You will need a level 10 Tier 4 pet.
Obi Bellen Quest: Head to Obi Bellen at the Old Wisdom Tree in Kamasylvia.
Black Spirit Quest: Summon the Black Spirit (,) to accept the quest “[Pet] Domesticated Squabbles.”
Complete the Quest: Successfully complete the quest.
Tier 5 Pet Training Button: After completing the quest, you will unlock the “Tier 5 Pet Training” button through Obi Bellen.

Once this is unlocked, you can use a level 10 Tier 4 pet to train it into a Tier 5 pet. This will consume the level 10 Tier 4 pet.

Understanding the Benefits of Higher Tier Pets

Why go to all the trouble to increase your pet’s tier? Higher tier pets come with several distinct advantages:

Faster Looting Speed: This is perhaps the most important benefit, as higher tier pets will pick up dropped loot faster, saving you valuable time and allowing you to maintain momentum in grind spots.
Higher Hunger Level: Higher tier pets will stay out longer without needing to be fed as often.
Increased Talents: Tier 1 pets will have 2 talents. Higher tiered pets will hold more talents.
Increased Talent Buffs: The buffs that pets grant at tier 1 are weaker than those from tier 5 pets. This makes tier 5 pets much better at their talent buffs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the maximum tier a pet can reach in BDO?

The maximum tier a pet can reach in Black Desert Online is Tier 5.

2. Can I breed any two pets together?

Yes, you can breed any two pets together, but it will always consume the pets used to breed them. The tier of the offspring is related to the lower tier pet.

3. Do pet skills increase when they tier up?

No, pet skills do not increase when they tier up. Skill levels are increased through skill training.

4. How do I feed my pets?

You can feed your pets with pet food. You can buy pet food from Stable Keepers or cook it yourself.

5. How can I get more pets?

You can obtain pets through purchases from the Pearl Shop, in-game events, or by completing certain quests.

6. What is the “Talent” of a pet?

A pet’s “talent” is a unique buff or ability they provide passively, such as increased combat experience, fishing ability, or increased weight limit.

7. Does leveling up a pet increase its tier?

No, leveling up a pet does not increase its tier. Leveling increases the effectiveness of a pet’s skills. Tier increase through breeding or training.

8. What happens if I fail at tiering a pet?

When breeding pets, there is a chance the attempt will fail, and you will receive a pet of the same tier as the lower tier pet you used to breed them.
When attempting to use the Tier 5 training on a level 10 tier 4 pet, this is guaranteed to work, and will never fail.

9. Are some pets better than others?

Yes, some pets have more useful talents or higher looting speeds than others. It’s best to research which pets offer the benefits most relevant to your playstyle.

10. Is the Golden Dragon pet the best pet?

The Golden Dragon pet is popular due to the unique Strength and Magic Find bonuses it provides, however, this may not be optimal for all players. It is obtained by leveling the Golden Dragon Egg pet to level 100.

11. Can I use a Tier 5 pet for breeding?

No, Tier 5 pets cannot be used for breeding. They are the highest tier attainable through training and can’t be used in further breeding.

12. Do different pets have different looting ranges?

While looting speed varies by tier, looting range is generally the same across all pets.

13. Can I get a Garmoth pet in BDO?

Yes, you can get the Young Crimson Dragon pet by exchanging the ‘Garmoth’s Horn’ item. It’s dropped by the world boss, Garmoth.

14. What is the “Alpha Dragon” pet and how do I get it?

The Alpha Dragon pet was exclusively obtainable from purchasing the Alpha version of the game, making it a very rare pet. It is no longer obtainable.

15. Can I transfer my pet skills?

No, pet skills cannot be directly transferred between pets. You can only improve the skills of the specific pet you are using.

By following this guide and understanding the mechanics of pet breeding and training, you’ll be well on your way to obtaining higher tier pets in Black Desert Online, enhancing your overall gameplay experience. Good luck on your adventures!