What is the Best Damage Pet in Classic WoW?
The undisputed king of damage pets in Classic World of Warcraft is the Cat. While other pets have situational advantages, the cat’s combination of high attack speed and damage output makes it the top choice for maximizing a Hunter’s personal DPS, whether you are leveling, engaging in PvP, or tackling PvE content. Its potential is primarily realized by its high frequency of auto-attacks, allowing it to consistently deliver damage throughout any encounter, especially when coupled with the Hunter’s own ranged attacks. While some might suggest a wolf for group play due to the Furious Howl buff, or an owl/carrion bird for initial leveling using their Screech ability for threat generation, when it comes to pure damage, the Cat reigns supreme in Classic WoW.
Understanding Pet Mechanics in Classic WoW
Before diving into the intricacies of pet choices, it’s crucial to grasp how pet damage works in Classic WoW. Unlike later expansions, pet specializations aren’t a thing. All pet families have different attack speeds and unique skills, making some inherently better suited for certain roles. For example, while all pets have abilities like Claw or Bite, the frequency with which they use these skills—determined by their base attack speed—is a significant factor in determining overall damage output. The cat’s 1.0 attack speed is the fastest available, enabling the pet to inflict damage more often than other pets. Also, pets scale with the Hunters attributes so the better gear your hunter has, the more powerful the pet becomes. This makes the cat the best scaling pet.
Why the Cat is the Top Damage Pet
The core of the cat’s damage superiority lies in its ferocious attack speed. A 1.0 attack speed means more attacks, more damage, and more consistent uptime of that damage. Coupled with skills like Claw and Bite, a well-trained cat can keep up a steady stream of damage, often significantly boosting the Hunter’s overall output. In short, a cat’s high attack frequency combined with its strong skills makes it the best overall damage dealer. There are other pets that may have a slight advantage in certain situations but for most situations, and particularly for solo play, the cat is the go to.
Skill Choices and Training
Maximizing a cat’s damage involves strategic skill selection. Key skills to acquire include Claw and Bite. For hunters, there are two skills to obtain, Prowl at level 32 which can allow you to sneak attack players in PvP, and Dash at level 32 which allows the pet to move fast and engage targets more quickly. Finding the right level and type of Cat to train up your pet with is important as well. Level up your new pet alongside your hunter so you don’t have to level up an under-leveled pet. Some pets you tame may already know these skills as well.
Cat Advantages in Different Content
Leveling
While an owl or carrion bird might be better for threat generation early on, as you move through the level brackets, the cat begins to pull ahead. The raw damage and high frequency of attacks make leveling faster and more efficient.
PvP
The cat’s burst potential and consistent damage are invaluable in PvP. Its high attack speed can quickly whittle down opponents, making it a fearsome foe. The added benefit of Prowl can provide unique scenarios that will get you the advantage in a skirmish or duel.
PvE
In PvE, especially during solo play, the cat’s high damage output will substantially increase the speed at which you can complete quests and grind. While it may not be as survivable in raids and dungeons (due to its melee-range requirement), the cat remains the best pure DPS pet for most PvE scenarios.
Considerations for Other Pet Choices
While the cat is the premier damage dealer, it’s important to remember other pets have utility:
- Wolf: Useful for group play thanks to Furious Howl.
- Owl/Carrion Bird: Better early game because of Screech, an ability that generates threat.
- Spirit Beasts (Dragonflight): Best for Raiding in Dragonflight, not Classic WoW.
- Tenacity Pets: Generally best for group PVE content because of extra health and endurance training.
- Healing Reduction Pets: Can be useful in niche situations where you need to reduce enemy healing.
However, when the focus is purely on damage, the cat’s inherent attributes and skill set make it the clear winner.
Conclusion: The Ultimate DPS Pet in Classic WoW
In Classic WoW, the cat is unequivocally the best damage pet for a Hunter. Its combination of high attack speed, the highest of all pets at 1.0, and damaging skills makes it excel in virtually all aspects of the game. While other pets have their uses, the consistent damage output that the cat provides cannot be replicated, making it the optimal choice for players looking to maximize their personal DPS. This is particularly true for solo play scenarios and where the player may be primarily responsible for dealing the most damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do all pets do the same damage in Classic WoW?
No. Unlike in later expansions, pets in Classic WoW do NOT all do the same damage. Pet families have different base attack speeds, damage, and special skills that cause varying outputs. The cat’s 1.0 attack speed is the fastest and most damaging in the game.
2. Is Broken Tooth the best pet for Hunters?
Broken Tooth is a rare cat with a 1.0 attack speed which is the same as a regular cat, making them identical in output. It does have a reputation as being unique due to its rare status.
3. What pet skills are most important for a DPS cat?
The most important skills are Claw and Bite, maximizing the cat’s damage output. At level 32 make sure to acquire Prowl and Dash from the trainer.
4. Why are Owls and Carrion Birds good for leveling?
Owls and Carrion Birds have the Screech ability that generates threat, making them better for early leveling where aggro management is important. This ability also will be replaced later with skills like thunderstomp from Gorillas.
5. Are Ferocity pets better than other pet families?
In Classic WoW, pet families have different characteristics and some are better than others at certain roles. Ferocity pets like Cats do the most damage.
6. Can a Hunter have multiple pets out at once in Classic WoW?
No. Hunters can only have one pet active at a time but can stable up to two more with Stable Masters, or hold up to 5 in your pet bar, ready to be called out.
7. What is the fastest pet in Classic WoW?
The fastest pet in Classic WoW is a cat with an attack speed of 1.0.
8. What is the best pet for group content in Classic WoW?
While the cat is the best at dealing damage, the wolf is good for group content because of its Furious Howl buff.
9. Can I tame a pet that’s a higher level than me?
No. You can only tame pets that are your level or lower.
10. What pet should I use for PvP as a Hunter?
The cat is generally the best choice for PvP because of its consistent DPS and high attack frequency. The ability to Prowl and attack from stealth will be an added benefit.
11. Do pet abilities like Prowl affect their damage output?
Prowl does not affect their damage output, it is a utility ability that will allow you to sneak attack other players in PvP.
12. What is the best pet for tanking in Classic WoW?
Carrion birds are typically the best for tanking, due to their Armor bonus and Screech ability, which helps with threat generation. However, their damage is subpar to the cat.
13. Does a pet’s breed impact its stats after taming?
No. Once tamed, a pet’s breed has no impact on its stats, as they are all identical to other members of that family.
14. Is it harder to heal or tank in WoW?
Generally, tanking is often considered more challenging early on due to the need to manage threat and positioning. However, as you get into later game content, DPS becomes the harder role to play well.
15. Can you respec your pet in Classic WoW?
No, you cannot respec your pet in Classic WoW. The pet skill points will stay the same. This is why you should consider which skills are best for your pet before training them.