What is the Best Hunter Pet to Use in Dragonflight?

The best Hunter pet in Dragonflight isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. It depends entirely on the content you’re engaging in. For leveling and most solo content, a Ferocity pet, particularly a Scalehide, is your best bet, offering self-healing through Leech and damage reduction for survivability. For raiding, Spirit Beasts (Tenacity specialization) are highly recommended due to their group utility.

Understanding Hunter Pets in Dragonflight

In Dragonflight, the core of choosing the right pet comes down to understanding their specialization (Ferocity, Cunning, or Tenacity) and their unique “Family Ability.” All pets deal relatively equal damage, so focusing on utility is crucial. Let’s break down each specialization:

• Ferocity: These pets are the damage dealers. Their main perk is the Leech passive, which allows them to heal themselves as they deal damage. This makes them perfect for solo play and leveling. They also provide Primal Rage, a powerful raid buff equivalent to Bloodlust/Heroism.
• Cunning: These pets are all about utility and mobility. Their passive ability grants increased movement speed, and their active abilities often involve crowd control. Cunning pets are often preferred for PvP and specific situations where mobility is paramount.
• Tenacity: These pets are the tanks. They offer increased health and an active ability that reduces damage taken by both the pet and the Hunter. Tenacity pets are invaluable in group content where you need a sturdy pet to absorb damage, especially as Spirit Beasts offer powerful healing buffs.

Why Specialization Matters

Choosing the correct specialization dramatically impacts your effectiveness in different content.

• Leveling/Soloing: Ferocity pets dominate because of their Leech. The self-healing they provide allows you to tackle more challenging content and level faster without constant downtime for healing. The Scalehide family’s damage reduction cooldown makes them exceptionally tanky.
• Raiding: While Ferocity pets bring Primal Rage, the Spirit Beast (Tenacity) specialization is more valuable for overall raid utility. Their healing ability, Spirit Mend, provides a substantial heal over time effect, contributing significantly to raid survivability. The “Survival of the Fittest” ability further solidifies their role.
• Dungeons: The choice depends on the dungeon and your group composition. Ferocity pets are still viable for their damage and Primal Rage, but Tenacity pets can provide crucial survivability for both the pet and the group, particularly in challenging Mythic+ keys.

The “Family Ability” Factor

Each pet family within a specialization has a unique “Family Ability.” These abilities provide additional utility and can influence your pet choice. For example:

• Scalehides: Offer 50% reduced damage taken on a 1-minute cooldown, great for tanking in solo content.
• Spirit Beasts: Have Spirit Mend, which heals the target.
• Devilsaurs: Applies a bleed effect to their target.

Top Hunter Pet Considerations

Given these factors, here are some top contenders for different scenarios:

• Leveling: Scalehide (Ferocity)
• Raiding: Spirit Beast (Tenacity)
• Dungeons: Spirit Beast (Tenacity) or Devilsaur (Ferocity), depending on the dungeon and group needs.

Beast Mastery Hunter Pet Considerations

For Beast Mastery Hunters, the choice becomes more nuanced. The Animal Companion talent allows you to summon two pets, enhancing your overall damage output. This makes the choice of pet families even more critical, allowing for a blend of utility and damage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do Hunter pets matter in Dragonflight? Yes, Hunter pets matter in Dragonflight, primarily due to their specialization (Ferocity, Cunning, Tenacity) and unique family abilities. While all pets deal relatively the same damage, their utility is what sets them apart.
2. What is the easiest Hunter spec to play in Dragonflight? Beast Mastery Hunter is widely considered the easiest Hunter specialization to play in Dragonflight due to its pet-focused gameplay and simpler rotation.
3. What is the best Hunter spec for soloing in Dragonflight? Survival Hunter is a strong contender for soloing due to its excellent damage and survivability, combining melee and ranged abilities effectively.
4. Can Hunters have two pets out at once in Dragonflight? Yes, Beast Mastery Hunters can have two pets out simultaneously by using the Animal Companion talent.
5. Is Animal Companion worth it in Dragonflight? Yes, Animal Companion is a valuable talent for Beast Mastery Hunters, as it significantly increases pet damage output through additional Kill Commands.
6. What is the max level in Dragonflight? The maximum level in Dragonflight is 70.
7. What ilevel should I have for Mythic+ in Dragonflight? For Dragonflight Mythic+ Season 2, a minimum item level of 398 is recommended for damage dealers for +2 to +5 keys. Healers and tanks should aim for 402+.
8. What is the best tank to main in Dragonflight? Guardian Druid is often considered the top-tier tank in Dragonflight, followed by Vengeance Demon Hunter and Protection Paladin.
9. Is leveling easier in Dragonflight? Yes, leveling is easier in Dragonflight due to features like the Dragon Isles Adventuring system, World Quests, and side quests, making the process more streamlined and enjoyable.
10. What is the fastest way to level in Dragonflight solo? Completing quests is generally the fastest way to level solo in Dragonflight, as it provides experience, quest rewards, and allows you to explore the game world.
11. Is Fury Warrior good in Dragonflight? Fury Warrior is a viable DPS spec in Dragonflight, known for its fast-paced playstyle, though it may not be the absolute top-performing DPS option.
12. What is the easiest healer in Dragonflight? Restoration Druid is considered one of the easiest and most effective healers in Dragonflight, especially for Mythic+ content.
13. Should I use a pet as a Marksman Hunter in Dragonflight? Generally, Marksman Hunters should not use a pet in Dragonflight due to the Lone Wolf talent, which provides a damage bonus when no pet is active.
14. What are the best gold-making professions in Dragonflight? Tailoring, Jewelcrafting, Leatherworking, Inscription, Engineering, Blacksmithing, Enchanting, and Alchemy are all viable professions for making gold in Dragonflight.
15. Where can I learn more about games and learning? You can learn more about games and learning at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Beyond the Basics

While the above recommendations provide a solid foundation, remember that personal preference and playstyle also play a significant role. Experiment with different pet families and specializations to find what best suits your needs and enjoy the versatility that the Hunter class offers in Dragonflight.