Tanking Pet Preferences

[ghilledhu 0]

Once I unlock the third stable slot I want to have a dps pet, a tanking pet, and an empty slot for temporary skill-tames. 

Right now I'm using a wolf for the howl buff because I like how it works with Aimed/Multishot, but since I'm a Nelf on a PvP server, I'll probably switch to a cat once I can learn Prowl.

What are some preferences for tanking pet types based on stats and abilities in terms of aggro and mitigation?  I recall threat being more of a problem overall, but survivability is obviously important as well.  Thinking mainly for soloing lower-level dungeons when I'm higher level, outdoor solo stuff, or spot replacement/offtank in dungeons.

I'm interested in a gorilla for the AoE thunderstomp, but it will be a while before I'm high enough level to tame one.  Turtles have the shell-shield, but as I recall it's a longish cooldown and my recollection of their threat-generation was uninspiring.  Boars seem to have a good mix, but I'm prejudiced against their ugliness.

What pair of pets do you keep and why?

[gotmilk0112 10]

Boar is the tankiest pet, IIRC.

 

Do not try to use your pet to tank in dungeons. It doesn't work because your pet can only use his threat ability once every 5 seconds.

Edited February 19, 2017 by gotmilk0112

[Raziya 11]

Agreed. Boars have great armor.

Gorillas are cool for AoE, but boars will never let you down in single-target. And, y'know, they're super tanky. If you want a pretty one, maybe you'd like one of those boars from Razorfen Kraul! I have one of the black ones with blue armor. He's a pretty piggy.

Edited February 26, 2017 by Raziya

[Hexygon 2]

Crabs and turtles have the highest base armor.  But crab has low health and turtle can shell shield. So if you're looking for straight up survivability, turtle is your best bet. 

Bears have the highest health pool but a bit less armor.  Gorillas tanking stats are generally low. If you want something that can do an ae Agro generator skip the gorilla and go with a carrion bird. 

[unjkeee 1]

Turtles have pretty long cd on shield, arent they?

[Marska 0]

Boar is something I'd prefer when it comes down to tanking. Since they have charge which is really darn nice and nice burst dmg (and threat).

On 19.2.2017 at 7:47 AM, gotmilk0112 said:

Do not try to use your pet to tank in dungeons. It doesn't work because your pet can only use his threat ability once every 5 seconds.

This however, is false. Your pet can tank dungeons better than most tanks if you're a proper hunter. Just prioritise armor over stamina and you're good to go (use intimidation and send your pet on a mob that healer agroes).

 

Shell shield has 3min cd and reduces pets attack speed.

Edited February 27, 2017 by Marska

[gotmilk0112 10]

7 minutes ago, Marska said:

This however, is false. Your pet can tank dungeons better than most tanks if you're a proper hunter.

Growl has a five second CD. Your pet's damage alone cannot keep healing aggro off the healer.

[Marska 0]

Five second is more than enough if ppl focuses on single target. My pet occasionally takes agro from warriors with just claw (growl disabled. Being BM of course).

Edited February 27, 2017 by Marska

[gotmilk0112 10]

1 minute ago, Marska said:

Five second is more than enough if ppl focuses on single target. My pet occasionally takes agro from warriors with just claw (growl disabled. Being BM of course).

Healing aggro is not single target.

[Marska 0]

That's why you have to switch the targets your pet attacks and it will be able to out threat the healer as well, haven't had any problems tanking. Just yesterday tanked all the trash till Shadow Hunter Vosh' gajin in LBRS while waiting for afk tank to get back. If your group has a littlebit brainpower, you'll do just fine.

Edited February 27, 2017 by Marska

[gotmilk0112 10]

Highly doubting that melee attacks from a pet would be able to keep 3+ mobs off the healer. Even as BM.

 

Stop spreading misinformation. Hunter pets are not "better than tanks".

[Marska 0]

Proper hunter IS better than an average player tank. How many times you've seen those warriors spamming thunderclap in dungeons and loosing threat as they won't use battleshout and demo shout which are better for threat. This conversation clearly isn't going anywhere, so let's end it. Have a nice one.

 

Editing for misunderstanding, you're propably thinking that the hunter pet is going to tank 3+ mobs at the time. 3 is about the max it can tank at the time (without dying), hence you have to cc like any proper group would. 5 mob groups (ie BRD mobs before Bael'Gar), trap one, sheep one and the pet can tank rest will do the trick.

Edited February 27, 2017 by Marska

[gotmilk0112 10]

1 hour ago, Marska said:

How many times you've seen those warriors spamming thunderclap in dungeons and loosing threat

Literally never, seeing as Thunderclap requires you to be in Battle Stance.

 

But yeah, when you assume that the "average" player is a drooling retard who doesn't know how to play his class, then sure, a hunter pet would be better. But if the tank is even half-competent, no, a pet would not be better.

 

Quote

hence you have to cc

And with an actual tank, you wouldn't have to spam CC on every pull just to tank properly.

 

1 hour ago, Marska said:

This conversation clearly isn't going anywhere, so let's end it. Have a nice one.

"wahh I'm being proven wrong so I'm leaving!!!"

Edited February 27, 2017 by gotmilk0112

[Marska 0]

You're saying you do BRD without cc? :D Nevermind. And yes, it seems like you don't use random tanks. 90% of the tanks are in battle stance and just charges to the enemies, thunderclaps, rends and then they wonder why they can't keep aggro.

 

Edited February 27, 2017 by Marska

[gotmilk0112 10]

12 minutes ago, Marska said:

You're saying you do BRD without cc? :D

...Yes? I've done it a whole lot. It's not hard.

12 minutes ago, Marska said:

And yes, it seems like you don't use random tanks.

I don't run dungeons with my guild.

Thanks for assuming, though. :D