WoW Pet Guide: How to Get Your First (or Next!) Companion in Azeroth

Azeroth is a vast and dangerous world, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one! World of Warcraft offers a diverse array of adorable, intriguing, and sometimes fearsome pets that can follow you on your adventures. These aren’t just cosmetic – they can provide companionship, add to your collection achievements, and even participate in pet battles. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about getting a pet in World of Warcraft, from the very basics to more advanced methods. Let’s dive in!

What Are World of Warcraft Pets?

In World of Warcraft, ‘pets’ generally refer to two distinct categories:

1. Non-Combat Pets (Companions): These are the purely cosmetic pets that follow you around. They don’t fight for you or provide any stat boosts, but they’re great for showing off your achievements, adding flair to your character, and simply keeping you company.
2. Battle Pets: These pets are used in the Pet Battle system. They have their own unique abilities and can level up and gain experience through battles against wild pets or other players. Collecting and battling battle pets is a whole game in itself within WoW.

This guide will primarily focus on non-combat pets (companions) initially, and then we’ll delve into the world of battle pets as we progress.

Getting Your First Companion Pet

There are many ways to obtain non-combat pets, ranging from simple quests to rare drops from challenging bosses. Here’s a breakdown of the most common methods:

1. Starting Zone Pets

Your journey to collect pets can begin in your character’s starting zone! Each race has a unique pet that is available at a low level, often through a simple quest or purchase from a vendor. Here’s what you need to do:

For Alliance Players:

• Humans (Stormwind): Head to the Pet Shop in Stormwind, located in the Trade District, and look for the vendor named Donni Anthania. She sells a variety of pets, including the Cat (various colors).
• Dwarves (Ironforge): Find Micah Micah’s in the Forlorn Cavern of Ironforge. He sells the Rabbit.
• Night Elves (Darnassus): Shylenai in Darnassus near the Cenarion Enclave offers the Owl.
• Gnomes (Gnomeregan/Ironforge): The Gnomes starting zone is now in Exile’s Reach, so you will need to look for the same pet vendor as Humans.
• Draenei (Exodar): Niel in the Exodar sells a Moth.
• Worgen (Gilneas): Worgens can buy a Cat from Donni Anthania.
• Pandaren (Wandering Isle): Pandaren begin in a faction neutral starting zone, and must choose Alliance or Horde once they complete it.
• Void Elves (Telogrus Rift): Void elves start out in a voided out space and will need to go back to the same pet vender as the Humans or Dwarves to find pets.
• Lightforged Draenei (Exodar): Lightforged Draenei begin at level 10 and can find the same vendor as the Draenei.
• Kul Tiran Humans (Boralus): Kul Tirans can head to Boralus and buy a Shorecrawler.

For Horde Players:

• Orcs (Orgrimmar): Head to the Pet Shop in Orgrimmar, located in the Valley of Honor. Look for the vendor Xan’tish who sells a Cat (various colors).
• Undead (Undercity): Find Lila the Crazy in the Undercity and purchase a Cockroach.
• Tauren (Thunder Bluff): Halpa sells a Prairie Dog in Thunder Bluff.
• Trolls (Orgrimmar/Darkspear Islands): Trolls will need to find the same vendor as Orcs to get a pet.
• Blood Elves (Silvermoon): Jazmina in Silvermoon City sells a Dragonhawk.
• Goblins (Kezan/Orgrimmar): Goblins can find a pet from the same vendor as Orcs in Orgrimmar.
• Pandaren (Wandering Isle): Pandaren begin in a faction neutral starting zone, and must choose Alliance or Horde once they complete it.
• Nightborne (Suramar): Nightborne can find a Mana Wyrmling from the vendor Arcanist Vridor in the Nightborne starting area.
• Highmountain Tauren (Thunder Totem): Highmountain Tauren begin at level 10 and can buy the Highmountain Calf from Meerah.
• Mag’har Orcs (Orgrimmar): Mag’har Orcs will start out in Orgrimmar and will need to look for the same vendor as the Orcs.
• Zandalari Trolls (Dazar’alor): Zandalari Trolls can find a Dazar’alor Raptor from Tizik in Dazar’alor.

Important Notes:

• Pets purchased from starting zone vendors are typically very cheap.
• These pets are usually tied to your specific character, but you can add them to your account-wide pet collection.
• To access your pet collection, open the Collections window (Shift+P) and navigate to the ‘Pets’ tab.

2. Quest Rewards

Many quests throughout World of Warcraft reward you with pets. These can be found in various zones across all expansions. Keep an eye out for quest rewards that list “pet” or “companion” when you view them. For example:

• The quest chain that starts with Saving the Wildlife in Terokkar Forest will award you the Phoenix Hatchling
• The quest A Lost Cub in the Jade Forest will give you Wild Gold Runebear Cub.

Some pets are quest rewards for completing entire questlines, so be prepared to commit time if you wish to get some of these unique pets.

3. Vendor Purchases

Beyond starting zones, many vendors across Azeroth sell a wide array of pets. These vendors are usually found in major cities or near specific points of interest. Here are some notable examples:

• Dalaran (Northrend/Legion): In both versions of Dalaran, you’ll find various vendors selling unique pets. For example, Breanni sells a variety of pets for different currencies.
• Shattrath City (Outland): Aluria offers pets in exchange for gold, including the Netherwing Hatchling.
• Darkmoon Faire: When the Darkmoon Faire is in town, you can purchase pets from the vendors there with Darkmoon Prize Tickets.
• Reputation Vendors: Many factions throughout the game offer pets as rewards for reaching certain reputation levels. For example, you can get faction themed pets by reaching exalted status with various factions.
• Expansion specific currencies: Most expansions have specific vendors who offer pets in exchange for currencies earned through that expansion. For example, pet vendors may sell pets for Polished Pet Charms.

Tips for Vendor Purchases:

• Keep an eye on vendors in major cities, particularly those near auction houses and other hubs.
• Check reputation vendors regularly as your reputation increases to see if any pets have unlocked.
• Consider using Wowhead or similar sites to research specific pet vendors and their locations.

4. Rare Drops

Some of the most sought-after pets drop from rare monsters or bosses across Azeroth. These often have very low drop rates, making them a prized possession among collectors. Some examples are:

• Hyacinth Macaw: This parrot has a rare drop chance from the Defias Pirate Captains in Westfall and Elwynn Forest.
• Baby Ape: The Baby Ape drops from certain gorillas and apes throughout Stranglethorn Vale.
• Mini Thor: This pet can drop from certain Iron Dwarves found in the Storm Peaks.
• Blue Dragonhawk: The Blue Dragonhawk has a small chance to drop from Kael’thas Sunstrider in The Eye.

Tips for Rare Drops:

• Use online resources like Wowhead to identify the spawn points and drop rates of rare pets.
• Be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time farming for these pets.
• Use add-ons that can alert you to rare spawns in the area.
• Join groups of players who are also farming for the same pets.

5. Achievements

Completing certain achievements can reward you with unique pets. Some of these achievements are easy to obtain, while others require a significant investment of time and effort. A good example is:

• Rat Pack: Complete 150 Pet Battles with each pet family to get Rotting Scarab.
• Raiding with Leashes IV: The Underbelly: Complete this achievement to obtain the Lil’ XT pet.

Tips for Achievement Pets:

• Check your achievements regularly to see which ones reward pets.
• Focus on achievable pets first to get a feel for how to obtain achievement rewards.
• Some achievement pets can take a very long time to get, so be patient and persistent.

6. Trading Card Game Rewards

Long ago, World of Warcraft had a Trading Card Game (TCG). While no longer in production, some of the promotional cards rewarded you with digital pets, mounts, and other items which can still be redeemed. These pets have been transferred to other methods of obtaining over the years, however, you may come across the cards while visiting game stores or attending conventions. Redeeming one of these cards may grant you a very rare pet.

7. In-Game Events

World of Warcraft often hosts special in-game events, which frequently offer unique pets as rewards. These events are usually time-limited, so you’ll need to be quick to participate and claim your pets. Some examples are:

• Hallow’s End: Hallow’s End often features unique pet rewards from the holiday event.
• Love is in the Air: This holiday event can grant you a pet, such as Truesilver Shafted Arrow.
• Children’s Week: During Children’s Week, you can complete quests to get a pet.

Tips for Event Pets:

• Keep an eye on the in-game calendar for upcoming events.
• Make sure to participate early in the event, as some rewards may be time-gated.
• Check Wowhead and other sites for information about the event and its rewards.

8. Blizzard Store

The Blizzard store offers a variety of pets for purchase using real-world money. These pets are often unique or have special effects that aren’t found elsewhere. While not everyone’s favorite method of acquisition, this is a sure-fire way to get some pets that you might want without any farming involved.

9. Promotions

Occasionally, Blizzard will offer free pets through promotions on websites or other game related activities. These pets are often time limited, so it is good to keep an eye out for these if you are an avid collector.

Collecting and Managing Your Pets

Once you’ve started collecting pets, it’s important to know how to manage them. Here are the key things to remember:

Accessing Your Pet Collection

To view your collected pets, open the Collections window (Shift+P) and navigate to the ‘Pets’ tab. This interface allows you to:

• View all your collected pets: Browse through your collection using the scroll bar.
• Summon a pet: Click on a pet to summon it to follow you.
• Favorite pets: Mark pets as favorites to easily find them later.
• Filter your collection: Search for pets by name, rarity, or source.
• See where you acquired the pet. Many pets will tell you where they came from so that you can track down missing parts of your collection.

Account-Wide Pets

Most pets are account-wide, which means that once you’ve obtained them, they’re available on all of your characters. This makes it easy to collect a large number of pets, regardless of which character you’re currently playing.

Pet Journal

The Pet Journal allows you to learn details about the pets you have collected. You can find details such as what type the pet is (Critter, Aquatic, Beast, etc.), what zone they are from, and even if you have every different color for that particular pet.

Getting into Pet Battles

Now, let’s delve into the world of Battle Pets! These aren’t just companions – they’re active participants in the Pet Battle system, which offers a deep and engaging minigame within World of Warcraft.

What are Pet Battles?

Pet Battles are a turn-based combat system where you pit your battle pets against wild pets or other players. You collect and level up your battle pets, train them in different abilities, and use them to compete against increasingly challenging opponents. It is reminiscent of other turn-based battling games.

How to Start Pet Battles

To begin pet battles, you must first complete a quest that introduces you to the mechanic. This quest is usually available at low levels from an NPC near a major city. Here is how to find the starting quests for both factions:

For Alliance Players:

• In Stormwind, you can pick up the quest Battle Training from Audrey Burns.

For Horde Players:

• In Orgrimmar, you can pick up the quest Battle Training from Varzok.

Finding Battle Pets

Unlike companion pets, battle pets need to be captured in the wild or earned through various other methods. Here’s how you can get started:

• Wild Pet Battles: You’ll find wild battle pets in various zones across Azeroth. When you encounter one, you can initiate a battle and attempt to capture it. Wild pets are marked with a paw print on your map, and appear to have a green glow around them when they are in the world.
• Trainers: Many NPCs throughout the game are pet battle trainers. Battling these trainers will give you experience with battling, and they can drop items. Some of the trainers also reward unique pets upon being defeated.
• Pet Battle Dungeons: After unlocking the world quest system, a new type of battle will appear across the world. These pet battle dungeons can be completed multiple times a week and offer unique pet rewards.
• Vendor Pets: Some of the same vendors that sell companion pets may also sell battle pets. Look through the different vendors for these pets.
• Quests and Achievements: Many quests and achievements will also offer battle pets as a reward. Keep an eye out for these while playing the game.

Pet Battle Basics

When you engage in a Pet Battle, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Team Composition: You battle with a team of three battle pets at a time. Building a balanced team is important to win. Each pet has their own strengths and weaknesses based on their type.
• Pet Abilities: Each pet has unique abilities, which you can train them in as you level up.
• Strategic Thinking: Success in pet battles often relies on your knowledge of pet types and abilities and using them effectively.
• Leveling Pets: Your pets gain experience through battles, and become more powerful as they level up.

Pet Battle Add-Ons

Add-ons can help you in the world of pet battles. Some popular ones include:

• Battle Pet BreedID: This add-on can help you to track the breeds of each pet, as some are better than others.
• PetTracker: This add-on can show you the different wild battle pets available in each zone.
• Rematch: This add-on is more of a quality of life add-on that can improve pet battling.

Conclusion

Collecting pets in World of Warcraft is a rewarding and engaging activity. Whether you’re looking for cute companions, rare drops, or diving into the world of pet battles, there’s a pet out there for everyone. Take the time to explore different areas, complete quests, and battle wild pets to grow your collection. With this guide, you have everything you need to start your journey to becoming a pet master in Azeroth. Happy collecting!