|
In the World of Warcraft, players can summon a companion pet (also called a vanity pet, minipet, small pet, or a non-combat pet) for a little extra company. This critter will cheerfully follow you wherever your travels take you. But what else can it do? This Q&A will provide you with everything you need to know about companion pets.
Contents
Companion Basics
Q: What is a companion pet?
A: A companion pet is more or less your own personal Warcraft critter. When your companion pet is summoned, it will follow your character throughout the game world. Companion pets are also known as vanity pets, small pets, non-combat pets, and minipets. All of these terms are used interchangeably.
WarcraftPets defines a companion pet as any summoned entity that meets ALL of the following criteria:
- The entity is summoned via a summoning spell found in the character's Pets tab.
- The entity counts toward various Vanity Pet Achievements.
- The entity must have the tag of <companion>.
NOTE: Entities that do not follow the above guidelines (such as the Haunted Memento and Blood Parrot) will not be listed on our site.
Q: What do companion pets actually do?
A: Companions will loyally and cheerfully accompany you as you journey through Azeroth and beyond. They are purely for fun. Some may do interesting things when left idle, such as twirling around or falling asleep, but for the most part they are simply there to give your character a little extra flare.
Q: Will companion pets go everywhere I go?
A: Companions will follow you just about anywhere while you're traveling on land, regardless of your speed. They'll boldly follow you into dangerous places, but they must be resummoned whenever you encounter a portal or loading screen. Additionally, companions tend to retreat into their cages when you hop a flight (even if the pet can fly).
Q: How many companion pets are there?
A: There are currently 151 unique companion pets. At WarcraftPets.com, you can view every pet using the Vanity Pet Index.
Q: Do companion pets make any noise?
A: Some companions make constant noise while others make periodic sounds. Some will only vocalize when clicked. And there are many companions that won't ever make a peep. See individual pet profiles in the Bestiary for details.
Q: Can I sell my companion pet?
A: Many companions are BoP (bind on pickup). Others are BoU (bind on use). A few are BoA (bind on account, meaning they can be mailed to other characters on the same account). Only BoU pets may be sold to other players or put up for auction (as long as you haven't used it to learn how to summon the pet, which makes the item disappear). Vendors will buy most unwanted pets, though some pets cannot be sold (and they cannot be sold once the pet summoning spell has been learned).
Individual pet profiles state which pets are BoP, BoU, or BoA. Using the Pet Filters, you can see all BoU pets, all BoP pets, and all BoA pets at once. Each pet's profile reveals what vendors will pay for the pet, if anything.
Combat and Companions
Q: Which companion pets will help me fight?
A: None. Not a one.
Remember, companion pets are non-combat pets. There are, however, special combat pets that will act as your guardian during combat, often crafted by engineers or obtained through quests. Any pet that fights by your side is not considered a companion pet (and thus, is not listed on this site). Companions are 100% passive. The few that do fight, such as Willy and the Scorchling, do not help you against enemy mobs or players.
Q: Do companion pets affect combat?
A: At this time, only one companion pet has any affect on combat (aside from acting as your good luck charm). See Disgusting Oozling for details.
 |
FYI: There are jewelcrafting figurines, such as the Truesilver Crab, which do affect combat. These look and act like companion pets (i.e., summoning one will unsummon your currently summoned companion). However, because they affect combat and can only be summoned for a few seconds every few minutes, they are not considered true companion pets. |
Q: Can my companion pet be killed?
A: Yes and no. They can't be killed by other players and mobs directly, but they can be charred by some hostile area-of-effect spells and effects. Note that if your companion is killed, you can simply resummon it and it will return to your side without a scratch on it.
Q: Can I have a companion pet active while my combat pet is summoned?
A: Yes. This allows classes like hunters and warlocks to travel the world with their own little posse in tow. Fo' shizzle.
Q: Is there any tactical use for a companion pet?
A: There are a couple of tactical uses:
One is for classes with stealth capabilities to use their companion pets to signal others that they're around, even when they aren't visible. However in PvP situations, this can be more of a detriment. However, stealthed rogues and druids who bring out Egbert can actually wind up confusing perceptive enemies, as Egbert is one pet that zips all over the place, often several yards away from his owner.
Another use is with the Disgusting Oozeling. It's Disgusting Aura lowers its owner's defense rating, which increases the likelihood that an enemy will get hit. For certain talent builds, it's actually helpful to be hit because it triggers a counter maneuver. For example, warriors who have the Enrage talent.
Owning a Companion Pet
Q: Is there a level requirement for owning a companion pet?
A: No, however some higher level quests and mobs that reward companions will require you to reach an appropriate level first.
Q: How many companion pets can I have?
A: You can own as many companions as you can collect. However, you may only have one follow you at a time. If you choose to summon another, then the first one you summoned will retreat back into its carrier.
Q: Do I have to feed my companion pet?
A: No. Amazingly, these little guys keep on trucking without a drop of water or an ounce of food. They are the envy of all hunters.
However, if you're the type who enjoys giving treats to pets, there are a few (such as the Disgusting Oozeling and Jubling) who enjoy the taste of Dark Iron ale. Plus, every pet will grow to be big and strong with Papa Hummel's Old-Fashioned Pet Biscuits. You can also treat your pet to Happy Pet Snacks, which will make your pet adore you!
Q: Are there special items that can be used on companion pets?
A: Yes. In addition to the treats listed above, you can purchase and use the following items: Pet Grooming Kit (make your pet shine), Fetch Ball (throw and watch your pet retrieve it), and Rope Pet Leash (attach a temporary leash to your pet).
There is another item, Critter Bites, which you can use to tempt a critter to follow you around for a few minutes, thereby making it a temporary companion. This gives hardcore pet fanatics access to previously unobtainable creatures, such as crabs, deer, and turkeys. It also allows the feeder to attract several critters at once, which can be a lot of fun, considering that typically only one companion pet can be summoned at any given time.
Q: Can I name my companion pet?
A: No. The hunter class has the ability to name their tamed combat pets. They can even rename their pets using a special scroll. However, companion pets cannot be given a new name.
Collecting Companion Pets
Q: Why collect companion pets?
A: Why collect anything? Because it's fun and challenging!
When you obtain a very rare pet, you will be able to showcase your find to others and be the envy of all of Azeroth... or at least the envy of those who appreciate such pets. Plus, it's neat to be asked by other players where you found your exotic little companion.
Read my Minipet Collecting Guide to help you begin your own collection!
Q: Where can I find companion pets?
A: Vendors, drops, quest rewards, achievement rewards, engineering recipes, auction houses, and through special promotions offered by Blizzard. The Bestiary provides the location of drops and vendors for every known companion pet. It also provides details about which pets can be obtained through what quests. Many companion pets can be purchased through the auction house (AH), but prices will vary.
Q: Is it possible to collect every companion pet?
A: Unfortunately, no. Several companion pets were created to help promote various Blizzard events and products. These pets may only be obtained by participating in those promotions. Furthermore, a few of these promotional pets vary depending on the player's geographic region.
If you've simply "gotta catch 'em all", try to collect all of the pets that you can collect. This is still a very challenging goal. You can customize and track your own collection right here at WarcraftPets.com!
Q: Why are some companion pet-teaching items white, blue, or purple?
A: At first, all pets items were white, which is the "common quality" color code. Blizzard later recolor-coded many promotional pet items in an effort to prevent people from accidentally destroying or selling these ultra-rare items. But many other extremely rare companion pets remain white, despite the fact that a few are even harder to acquire than some blue and purple pet items.
Q: What vanity pets can be restored by which stable masters?
A: If you destroy any BoP pet item that was rewarded to you through an unrepeatable quest, ANY stable master will teach you the corresponding spell. Simply speak to the stable master. Only a handful of pets fall into this category:
Q: Which companion pets are faction-specific?
A: At this time, there are only two companions that are faction-specific—the Argent Gruntling (horde) and the Argent Squire (alliance).
Q: Which companion pets are made by players?
A: Several companion pets are crafted by players with engineering. Here is a complete list.
Collector's Editions
Q: Is it possible to get the Original Collector's Edition (CE) pets for my current characters?
A: Yes. A player must purchase an original CE or an unused original CE key to obtain these pets. This edition is very rare and often quite expensive, as it is no longer sold in stores. Once a player obtains the game or key, he or she must visit Blizzard's Account Management > Account Upgrade page to upgrade his/her account. Players should select the option to "Enter a Key", bringing up a page where their CE key may be entered. Upon entering this key, the account will be upgraded and the next time the player logs into the game, the gift that allows the choice of Mini Diablo, Panda Cub or Zergling will be waiting in each character's mailbox.
Another way to obtain these pets for your current characters involves a special promotion. By purchasing a DELL World of Warcraft Edition gaming laptop, the player can send away for the code that will allow them to upgrade their existing account to CE status. Note that it can be 2-3 months before the code is mailed out by DELL and they may need a reminder. If you wish to redeem this offer, it's best that you contact DELL after 3-4 weeks and find a representative who will work with you to ensure that you receive your code.
 |
TIP: The DELL promotion began in December 2007 with an undefined expiration date. Therefore, you should verify that the offer is still available before purchasing the laptop. |
Q: Is it possible to get an expansion pack's CE pets for my current characters?
A: Yes, it is possible to upgrade a normal expansion pack using an expansion's Collector's Edition CD-key to get the special pet. Follow the same instructions provided in the preceding question to upgrade your account.
After your expansion account has been upgraded to CE status, upon logging into the game for the first time, all of your characters will have the pet waiting for them in the mail. Be sure to login with all of your characters within 30 days, or the package containing the pet will expire and be lost forever. Note that newly created characters will also have the pet waiting for them upon entering the game world.
Q: Can I upgrade my account with a foreign Collector's Edition CD-key?
A: No. It is only possible to upgrade an account with a Collector's Edition CD-key of the same region.
 |
Feedback: Please take a moment to contact us with your comments regarding this guide. Be sure to mention which guide your feedback pertains to. |
|
