WoW SoD Phase 3 Best Hunter Pets for Raid, PvP, Tank | Season of Discovery P3 Pet Tier List

As Phase 3 of World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery unfolds, Hunters must choose their companions wisely for success in various aspects of the game. This tier list will help you pick the top pets for Raiding, PvP, and Tanking roles.

WoW Season of Discovery Phase 3 Best Hunter Pets Tier List

As we approach the release of Phase 3 of World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery on April 4th, Hunters everywhere are gearing up and planning their strategies. In this guide, we'll dive into the best pets for different aspects of the game, whether you're raiding, engaging in PvP, or looking for a tank pet. With the focus on deep Beast Mastery (BM), Hunters have the flexibility to optimize their pets for melee or ranged combat.

Hunter Class Changes in WoW SoD Phase 3:

In Phase 3 of the Season of Discovery in WoW, there have been some datamined changes related to Hunter pets. Here are the key findings:

• Infernal Lasso: Hunters will be able to use the Infernal Lasso to lasso a Demon or Beast for 24 seconds. This suggests that Core Hounds may potentially be tamed using this item.

• Taming Core Hounds: If Core Hounds become tameable, it is likely that there will be a quest leading to this ability and the acquisition of the Infernal Lasso [1]. However, it is unclear where Core Hounds will be found for taming, as they were originally only available in Molten Core and Upper Blackrock Spire, which may not be accessible at level 50.

• Lava Breath: The spell Lava Breath has been datamined, which could potentially be a unique ability for tamed Core Hounds. This ability would differentiate them from Wyverns, which were essentially reskinned Wind Serpents.

World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery Phase 3 presents new dynamics for hunter pets, especially for both melee and ranged Hunter builds. The optimal pet choice can vary based on raid composition and the specific debuffs available from other raid members. Here's a breakdown of the top pet choices for Hunters in this phase:

Best Pets for Melee Hunters in WoW SoD Phase 3

Cats - Cats are a reliable choice for melee Hunters due to their 2.0 attack speed, which pairs nicely with Hunter abilities like Flanking Strike. They are less dependent on raid-specific debuffs, which makes them consistently strong across various raid setups.

Wind Serpents - Wind Serpents can outperform cats if specific debuffs that enhance nature damage (such as those from Boomkins or Shamans) are present in the raid. They benefit significantly from the Serpent Striker weapon, which increases the damage of their Lightning Breath.

Core Hounds - While generally considered less effective than Cats or Wind Serpents, Core Hounds can still be viable in melee setups. They benefit from fire damage debuffs (like Scorch), but their lack of mobility skills such as Dash makes them slightly less desirable.

Best Pets for Ranged Hunters in WoW SoD Phase 3

Cats - For ranged Hunters, Cats stand out as the best pet primarily due to the Focus Fire wrist rune. This rune synergizes exceptionally well with the Cat's ability to use Claw, which has a low focus cost and no cooldown. Cats can quickly generate Frenzy stacks, maintaining a high attack speed buff throughout the fight, which is crucial for maximizing DPS.

WoW SoD Phase 3 Best Hunter Pets for Raiding & Leveling

For Raid environments, prioritize pets with high damage abilities—Cats are favored for their superior DPS through abilities like Claw and Bite:

• S-Tier: Cats

While Cats have been the go-to for most Hunters in raids due to their high damage output, Phase 3 brings a shift in pet progression. As Hunters level up, they'll encounter a gap from level 40 to 48 where Cats will not receive any ability upgrades, prompting a temporary switch to another pet.

• A-Tier: Wind Serpents

Wind Serpents are a solid choice while leveling up to 41 due to their ability upgrade to Lightning Breath, which boosts damage considerably. So at level 41, Hunters should consider taming the Veil Screecher in Feralas, which offers not only Lightning Breath but also Dive, providing both damage and mobility. The Wind Serpent will receive an upgrade to Lightning Breath at level 41, significantly enhancing its damage potential.

WoW SoD Phase 3 Hunter Pets for PvP

In PvP, the attack speed of your pet can be crucial. A faster attack speed can interrupt enemy casting and provide a significant advantage:

• S-Tier: Broken Tooth

With the fastest attack speed in the game at 1.0, Broken Tooth is the premier pet for PvP. Its quick attacks are perfect for interrupting enemy spell casts.

• A-Tier: Starving Mountain Lion

As a more accessible alternative to Broken Tooth, the Starving Mountain Lion boasts a 1.2 attack speed, making it a viable option for PvP.

WoW SoD Phase 3 Hunter Pet Tier List for Tanking

For Tanking purposes, look for pets with robust survivability and area-of-effect threat abilities:

• A-Tier: Gorillas

Gorillas are the top choice for tanking due to their tankiness and AOE ability, which is great for holding aggro. While they may not be the best for high-end content, they serve well in situations where a sturdy tank is needed.

• B-Tier: Bears

Bears are also a decent option for tanking, with a good balance of health and armor. They may not have the AOE capabilities of gorillas but can still hold their own in a fight.

• C-Tier: Turtles

Turtles can be considered for tanking thanks to their defensive capabilities, though they typically fall behind gorillas and bears in effectiveness.

Honorable Mentions

While not making it to the top tiers, certain pets bring unique abilities that may be situationally useful:

• Wolves: They offer Furious Howl, which can be beneficial in solo play and some PvE scenarios.

• Scorpids: They can apply a poison that can be useful in both PvP and PvE.

This tier list is curated based on the pets' abilities and how they match up with the demands of Raiding, PvP, and Tanking in WoW Season of Discovery Phase 3. As always, the right pet for you may depend on your playstyle, the specific demands of the encounter, and personal preference. Choose wisely and dominate Azeroth with your beastly companion by your side!