Elite battle pet recap for 5.2

[Ryazan]

5.2 is already around the corner along with the new elite battle pets so I decided to write a quick overview of them (info gathered from Wowhead and teh intternets):


General info ►

• ● Elite battle pets are legendary quality (orange) pets with increased health, power and speed. They have a yellow paw print on the minimap instead of the standard green and also have the golden dragon around their item portrait.
  
  ● Elite pets always fight alone and they don't move around like normal wild pets. And unlike other wild pets, you can't capture the elite battle pets.
  
  ● Elite pets act kind of like tamers: even if you lose the battle, they will quickly respawn for another try. You are also phased out during the battle so other players can't interfere your battle. Also, they are unkillable by players.
  
  ● Winning an elite pet will yield the normal Pandaria tamer experience (multiplier 5). The elite pets aren't overwhelmingly difficult to beat so with a proper team, it is possible to carry a lowbie pet along for the experience.
  
  ● They are related to the Beasts of Fable quest which becomes available after beating Aki the Chosen. Quest is given by Sara Finkleswitch (Alliance) and Gentle San (Horde).
  
  ● After completing the quest, you are awarded the Red Panda. Completing the quest also unlocks the same named daily. The reward from it is Fabled Pandaren Pet Supplies which has a chance to contain one of the remaining new panda pets (Sunfur Panda, Snowy Panda and Mountain Panda respectively). The supply bag can also contain a rare battle stone with a higher chance than from a Sack of Pet Supplies.

List of elite battle pets ►

• Nitun (Masked Tanuki) - P/S
  
  • Location: Jade Forest (57,31) - Sri-La Village
    Abilities: Rake, Prowl, Ravage
  Ka'wi the Gorger (Imperial Silkworm)
  
  • Location: Jade Forest (49, 69) - Fox Grove
    Abilities: Chew, Moth Balls, Super Sticky Goo
  Greyhoof (Mushan) - H/S
  
  • Location: Valley of the Four Winds (25, 79) - Wild Plains
    Abilities: Hoof, Roar, Trample
  Lucky Yi (Cricket) - P/B
  
  • Location: Valley of the Four Winds (40, 42) - The Heartland
    Abilities: Perk Up, Quick Attack, Uncanny Luck
  Skitterer Xi'a (Strider) - S/S
  
  • Location: Krasarang Wilds (35, 38) - Krasari Falls
    Abilities: Flurry, Skitter, Water Jet
  Dos'Ryga (Tiny Goldfish) - H/B
  
  • Location: Kun-Lai Summit (68, 81) - Inkgill Mere
    Abilities: Frost Breath, Healing Wave, Whirlpool
  Kafi (Summit Kid) - P/B
  
  • Location: Kun-Lai Summit (37, 55) - Winter's Blossom
    Abilities: Gnaw, Headbutt, Leap
  Ti'un the Wanderer (Spiny Terrapin) - B/B
  
  • Location: Townlong Steppes (72, 79) - Gao-Ran Battlefront
    Abilities: Pump, Shell Shield, Tidal Wave
  Gorespine (Hedgehog) - P/P
  
  • Location: Dread Wastes (25, 50) - Venomous Ledge
    Abilities: Scratch, Spiked Skin, Rip
  No-No (Civet) - B/B
  
  • Location: Vale of Eternal Blossoms (11, 71) - Gate of the Setting Sun
    Abilities: Tail Slap, Dive, Beaver Dam (blocks two attacks from either caster or attacker)
  (note that the pet "type" in the brackets is just an example of the model the elite pet uses)

[Polynices]

It's frustrating to see so little variety in the Pet Families that the elite pets use. I'm sick of stomping critters and beasts and aquatics. How about some humanoids and mechanicals and undead?

[Wargazm]

These will be the new "Farmer Nishi" spot for leveling. First 2 I tried were easily taken down without even using my 3rd pet. Use a firefly or something with similar abilities that robs them of a % of their max health per round to start off and let that whittle them down healthwise as they begin with over 4000 health=You should be able to get 2 off with cocoon stike etc that blocks attacks which takes them down 50% health using only that spell.

[Duroxas]

Anything with Predatory Strike is going to be a wonderful shortcut for these guys

[Ryazan]

I edited in the breed IDs of the elites for all but Ka'wi as I didn't manage to dig that up from the PTR.

P.S. Gorespine "might" hurt... :D

[Formerruling]

I edited in the breed IDs of the elites for all but Ka'wi as I didn't manage to dig that up from the PTR.

P.S. Gorespine "might" hurt...

If he had a better moveset he might be scarier. The same with lucky yi, the reason they gave him quick attack is with anything big he would be a force.

[Darky28]

@Ryazan

I was wondering if you could provide me with the SpeciesIds of those pets.

[Ryazan]

@Ryazan

I was wondering if you could provide me with the SpeciesIds of those pets.

Sent you the list via WCpets PM. :)

[Darky28]

Thanks a ton

[Talmar]

I agree about the pet types. Too many critters, beasts and aquatics. I'd like to see more Humanoid and Magic pets out there.

Predatory Strike, as mentioned earlier, as well as Impale should be quite the wonderful finishing move.

Pets with abilities that do more damage if you have lower health, such as Early Advantage or Comeback, should be nice to start off with as well.

Also, Apocalypse should make some of these easy. Use a beetle, cockroach and nice self healing pet like Magical Crawdad and just survive 15 rounds.

[Ryazan]

Also, Apocalypse should make some of these easy. Use a beetle, cockroach and nice self healing pet like Magical Crawdad and just survive 15 rounds.

Unless elite pets are made immune to it. >_<

[Deepfriedegg]

I agree about the pet types. Too many critters, beasts and aquatics. I'd like to see more Humanoid and Magic pets out there.

Predatory Strike, as mentioned earlier, as well as Impale should be quite the wonderful finishing move.

Pets with abilities that do more damage if you have lower health, such as Early Advantage or Comeback, should be nice to start off with as well.

Also, Apocalypse should make some of these easy. Use a beetle, cockroach and nice self healing pet like Magical Crawdad and just survive 15 rounds.

Early advantage is not THAT great, normally it is a basic attack that only deals more damage to higher health pets and it has 3 round cooldown.
Comeback is dealing less damage per hit but is better because it has no cooldown. Problem with pets with Comeback is that generally they are weak.

Much better, imho, would be to start with Singing Sunflower - Sunshine puts the opponent at 50% HP and together with Solar Beam will deal around 1000 dmg. Then you take whichever double-counter pet to inflict roughly another 1000 dmg and then you can employ your finisher with Predatory Strike / Impale. Once the pet is around 2000HP, it will be oneshot.

It will take much less than 15 rounds as for Apocalypse team. Btw, these elite pets´ basic attack will hit for around 500, that is a LOT so (double)counter pets will be absolutely needed.

Also bear in mind that 4 of the elites are critters so Singing Sunflower will deal less dmg but still will be beneficial because of Sunshine.

[Deepfriedegg]

Just came across an idea against critters:
- open with Singing Sunflower to increase max HP with Sunlight. Then Solar Beam. It will hit weak against a critter but whatever, it is there because of the max HP increase from 4000 to 6000 and you will eat some 650HP before you die.
- Carry pet
- Clefthoof Runt (H/H): this breed will allow you mostly to take and DEAL mostly 3 hits. You will only spam Trample: the flat part will hit for 220 but the 10% HP is what you are interested in (given it works as I hope it would): 10% of increased HP is 600, but it is Beast against critter so it will be 900. Three hits should deal around 3350 damage.

I wonder if that works