Curse

Fenris Amarok · May 25, 2012, 09:45 PM // 21:45

For awhile now I've realized no one chooses to use (or even find) a good pet build. I've had a really powerful, self sufficient one for awhile, utilizing solely your pet. This build regularly hits for 80+ damage against lvl 20 foes for even regular hits, using Heal as One's pet damage buff effect and Feral Aggression. With a pet skill, easily over 110-120.

Poisonous Bite
Scavenger Strike
Predator's Pounce
Brutal Strike
Optional
Whirling Defence
Feral Aggression
Heal as One

One should use a spear and shield and just use auto attack to target the enemy for the pet, then you can just stand out of range of attacks and let your pet wreak massive havoc.

Wenspire · May 27, 2012, 09:55 AM // 09:55

It's been a while since I've played... but if I recall correctly, I disliked using HealAsOne because of the constant amount of time I had to refresh it.

Xenomortis · May 27, 2012, 11:24 AM // 11:24

Depending on a single AI ally for all your damage is painful; it's single target, slow and stupid. A pet's attack speed is pathetic; it takes two seconds for a single attack that will only ever hit a single target.

If you're really going to stick with it though, here are some constructive thoughts:

1. Feral Aggression is good, so is Call of Haste. FA is probably better though, since a pet already has a fast move speed.
2.Otyguh's Cry is useful when you face higher level enemies (HM dungeons like Slaver's) or face a lot of blocking.
3. The three most useful attacks I see are Predator's Pounce, Enraged Lunge {E} and Brutal Strike. The rest are either not useful, limited by recharge, or utter shit.
4. Viable Elite choices are Enraged Lunge, Heal As One and Rampage As One.*
5. Strength of Honor on your pet (from a hero). There's no reason not to.
*RaO may look redundant compared to NRA, but if you're pushed for room to take NRA and an elite, RaO could be decent. The 33% IAS brings pet attack time to equal sword/axe attack speed (1.34 seconds per attack), whereas the 25% from NRA only brings it to Scythe/Spear attack speed (1.5 seconds per attack). I would only consider either option if I was intending to have the player be a significant (i.e. non-trivial) contributor to damage (as will follow).

The player can either do nothing damage wise, or attempt to help. There are two viable ways I see that happening.

1. Spear+Shield with 9 in Spear Mastery and a couple of attacks (Spear of Fury + Dodge This or Might Throw/Spear of Redemption or whatever). GFTE is very hard to fit in with spec considerations, given you need high Expertise and maxed (or close to) Beast Mastery

2. Melee weapon with 0 or 9 spec. Have a hero maintain SoH on you (as well as your pet) and join in the fun; RaO is pretty nice in this situation. With SoH you can probably rely on just autos to do damage, but Cyclone Axe and Penetrating Blow might work out.

So, some ideas perhaps:

R/P
Spear of Fury
[whatever attack skill you want or Dodge This]
Enraged Lunge
Predator's Pounce
Brutal Strike
Otyugh's Cry
Feral Aggression
Comfort Animal

R/W
Cyclone Axe
Whirlwind Attack
SY/[other attack skill]
Predator's Pounce
Brutal Strike
Rampage As One
Otyugh's Cry
Comfort Animal

I've not worked out the specs yet, since they're horrible.

The problem is that you have all the disadvantages of a melee character with the respective advantages being held in the hands of the AI with a limited ability to exploit them.

On the upside, a pet has a 33% damage boost that applies to all damage it does; this includes the bonus damage from attack skills and the damage boost from Strength of Honor and Splinter Weapon!

Avatar of Me · Aug 24, 2012, 04:47 AM // 04:47

I for one love bringing a pet with me, if only for scavenger's strike and brutal strike. The pet also makes a nice vehicle for delivering stone sheath/double dragon/ancestor's rage to a balled group. (assuming you have no melee characters; I never bring melee heroes)

I somewhat prefer Never Rampage Alone to Rampage as One, as it frees up the elite slot, costs 10 less energy before expertise, and lasts a full 10 seconds longer. Even with scavenger's strike and 13 expertise, I have trouble maintaining Rampage as One.