Curse

nunix · Jul 17, 2007, 12:13 PM // 12:13

Anyone have any interesting uses for the extra +60 HP, or is it just a nice buffer? I generally level my pets hearty for the size, but I do feel like I'm "wasting" it when I could be getting the extra bit of damage.

Stormlord Alex · Jul 17, 2007, 12:21 PM // 12:21

Tbh, all of my pets are either Dire or Elder.

The 2 situations where I take pets, I honestly can't think of a reason to run Hearty.

1. If I'm something like a thumper or HaO spearer, where Elder/Dire wins because of the extra damage.

2. Barrage/pet teams, where the survivability of the pet isn't important. It's there to bodyblock, and it can do that with 420hp or 540hp. It doesn't really matter if it dies, it just means the MM gets another corpse to play with (earlier on in B/P groups, lower hp pets may even be better, as they get the minion wall started faster.)
Lower hp is more useful in B/P situations - AI foes will target lower hp people first. A low hp pet is more likely to hold aggro.

Amy Awien · Jul 17, 2007, 06:39 PM // 18:39

AI factors in HP, and the lower that is, the more eager they are to go after it. For a tanking pet, lower HP is actually preferable.