Rare Pandaria Hunter Pets - A New Kind of Challenge

If there were one thing in MoP Beta that I had been biting my nails in anticipation for, its rare hunter pets. Well, we've finally got em' ...and with a fun new twist! These pets need to be tracked down...literally. These beasts have long, windy patrol routes where they will leave tracks behind them as they walk. Each rare has their own unique track, and here's the kicker...the pets are completely stealthed.

The only way these beasts will become visible is for them to walk through a flare. Hunters Mark can be applied to them while they are in the flare to help aid in tracking for that particular hunter. Another interesting thing to note, is that both tracks and the pets are only visible to hunters! (Hunter's prayers have been answered by the gods of WoW!) ^-^

Their tracks do not stay up indefinitely; the furthest ones behind disappear one by one as new tracks are created where the beast is walking. Currently the tracks are a bit buggy. On Beta right now nearly all tracks need to be followed BACKWARDS in order to find the beast making them. Some of the tracks also spawn in under ground, and others float strangely over the terrain making them even more difficult to find.

The most difficult tracks for me to follow were Patrannach's Barely-Visible Tracks and Savage's Bloody Tracks. The reason for this was because they blended in so well with the terrain, and because each had occasional missing tracks. One thing that help out a LOT when looking for any of the tracks was to put ground clutter on the lowest setting.

So far there are nine pets altogether, with at least one in each zone. They range in level, with the lower level ones naturally residing in the lower level zones. They are currently classified as elites with golden dragons around their portraits, and although they do hit hard most people shouldn't have trouble with them. (I tamed Savage with a level 85 hunter, and he still didn't get me lower than 60% health without a frost trap or deterrence up.)

So without further adieu, let me introduce these new pets in order by zone. ~

Click on the name of the rare to be taken to the page on that particular pet with extra screenshots, maps, video and far more information.

Jade Forest

Name: Glimmer (Water Strider) **Exotic pet
Track type: Flooded Tracks
Rough location: Near The Arboretum and down past the Temple of the Jade Serpent

Name: Savage (Cat)
Track type: Bloody Tracks
Rough location: Through Forest Heart and past Dawn's Blossom

Valley of the Four Winds

Name: Patrannache (Crane)
Track Type: Barely-Visible Tracks (and they really are BARELY visible...)
Rough Location: Middle of the zone, east of Halfhill moving up into the Gilden Fan, also the far western end of the zone

Krasarang Wilds

Name: Bloodtooth (Turtle)
Track type: Muddy Tracks
Rough location: The shoreline and tiny islands in the south of the zone

Townlong Steppes

Name: Rockhide the Immovable (Basilisk)
Track type: Worn Tracks
Rough location: southeast of Fire Camp Osul

Kun-Lai Summit

Name: Bristlespine (Porcupine)
Track type: Puzzling Tracks
Rough location: Through a large part of the Yaungol Advance, moving past Westwind Rest, the Kota Base Camp, One Keg and the Grummle Bazaar.

Name: Stompy (Goat)
Track type: Heavy Tracks
Rough location: Northeast of Winter's Blossom traversing the mountains. I found him on Mount Neverest.

Dread Wastes

Name: Hexapos (Water Strider) **Exotic pet
Track type: Mysterious Tracks
Rough location: Along the coastline - the Stinging Trail up to the Chittering Coast

Vale of Eternal Blossoms

Name: Portent (Quilen) **Exotic pet (Comes in FOUR different colors: purple, blue, green and red)
Track type: Dusty Tracks
Rough location: Patrols through the middle of the zone, from Mogu'Shan Palace all the way to the western end

I'll be posting videos of tracking and finding each of these pets soon. I do have them up on my YouTube page already though for anyone who just HAS to see them now. =P

Eventually I'll have these guys mapped out as well, but I don't like posting anything unfinished so that may be a little while.

In the meantime, if your playing Beta and are looking to find these guys right now, a great resource is the forums over at Petopia. There is a great thread with a ton of helpful information here. Sneaky Sams also has some nice maps started on her blog, check it out here.

All in all, I have to say I am VERY happy with these new pets. Not just because they all look great, but I just love the fact that hunters will actually have to HUNT down these pets. It's about time! As frustrating as finding a couple of these was, the hunt itself was still very enjoyable. Once those tracks are found your definitely in for a heart-racing time!