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With
beta invites being handed
out left and right, the wealth of information flowing from Mists of
Pandaria has been an almost nonstop stream. Most of the information
strewn throughout the internet has been based on the major changes
coming to talent trees as
well as the brand new Pandaren race. However, little has been said
about the noble, brave, and too often overlooked Hunter’s pet.

Since it is still early in the
beta testing process, little was known about what would be happening
with the WoW Hunter pet. However, in a recent statement made by
Ghostcrawler the veil of mystery has been temporarily lifted. The
changes are huge in scope (check out Ghostcrawler’s forum
post in its entirety)and will either cause great joy or dismay in those
of us who love the Hunter class. Read onward to find out more about the
changes coming to Hunter pets in WoW.

Hunter Pets in Mists of
Pandaria

One Pet - Three Specs

If you have ever played a
Hunter you have more than likely found yourself more than a little
annoyed that you have to bring out a particular pet just because it is
a certain spec (Tenacity, Ferocity, or Cunning) . Crabs are for
tanking, cats are for DPS, and that is just the way it is. However, in
Mists of Pandaria Hunters will find this concept blown totally out of
the water.

In Mists of Pandaria Hunter
pets will no longer be trapped into the spec they were born into.
Working much like class specs, each pet will be able to choose from any
of the three pet specs. Pets will come equipped with the spec that is
typical of that type of pet, for example a cat type pet will be
automatically specced Ferocity. However, this spec can be changed at
will, meaning that the Hunter can literally use one pet for everything
if they so choose. A welcome change indeed for those Hunters who have a
particular pet they prefer over all others.

Goodbye
Hunter Pet Talents

As if the change to Hunter pet
specs weren’t enough, Mists of Pandaria will bring changes to
pet talent trees as well. Gone are the talent trees resembling those of
players. Instead each pet spec will come equipped with 2-3 active and
2-3 passive abilities. These abilities will include those that are
considered to be the most favorable for Hunter pets, so it is likely
that most Hunters will find their favorite talents despite the cut.

The logic behind this change
comes down to the fact that the more elaborate trees seen in action in
Cataclysm, simply weren’t being used. Let’s face
it, most of us don’t like speccing our own characters, let
alone spending the time to go through the same process with our pets.
So instead of changing the pet talent tree into the full tiered talent
system players will see on their own characters
in Mists of Pandaria, Blizzard has instead given each spec its own core
abilities.

Hunter Pet Changes Conclusions

While some players may be
unhappy with the changes to Hunter pets coming in the Mists of Pandaria
expansion, I for one, am more than pleased. It was clear that, like the
class talent systems, Hunter pets and their talents needed a drastic
overhaul. The old system of talents pigeon holed players into speccing
their pet a certain way with little room for change. The rest of the
talents always appeared good, but when compared with the
“norm” were really not worth spending the talent
points in if the player wanted the maximum effectiveness for their pet.

Removing this talent system
which forced players to be forced into a talent layout, as well as
allowing all pets to use all three specs, coincides with the other
changes we have seen thus far in Mists of Pandaria. Blizzard is really
aiming to make game play fun for all players, no matter how they choose
to play the game, or which pet they choose to play it with. While some
players may rage against these changes and call it
“dumbing” down of the game, I for one feel the
opposite. I find the changes to be liberating and cannot wait to
experience WoW my way, instead of the way prescribed by an elite few.

My only regret here is that
instead of giving us some choice, as they did in the new revamped
player talent system, Blizzard has simply assigned us a set of 6 or so
pet talents and called it a day. I think in the long run, having a
small choice would be more meaningful than none at all. Despite this
though, I much prefer this new pet talent and spec system over the one
currently in place.

How do you feel about the
changes coming to Hunter pets in Mists of Pandaria? Will this change
help or hurt WoW? Do you think these changes could be handled
differently? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
Want the news straight from the horses’ mouth? Check out
href="How%20do%20you%20feel%20about%20the%20changes%20coming%20to%20Hunter%20pets%20in%20Mists%20of%20Pandaria?%20Will%20this%20change%20help%20or%20hurt%20WoW?%20Do%20you%20think%20these%20changes%20could%20be%20handled%20differently?+Share+your+thoughts+with+us+in+the+comments+section+below%21+Want+the+news+straight+from+the+horses%3F+mouth?+Check+out+Ghostcrawler%3Fs+forum+post+on+the+changes+coming+to+Hunter+pets+in+Mists+of+Pandaria."
target="_blank">Ghostcrawler’s forum post
on the changes coming to Hunter
pets in Mists of Pandaria.