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In the World of Warcraft, players can summon a small pet (also called a minipet, vanity pet, or a non-combat pet) for a little extra company. This critter will cheerfully follow you wherever your travels take you. But what else can it do? This FAQ will provide you with everything you need to know about small pets.
Contents
Small Pet Basics
Q: What is a small pet?
A: A "small pet" is more or less your own personal Warcraft critter. When your small pet is summoned, it will follow your character throughout the game world. Small pets are also known as vanity pets, critter pets, non-combat pets, and minipets. All of these terms are used interchangeably.
When selected by another player, every small pet uses the tag 'companion' to show who owns the pet. For example, any of my pets would have the tag <Breanni's Companion>.
Q: What do small pets actually do?
A: Small pets will loyally and cheerfully accompany you as you journey through Azeroth and beyond. They are purely for fun. Some may do interesting things when left idle, such as twirling around or falling asleep, but for the most part they are simply there to give your character a little extra flare.
Q: Will small pets go everywhere I go?
A: Small pets will follow you just about anywhere while you're traveling on land, regardless of your speed. They'll boldly follow you into dangerous places, but they must be resummoned whenever you encounter a portal or loading screen. Additionally, small pets tend to retreat into their cages when you hop a flight (even if the pet can fly).
Q: How many small pets are there?
A: There are currently 90 unique vanity pets. At WarcraftPets.com, you can view every pet using the pet index.
Q: Do small pets make any noise?
A: Some small pets make constant noise while others make periodic sounds. Some will only vocalize when clicked. And there are many small pets that won't ever make a peep. See individual pet profiles in the Bestiary for details.
Q: Can I sell my small pet?
A: Many vanity pets are BoP (bind on pickup). Others are BoU (bind on use). Only BoU pets may be sold to other players or put up for auction (assuming you haven't ever summoned the pet, making it soulbound). Vendors will buy most unwanted pets, but they pay the same price whether the pet is soulbound or not.
Individual pet profiles state which pets are BoP versus BoU. Using the Pet Filters, you can see all BoU pets (profiles include recommended auction pricing) and all BoP pets at once. Each pet's profile reveals what vendors will pay for the pet, if anything.
Combat and Small Pets
Q: Which small pets fight?
A: None. Not a one.
Remember, small pets are non-combat pets. There are, however, special combat pets, often crafted by engineers or obtained through quests. Any pet that fights by your side is not considered a small pet (and thus, is not listed on this site). Small pets are 100% passive (with the exception of Willy, who will occasionally strike down nearby critters).
Q: Do small pets effect combat?
A: At this time, only one small pet has any effect on combat (aside from acting as your good luck charm). See Disgusting Oozling for details.
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FYI: There are jewelcrafting figurines, such as the Truesilver Crab, which do effect combat. These look and act like small pets (i.e., summoning one will unsummon your currently summoned minipet). However, because they effect combat and can only be summoned for a few seconds every few minutes, they are not considered true small pets. |
Q: Can my small pet be killed?
A: Yes and no. They can't be killed by other players and mobs directly, but they can be charred by some hostile area-of-effect spells and effects. You want that whelpling regular or extra crispy?
Note that if your small pet is killed, you can simply resummon it and it will return to your side without a scratch on it. The only ways to permanently lose your minipet are to sell it to a vendor (and not buy it back before logging out), or to destroy it yourself (remove it from your inventory and drop it in the game world).
Q: Can I have a small pet active while my combat pet is summoned?
A: Yes. This allows classes like hunters and warlocks to travel the world with their own little posse in tow. Fo' shizzle.
Q: Is there any tactical use for a small pet?
A: There are a couple of tactical uses:
One is for classes with stealth capabilities to use their small pets to signal others that they're around, even when they aren't visible. However in PvP situations, this can be more of a detriment. However, stealthed rogues and druids who bring out Egbert can actually wind up confusing perceptive enemies, as Egbert is one pet that zips all over the place, often several yards away from his owner.
Another use is with the Disgusting Oozeling. It's Disgusting Aura lowers its owner's defense rating, which increases the liklihood that an enemy will get a critical hit. For certain talent builds, it's actually helpful to get a crit because it triggers a counter maneuver. For example, warriors who have the Enrage talent.
Owning a Small Pet
Q: Is there a level requirement for owning a small pet?
A: No, however some higher level quests and mobs that yield vanity pet loot will require you to reach an appropriate level first.
Q: How many small pets can I have?
A: You can own as many minipets as you have space for in your bags and bank. However, you may only have one follow you at a time. If you choose to summon another, then the first one you summoned will retreat back into its carrier.
Q: Do I have to feed my small pet?
A: No. Amazingly, these little guys keep on trucking without a drop of water or an ounce of food. They are the envy of all hunters.
Q: Can I name my small pet?
A: Alas, no. But maybe someday... pretty please Blizzard?
Collecting Small Pets
Q: Why collect small pets?
A: Why collect anything? Because it's fun and challenging!
When you obtain a very rare pet, you will be able to showcase your find to others and be the envy of all of Azeroth... or at least the envy of those who appreciate such pets. Plus, it's neat to be asked by other players where you found your exotic little companion.
Read my Minipet Collecting Guide to help you begin your own collection!
Q: Where can I find small pets?
A: Vendors, drops, quest rewards, engineering recipes, auction houses, and through special promotions offered by Blizzard. The Bestiary provides the location of drops and vendors for every known vanity pet. It also provides details about which pets can be obtained through what quests. Many small pets can be purchased through the auction house (AH), but prices will vary.
Q: Is it possible to collect every small pet?
A: Unfortunately, no. Several small pets were created to help promote various Blizzard events and products. These pets may only be obtained by participating in those promotions. Furthermore, a few of these promotional pets vary depending on the player's geographic region.
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CAUTION: Additionally, there are two BoP engineering-made pets based on specialization: Lil' Smoky (gnomish) and Tiny Walking Bomb (goblin). While it's possible to drop and relearn engineering to change your specialization, it is NOT possible to obtain both pets because you'll never be issued an access card for your new specialization. (Trust me, I've tried. ) |
If you've simply "gotta have 'em all", try to collect all of the pets that you can collect. This is still a very challenging goal. You can customize and track your own collection right here at WarcraftPets.com!
Q: Why are some small pet-summoning items green, blue, or purple when most are white?
A: At first, all small pets items (with the exception of the Bloodsail Admiral's Hat) were white, which is the "common quality" color code. Blizzard later recolor-coded many promotional pet items in an effort to prevent people from accidentally destroying or selling these ultra-rare items. But many other extremely rare vanity pets remain white, despite the fact that a few are even harder to acquire than some blue and purple pet items.
Q: Which small pets are faction-specific?
A: At this time, there is only one vanity pet that is faction-specific; the rare Sprite Darter Hatchling.
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FYI: Most players believe that the Prairie Chicken is also an alliance-only pet. This is not true. The quest is alliance-only. However the egg that is laid during the quest may be looted by horde players, making this pet very rare, but not unattainable for horde players. See 'CLUCK!' For the Horde for details. |
Q: Which small pets are made by players?
A: Nearly all mechanical small pets are created by players through engineering. The only exception is the Mechanical Chicken, which is a BoU quest reward.
Q: I've seen players with children—how do I get these?
A: These are not small pets. They are quest-related orphans that may be summoned during Children's Week (May 9-16). They require an Orphan Whistle to summon.
Some players will intentionally not turn in the quests in order to keep the whistle to summon their orphan year-round, but this was unintended by the developers. As of 2006, they added a 7-day duration to the whistle (2-day for blood elf and draenei children) so it could no longer be kept. Plus, keeping an orphan whistle is counterproductive, as it prevents you from collecting any of six adorable Children's Week pets.
Q: Are there plans for a pet container?
A: While there have been many requests from the community for an expandable keyring-like container exclusively for small pets, I have not heard any news that this is being implemented. A keyring-like item is preferred by many, as it won't use up precious bag real estate.
There is currently a bag-type for "Vanity Pets" within the in-game files. One can only assume that an upcoming patch or the next expansion will include a special bag for holding large quantities of small pets. A 28+ slotter would be ideal.
On Collector's Editions
Q: Can I upgrade my account with an Original Collector's Edition CD-key to get those pets for my current characters?
A: Yes, but the only way to "upgrade" your existing account to CE status is through a special promotion that's avilable by purchasing a DELL World of Warcraft Edition gaming laptop. All existing characters on the upgraded account will get the item an item in their mailbox that rewards the CE pet of their choice.
However, there is another very expensive way to obtain the original CE pets for your current characters. This method requires the player to purchase an original Collector's Edition and then transfer an existing character (using Blizzard's paid transfer feature) to the CE account. When the transfer is complete, the player can log into the transferred character and an item will be waiting in his/her mailbox to redeem a CE pet. Note that collector's editions of the original game are very rare and can typcially only be obtained through auction websites for $400-$600 (on average). Additionally, it will cost you $25 for each character you wish to transfer. So while this is a viable way to collect the CE pets, it is by no means cheap.
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FYI: Prior to January 8, 2008 (patch 2.3.2), it was not at all possible to obtain the original CE pets for existing characters. |
Q: Can I upgrade my account with an expansion's Collector's Edition CD-key?
A: Yes, it is possible to upgrade an expansion CD-key with an expansion's Collector's Edition CD-key to get the special pet, as explained by a Blizzard moderator below:
"Please call our Billing & Account Services department (800 592-5499) and be ready to provide the following information: Account Name (and ability to fully verify account), claimed Standard Edition (expansion) Key, unused Collector’s Edition (expansion) Key."
After your expansion account has been upgraded to CE status, upon logging into the game for the first time, all of your characters will have a package waiting for them in the mail. This gift package includes the special pet for each of your current characters. However, be sure to login with all of your characters within 30 days, or the package containing the pet will expire and be lost forever. Note that newly created characters will also have a package waiting for them upon entering the game world.
Q: Can I upgrade my account with a foreign Collector's Edition CD-key?
A: No. It is only possible to upgrade an account with a Collector's Edition CD-key of the same region.
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