II. PET LOYALTY AND HAPPINESS

II. PET LOYALTY AND HAPPINESS
Date: 05/18/2007

1. What is this pet loyalty stuff?

Once you have tamed a pet, if you will right click on his portrait under yours and look at the pet info sheet you will see information about the pet. At the top it will list his “loyalty level.” When you first tame a pet his loyalty level will be “1” or “unruly.” As you keep and use the pet it will eventually increase to the max. level of “6” or “Best Friend.” The exact mechanics of how loyalty levels increase is not known, however it is known that in order to advance your pet’s loyalty you must:

A) Keep it out;

B) Keep it well fed & happy (note the pet’s portrait has an icon next to it that shows unhappy (frown), content (neutral look) and happy (big smile).

C) Use it in PvE encounters (There is a general consensus that using your pet will help it gain loyalty faster, however, pets will occasionally gain a loyalty level while just standing around in town. However, it also appears that pets do not gain loyalty when they are used strictly in a Battleground setting and no where else hence the note to use it in PvE encounters).

It should be noted at this point too that it appears that the higher level you and/or the pet is, the longer it will take to gain loyalty. Also note the only way to make your pet happy is to feed it. If it goes too long with out feeding in an unhappy state, it will run away and you’ll have to go get another pet.

2. So why is pet loyalty important?

As pets gain loyalty levels two things happen. First, they gain training points (more on training points later) and secondly, they will remain happy from a feeding for a longer period of time. I have not tested the exact time frame, but it is reported that a loyalty level 6 pet that hits “happy” from a feeding will remain “happy” for 40 minutes before another feeding is required as long as the pet does not die. Dismissing your pet and/or having you pet die will act to reduce the amount of time he will remain happy from a feeding. Also, note, once you feed your pet, a little icon will appear under his portrait to indicate he is gaining happiness. Do not feed him again until that icon goes away or you will be wasting food. Also, if you send him into combat while that icon is present he will stop gaining happiness from the feeding once combat starts and will therefore not gain the max in happiness from the food he could/should have.

3. Why is pet happiness important?

As noted above, keeping your pet happy seems to encourage a faster gain in loyalty levels. But as important, if not more so, is the fact that a happy pet will do 125% normal damage on all his attacks. So keeping your pet happy is to your advantage in a combat setting as well since your pet does more damage when he is happy.