ptr Celestial Tournament

Several new pets have appeared in the ptr since my last post, but today I was quite focussed on the Celestial Tournament. There are now so many pets on the ptr, I wouldn't even feel comfortable guessing at how many will make it live.

Anyway, on to the tournament...

Tamer - Nishi

Farmer Nishi is located in the Valley of Four Winds, just on the other side of the hill from Lucky Yi.

She uses two elementals and a beast. One of the elementals, Siren, is so good at healing that it can be a real pain, but with my strategy that pain can be completely ignored. Unless you miss. Don't miss.

This strategy uses one pet to beat all three, with a little bit of damage absorption from two levelling pets.

My method requires a crocolisk from the Shattrath fishing daily or an Electrified Razortooth from Isle of Thunder. The other two pets can be pretty much anything as long as they can handle the damage from Sons of the Root and Burrow. The ability to heal the entire team while they're taking hits from Sons of the Root is a major perk that will seal the deal for the damage-dealing pet.

So here's the plan.

Tamer - Hyuna

Hyuna is the tamer in Jade Forest and is great for levelling any pet you choose, even from level 1.

All that I use here is a Nexus Whelpling and a Clockwork Gnome. (Update: Lately I've been using a Nether Faerie Dragon or Sprite Darter Hatchling in place of the Nexus Whelpling and they work great too.)

Tamer - Mo'ruk

I meant to do this post next after Aki because it was specifically requested, but then Darkmoon Faire came up and I did Jeremy Feasel, and then 5.2 came out and I did Beasts of Fable. My apologies for the wait, but here it is!

Mo'ruk's three pets are Woodcarver, Lightstalker, and Needleback.

Woodcarver is a beast with Acidic Goo, Burrow, and Consume.
Lightstalker is a flyer with Moth Balls, Moth Dust, and Alpha Strike.
Needleback is an aquatic with Headbutt, Grasp, and Powerball.

Now, I realise that many people like to send a low-level pet in first for levelling up and just have it take one hit and then switch out, but I prefer to do the opposite. I start with max-level pets and push through until they die before switching, then finish it off with the one I want to level up. This fight is ideal for that situation.

Beasts of Fable

The beasts of fable are not as scary as the hype led me to believe. I've experimented with several different lineups for each of the beasts and most ideas tend to work. I did come up with a few pets that can face any of the beasts easily, so it's no problem to run through them all without changing the lineup. Also, It's no use to try for experience with these pets; with my safari hat on I got 319 at level 20.

Here's a quick rundown of the beasts. I'm not going to link all of those abilities, though, because holy crap.

Tamer - Aki the Chosen

Aki the Chosen stands next to the lake about half way between the two major cities in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms and her pets are legendary quality.

Recommended lineup: Feral Vermling or Hopling, Whatever other pets you want

My strategy here is very straightforward...

Tamer - Whispering Pandaren Spirit

This was the last of the spirits that I attempted on the first quest and I was surprised with how simple it was. All you will really need is some dragonkin pets, and I've pulled this one off as low as level 15, though I don't remember exactly which pets I used.

Recommended lineup: Chrominius, Death Talon Whelpguard, Any Dragonkin

Tamer - Flowing Pandaren Spirit

The Flowing Pandaren Spirit is by far the easiest of the spirits. All three of its pets can be taken out by a single one of yours, and if you're very careful, your one pet can die at the same time as the third enemy pet and default the experience to the other two without them ever entering the battlefield.

Recommended lineup: Disgusting Oozeling or something like it and 2 random pets.

Tamer - Burning Pandaren Spirit

The Burning Pandaren Spirit is located in the northwest of Townlong Steppes, on a plateau overlooking the ocean. Its attacks are not as varied as the Thundering Pandaren Spirit, but moreso than the other two.

Recommended lineup: Death Talon Whelpguard, Rapana Whelk, Nexus Whelpling.

Tamer - Thundering Pandaren Spirit

This is the battle that I had the most trouble with before I sat down to work out a strategy. In fact, you will find advice from other pet battlers telling you to choose the earth spirit as a reward from the initial quest so you don't have to do this fight ever again. However, with this strategy you can pull off an easy win.

Recommended lineup: Rapana Whelk, Cogblade Raptor, Grassland Hopper.