When each of us begins our journey through Azeroth, we decide how to approach that journey. Some choose the blessing of light and life, some the fellowship of nature, and some the pure adrenalin rush of steel on steel. The hunter chooses the allure of a life-changing bond with an animal companion and the advantages of never smelling the bad guy’s breath… shooting from a distance!
That shooting from a distance makes you different… it makes you a bowman or a mechanical rock-thrower… but not a Hunter. The Hunt does not truly begin until your 10 season… the season you are finally allowed to learn how to tame your companion (pet).
To get this training you will have to return to your race’s basic trainer, generally the first trainer you can reach outside the novice area, (levels 1 – 6). You will be asked to train, in succession, three specific types of animals. (Note: the name of the animal you target to tame has to match the Taming Rod or it will not work).
You will find the Taming Rod in your bags and you might find it helpful to assign the Rod to your action bar, (best to put it right next to Concussive Shot)… but, if you do so, remember to change it out when you get each new Rod.
Don’t forget that you can use Track Beasts and your mini-map to locate the right type of animal to train. Once you find a good candidate, (with the matching name AND at or below your current level), make sure that the area does not have other animals that could attack you during the taming. Once clear, move to just within max range* of your Concussive Shot, (this shot will slow the animal down and give you a few extra seconds without being hit). Set your site on the target and shoot your Concussive Shot… followed almost immediately by using the Taming Rod, (very easy to do if you put them together on your action bar – just watch for the number to turn WHITE). You will see a taming bar appear and count down the taming time remaining.
CONGRADULATIONS… you have successfully tamed your first temporary pet. Do not worry about having to keep their attention for any length of time, (old part of the process). Now… before you go anywhere, change the attack mode of your new pet to PASSIVE. This way they will not attack anything you do not want them to attack**. Once your pet is on PASSIVE, just return to the Trainer and turn in the ‘quest.’ Don’t forget to get the next Taming Rod and to change out that Rod on your action bar.
Before you can tame the next pet you have to ABANDON the last one. The only real issue with this is that sometimes the ‘abandoned’ pet decides to attack you. If you are comfortable running around the area without a pet… just put the pet on STAY and head for the area you think you can find the next pet. Keeping the pet around means that you might have to fight it near where you will tame the next pet... just plan for the possibility.
Now you just repeat the taming process. Check the name and the level… clear the area… move to max range of your Concussion Shot… target… shoot… tame. Nothing to it!
Put your new pet on PASSIVE, return to the Trainer, turn in, and get the final Rod.
Just repeat the process one more time and you become a hunter… well… almost!
Once you turn in the third taming quest you will be asked to go to the Hunter Trainer in the nearest major city. You need to do this in order to get the ability to FEED your PET***. While you are there consider getting at least 10 items of the type of food you prospective pet likes to eat.
* the number above each icon assigned on your action bar will stay RED until you are within range of the given spell / shot. If you can move slightly and make the number change from RED to WHITE you are at the max range for that spell / shot.
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*** when feeding your pet make sure to feed it one item and then wait! Feeding is a spell-over-time type action. If you feed the next item too soon you will loose the remaining benefit of the first item feed. Note: just click on your pet’s picture and watch the food-buff icon… you will see when it is done.
