Surviving the Meta

1. Introduction

In this part of the PvP section we want to prepare you for the current Meta game that you will face playing against random opponents. Further below is a simple list of some of the most popular and strongest team compositions. We explain their functionality and also name some abilities/pets that these teams are being played with, together with suggestions of how to counter stated strategies.

Furthermore this article serves as a platform to upload your favorite PvP teams for others to discuss about or to help people who find themselves troubled creating good teams on their own. On the left side you can see different categories in which spoken teams can be uploaded.

Please note that different Meta-gameplay can be expected depending on the region you are in. Therefor both lists -the written introduction and the categories of the strategy creation tool- are never considered to be finished and will evolve with the Meta and your suggestions of themes that this article is missing.

We hope that we can make PvP pet battling more attractive to you and we look forward to read your opinions and knowledge for sharing and improving.
-Shenk & Rosqo




Here we will go through the most common strategies and highlighted abilities you will face whilst in the PvP queue and how to set up your teams to counter them.

2. Call Darkness

Invocar oscuridad is the strongest weather ability bar none. It also has several abilities which synergize extremely well with it: Golpe nocturno, Ataque espectral, Ataque sigiloso, Oleada de Luz, Luz and La furia de mil puños. Most Darkness teams will run at least one flying pet with Invocar oscuridad and Golpe nocturno and the rest with something else that gets buffed by darkness or blinding effects. They are difficult combinations to counter because of the burst nature of the teams.

Common pets: Dragón óseo, any Golpe nocturno flier with 292+ speed or 300+ power like Prole aterradora, Rata peliescarcha, Germinador Sombranoche, Cuervo espectral, Crepusculín, Sombra, Alma de los Aspectos

Counters: Weather Changes (2+), Elementals, Blocks/Deflects/Dodges for the big combo hits, Oleada de Luz, Beasts with strong magic damage (take less damage from Invocar oscuridad and counter the flier e.g. Jabato taumatúrgico)

3. Traps

Traps are in theory depending on RNG but in the majority of fights they work pretty reliable. Quite often both Trampa de magma and Cepo will trigger right away, dealing not few damage and also stunning the affected pet for an entire round. This gives you a huge advantage. Traps are also hard to counter due to their unpredictability and because they trigger when they get removed.

Common pets: Can de fuego, Mini Ragnaros, Rabiosillo de magma, Cachorro de yesca, Cachorro wolvar curioso, Saltarina con amortiguador

Counters: Critters, Arcane Winds (e.g. Tormenta Arcana), Dodge & Block abilities (can still fail) ->Note: dispelling or removing it will trigger the trap!

4. AoE/Cleave

This kind of teams is currently the most popular one for a number of reasons. AoE is easy to play, often very effective, can be tough to beat without a direct counter and you can play it even with very cheap pets. The strength of such a team lies within killing the whole enemy team simultaneously. This can also be used against it, as those players often spam nothing but cleaves, which will struggle against pets that are tanky or have a good self sustain.

Common pets: Vahofétido, Pirogarra infernal, Hermana de guarida Crepuscular, Mini XT, Pequebominación

Counters: Tormenta de arena, Team-Blocks (e.g. Bomba de humo), Blinding Effects, Reflect/Thorns Effects (e.g. Redes quebradizas), Team Heal, Debilidad/Tarro de líquido apestoso, High Hp Pets

5. Clone Dance

The Clone Dance strategy covers good single target and team-wide damage, which is what makes it so successful. The core idea is to summon a Ciclón and then boost it with a buff that increases your hit chance. In most of the cases that's a Danza de la lluvia (hence the name 'Clone Dance).

Common Ciclón pets: Halcón de añublo, Prole Infinita, P/P Buzzards or Eagles (e.g. Plumarrey volantón), Mariposa de costa, Prole dorada salvaje/Prole de jade salvaje

Common buff pets: Bailarín de niebla jade, Roda, P/P Toucans (e.g. Picosangre), Cría de pavo real regio, Matizarena joven

Counters: Debuff Removals, Tormenta de arena, Dragons, Blocking or Blinding the Ciclón, Minefields (unless it's against a Bailarín de niebla jade), any Wave Attacks (e.g. Ola de magma)

6. Leeching (Plagued Blood)

Instead of direct healing abilities this strategy relies on applying buffs or debuffs like Sangre apestada, which will heal the attacker whenever it hits the affected pet. That way a team of badly hurt pets can get back to full or high health in the middle of the match while still dealing damage. However, failing to hit debuffed pets however will negate the purpose of this strategy and lower the chance to win. Therefor often mind games will come into action.

Common pets: Hijo de Sethe, Chiribita rubí, Vástago plagado, Hijo de Animus, Cresa fantasmal, Muerdespinillas Zandalari

Counters: Invocar oscuridad, Tormenta de arena, Dodge/Block/Blinding for Toque del Animus or other vampiric abilities with a Cooldown, Reflects (e.g. Piel tóxica)

7. Toxic Fumes

Emanaciones tóxicas is the newest weather in patch 8.3. It has two effects; it extends the duration of any damage over time effect by 1 round (the opposite of cleansing rain) and all pets are considered poisoned. This makes it a versatile ability because there are multiple ways to gain value from it. Golpe contagioso and Mordedura lacerante are the only two abilities that are stronger against a poisoned target, but since all pets with these can apply poisons themselve this combo isn't that powerful. The more impactful synergies come from DoTs that used to be balanced by lasting for a short duration and can be extremely potent having one extra round of effect under Emanaciones tóxicas. Examples would be Protocolo de veneno, Gran picadura or Corrosión.

Common pets: Anomalus, Azotador gemebundo, Langosta marcada por el Vacío, Alientopútrido

Counters: Weather changes (2+, espacially Tormenta de arena), Aquatics against DoT teams, Team heals against DoT teams (e.g. Canción persistente), Shields (e.g. Piel de hierro)

Note that as of 8.3.0 the racial of elemental pets does not work properly for Emanaciones tóxicas. For some abilities it works and for others it doesn't (e.g. Mordedura lacerante).

8. Heal & Stall

For the most part these are the kind of teams which require little to no skill and are unnecessarily lengthening the match. They are spamming a lot of healing and blocking abilities to either prevent you from dealing any damage or outheal that which you can deal. We really don't want to support this behaviour but since there is a high chance for you to encounter them we're listing them for the sake of coverage. Not every pet that falls in this category is negative for the Meta and on its own can be a good and reasonable pick, but focusing an entire team around that theme is toxic and should be avoided for fair sportsmanship.

Common abilities: Fotosíntesis+Luz solar combinations (e.g. Anciano floreciente), Señuelo Spam, anything that uses Deseo, Humanoids with Inmolación, Drenar sangre together with Luz solar

Counters: Invocar oscuridad or other Healing Reduce, Root Effects (e.g. Sticky Goo), Forced Swaps, strong Single Target Hits (e.g. Aumento)