So, with both the Tundra event and Dita coming to a close, I'm increasingly motivated to get pets who are good battlers, to make finding the materials I need possible. I know the basics already (GP, how to influence a pet's stat growth, genes and their functions and inheritence, etc), and I know what gene combinations look good on paper.

However, I've only been here a few weeks and it's still hard for me to guess what combinations of traits are actually good in practice when fighting more difficult opponents, such as those past level 7 of the tundra. For example, dodging and getting free damage with counterstrike seems like a great idea, but will I really be able to dodge enough to win against an etelia/kami? Are skills like musical larynx/magical horn reliable enough to be worth using if my pet can only survive two hits at best if the skill doesn't activate, or would it be better to try to maximize damage with a different skill?

Here is the only pet I've managed to raise to level 50 so far:

http://beastkeeper.com/pet/789875

(lykos with 2GP, ice breath, smart, quick paws, light bones, and ice spikes if you don't feel like clicking)

She's more than capable of handling regular opponents and does quite well up through about level 5 of the tundra. However, she starts to encounter problems at level 6 and 7. She's only made it as far as level 8 once, and was trapped in a tiny corner of the island by an etelia that she just couldn't beat.

Basically, I want to know what has worked most reliably for others. Which combinations of traits have been most effective for you in these situations? Also, how did you feed your pet? What stats did you choose to emphasize? Was a balanced build most effective, or did you min-max it, sacrificing one trait to maximize another?

It would be really helpful if a few of you could show me pets that have been successful (lykoses and dragons especially, since my best breeding stock belongs to those species). It's probably too late for these events, but it would be good for me to come up with a "minimum" goal to aim for by the time the next big kami event comes around.

Sorry that this is so long (I bolded the important parts), and to any of you who choose to respond, you have my gratitude!

I think genes are the very basic requirement. From my own experience, an animal with very good genes is better in combat than an animal with GP (or higher GP, but lesser genes).

(If you only want fighters, then Kamis and Etelias are more trophies, than fighters, and any animal capable of defeating a Kami or Etelia will be more valuable than those.)

Then I think it is better to have a balanced animal, instead of sacrificing anything, because various combinations only look good on paper. Elemental strike can be blocked by elemental resistance. If you use ice breath, and the battle dialog tells you: "Your opponent repulsed your elemental strike", it is good to have good defence too. High critical chance means possibility of defeating your opponent during the first round; but if your opponent dodges it, then it is good to have a decent defence as well, instead of focusing solely on attack. Musical larynx works once in five attacks (20%, unless the opponent is deaf, determined, or an etelia), but sharp teeth and double incisors work always. Elemental resistance and robust scales resist in 30%, but thick skin is somewhat surer defence.

Ultimately every opponent is different. Purposely-bred etelia fighter may not be the best choice to defeat Dita, which is why setting examples is difficult.

Thanks for your response. I was kind of thinking that reliable skills (like thick skin) would be more useful than something like robust scales or ice aura that is more probability based. I feel like I can comfortably run an elemental strike if I have some other offensive option like counterstrike or ice spikes should I encounter a resistant enemy.

I hadn't thought too much about defense, though. Most of my efforts so far try to maximize damage or dodging ability (on those with counterstrike, at least), but when they get hit it really hurts (and by level 7 my only level 50 lykos can't dodge very well even if her agility is over 180). Also, the actual damage from counterstrike doesn't seem very high, though I guess it could add up if you drag the battle out long enough (a good strategy for a pet with regenerate). Perhaps I should consider sharp claws as well; I do know I love having ice spikes when I'm facing an opponent with an elemental bite attack, and sharp claws would give a boost to both blow and rush, a boon alongside an elemental bite. But then I'd have to scrap counterstrike.

I hope to breed pets with more useful/reliable traits as I am able to, though I'm glad to hear that genes are more helpful than GP (though I imagine that GP is more significant when the pet's level is still very low). Maybe I will consider some tankier builds. I've got a decent dragon or two with thick skin...

Anyway, thanks again for contributing!

I have a Sharp Claws/Ice Spikes lykos, and she's a lot of fun to explore with; occassionally I've landed criticals over 600 damage. Never tried her on the Tundra though, so I couldn't speak for that. She's not good at absorbing damage.

Defensively, damage mitigation seems to work better than dodge, unless you can get your agility insanely high. Not sure about Thick Skin vs Robust Scales, but statistically Robust Scales is the better choice, since it has a pretty high chance to activate.

If you have to choose, genes are better than GP, but GP still makes a significant difference. A GP3 has +30 boost to all characteristics, which can give them the advantage over even a well-bred pet with no GP.

I used to try to stat my pets to balance all characteristics, but these days I don't even bother with diet; I just leave them all equal and let it turn out however. I haven't noticed a big difference.

I didn't use any lykoi or dragons on the Tundra, but here's what worked well for me:

GP3 Unicorn, Magic Horn, Counterstrike, Steel Muscles, Regeneration, Thick Skin

GP3 Unicorn, Diamond Horn, Quickmind, Massive Hooves, Steel Muscles, Regeneration, Thick Skin

GP2 Cockatrice, Acid Spit, Counterstrike, Regeneration, Venomous Skin

Also, here's another thread where ideal pets for Tundra were discussed, in case it helps.

Dodging doesn't work well against higher level Tundras, reason being that the monsters have better stats with each increase in level. -- This ends up making it so you rarely dodge/hit unless your stats are high enough.

Anyways, if you're looking for gene combos for dragons and lykos...

Dragon:

Fire Gland - Acute Eyesight - Quickmind, or Fearsome look - Agile Paws, or Sharp Claws - Steel Bones - Spitting Muscle - Napalm Glands or Boiling Blood - Elemental Resist, or Robust Scales

Reasons:

Elemental Strikes makes your attack really hit home, killing most in 2-3 hits.

Acute Eyesight and Steel Bones are the best genes for that respective category

Quickmind  and Agile Paws for pure stats

Fearsome Look to help you ward off against the other creatures, and goes well with Elemental Strike

Sharp Claws will give you something else to use in case Elemental Strike is countered

Napalm boosts Elemental Strike & give it DoT, while Boiling Blood gives you a chanced stat increase.

The skin helps by resisting. (Not sure if Robust resists Elemental Strike, but it's probably better, as you can just use rush to counter.)

Lykos: (Probably your best option in regards to breeding)

Ice Breath - Acute Eyesight - Berserker or Quickmind - Agile Paws or Sharp Claws - Steel Bones - Steel Muscle or Hound - Tireless Heart - Any of the green ones

Reasons:

Muscial Larynx helps, but doesn't work on Etelias and you're only able to use it once per island, so it's better to get the Elemental Strike.

Acute Eyesight, Steel Bones and Tireless Heart is as you can see, bess in their respective category.

Again, Quickmind and Agile Paws for pure stats, but it's probably better for Berserker and Sharp Claws, especially if you're taking Ice Spikes. (Reason being Berserker is cumulative.)

Now then, both Steel muscle and Hound are pretty good, so it's hard deciding between the two, but I would say Steel Muscle for the Attack or Hound for the overall stat boost & survivability.

The skin is tricky, because they all have their one uses: Ice Aura helps with the mooks, Ice Spikes for another way to attack, or Elemental Resist to counter Etelia's Elemental Strike. (Though you can counter Elemental Strike by rushing, so probably don't need Ele Res.)

As for stats for Tundra, intuition is useless, as it gives an increase to chance (Critical and Dodge) which is mitigated by the increase in stats of higher level. As for the rest, it's pretty much up to you & what genetics you have.