FactionsAssassin. Dagger Mastery 10Fox FangsOff-Hand AttackMust follow a lead attack. Fox Fangs cannot be blocked and strikes for +27 damage if it hits.3½3
FactionsAssassin. Dagger Mastery 10Death BlossomDual AttackMust follow an off-hand attack. If it hits, Death Blossom strikes target foe for +37 damage and all adjacent foes take 37 damage.32
CoreRanger. Beast Mastery 16Scavenger StrikePet AttackYour animal companion attempts a Scavenger Strike that deals +26 damage. If the attack strikes a foe who is suffering a condition, you gain 16 Energy.310
CoreRanger. Beast Mastery 16Comfort AnimalSkillYou heal your animal companion for 110 Health. If your companion is dead, it is resurrected with 61% Health. If you have Comfort Animal equipped, your animal companion will travel with you.311
Death's ChargeFactionsAssassin. Shadow Arts 2Death's ChargeSpellShadow Step to target foe. If that foe has more Health than you, you are healed for 83.5¼30
Predator's PouncePropheciesRanger. Beast Mastery 16Predator's PouncePet AttackYour animal companion attempts a Predator's Pounce that deals +37 damage. If that attack hits, your animal companion gains 53 Health.55 - cheap low-recharge +damage
Golden Fang StrikeEotNAssassin. Dagger Mastery 10Golden Fang StrikeOff-Hand AttackMust follow a lead attack. If you are under the effects of an Enchantment and this attack hits, target foe suffers from a Deep Wound for 15 seconds.54 - for Deep Wound
Lotus StrikeEotNAssassin. Dagger Mastery 10Lotus StrikeOff-Hand AttackMust follow a lead attack. If it hits, this attack strikes for +20 damage and you gain 15 Energy.1012 - for improved energy management.
Exhausting AssaultFactionsAssassin. Dagger Mastery 10Exhausting AssaultDual AttackMust follow a lead attack. Target foe's action is interrupted. If that action was casting a Spell, target foe suffers 10 Overcast.5½8 - heroes will not use at every opportunity to increase DPS, but will hit spells with it if an opponent is casting after being hit by Jagged Strike.
Brutal StrikePropheciesRanger. Beast Mastery 16Brutal StrikePet AttackYour animal companion attempts a Brutal Strike that deals +37 damage. If that attack strikes a foe whose Health is below 50%, that foe takes an additional +37 damage.105 - a strong finisher, but heroes will use indiscriminately.
Whirling DefenseCoreRanger. Expertise 9Whirling DefenseStanceFor 15 seconds, you have 75% chance to block attacks. Whenever you block a projectile in this way, adjacent foes take 9 damage.660 - most useful stance available. Offers some physical protection and a little bit of extra damage.
Call of ProtectionPropheciesRanger. Beast Mastery 16Call of ProtectionShoutFor 120 seconds, your animal companion has a 21 base damage reduction.590 - if the pet is likely to get hit with AoE damage.
Zealous Daggers of Defense with "Strength and Honor" Inscription
Usage
Set the hero to Fight mode.
Buffing the pet with Strength of HonorCoreMonk. Smiting Prayers Strength of HonorEnchantment SpellWhile you maintain this Enchantment, target ally deals 5..21..26 more damage in melee.-110215 can be worthwhile as long as a Racing Beetle is used.
Counters
Anti-melee
Pet death
Variants
Replace Rampage as OneNightfallRanger. Beast Mastery 16Rampage as OneElite SkillFor 16 seconds, both you and your animal companion attack 33% faster and run 25% faster.2510 with Enraged LungeFactionsRanger. Beast Mastery 16Enraged LungeElite Pet AttackYour animal companion attempts an Enraged Lunge that applies a Deep Wound to target foe for 21 seconds and deals +53 damage.55.
Scavenger StrikeCoreRanger. Beast Mastery 16Scavenger StrikePet AttackYour animal companion attempts a Scavenger Strike that deals +26 damage. If the attack strikes a foe who is suffering a condition, you gain 16 Energy.510 is necessary to maintain energy, so there are no optional slots in this variant unless you drop one of the IAS skills (not recommended).
Take Call of HasteCoreRanger. Beast Mastery Call of HasteShoutFor 30 seconds, your animal companion has a 33% faster attack speed and moves 33% faster.1025 and Tiger's FuryPropheciesRanger. Beast Mastery 16Tiger's FuryStanceAll your non-attack skills are disabled for 5 seconds. For 11 seconds, you attack 25% faster.1010 (or its duplicate Bestial FuryFactionsRanger. Beast Mastery 16Bestial FuryStanceAll your non-attack skills are disabled for 5 seconds. For 11 seconds, you attack 25% faster.1010).
By replacing Rampage as OneNightfallRanger. Beast Mastery 16Rampage as OneElite SkillFor 16 seconds, both you and your animal companion attack 33% faster and run 25% faster.2510, the hero will also still be able to use its own IAS should the pet die and not be immediately revived with Comfort AnimalCoreRanger. Beast Mastery 16Comfort AnimalSkillYou heal your animal companion for 110 Health. If your companion is dead, it is resurrected with 61% Health. If you have Comfort Animal equipped, your animal companion will travel with you.511.