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

Richiamo dell'Oscurità is the strongest weather ability bar none. It also has several abilities which synergize extremely well with it: Assalto Notturno, Assalto Spettrale, Attacco a Sorpresa, Eruzione di Luce, Luce and Furia dei Millepugni. Most Darkness teams will run at least one flying pet with Richiamo dell'Oscurità and Assalto Notturno 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: Serpente d'Ossa, any Assalto Notturno flier with 292+ speed or 300+ power like Cucciolo del Terrore, Ratto Pelogelido, Sporoide Ombranera, Corvo Spettrale, Crepuscolo, Ombra, Anima degli Aspetti

Counters: Weather Changes (2+), Elementals, Blocks/Deflects/Dodges for the big combo hits, Eruzione di Luce, Beasts with strong magic damage (take less damage from Richiamo dell'Oscurità and counter the flier e.g. Maialino Taumaturgico)

3. Traps

Traps are in theory depending on RNG but in the majority of fights they work pretty reliable. Quite often both Trappola di Magma and Trappola a Scatto 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: Mastino Ardente, Piccolo Ragnaros, Furioso di Magma, Cucciolo Fiammeggiante, Cucciolo Curioso di Volvar, Ranocchia a Molla

Counters: Critters, Arcane Winds (e.g. Tempesta 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: Fiatoputrido, Pirochela Infernale, Sorella della Covata del Crepuscolo, Piccolo XT, Mascottstein

Counters: Tempesta di Sabbia, Team-Blocks (e.g. Bomba Fumogena), Blinding Effects, Reflect/Thorns Effects (e.g. Ragnatela Fragile), Team Heal, Debolezza/Liquido Puzzolente, 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 Ciclone and then boost it with a buff that increases your hit chance. In most of the cases that's a Danza della Pioggia (hence the name 'Clone Dance).

Common Ciclone pets: Falco della Piaga, Cucciolo dell'Infinito, P/P Buzzards or Eagles (e.g. Piumaregale Immaturo), Farfalla delle Rive, Cucciolo di Serpe Dorata/Cucciolo di Serpe di Giada

Common buff pets: Danzatore Giadanube, Poda, P/P Toucans (e.g. Beccosanguigno), Cucciolo di Pavone Regale, Setacciasabbia Giovane

Counters: Debuff Removals, Tempesta di Sabbia, Dragons, Blocking or Blinding the Ciclone, Minefields (unless it's against a Danzatore Giadanube), any Wave Attacks (e.g. Ondata di Magma)

6. Leeching (Plagued Blood)

Instead of direct healing abilities this strategy relies on applying buffs or debuffs like Sangue Infetto, 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: Figlio di Sethe, Goccia di Rubino, Draghetto della Piaga, Figlio dell'Animus, Verme Fantasma, Mordistinchi Zandalari

Counters: Richiamo dell'Oscurità, Tempesta di Sabbia, Dodge/Block/Blinding for Tocco dell'Animus or other vampiric abilities with a Cooldown, Reflects (e.g. Pelle Tossica)

7. Toxic Fumes

Fumi Tossici 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. Assalto del Contagio and Ferita Crudele 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 Fumi Tossici. Examples would be Protocollo Velenoso, Granpuntura or Corrosione.

Common pets: Anomalus, Pianta Sferzante Lamentosa, Locusta Sfregiata dal Vuoto, Fiatomarcio

Counters: Weather changes (2+, espacially Tempesta di Sabbia), Aquatics against DoT teams, Team heals against DoT teams (e.g. Canzone Infestante), Shields (e.g. Pelleferrea)

Note that as of 8.3.0 the racial of elemental pets does not work properly for Fumi Tossici. For some abilities it works and for others it doesn't (e.g. Ferita Crudele).

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: Fotosintesi+Luce Solare combinations (e.g. Antico Fiorente), Esca Spam, anything that uses Desiderio, Humanoids with Rogo, Risucchio del Sangue together with Luce Solare

Counters: Richiamo dell'Oscurità or other Healing Reduce, Root Effects (e.g. Sticky Goo), Forced Swaps, strong Single Target Hits (e.g. Idropompa)