POTM #7

July 2015: Servant Of Demidos
With such a low health pool the Servant Of Demidos can really make use of the magic racial and its 366 power is nothing to scoff at. This is a pet that I always think “I could do something really cool with that”, yet never do. Well, now it’s your chance to do something really cool with it. There are some meaningful choices to make with the move set: Magic Sword or Arcane Explosion, Siphon Anima or Clean-Up, Lightning Shield or Soulrush? I’m interested to see what people can do with it.

How does the contest work? Each participant will submit one team that includes the pet of the month. Teams must be in by the 10th of the month. Once a team is submitted there is no changing the move set, so please be careful with your submission. No duplicate pets are allowed.

Please use this format:
Team Name (optional)
H/P Fragment Of Anger (Seethe, Spiritfire Beam, Spirit Spikes)
P/S Stonegrinder (Woodchipper,Thunderbolt,Clean-Up)
P/P Twilight Fiendling (Creepy Chomp, Crreping Ooze, Siphon Life)

… as opposed to:
Team Name (optional)
H/P Fragment Of Anger (2,1,2)
P/S Stonegrinder (2,1,1)
P/P Twilight Fiendling (1,2,2)

I like everything to be uniform and the latter creates an extra level of work for me. Thanks

Once again I have changed the rules, after months (:P) of trying to find the best system I have given up on overcomplicating things and have finally gone with simplicity.

There are no more team points, no more quality win points.

There will be a “pet allowance”. The allowance will tell you how many non, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-tier pet(s) you can use on your team. You can always use pets that are on a tier lower than the allowed pets. For example, if you are allowed one 2nd-tier pet then you could choose a non or 3rd-tier pet in its place.

This month’s pet allowance:
1 2nd-tier pet and 1 3rd-tier pet
OR
1 1st-tier pet and 1 non-tier pet

So your options look like this:

POTM
1st-tier
non-tier

or

POTM
2nd-tier pet
3rd-tier pet

or

POTM
2nd-tier
non-tier

or

POTM
3rd-tier
non-tier

or

POTM
non-tier pet
non-tier pet

You don’t get anything extra for choosing non-tier pets so you might as well use the allowance. Or you could choose two non-tier pets and show off your ability to find hidden gems in that long list of pets. It’s up to you!

Here is the tier list: Top & High Tier List

Since there are no more quality win points, progress to the championship rounds will be based solely on points from wins and draws.

Each win will be worth ten points, each draw will be worth five points. A stalemate will be considered a draw.

Initially I will play each submitted team an equal number of times. The number of times that I play each team will depend on the number of submissions. I will state this initial number of battles after all teams are submitted. I reserve the right to change this if I am running short on time. Expect around four or five initial battles. After the initial battles the top four teams will move onto the championship round, where I will play each team three more times. Scores and records do not reset for the championship rounds. All undefeated teams will automatically move into the championship round, even if there are more than four. If there is either a tie or multiple undefeated teams after the championship rounds then those teams will enter a sudden death mode, where each team will play another battle until one team has more wins than the other in sudden death.

Undefeated means no losses. Sudden death cannot be won on a draw, if all teams draw or lose in a round of sudden death then another round will be necessary to determine the winner.

I hope that this is the final change to the rules, I think that It’ll work out.

Last Month’s Teams:
It’s already July 1st and I’ve only done three battles for each team, and I never got around to taking screenshots (I was planning on doing it on the fourth or fifth battle). I think for the sake of moving on I will keep it at three battles.

I always learn something when I do these pet of the month battles, what this month did for me is reinforce something that I already knew: I prefer guaranteed speed to a chance at speed. What that means is that I would rather have a really fast pet with less attack that I know is going to be faster than most pets, rather than a somewhat fast pet that has the chance of being faster than a lot of pets. I always run S/S rabbits, and I think after this POTM I will always run P/S or S/S foxes. There were just too many cases where I was wishing for more speed, even with the buff. If you chose a slower fox please don’t think I’m saying it was a bad choice or a bad team. It’s really a matter of preference, that’s all.

I think that the fox is a great support pet, but being limited to only one high-tier pet for its team mates left the fox with a lot of work to do.

Crouching Fox Diving Terror
P/S Arctic Fox Kit(Flurry, Crouch, Dazzling Dance)
H/H Imperial Silkworm(Chomp, Moth Balls, Moth Dust)
P/S Puddle Terror(Water Jet, Clobber, Dive)

Score: 22.5 (2-1, 2.5 qwp)
W: Unborn Val’kyr, Molten Corgi, Sister Of Temptation (1)
L: Fiendish Imp, Unborn Val’kyr, Kun-Lai Runt
I had too many critter attacks, go figure.
W: Kun-Lai Runt, Emerald Proto-Whelp, Nexus Whelpling (1.5)
I’m loving the Puddle Terror. If it didn’t have Sunlight and Nature’s Ward then it would surely be my choice for the next POTM.

Dazzling Deep Disco Dance Dance Dominion
P/S Arctic Fox Kit (Flurry, Crouch, Dazzling Dance)
P/S Nightshade Sproutling (Poison Lash, Call Darkness, Blinding Poison)
P/B Hydraling (Deep Bite, Call Lightning, Shell Armor)

Score: 23 (2-1, 2 qwp)
L: Flamering Moth, Blue Clockwork Rocket Bot, Droplet Of Y’Shaarj
W: Arctic Fox Kit, Rabbit, Nordrassil Wisp (1)
Rabbit wasn’t S/S, sproutling was hero.
W: Pandaren Monk, Mechanical Axebeak,Toothy (2)
Nightshade Sproutling for high tier!

Drunk Dancing
S/S Alpine Foxling (Flurry, Howl, Dazzling Dance)
Wolpertinger (Horn Attack, Sleeping Gas, Headbutt)
Death Talon Whelpguard (Blitz, Whirlwind, Clobber)

Score: 12.5 (1-2, 2.5 qwp)
L: Ore Eater, Teroclaw Hatchling, Ghastly Kid
W: Unborn Val’kyr, Blossoming Ancient, Gilnean Raven (2.5)
Didn’t think I had much of chance. The DTW and its racial thought otherwise.
L: Iron Starlette, Iron Starlette, Iron Starlette
Wolpertinger got lucky with some interrupts but it wasn’t enough, lack of avoidance was my demise.

Fox em!
S/S Alpine Foxling (Flurry, Crouch, Dazzling Dance)
H/P Infected Squirrel (Stampede, Creeping Fungus, Consume)
P/B Hydraling (Tail Slap, Swallow you Whole, Shell Armor)

Score: 23 (2-1, 3 qwp)
L: Graves, Mechancial Pandaren Dragonling, Mr. Bigglesworth
W: Death Adder Hatchling, Mechanical Pandaren Dragonling, Alpine Hare (3)
Fox damaged adder, took out MPD, then damaged rabbit. Amazing showing by the fox and Dazzling Dance.
W: Puddle Terror, Rascal-Bot, Brilliant Kaliri
A close battle that was handed to me thanks to Rascal-Bot using Repair at a bad time.

Foxie trouppe
P/P Pjord Worg Pup (Flurry, Howl, Dazzling Dance)
P/P Hardbringer of Flame (Burn, Magma Wave, Conflagrate)
H/P Fledgling Buzzard (Trash, Adrenaline Rush, Lift Off)

Score: 10 (1-2, 0 qwp)
L: Fiendish imp, Bonkers, Chi-Chi
L: Fiendish Imp, Unborn Val’kyr, Kun-Lai Runt
The Harbinger didn’t contribute much to the battle.
W: Pandaren Monk, Nuts, Toothy
Thrash put a hurt on the squirrel.

Maracas Fracas
P/B Alpine Foxling (Flurry, Howl, Dazzling Dance)
P/P Son of Animus (Metal Fist, Touch of the Animus, Interrupting Jolt)
H/P Macabre Marionette (Macabre Maraca, Death and Decay, Bone Barrage)

L: Willy, Bone Serpent, Tiny Twister
L: Teroclaw Hatchling, Malayan Quillrat, Desert Spider
My level of hatred for the TCH is approaching pre-nerf idol levels. Wished I had an S/S fox.
L: Nightshade Sproutling, Qiraji Guardling, Ikky
Too much speed to deal with.

Maraka-Fox*
S/S Alpine Foxling (Flurry, Crouch, Leap)
H/H Creepy Crate (Creepy Chomp, Death Grip, Bone Storm)
H/P Macabre Marionette (Macabre Maraca, Death and Decay, Dead Man’s Party)

*I initially did the battles with wrong breed of fox, had to redo them.

Score: 32 (3-0, 2 qwp)
W: Fel Touched Pup, Son Of Sethe, Violet Firefly (1)
Opponent didn’t use heals effectively.
W: Hyjal Wisp, Nordrassil Wisp, Spirit Of Summer
Flurry got past both blind and block.
W: Unborn Val’kyr, Ominous Flame, Amber Moth (1)
One turn of Flurry to shattered valk did 1,260 damage.

Mountain Magicians
P/B Alpine Foxling (Flurry, Crouch, Dazzling Dance)
H/P Zomstrok (Infected claw, shell shield, Carpnado)
P/P Abyssius (Crush, Scorched earth, Volcano)

Score: 10.5 (1-2, 0.5 qwp)
L: Alpine Hare, MPD, Ghastly Kid
L: Kun-Lai Runt, Pygmy Direhorn, Tiny Snowman
Direhorn gave me trouble as usual.
W: Kun-Lai Runt, Mirror Strider, Iron Starlette (0.5)
The KLR was played decently, the treat of Deep Freeze forced some swaps.

Pigs Don’t Fly
H/H Worg Pup (Flurry,Crouch Dazzling Dance)
H/P Trunks (When Elekks Fly, Moonlight, Avalanche)
P/B Mr Wiggles (Diseased Bite, Crouch, Uncanny Luck)

Score: 22.5 (2-1, 2.5 qwp)
W: Magical Crawdad, Teroclaw Hatchling, Blossoming Ancient (2.5)
L: Widget The Departed, Bone Serpent, Frostwolf Ghostpup
Couldn’t hit enough triple Flurries.
W: Sky-Bo, Netherpawn, Disgusting Oozeling
Hit a few WEF in a row.

Power Punches
P/P Fjord Worg Pup (Flurry, Crouch, Dazzling Dance)
P/P Servant of Demidos (Magic Sword, Siphon Anima, Soulrush)
P/P Rotten Little Helper (Ice Lance, Booby-Trapped Presents, Call Blizzard)

Score: 11.5 (1-2, 1.5 qwp)
W: Servant Of Demidos, Stunted Direhorn, Mechanical Pandaren Dragonling (1.5)
L: Fiendish Imp, Zandalari Raptor, Bone Serpent
Imp was too fast, speed buff didn’t help.
L: Graves, Fiendish Imp, Ghastly Kid
I had no chance whatsoever.

Proving The Girth
H/P Fjord Worg Pup (Flurry, Crouch, Leap)
P/P Droplet of Y’Shaarj (Swallow You Whole, Acid Rain, Dreadful Breath)
H/H Spirit Crab (Snap, Surge, Shell Shield)

Score: 24.5 (2-1, 4.5 qwp)
W: Corefire Imp, Scourged Whelpling, Unborn Val’kyr (2)
W: Anubisath Idol, Clockwork Gnome, Lil’ Ragnaros (2.5)
Acid Rain, Dreadful Breath and Surge made sure Lil’ Ragnaros never got a single attack off.
L: Graves, Emperor Crab, Axebeak Hatchling
The Emperor Crab was a PITA.

Safety Dance
B/B Tiny Snowman (Snowball, Call Blizzard, Deep Freeze)
B/B Wretched Servant (Nether Blast, Weakness, Consume Magic)
S/S Alpine Foxling (Flurry, Crouch, Dazzling Dance)

Score: 22.5 (2-1, 2.5 qwp)
L: Corefire Imp, Scourged Whelpling, Unborn Val’kyr
W: Unborn Val’kyr, Nether Fairie Dragon, Disgusting Oozeling (1)
Weakness and Consume Magic did great against oozeling.
W: Graves, Clockwork Gnome, Alterac Brew Pup (1.5)
Opponent fled after getting stunned. Grow a spine?

To Be Dazzled
P/P Fjord Worg Pup (Flurry, Howl, Dazzling Dance)
H/P Zomstrok (Infected Claw, Shell Shield, Carpnado)
S/S Nightshade Sprouting (Lash, Call Darkness, Blinding Poison)

Score: 10 (1-2, 0 qwp)
L: Fiendish Imp, Graves, Unborn Val’kyr
L: Anubisath Idol, Qiraji Guardling, Blighthawk
Should have used strong attacks more efficiently.
W: Iron Starlette, Iron Starlette, Iron Starlette
Took out first one without losing any health thanks to blind.

Under The Radar
S/S Alpine Foxling (Flurry, Howl, Dazzling Dance)
P/B Mr. Wiggles (Diseased Bite, Buried Treasure, Uncanny Luck)
P/P Thundering Serpent Hatchling (Tail Sweep, Roar, Cyclone)

Score: 10 (1-2, 0 qwp)
L: Graves, Magical Crawdad, Ghastly Kid
W: Anodized Robo-Cub, Water Waveling, Dragonbone Hatchling
Uncanny cyclone did extremely well.
L: Iron Starlette, Iron Starlette, Iron Starlette
No avoidance meant I had to lose to a cheesy triple team.

The top four scores are 32, 24, 23, 23 and 22.5, of which three teams share the last score. I guess that means all three teams will go into the championship rounds. Due to this I plan on doing three more battles with each of these teams rather than four. Once again qwp play no factor in the outcome, I will not miss them.

The teams moving on are:
Crouching Fox Diving Terror
Dazzling Deep Disco Dance Dance Dominion
Fox em!
Maraka-Fox
Pigs Don’t Fly
Proving The Girth
Safety Dance

Championship Rounds

Crouching Fox Diving Terror
Final Score: 56 (5-1, 6 qwp)
W: Anubisath Idol, Son Of Animus, Blighthawk (2.5)
Had two Water Jet misses but rng made it up with two sleeps.
W: Graves, NFD, Spawn Of Onyxia (1)
Graves never used AoE.
W: Darkmoon Tonk, Lil’ Tarecgosa, Kun-Lai Runt (1)
Puddle Terror destroyed tonk with timely use of Dive and Clobber.

Dazzling Deep Disco Dance Dance Dominion
Final Score: 44.5 (4-2, 4.5 qwp)
L: Anubisath Idol, Graves, Alterac Brew Pup
Lost a head game with Deflection that determined the outcome of the battle.
W: Darkmoon Zeppelin, Arctic Fox Kit, Silkbead Snail
A lot of swapping in this battle, ebded up winning comfortably.
W: Anubisath Idol, Bonkers, Arctic Hare (2.5)
Two of my most hated pets go down at the same time, life is good.

Fox em!
Final Score: 58.5 (2-1, 58.5 qwp)
W: Graves, Ghastly Kid, Jademist Dancer (3)
Note to self: Hydraling owns CC Graves teams.
W: Fel Flame, NFD, Scorpid
The NFD helped out the fungus damage with moonlight.
W: Anubisath Idol, Bonkers, Arctic Hare (2.5)
Same team I had just fought, they were still traumatized by the last battle so they fled early.

Maraka-Fox
Final Score: 43 (4-2, 3 qwp)
L: Graves, Ghastly Kid, Jademist Dancer
Damn CC Graves is tough, I lost badly.
W: Ikky, Spring Rabbit, Fluxfire Feline (1)
S/S fox with buff shuts down S/S rabbit.
L: Gilnean Raven, Electrified Razortooth, Frostwolf Ghostpup
It was a close battle.

Pigs Don’t Fly
Final Score: 55 (5-1, 5 qwp)
W: Flamering Moth, Harbinger Of Flame, Chrominius
WEF only hit 2/5, but boy did those 2 hurt!
W: Teroclaw Hatchling, Clockwork Gnome, Alpine Fox (1.5)
Epic WEF priority hit against the bird left Trunks the survivor with 18 health.
W: Darkmoon Tonk, Lil’ Tarecgosa, Kun-Lai Runt (1)
Mr. Wiggles was a boss hog. Totally would have caught Bo and Luke.

Proving The Girth
Final Score: 47.5 (4-2, 7.5 qwp)
W: Kun-Lai Runt, Masked Tanuki, Icespine Hatchling (0.5)
Pounding a critter with snap brought back good memories.
L: Iron Starlette, Lil’ Bling, Unborn Val’kyr
Too much mech damage for the worg to handle.
W: Anubisath Idol, Unborn Val’kyr, Zandalari Anklerender (2.5)
The Spirit Crab and Anubisath Idol diuked it out in a battle of the has-beens.

Safety Dance
Final Score: 42.5 (4-2, 2.5 qwp)
W: Robo-Chick, Jubling, Macabre Marionette
Each enemy pet countered each of mine. The stun saved the day.
L: Graves, Ghastly Kid, Jademist Dancer
Ended up one on one servant versus dancer but couldn’t pull it off.
W: Iron Starlette, Iron Starlette, Iron Starlette
Saw my snowman and fled. Would the snowman have been enough to trump the all the strong damage to the fox? We’ll never know thanks to the lack of spine.

It may be the first time ever that quality win points finally factor into the competition. Which is funny since this is the last month that system will be used. In this case I can see their merit: Fox em! beat three really tough teams in the course of going 5-1. Congrats caloides! Send me an email at dicodoggywow@gmail.com with the pet you want, please let me know if you are on a US or EU server, and please use the email that you want the pet gifted to.

I ended the fox experience on a strong note, I’m glad that I learned so much about using it. Thanks everyone for the teams!