Dark Wolf is so useless, whats the point?

[YeeboF]

If you plan to multi-class a DH then do not bother putting any points in the wolf part of the tree.
For the wolf to be of any use it needs all the levels it can get, which come for you ranger levels.

I stand by what I posted earlier. The wolf can be very helpful in the Heroic 1-20 R1-R4, After that it has diminishing returns.
If you are have trouble keeping it alive within those level ranges then something is amiss.

• First an foremost get some light armor (despite what the wiki says only light works) with the highest fortification and sheltering (PRR/MRR) you can get.
• Make sure the wolf is summoned when getting guild buffs so it gets them as well. If not in a guild or a newly started one get wands and scrolls to buff it. Don't forget buff you have from spells (resists, magic fang, stat boost like bears endurance, etc... They are not great but every bit helps.
• The wolf is not a tank so don't play it as one. Yes it can tank lower level quests but so can a wizard.
• The wolf does best went sneak attacking. Make sure you or someone else in the party hits first.
• As it levels it will get Wolf Rage, Hamstring and Takedown (trip). These can be pulled down to the wolf hotbar so you can activate or lit is use them on its own. This is more situational.

Kindred Sprit alone makes them vastly more survivable once you get to 10. After I put this on my wolf, he pretty much stopped dying altogether.

https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Kindred_Spirit

 

[seph1roth5]

The problem isn't really them surviving, it's them DOING anything in battle lol. A lv 1 wolf can pull a lever just as well as a fully geared and augmented lv 20 one. Even if pets did 1k damage at 20, and 2k at 32, it'd still be meh, because their AI has them constantly trying to reposition themselves, or running off randomly, or just kicking in doors and starting fights.

I'd love if pets weren't even active participants. Something more like falconer's birds where they're there and can be sent to attack, maybe give them all a "use that lever!" clicky. And maybe have a way to temporarily summon them as a meat shield, ala flame turret.

 

[Justfungus]

Any Dark hunter manage deploy the wolf in combat(reaper) without it dieing immediately oneshotted?
Only thing is that it take up alot of filler AP in the enhancement trees, just not sure if its worth it.

Reaper - stop. no pets are worth anything in reaper. NONE.
Most healing is worthless in reaper.
1/2 the combat spells (or more are worthless in reaper)
1/3 of the classes themselves are worthless in reaper.

The wolf is fine for what it is.
If you don't like it but have a dark ranger in reapers, don't summon it.
Reapers is almost a completely different game than heroic.

 

[Onyxia2016]

I beg to differ. I have a Dark Hunter currently level 15 and run R1-R4 and the wolf is out all the time and holds its own having only died twice since character was created and both times were environmental (lava pits) not reapers. Both times it was my fault for not making him stay until I crossed the lava and then summon him to me.

As I have said many times, gear it, buff it and don't just summon it, put it on attack and forget about it.
I do not understand why people have so much trouble with them. I actually have a harder time keeping hirelings alive vs the wolf.
I am not some expert gamer who knows all there is about DDO by no means but I am a very good strategist.

 

[richreid]

If you're questing on Elite and you don't know all the quests, having the pupper find the traps is a real blessing. Hand to heart, he's a good boy when it comes to combat as well, just don't send him in until you have aggro. He's a nice little damage add.