Fire pet hands down does the MOST damage when you are using it as the Tank. In groups it does not get hit so it is the weakest.
But like has been stated, all have their uses or the Devs would not have designed them.
Above level 50 I find the Air pet is the best solo. For just farming low level items, plat etc. the Earth pet is the way to go. Have it guard you at a reasonable distance from you and you can go afk and really not have to worry about even getting hit so you can med if need be. I mean you can't go for hours lol, but safest pet to use.
Earth Pet is useful if there is more than one mob but it only keeps rooting the last mob it hit. You have to have it move back and have it attack other mob to engage it.
Water Pet Backstabs and has probably the fastest regen of them all. Good DPS, but I don't like them in a group because they Agro mobs. YMMV. And they do not BS solo, so I have not a lot of use for them.
I pretty much go Fire solo, Water group. But I do use all 4 at times, at least 3 of the 4 solo in a session solo, depends on the zone, mobs etc. I have all 4 Focus Items, a must I think, and I have the Burnt Wood Staff also. Can save you butt when out or low on mana.
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I find that a Mage pet and the Burnt Wood Staff can kill a add in a group like KC as fast solo, or almost as fast as the rest of the group can the original mob. The two is a pretty scary combo DPS wise.
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