Animal Taming is a core skill in Ultima Online, allowing players to capture and train creatures for companionship, combat, and exploration. This iconic feature has been a cornerstone of gameplay since the game’s inception, offering a unique way to interact with the world and enhance your character’s abilities through loyal pets. Taming requires strategy, patience, and dedication, making it a beloved activity for many players seeking adventure and mastery.
1.1 What is Animal Taming?
Animal Taming is a skill in Ultima Online that enables players to capture and train various creatures, transforming them into loyal companions or powerful allies. This skill requires players to approach creatures, often in the wild, and successfully domesticate them. Taming involves standing within three tiles of the creature, ensuring no obstructions, and using the taming ability. Once initiated, the success of taming depends on factors like the creature’s difficulty and the player’s skill level. Tamed pets can assist in combat, carry items, or simply provide companionship. Animal Taming is a strategic and rewarding mechanic, allowing players to bond with their pets and enhance their gameplay experience in unique ways.
1.2 Importance of Animal Taming in UO
Animal Taming is a vital skill in Ultima Online, offering versatility and strategic advantages. It allows players to acquire loyal pets that can assist in combat, carry items, or provide unique abilities, enhancing overall gameplay. Tamed creatures like Nightmares and Greater Dragons are highly sought after for their power and utility. Beyond combat, taming fosters a sense of accomplishment and connection to the game world. It also enables players to participate in community events and showcase their pets. Mastery of Animal Taming is often seen as a badge of skill and dedication, making it a cornerstone of character development and a key part of the UO experience.
Skill Gain and Passive Taming
Skill gain in Animal Taming is tied to creature difficulty, with a 0.1% chance per attempt. Passive taming offers slower gains but allows multitasking, making it ideal for dedicated players.
2.1 How Skill Gain Works
Skill gain in Animal Taming is progression-based, tied to the difficulty of creatures being tamed. Players can check a creature’s difficulty using Animal Lore, which determines the likelihood of gaining skill points. A 0.1% chance per taming attempt exists for skill gain, with higher difficulty creatures offering better opportunities. Successfully taming a creature rewards skill points based on its challenge level. Failed attempts do not contribute to skill gain. To maximize progress, tamers should target creatures with a 50% success rate or lower, as these provide consistent growth. This system encourages strategic creature selection and patience, making skill advancement both rewarding and challenging for aspiring tamers.
2.2 Passive Taming Gains
Passive taming gains allow players to accumulate skill points without actively taming creatures. This method is ideal for steady progression, especially when focusing on other aspects of the game. By keeping pets alive and in the party, players passively gain taming skill over time. The rate of gain depends on the creature’s difficulty and the player’s current skill level. Higher difficulty pets yield faster gains. Additionally, using Veterinary skill on pets can further enhance passive progression. This feature makes it easier for tamers to maintain and improve their skills while exploring Britannia, ensuring continuous growth without constant active taming attempts.
Best Pets for Tamers
Nightmares and Greater Dragons are iconic choices, offering exceptional combat prowess and unique abilities. These pets are highly sought after for their strength and versatility in battle, making them indispensable companions for any tamer.
3.1 Nightmare: The Iconic Pet
The Nightmare is one of the most iconic and sought-after pets in Ultima Online, renowned for its fire-breathing ability and magical prowess. With its dark, majestic appearance, it stands out as a symbol of power and skill. To tame a Nightmare, players require an advanced Taming skill, typically around 98.0 or higher, and must locate these elusive creatures in specific dungeons. Once tamed, Nightmares are highly versatile, excelling in both combat and exploration. Their ability to cast Magery spells makes them invaluable allies, especially in PvP scenarios. Training a Nightmare is a testament to a tamer’s dedication and mastery, as these pets are both challenging to obtain and rewarding to command in battle.
3.2 Greater Dragon: A Powerful Companion
The Greater Dragon is a formidable pet in Ultima Online, known for its immense strength and combat prowess. These majestic creatures are highly sought after by experienced tamers due to their ability to dominate in both PvP and PvM scenarios. Taming a Greater Dragon requires a high Taming skill, typically around 95.0 or higher, and a deep understanding of their behavior. Once tamed, they are fiercely loyal and excel in dealing massive damage while withstanding significant punishment. Their fire-breathing attacks and high hit points make them invaluable allies in battle. Training a Greater Dragon is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor, as they are considered one of the most powerful pets in the game.
Advanced Taming Techniques
Mastering high-difficulty creatures and utilizing advanced strategies can elevate your taming game. Techniques include understanding AI behaviors, optimizing taming locations, and resource management for better outcomes.
4.1 Taming High-Difficulty Creatures
Taming high-difficulty creatures in Ultima Online requires skill, strategy, and patience. These creatures, such as Greater Dragons and Nightmares, offer significant challenges but also substantial rewards. To succeed, players must understand the creature’s AI, strengths, and weaknesses. Using Animal Lore to assess difficulty and Veterinary to heal pets is crucial. Optimal taming locations, like Shame or specific dungeons, provide ideal conditions. Higher-difficulty creatures often yield better gains and more loyal companions. Consistent attempts and a well-planned approach are key to mastering this advanced technique, making high-difficulty taming a rewarding experience for skilled tamers.
4.2 Using Veterinary Skill for Pet Training
The Veterinary skill is essential for pet training in Ultima Online, enabling players to heal and maintain their pets’ health effectively. By keeping pets alive during battles or taming attempts, Veterinary ensures they gain experience and remain loyal. Higher Veterinary skill levels allow for better healing and reduced recovery time, making it a crucial companion to Animal Taming. Additionally, Veterinary can be used to cure poison and treat wounds, improving overall pet survivability. This skill is particularly vital for training high-difficulty creatures, as it helps pets endure challenging encounters. Mastering Veterinary enhances your ability to train and sustain powerful companions, making it a cornerstone of successful pet training strategies.
Training Locations and Tips
Optimal training spots include Shame for scorpions and Grizzly bears for higher skills. Use safe zones to avoid interruptions and ensure steady progress in taming.
5.1 Recommended Training Spots
Shame is a popular spot for taming scorpions, offering a high concentration of creatures and minimal distractions. The forest near the Britain moongate is ideal for taming grizzly bears and wolves, providing a balanced environment for skill progression. For higher-level tamers, the mountains near Minoc are excellent for taming llamas and ostards. Always choose locations with minimal player traffic to avoid interruptions. Safe zones like Skara Brae or New Haven are perfect for low-level tamers to practice without risk. Remember to stay alert in open-world areas to avoid PVP conflicts. Using hiding spots or secluded regions ensures uninterrupted taming sessions, allowing for steady skill gains and pet training.
5.2 Tips for Efficient Skill Progression
To maximize skill gains, focus on taming creatures with a success chance of around 50%, as this provides the best balance between challenges and rewards. Use the Animal Lore skill to assess a creature’s difficulty and ensure it aligns with your current taming level. Keep your pets well-fed and healthy to maintain their performance in combat and training. Avoid crowded areas to minimize distractions and potential interruptions. Utilize hiding skills or secluded spots to train uninterrupted. Organize your taming sessions by targeting specific creature types and tracking your progress. Consistent practice and patience are key to mastering this skill. A well-rounded approach ensures steady growth and a reliable roster of trained companions.
Community and Resources
Ultima Online’s vibrant community offers extensive support for tamers. Active forums, Discord servers, and dedicated websites provide valuable guides, scripts, and strategies. Experienced players share insights and resources to help newcomers and veterans alike master animal taming and pet training. The collaborative environment ensures no tamer is left without guidance, fostering growth and camaraderie.
6.1 OSI Community and Forums
The OSI community is a cornerstone for Ultima Online tamers, offering extensive resources and support. Active forums and Discord servers host discussions, guides, and scripts tailored for animal taming. Players share strategies for skill progression, creature-specific tips, and optimal training locations. Veterans often post detailed tutorials, while newcomers benefit from Q&A threads. The OSI forums are a treasure trove of information, covering everything from taming high-difficulty creatures to mastering veterinary skills. Community events and challenges further enhance engagement, fostering camaraderie among tamers. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, the OSI community provides invaluable tools and insights to elevate your taming journey.
6.2 Guides and Tutorials for Tamers
Extensive guides and tutorials are available to help tamers master their craft in Ultima Online. These resources cover everything from basic taming mechanics to advanced strategies for high-difficulty creatures. Step-by-step walkthroughs detail how to raise skills efficiently, while scripts and macros streamline the taming process. Tutorials often include creature-specific advice, such as taming Nightmares or Greater Dragons, and provide tips for training locations and skill progression. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned tamer, these guides offer practical insights and expert recommendations to enhance your gameplay and achieve mastery in animal taming.