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Comment by Sipder2

To complete The Mantids' Mettle you need defeat Vil'thik Hatchling with Shadowbarb Hatchling in your battle pet team.
The quest can be done with Shadowbarb Hatchling at lvl 1 (which will die) as long as you can defeat Vil'thik Hatchling with two other pets.

My strategy to defeat Vil'thik Hatchling with two pets lvl 25 and Shadowbarb Hatchling at lvl 1:

Slot 1 Anubisath Idol lvl 25. Skills: Crush, Sandstorm, Deflection.
Slot 2 Moon Moon lvl 25. Skills: Moon Fang, Howl, Moon Dance.
Slot 3 Shadowbarb Hatchling lvl 1. (will not participate in the fight)

round 1: Sandstorm
round 2: change to Moon Moon
round 3: Howl
round 4: Moon Fang
round 5: Moon Fang
round 6: Moon Dance
round 7: Howl
round 8: Moon Fang
round 9: Moon Fang (Moon Moon die, change to Anubisath Idol)
round 10: Sandstorm
round 11: Crush
round 12: Crush
round 13: Crush
round 14: Crush
round 15: Crush
round 16: Sandstorm
round 17: Deflection
round 18: Crush

Rematch macro to import (other rematch users can paste this team into their rematch via import team).
Shadowbarb Hatchling::1110143:112017S:11102PO:

Video guide https://youtu.be/VqRF3yPvaz4

Comment by Askania

An easy way to win this, remembering that your hatchling does not need to survive. Ikky, Nexus Whelpling and of course Hatchling.

Firstly I don't know that breed matters my Ikky is p/s and Nexus is p/p.

Start with black claw and then flock, should be able to get a second claw in for nexus to use (can win without second claw)

Bring in Nexus use Arcane Storm, does decent damage with the one round of claw, then use Mana Surge.

This is RNG may not always be successful so have bandages on hand, but most people should have these pets for easy not overly long fight.

Comment by andm

I never do pet battles so I improvised with what I had. I always read that Ikky and Unborne Val'kyr are pretty strong so I used these two, both 25.

Started With unborne and haunted the Vil'thik Hatchling.
Swapped to Ikky and used Black Claw then Flock. Ikky died, swapped back to Valkyr and she tanked while finishing with Shadow Slash.

Comment by Rainicorn85

I used Hateful Eye, Hyjal Wisp and Shadowbarb Hatchling. All level 1.

Vil'thik scales to pets level so easy way is to use a team of level one magic pets.

Comment by Caolynn

in case you are having trouble spotting where to battle at ...go to the very top of the pillar at 7, 31

Comment by M4K1TK4

My strategy is not perfect but I had to work with what I had.

Unborn Val'kyr 2/2/1
Emerald Proto-Whelp 2/1/2
Shadowbarb Hatchling 1/2/1 (but didn't manage to use it)
all lvl 25

Started with Val'kyr, used Curse of Doom, then Haunt.
Switched to Proto-Whelp, used Emerald Bite, Ancient Blessing. I used Emerald Dream when the pet was just below 50%.
When Val'kyr had Curse and Haunt off CD I switched to her but sadly Mantid Omnislashed her so I didn't get a chance to use Haunt again. Shadowbarb Hatchling also died to Omnislash.
I finished the fight with Emerald Proto-Whelp - Emerald Bite does just enough damage while the other two healing spells keep it alive.
Good luck!

Comment by Deplore

These forced pet battles are dumb. No matter what I use or what level I can't beat this god damn thing. Looks like I'm not getting the mount...

Comment by adsf

Leveled shadowbarb to 25, because I didn't know before now the battles scale. Stupid blizzard and lame quest chain pet battle hurdles.

Ended up winning with 3 25's
Blossoming Ancient
Ikky
Shadowbarb Hatchling

Comment by Gwiez

I use Sandstorm to keep my hatchling (and other pets) alive and Toxic Skin to do the bulk of the damage. There's some randomness to it, and I was using this particular pets because I was experimenting with their other abilities, so similar pets with better breeds could be used maybe, but was more or less how it went. My hatchling took around 255 damage.
Coastal Sandpiper(S/B x/x/1) Sandstorm on turn 1.
Swap to Dream Whelpling (P/P 1/1/x)
Dream Whelpling uses Toxic Skin.
Dream Whelpling uses Emerald Bite.
Dream Whelpling uses Emerald Bite.
swap to Coastal Sandpiper, and repeat. by the end, the dragonkin bonus buffed Emerald Bite enough to finish it off.

Comment by AFistFullofDice

I used a Hyjal Wisp, Stinkrot, and Bitey McStabface (Shadowbarb Hatchling) all lvl 1. Killed it first attempt after it wiped the floor with my party of 25s.

Comment by Th3King

I just did the battle, I used all level 1 pets since the battle scales with pet level

I used Energized Manafiend

Court Scribe

And of course the Shadowbarb Hatchling

Manafiend and Scribe did most of the work, then they died, then Shadowbarb came in and finished him off since he didn't have much health left

Comment by Ruski

Easiest solution of all: bring 3x level 1 Magic pets, one of which is of course is the Shadowbarb Hatchling. If all your pets are level 1, then the enemy will be level 1. Piece of cake battle with Magic vs. Flying type advantage.

Edit: try to keep your Shadowbarb Hatchling from gaining experience so that the next time in this quest chain you have to pet battle, it's still only level 1.

Comment by Scythix

Nether Faerie Dragon 2/2/1 will destroy Vil'thik. Use moonfire on cooldown, pop life exchange when you are around 50% and fill with arcane blast, I was able to solo him with my H/P breed.

Comment by Jessu

I used Unborn Valkyr (2-2-1), Ikky (1-1-1), and the Shadowbarb Hatchling (note: it did not survive but I still got quest credit).

Here was my battle:

Shadow Shock
Curse of Doom
Haunt (Valkyr dies)
Send in Ikky
Black Claw
Flock
Vil'thik Hatchling dies

Comment by elbardo

I recommend using 2 Stormborne Whelpling at lvl 1.

Comment by CanadianMuff

I just defeated him but didn't get quest completion?

Comment by iamWardeR

Did this with one Pet.

Dream Whelpling

1400HP

Sleeping Gas
Toxic Skin
Emerald Dream

Gas on Cooldown (pray for at least 1 sleep - i got 0)
Skin on Waiting - i know its a waste.
Emerald the last turn of his tornado. (This will maximize heal)

The Enemy Killed himself on me.

Comment by JurMajesty

I've never pet battled. I only have access to two pets in my party. Can I beat even beat this?

Comment by MoonStyx

I used Ikky (2,1,1) , Lil'Tarecgosa (2,1,1) and (ofc) Shadowbarb Hatchling.

Ikky:
-Quills
- Black Claw
- Flock
Ikky Dies

Lil'Tarecgosa:
- Surge of Power
- Any other spell (for example: Arcane Blast)

Done!

Comment by Nelcn

For me as, no desire for pet fights, impossible. Tried everything I could on 25. Unfortunately, I used a level 25 stone right away. If the first pat is dead, the other two aren't 50% hp anymore. The last one can't do anything because it's dead after the first hit.
I hate Blizzard for this crap. I hate pet fights!

Comment by vindurza

Unlike the frustrating work of the falcosaur pet missions you do not need to keep your battle pet alive during this.

Comment by Beace

Lots of various comments here, but the most important point is kinda buried or missed: The hatchling is allowed to die. This means you can simply put it in as level 1, then do the rest of the fight with 1 or 2 strong pets. An Emerald Proto-Whelp can solo the fight.

Comment by ducktor

So easiest way I found so far:

2 x Chrominius pets at level 25
1 x Bitey McStabface (Shadowbarb Hatchling)

Started with the first Chrominius, did a Howl, then a Surge of Power, took just over 50% of the health away from the enemy. Swapped to second Chrominius, Howl, Surge of Power, and enemy should be dead, if not swap to Shadowbarb Hatchling and finish him off with a quick Shadow Talon.

Comment by Xyzetta

Won this battle in 1st try with 3x lvl 1 pets:

Lil' Nefarian - "Shadowflame" until death.
Lil' Tarecgosa - "Breath" until win.
Shadowbarb Hatchling - Did not enter the battle.

Any dragonkin with "Breath" or another dmg ability again Magic as 1st ability should be able to handle the battle.

Good luck!

Comment by sugaraddict

I tried this with a couple of pets strong against Vil'thik Hatchling however the wind move and his attacks on my back line pets resulted in failed attempts. in the end I completed this with a Emerald Proto-whelp (25) took a little while but it worked.. Could have used Unborn Val'Kyr (25) to start us off with the Unholy Ascension move to increase damage by 25% for 9 rounds, alas I was tired and didn't engage my brain..

I Spammed Emerald Bite, kept up Emerald Presence and use Emerald Dream to keep health up. Vil'thik Hatchling will kill the rest of the party including your hatchling but your hatchling does not need to survive to complete the quest

Comment by finear

i dont get it why blizz is forcing us to do pet battles for that

previous pet took me 2h to defeat and i honestly felt like $%^& afterwards, now another q and it looks like there are more to come

Comment by Angellion

I found this fight easier with three level 1 pets, I chose 2 level 1s that had a strong vs flying ability which happened to be Kirin Tor Familiar and Living Amber (but you could choose any that had the strong vs flying ability really) and then the shadowbarb hatchling finished it off.

Comment by Darthvixen

since my shadowbarb got to level 2 from the littlest defender quest preceding this one, the team i ended up winning this quest with was court scribe, living fluid and then shadowbarb hatchling all were level2.

court scribe only lasted three rounds, it could not outheal the damage. boss mob always attacked first

the living fluid fared much better, spamming its #2 attack until the #1 attack said it could do 67 damage (it only hit for 35). he fought to the death.

finally the shadowbarb cleaned up the last three rounds. it took a hit that reduced it to 1hp and managed to attack first to take the win

so in conclusion, for those at level2 trying out this quest, maybe try out the magical pets that have the #2 corrosion attack

Comment by JusCogens

For other battle pet super-newbies like me, here's an easy way to complete this:

Put your hatchling first in a line-up of three level 1 battle pets that have a magic ability. Be sure that neither of the other two pets you use are dragon-type, as they take extra damage from flying abilities.

Deal as much damage as you can with your hatchling, and let the hatchling die. This will prevent him from gaining experience. That way, you can use a line-up of level 1 battle pets for other quests in this quest chain.

You shouldn't have a problem winning with your remaining two battle pets.

Comment by exrec9

Hey all, I've tried multiple times on this with all of the suggested pets but for some reason fail. The tornado thing just about kills my second pet before the first has it down. I've been using Ikky and a combination of the others. Any help would be appreciated.

Comment by Xexji

I didn't see anyone mention this, so I'm saying it here for future players: You DON'T need to send out the Shadowbarb Hatchling for a round to get credit for the quest. It simply has to be on your team. As for how to beat him reliably, I use a Dream Whelpling with the moveset 1,2,2- which while it takes awhile and results in the two backup pets dying, is pretty much a guaranteed win. Just keep Emerald Presence up, Emerald Dream when you need healing, and chip away with Emerald Bite.

Comment by jspfsu

Need your help ppl. I have my hatchling at lvl 6 now.

Please help!

Comment by Octem1

To add another comp that worked easily for me (someone who has barely any battle pets, and also I had my Shadowbarb Hatchling level up to 2 in the previous quest) - I used Lil' Tarecgosa (leveled to 2 outside org) and a Enchanted Tiki Mask (easily buyable off the AH, ~30 g on my realm) also leveled to 2. I started with the tiki mask, and then Tarecgosa was able to finish off the quest mob. Didn't even have to send out the Hatchling. Good luck to everyone!

Comment by Schnaps

I completed this quest tonight using Maut and the Enchanted Tiki Mask. Both were level 2 and their level 2 skills include a 25% damage reduction(self) and increase(npc).

Both died, but the npc health was low enough to allow the hatchling to kill it with one attack.

Comment by Unredeemed

Did this today with a level 1 Enchanted Tiki Mask, level 1 Lil Nefarian, and my hatchling. Tiki Mask did most of the work before dying, Lil Nefarian took care of the rest.

Comment by silver9mm

Helped my sis get this with a lvl 25 Sprite Darter Hatchling; Moonfire, Slicing Wind x2, Life Exchange, repeat! Backup was Iron-bound Whelpling or Soulless Whelp but didn't have to use them.

Comment by Xafire

Soloed it with Dream Whelpling (LvL 25):

Move set:
Emerald Bite
Toxic Skin
Emerald Dream

1. Toxic Skin
2. Emerald Bite
3. Emerald Dream
4. Sleep
5. Sleep - enemy goes below 50% activating your Dragonkin trait
6. Emerald Bite
7. Toxic Skin
8. Emerald Bite

Good luck!

Comment by zetoons

Finally succeeded with Ikki (black claw, savage talon, flock, Ikky dies) Chrominius (howl, Surge of Power, mantid dies)
Remember, the Shadowbarb Hatchling can die and he will be killed right away by the mantid.

Comment by Grimtos

Level 2 following pet :
Shadowbarb drone, Festival lantern and blood boil.

1 : Shadowbarb's Shadowmeld then Shadow Talon until drone died
2 : Festival Lantern : Illuminate then Beam until Lantern died OR the boss died, depend if it critics
3 : Blood Boil : Plagued Blood for safety then Diseased Bite

Comment by Zection

If you're like me and don't have many pets, here's what worked for me:

1x Stormborne Whelpling
1x Proto-Drake Whelp
1x Shadowbard Hatchling

Both Stormborne Whelpling and Proto-Drake Whelp can be bought on the AH and are pretty cheap.

In the battle, just spam 1 and you win.

Comment by Shreddybrek

A load of crap, ive tried multiple builds with different outcomes. The mantid is ridiculously strong for level 1 and his abilities are dumb. His storm continously hits your pet and your other ones in the back!

Comment by Walroz

I also have the Shadowbarb in lvl 25.
2 x in lvl 25 did the works for me.
I opened once with Arcane Blast and then used Howl and Surge of Power. Rinse and repeat with 2nd Chromi - hope the damn Vil'thik wont crit you too much!
2nd Chromi should nuke it dead!
Good luck <3

Comment by zomg5

At first I thought this pet battle was tough because every team i put together gets demolish by him, then i came across the one pet i never even thought about, the Sprite Darter Hatchling which pretty much soloed the battle. Skills are arcane blast, life exchange and moonfire. Moonfire was used first then arcane blast. life exchage was used when the hatchling health was at about 6-7 hundred range then used moonfire off cd, rinse and repeat.

Comment by surandrew777

Help ! With Mantids Mettle ! Uldum Quest>!
Ive been trying to get the mount. I received the pet...Once you get the pet you get the quest Mantids Mettle. I made a mistake and turned my pet to a 25 before I did the quest and now I can not complete it. The pet is supposed to be a level !. I am now stuck and im not sure how to fix or complete the quest line. Im eagerly looking for help, and answers to this issue. If you can help please let me know asap. I realize this was my mistake I should have read the quest first. Please assist.

Thank you,

Drew

Comment by surandrew777

Help ! With Mantids Mettle ! Uldum Quest>!

Ive been trying to get the mount. I received the pet...Once you get the pet you get the quest Mantids Mettle. I made a mistake and turned my pet to a 25 before I did the quest and now I can not complete it. The pet is supposed to be a level !. I am now stuck and im not sure how to fix or complete the quest line. Im eagerly looking for help, and answers to this issue. If you can help please let me know asap. I realize this was my mistake I should have read the quest first. Please assist.

Thank you,

Drew

Comment by dotheknifefight

I would just like to share with everyone that I tried using Ba'al in my first lineup and it did not let me - when I entered into the battle I only had two pets to fight with. Very strange. And not fair considering the lengths it took to get him -lol-

Comment by Satyne

(lvl 25) I had Unborn Valky'r (curse of doom, haunt) and Ikky (black claw, flock). Worked in one go, even though it was a bit tight. Both pets died and only Bitey was still alive. I dont own an emerald whelp, so that's why I posted my setup here. Hope it helps.

Comment by ahapka

At level one, if you have them, use Fragment of Desire and Fragment of Suffering. Not only are their level one spells magic, so they are strong, but that extra life after dying as undead will pretty much guarantee you win.

Comment by Kelthuzad

I just can't get into the pet battles. Every time I try to do it for a quest, I load up my pets and the first one gets trucked while it does little dmg. The next one same thing. Guess I'll do without this mount. Even though I like it it's not worth enduring pet battles.

Comment by ThisIsSonor

I was having troubles with the Dream Whelpling tactics, mine kept dying, so when in doubt, Ikky.

Setup:
Ikky (?-1-1) (lvl25, rare quality)
Bloodbrood Whelpling (?-1-?) (lvl25, rare quality)
Shadowbarb Hatchling

Round 1: Black Claw
Round 2: Flock
Round 3: Ikky is dead, bring in BW
Round 4: Bone Barrage (this is absolute devastation)
Round 5: GG

Tried it multiple times, always worked, if it's not dead yet, use Bone Bite, that should do the trick.

Comment by TheRealSoulDog

Hate this shyte, honestly. To get this far along the questline then have something you dont enjoy and arent prepared for or want to do dumped on you is utter, disrespectful crap.

Comment by Crogeth

Here is a string of the team I used to beat Vil'thik and complete this quest.

Vil'thik Hatchling:4UL7:12102PO:12101N4:2120144:N:Void Cyclone\nVoid Tremors\nShadow Talon - if you have enough health it is RNG.\n\nBring in Manafiend\nArcane storm\n\nBring Mindslayer\nLife Exchange\nMana Surge\nMindslayer died \nFinish it with Manafiend Surge of Power and pray to the gods for he survives Cyclone if not, repeat duels until you win.

Because I was struggling with this quest for a couple of hours, trying to figure out how to win this cursed duel to finish a quest, watching almost every guide/video I can found and nothing helped me.
Then I make this team, well let's say it was painful but in the end, after many many attempts I figure out the order of spells and when to use them. The truth is, this is not an optimal setup but after 9.0.1 when the debuff from Flock is reduced to 50% instead of 100% before pre-patch the life exchange is far the best way to beat Vil'thik. I'm sure it is easier when you can use level 1 pets but there is a lot of us who have quest pet on max level. Hope this will help even it's not 100%

Comment by Slunko

Slowly but surely, Emerald Proto-Whelp (2-2-2) solos it.

Comment by Skychild

Nothing worked for me cause I do not do pet battles and Shadowbarb Hatchling is level 2 after the last daily! So I didn't have many pets at level 2!
If you battle with level 1 the opponent follows the level of Shadowbarb so it almost one shots your pets.

So in my case I used Shadowbarb Hatcling as the first pet cause it has + to flying. I used -> Shadowmeld -> Shadow Talon x2 until dead.
Then Darkmoon Glowfly with -> GLowing Toxin -> Scratch x2.
And last I used Curious Oracle Hatchling with -> Super Sticky Goo -> Punch x2 or x3 and last Super Sticky Goo again and I won!

Hope it helps...

Comment by Krysteen

I did mine based on another poster's set, and thought Id clarify how it worked for me. All pets are level 25.

Unborn Valkyr (any/2/1)
Ikky (any/1/1)
Shadowbarb Hatchling (1/any/any)

Unborn Valkyr
Curse of Doom
Haunt
UV dies.
Ikky
Black Claw
Flock

After Ikky dies, just have the Hatchling attack with Shadow Talon, and the target should die before the Hatchling does.

Worked for me first time.

Comment by Outsiderxxx

As patch 9.1.5, nothing on the comments below worked for me. I did it with a recommendation of one of my friends:

1. Chrominius - With Bite, Howl, Surge of Power (1, 1, 2)
2. Chrominius - With Bite, Howl, Surge of Power (1, 1, 2) again
3. Shadowbarb Hatchling - any

Please note that to complete the quest, Shadowbarb Hatchling should be in your team and it shouldn't be alive or even be summoned.

Combat:

1. Howl
2. Surge of Power
3. Bite - first Chrominius dies, the second Chrominius enters with approx. %40 healthy
4. Howl
5. Surge of Power - Vil'thik Hatchling dies.

Chrominius is sold on AH not more than 1k on crowded servers. I just bought my missing second for 840 g.

Good luck on getting mount and have fun :)

Comment by Exsound

Just did this one today with a full party of lvl 25 pets.
What I used:

Ikky: Use black claw, then flock. When flock stopped, I used black claw and flock again until it dies.
Will of Remornia: Dark Bolt to start, Siphon Anima to recover some health and then Soul Steal.

Didn't even need to use the drone. GL!

Comment by Luckytat

Beat this today with a level 1 Lil' Nefarian, level 1 Chrominius, and Shadowbarb Hatchling. Tried quite a few combos suggested in the comments and the dragons didn't fail me. With the extra damage from dragonkin, and then the speed boost from flying for the shadowbarb, SUCCESS. Phew.

Comment by Myriell

i used two lvl 1 magic pets, and the shadowbard hatchling as a third, and it worked fine.

Comment by wreckanizerdkeu

Ok, what the heck. No matter the tactic i follow. My pet gets squished, has Vil'thik been buffed or what as of 10.2.5? :O

Links

The Mantids' Mettle

Defeat the Vil'thik Hatchling in a pet battle with your Shadowbarb Hatchling in your party.

	Vil'thik Hatchling defeated (1)

Description

Observing the combat techniques of the mantid may prove helpful for our hatchling's training, offering a different way to use the natural weapons of an insect. I have found a mantid opponent that our hatchling could face in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. Take him there and see how he does.

Progress

Completion

Rewards

You will receive:

Gains

Upon completion of this quest you will gain:

900 reputation with Aqir Hatchling

See if you've already completed this by typing:

/run print(C_QuestLog.IsQuestFlaggedCompleted(58861))

Guides

Raising the Shadowbarb Drone - Mount, Pet and Toy Information Visions of N'zoth Legendary Pet Battle Strategies