I just came across this video via WoW Moviewatch (on WoW Insider). If you’ve been following things somewhat closely, you’ll know that the new Grimtotem Spirit Guide is extremely difficult to tame. This ghostly wolf is summoned in a Dustwallow Marsh event but only survives for 8 seconds. Since the Tame Pet skill takes 20 seconds to channel, this is obviously a problem!

With the right combination of buffs and gear ([Mystical Skyfire Diamond] to the rescue), you can lower that cast time below the necessary 8 second threshold. Mania has a nice write up on the ghost wolf, including taming information.

I stumbled across Lord Captain Wyrmak while questing in The Swamp of Sorrows (coordinates 72, 39 to be exact). He isn’t elite, so the fight wasn’t very tough. You do need to keep Somnus in mind any time you are killing green dragons in The Swamp of Sorrows. He has a nasty habit of popping up when you least expect it. As a 62 elite dragon, my Freeze Trap would have had no effect on him.

Naturally, the point of killing any rare is the guaranteed loot you’ll receive. Once again, I was disappointed to find I was the proud owner of a shiny new pair of Embossed Plate Leggings of the Whale. Maybe I need to give up rare hunting?

(Brief side note, I think it’s a little cruel to be giving out items called “of the Whale”. I mean, come on, Blizzard! Do these pants make me look fat?)

As with most rares, I wouldn’t actually suggest going in search of Lord Captain Wyrmak. But, if you are questing or grinding in The Swamp of Sorrows, there’s no reason not to keep an eye out for him.

Happy Hunting!

Seeing as Skhowl is not elite and was four levels below me, this was an easy fight. Gullinbursti could have easily soloed him, but what’s the fun in that?

My reward for inadvertently stumbling across this rare spawn and wiping out him and one of his yeti brethren? Why, the ever so useful Feathered Headdress, of course! Naturally, I disenchanted it and went on my merry way.

For you all you rare spawn hunters out there, Skhowl can be found in the Alterac Mountains to the west of the Ruins of Alterac. His body fell at coordinates 34, 50.

As always, I was rewarded with a fairly useless item. This time, it’s Ivycloth Pants of the Owl. Time to hit the ol’ disenchant button. Oh well.

The next time you are strolling through The Charred Vale (at approximately 28,69), I suggest you pay a visit to Sister Riven. It shouldn’t be too tough a fight, especially if you have your trusty pig by your side.

Like Hagg Taurenbane, the main difficulty with Digger Flameforge is the mobs around him. If you can clear the area of Bael’dun Excavators and Bael’dun Foremen, you will have an easier time. Your plight is worsened by the fact that these particular dwarves do not display the usual bravery of their brethren and run when the fight is taken to them. Since he is only rare and not elite, Digger is really no different than any other mob, and therefore should not present any real challenge.

The pleasure of downing Digger Flameforge was amplified by my just reward: Greenweave Vest of the Eagle. Oh how I love my disenchants!

When I first bumped into this rare elite, he was basking in the glory of being the Champion of the Razormane quilboar clan. No doubt, this is quite an honor. Unfortunately (for him), Mr. Taurenbane’s reign as Champion was short-lived.

The only real challenge presented by this mob is the stealthed mobs all around him. They are not tied to him (meaning you can pull him solo), but they are so thick and respawn so quickly that clearing the area is difficult. In my case, I sent Gullinbursti in to tank the Champion while I picked and weaved my way through the stealthers. In the end, we triumphed, but not after I had taken a sound beating from the mobs I had been kiting in circles around Hagg Taurenbane.

And what would my reward be? (Other than the pride and honor that come with being the new Razormane Champion, of course.) Why none other than Ivycloth Boots of the Eagle. Huzzah!

Just what every young Horde Hunter needs.

After watching her zip by me twice, I set up right in her path and waited patiently. I hit her with Concussive Shot and sent Echeyakee in to handle the tanking. As always, Echeyakee performed admirably (with a little Mend Pet help), and together we tamed this filly.

What was our reward for a job well done? Scouting Bracers of the Monkey! Finally, after killing all these rares, one dropped an item I could use.

The nice thing about Swiftmane is that she spawns in the general area of Humar the Pridelord. So, if you are Humar-camping, you can probably drop her many, many times!

This mob is rare, but not elite. The only real problem he presents is his proximity to other quilboars. The chances are good that any battle with him will include at least one or two adds. Unfortunately, Ol’ Gukk’rok likes to cast Renew and Power Word: Shield on his quilboar buddies.

This is not only annoying, it’s down right deadly. Therefore, you must concentrate on burning him down before moving on to the rest of the Bristlebacks.

As always, rares drop better gear than their comrades, and this was no exception. My reward for all my hard work? Willow Robe of the Whale, baby. Oh yeah!

Razorsnout has a lot of health and the ability to heal himself quickly. As a hunter, I don’t have much in terms of spell interruption other than the attacks of my pet (Gullinbursti the boar) and my gun. This means chewing through a lot of mob health in order to burn him down. Luckily, the ability to Mend Pet means my little duo has a healer, too.

I stumbled across Razorsnout while dispatching Kreenig Snarlsnout for Thork (The Disruption Ends). He was hanging out in a group of huts just east of Kreenig’s location (coordinates: 49,24 The Barrens). For my effort, I was rewarded with a Primal Cape.