End of an Era: Pet Battles Retired in World of Warcraft: Midnight
Wild pets in Midnight are now instant collectibles — no stats, no levels, no battles.
After more than a decade of turn-based pet duels and strategic collecting, World of Warcraft is officially saying goodbye to wild pet battles in its upcoming expansion, Midnight.
Players testing the alpha quickly noticed something different — wild pets in the new zones no longer challenge you to battle. Instead, a simple click captures them instantly as soulbound items, with no stats, levels, or abilities attached. It’s a major departure from the system first introduced in Mists of Pandaria back in 2012, which allowed players to level up their pets, collect rare breeds, and even battle NPCs or other players for achievements and rewards.
Game Director Ion Hazzikostas confirmed in an interview that the change is intentional. Blizzard has decided to move away from pet battle content “for Midnight,” citing low player engagement and a desire to focus development time on more widely played systems. While all previous pet battle content will remain intact, new pets in Midnight — and likely future expansions — will be collectible only, without the combat mechanics fans once enjoyed.
For collectors, this streamlining may be a relief — no more grinding through zones to level hundreds of pets. But for long-time fans who cherished the minigame’s tactical depth and Pokémon-inspired charm, it marks the end of an era. Whether this is a temporary shift or a permanent farewell, one thing is certain: the age of battling critters across Azeroth is coming to a quiet close.
What it means
Midnight keeps pet collecting alive, but retires battling from new content — a quieter future for critters in Azeroth.
