So, this talent was first introduced with BfA. Since then, there has been a hidden aura modifier that applies whenever you select this talent. This aura intends to reduce the damage dealt by your main pet(and by extension) the second pet as well, so that they both deal 65% of normal damage each.
Talent:
Animal Companion
Talent
Requires Hunter (Beast Mastery) | Requires level 15Your Call Pet additionally summons the first pet from your stable. This pet will obey your Kill Command, but cannot use pet family abilities.
Aura effect:
Effect #2 Apply Aura: Mod Pet Damage %
Value: -35%
The problem here is that this hidden aura(which, in my opinion, should be disclosed in some way) applies not only to your two main pets, but also to several other temporary beasts and companions which you are able to summon. Such as the Spitting Cobra you can summon when you pick the talent with the same name, along with some guardians summoned from on-use trinkets etc.
Again, there’s no logic that supports this remaining as is, and it has been an issue since the start of the Battle for Azeroth-expansion.
At the very least, this calls for a fix. Although my preferred option would be to do this for Beast Mastery Hunters: Make Animal Companion a baseline passive effect, rather than keeping it as a talent choice.
[Animal Companion] - Passive
You may call 1 additional pet to fight for you at all times. The second pet will obey your Kill Command, but cannot use pet family abilities.If you have two active pets, they both use the same damaging abilities and benefit from the same effects(Predator’s Thirst, Endurance Training, Pathfinder, etc.), but they only deal 50% of normal damage.
Only using 1 pet instead causes that pet to deal 100% of normal damage.
Make it a choice not about damage but about the visual of fighting with one or two permanent pets.