Relatively new to the game (played a few years ago and grinded rep for void elves, but never fully leveled a character). I started a BM hunter and am having a lot of fun. I have a few questions, though. For reference, I am nearly at level 30.
Pets: So far I just have the starting warp stalker pet. I like that it’s a tank pet, but I heard BM can have two pets. I’ve been unable to summon more than one at a time, when will I be able to summon two? Also, what other pet should I try to get? Maybe a damage/ferocity pet?
Spec: I’ve been leveling so far as BM, which is fun. Is there any point you’d recommend swapping to marksman?
Leveling areas: I am finishing up in Darkshade. What areas or former content quest chain do you recommend for either efficiency of leveling or worthwhile rewards/unlocks?
Beast Mastery can indeed have 2 pets, but it requires you to select the talent called Animal Companion(in the Beast Mastery talent section).
Do note that in order to get that second pet, you must have the talent selected, and you need to place the pet you want as your second, in the first stable slot in your stables(accessible when talking to a Stable Master in a city). The interface you can open by talking to a Stable Master displays your “active” pets on the left side of the window(vertically) while all your stabled “inactive” pets are shown on the grid pages at the bottom of the window. Again, the pet you want as your second must be placed in the top left slot on the first of those grid-based pages in that window.
As for what pet you “should” get, it’s recommended that you run with a Ferocity pet while leveling up, as they come with a bonus to Leech(allows the pet to heal itself when dealing damage with it’s attacks, incl Kill Command which you use manually). In terms of Ferocity pets, the best one you can get is one that’s called a Clefthoof, as they bring additional helpful bonuses that makes them tougher to kill.
If you want to, sure, whenever really. But BM really is the easiest for leveling.
You’ll need the animal companion talent to have two pets out at once. the second pet that is summoned is your 1st pet in your stable.
As far as pets go, I tend to keep one of each type of pet with me. So a Tenacity, Ferocity, and cunning. Honestly, I barely use my cunning and mostly use tenacity and Ferocity. Ferocity will give you increased leech and Hero/Bloodlust, Tenacity increased your overall health and spirit beasts have a minor heal to them. Spirit beasts can only be used by BM.
I would do the “Warlords of Draenor” timewalking campaign if you can. The intro to this expansion is by far the most efficient questline in the entire game and the zones after are relatively good too for density/exploration/lore/aesthetics/ease. Plus, you get a new hearthstone
Keep a cunning pet in your sack for the movement bonus “Pathfinding” in case you have to cover a lot of ground and you’re indoors or anywhere you can’t use your mount.
Look at Wowhead and Icy-veins for ideas about your talent trees. Keep in mind that some of their suggestions are for max-level group activities, not so much for someone leveling solo.
Your second pet can definitely be whatever sort of beast looks coolest to you.