Houndmaster Strategy Guide

The Houndmaster is the fifth class in Vagante, and is unlocked by reaching progression level 17. It is notable for having a pet companion that can deal damage, soak incoming damage, and be used as a projectile.

Overview
Houndmaster has low VIT and low INT but has high STR and LCK. With no way to dodge attacks like Rogue and Wilding, you should exercise caution in close quarters or otherwise keep a safe distance relying on the pet to deal damage.

Manipulating Pet Behavior
Assuming at least one level of Pet Offense is learned, The pet will continue lunging at a targeted enemy while picked up as long as the enemy does not exit the pet's targeting range. When the pet is thrown, it will be in a lunge attack state. When the pet contacts an enemy, damage from the lunge will be dealt and damage from Furry Missile will also be dealt, resulting in a decent burst of damage especially if the pet lunges multiple times.

There is a small delay between each lunge and the pet must be in the lunge state in order for it execute another lunge which means you cannot throw the pet straight at the enemy on flat ground because the pet will land on the ground and exit the lunge state before. Throwing the pet upwards will suspend it in the air for long enough to perform another lunge.

Advantages

 * High starting STR
 * High starting LCK
 * Pet that can soak damage and deal damage

Disadvantages

 * Poor starting INT and VIT
 * No access to invincibility

Furry Missile
This build focuses on a playstyle centered around throwing the dog. Since 1.08.3, what used to be pet utility 2 is now innate to Houndmaster.

Note: the ability to throw the dog will referred to as Furry Missile, since that is what the affinity used to be called.

Background
Experienced or Strong

Skill Order
These are a couple of skill orders that you can use a guideline for what affinities to learn.

If you want to pump more damage into the throw itself:
 * Pet Bond x4 -> Pet Offense x3 -> Everything else up to you

If you want to utilize barking more
 * Pet Utility x3 (4th point is optional if you want bouncing but you lose the capability to pierce) -> Pet Bond x3 -> Everything else up to you

Furry Missile
Furry Missile is the most damaging attack that Houndmaster can deal. Furry Missile damage increases as you level up and also increases from Command Aura and Item Bond. Two points or three points into Pet Utility is up to personal preference. The former is best for when you want the pet projectile to pierce through multiple enemies. The latter is best if you want the pet to be able to bounce back to you.

Pet Utility
Telling the dog to sit will put it into Guard. While in Guard, the dog will periodically bark at nearby enemies, stunning and applying a slow debuff on them. The bark is useful for crowd control and keeping enemies from closing in. The dog can also reflect projectiles with the bark if timed correctly. The slow debuff is large enough that it will nearly immobilize slow enemies such as zombies and golems.

Pet Bond
Command Aura will increase the damage of Furry Missile and the pet's bite and lunge by a considerable amount. It will also reduce the damage taken by the pet. Substitute will reduce the damage you take by 25-30%. For Item Bond, STR and LCK are the most useful stats for the pet. VIT is decent for increasing survivability. Save weapons with useful attributes like Burning, Freezing, and Shocking if you're playing solo so you can give your pet those attributes.

Pet Offense
Lunge provides a large boost to the pet's DPS and also gives it some range. Weakpoint will make critical hits on both the lunge and normal bite attack proc quite frequently. The lunge can be used in conjunction with Furry Missile which is explained in depth at the Manipulating Pet Behavior section.