Unleash the Beast

Some of the individuals on this list cajole beasts through force while others form lifelong bonds with them. Captain Olimar, in contrast, is able to persuade a newly-discovered species with a simple whistle! After crash landing on a distant planet, Olimar encounters plant-like creatures called Pikmin who grow in the ground like flowers. Within minutes, the space-faring captain has the Pikmin answering to his every beck and call. At Olimar’s command, the Pikmin will gather resources, attack hostile predators, and build infrastructure. His very survival depends on his ability to control the creatures. The only reason he’s not ranked higher is because his colleagues display a similar level of control over the Pikmin. It would seem that the Pikmin are inherently agreeable creatures.

Several Dota 2 heroes can summon wild animals. The Lone Druid has a spirit bear companion, the Lycan enlists the help of wolves, and the Broodmother fights along side an army of spiders. Karroch the Beastmaster is the best fit for this list, but you probably could have figured that out by his name. While under the employ of a cruel king, Karroch learned to communicate with captive animals and helped them overthrow their master. In battle, Karroch can summon wild boars to harass his enemies or a scouting hawk to gain a vision advantage. He is one with nature’s savagery, and his animal companions bring utility to any team. He doesn’t offer a lot in the name of originality, however. In his first outing Karroch was named Rexxar in reference to a similar character from the Warcraft universe.

Takkar is a nomadic hunter with a special connection with wildlife. He was called Beast Master by his tribe, but this didn’t stop a bloodfang sabretooth from wiping out his hunting party and killing his brother. Takkar was the sole survivor of the attack, and he developed an uncanny ability to tame prehistoric predators by luring them in and waving his hands in the air. Tamed beasts could be summoned remotely and issued basic commands, and the larger animals could even be used as mounts! Naturally, Takkar used his newfound Beast Master powers to defeat his enemies and become the leader of his own tribe. Along the way, Takkar had the opportunity to tame dholes, badgers, wolves, jaguars, leopards, lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) His powers even worked on the bloodfang sabretooth that killed his brother.

You don’t need whips or telepathic powers to tame a beast. Even Olimar’s whistle is superfluous. Sometimes, all you need is a little compassion. Ba’ul is a flying, whale-like creature called an Entelexeia who was believed to be a dangerous monster. A young girl named Judith refused to view him in this manner, however, and went out of her way to befriend the lonely creature. Judith and Ba’ul have a special bond, and they are very protective of one another. As the pair worked together to destroy dangerous magical devices, Judith came to be known as a “dragon freak.” Although Judith was close to Ba’ul, she was often withdrawn and had trouble connecting with others. She had no trouble opening up to a supposed monster, but it takes some time before she’ll let her guard down around humans.

Taming one beast is difficult enough, but Matsu Maeda can summon a number of different animals to help her in battle. She wields a katana with great efficiency and can bend the wind to her will, but its ultimately the steadfast support of her animal friends that makes her unique. At her command, wild boars will zigzag across battlefields, moles will emerge from underground, and hawks will attack from the sky. The bears she summons are ferocious enough to paralyze her enemies with fear! If the situation calls for it, she can summon all of her allies at the same time. When the animals aren’t too busy attacking, they can also be used as a form of transportation. Matsu isn’t the most intimidating warrior, but she’s bound to raise a few eyebrows when she’s riding around on bears or using hawks as veritable hang gliders.

Nakoruru is one of the most iconic characters from the SNK pantheon, so I’m happy to finally give her some recognition on this website. The kind-hearted shrine maiden is defined by her gentle disposition and a love of nature. She’s not the most imposing fighter, but she makes up for her deficiencies in power and weapon range with her air supremacy and a trusty hawk sidekick named Mamahaha. The powerful bird functions like a makeshift projectile and provides protection against air-based attacks. Nakoruru can even ride Mamahaha for brief periods of time, and its wings are powerful enough to create whirlwinds! Although Mamahaha is her most loyal companion, Nakoruru also has other animal friends that can help her in battle. I guess that’s one of the benefits of being able to communicate with nature.

Rexxar is a massive warrior who wields two huge axes with tremendous skill. Born of a union between orcs and ogres, his mixed ancestry contributed to his imposing physical stature. Rexxar towers over most of his adversaries and he could accurately be described as a beast himself. As dangerous as he is on his own, Rexxar understands the benefits of pack mentality. To that end, he surrounds himself with menagerie of animal companions that help him survive. Rexxar trust the wilderness more than the civilized world, and he has befriended many creatures in his travels – including wolves, wyverns, and cursed dread ravens. His most trusted companion is a magical bear name Misha who follows the half-orc around and fights by his side. Rexxar’s cunning and Misha’s ferocity make them a formidable team.

Wyverns are relatively common in the Fire Emblem universe, but the stubborn creatures are difficult to tame. A strong will is required if you want to ride them, but the vicious creatures show steadfast dedication to the right master. There were a handful of wyvern riders that were considered for this list. Camilla probably has the largest fan base (not to mention the largest bustline), but no wyvern rider is more proficient than Haar. He’s pretty lazy and has trouble staying awake at times, but he’s an exceptional fighter. All bets are off when he’s swooping down from the skies with a giant axe in hand. He also deserves credit for his durability, and he can survive hordes of enemy units unscathed. Haar is basically a flying tank, and he’s almost invincible after he’s promoted to the Dragonlord class.

Several Final Fantasy games allow players to enlist the help of powerful creatures. Final Fantasy V started the tradition with the Trainer class, Espers were introduced in Final Fantasy VI, and Final Fantasy XI featured the aptly-named Beastmaster class. Yuna’s journey to master the sacred art of summoning is central to the plot of Final Fantasy X. Only a chosen few become summoners, and Yuna has to subject herself to intense training before she can communicate with powerful creatures called Aeons. Once summoned, the Aeons will replace party members in battle and fight in their place. The importance of Aeons cannot be overstated, and Yuna’s ability to summon them is imperative as she embarks on a pilgrimage to expel a monstrous creature from the land.

The Pokémon franchise is built around the concept of capturing creatures called Pokémon (or “pocket monsters”). There are hundreds of known species of Pokémon, and the creatures are often used for entertainment and industrial purposes. Pokémon can be caught in the wild (usually through the use of a Pokéball), but they can also be obtained through trade or won through Pokémon battles. These battles could be likened to cock fights, but Pokémon training is a way of life in the series. Entire economies are built around the creatures, and it’s socially acceptable for children to leave home in order to catch them. Each generation of Pokémon has introduced us to new trainers, but all of them have been passionate about Pokémon and have been defined by an unshakable desire to catch ’em all.