- Aggressive rushers: Go for Detective Panda or Rockie, who cuts active skill cooldowns by 15% at max level to let you use your character skill more often
- Defensive campers or long-range snipers: Mr. Waggor is non-negotiable, with extra gloo walls to block incoming fire and reposition safely if you get flanked
- Support squad players: Choose Spirit Fox, who heals 4 HP per second for all teammates inside your gloo wall structure to keep your whole team alive during team fights
Rockie is a particularly underrated pick for aggressive players who use characters with long cooldowns, like Alok or Chrono. Rockie’s Stay Chill ability shaves 10 seconds off Alok’s 60 second cooldown at max level, letting you drop his healing aura more often during extended squad fights. I used Rockie paired with Alok for an entire ranked season in 2021, and I found I won 30% more close squad fights because I could pop my heal faster than the enemy team could.
For support players, Spirit Fox is the only pet you need to consider. Its ability stacks with other healing effects, so if you’re using Alok’s aura inside a gloo wall, your team is healing for 14 HP per second total, which is fast enough to tank through almost any incoming fire as long as you don’t get caught out in the open. The only catch is that it only works if your team stays inside the gloo wall, so it’s not great if your squad likes to spread out and rush separately.
Overlooked Free Fire Pets That Punch Above Their Weight in 2021
Not all the best pets of 2021 are in the S tier, and there are a few hidden gems that offer massive value for very specific use cases. These pets don’t work for everyone, but if you fit their niche, they can be even better than the top tier picks.
First is Falco, the falcon pet made exclusively for hot drop players. Falco’s Skyline Spree ability makes your gliding speed 45% faster after opening your parachute, and 20% faster for all squad members. That means you land 2-3 seconds earlier than anyone else dropping at the same location, so you can grab a gun and start picking off enemies before they even touch the ground. I used Falco for all my hot drop runs to Peak and Factory in 2021, and I got the first kill in 70% of those matches just because I landed first. It’s completely useless if you prefer to drop at quiet locations and loot up first, though, so skip it if you don’t like early game fights.
Another overlooked pick is Ottero, the otter pet perfect for players who like to play slow and survive to the end zone. Ottero’s Double Bubbles ability converts 65% of med kit HP recovery into EP, so every time you use a med kit, you get full HP plus extra EP that lets you run faster and heal over time without using extra items. This is incredibly useful in the late game, when the safe zone is small and you don’t have time to stop and use multiple healing items. The only downside is that it doesn’t work with first aid kits, only full med kits, so you have to make sure you stock up on med kits early in the match.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Picking a Free Fire Pet in 2021
Even the best pet in the game won’t help you if you use it wrong, and I saw a lot of players make the same avoidable mistakes with their pet loadouts in 2021. These small errors can cost you a lot of wins, so make sure you’re not falling into any of these traps.
The first mistake is picking a pet just because it looks cute. A lot of players picked pets like Kitty or Poring in 2021 because they liked their design, but their abilities are far weaker than the meta picks, and you’re giving up a lot of free buffs for a cosmetic. You can always buy skins for your favorite meta pet if you want it to look cooler, so don’t sacrifice gameplay for looks.
Another mistake is not matching your pet to your character build. If you main a defensive character like Kapella who focuses on healing, picking Detective Panda is a waste, because you’re not going to be getting enough kills to make use of its healing buff. Always pick a pet that complements your character’s skills, not one that works against them. For example, if you main Chrono, pair him with Rockie to cut his long cooldown, not with Falco that only helps with landing speed.
The last big mistake is not upgrading your pet to max level. A lot of players will unlock a meta pet and leave it at level 1, but the difference between level 1 and max level abilities is massive. For example, Mr. Waggor only generates a gloo wall every 180 seconds at level 1, which is 60 seconds slower than its max level cooldown. Always spend your pet food on your main pet first before upgrading any other pets, even if you want to test out new ones.
At the end of the day, if you’re still wondering which is the best pet in Free Fire in 2021, the short answer is that it depends entirely on how you play. If you want the most universally useful option that works for every playstyle, Mr. Waggor is the clear winner, and it’s the pick I recommend for 90% of players. If you’re an aggressive rusher, go for Detective Panda or Rockie, and if you main support, pick Spirit Fox. The best way to find the right pet for you is to test 2-3 options for 5-10 matches each, and see which one feels most natural to how you play. I stuck with Mr. Waggor for most of 2021, and it’s still one of my go-to picks even now, because the extra gloo walls offer value in every single match you play.