Updated 27.03.2026
"A shepherd commands not with the sword, but with the crook — and the beasts that follow are all the sharper for it." — Rancher Elsbeth of Delucia
Herding is a combat skill that strengthens the bond between a tamer and their followers. A trained herder who wields a Shepherd's Crook empowers their pets to strike harder and move faster in battle. The skill scales gradually — novice herders will notice modest improvements, while grandmasters command truly fearsome companions.
Herding is classified as a combat skill and primarily trains Intelligence, with Strength as a secondary stat.
While Herding has traditionally been a skill for Tamers, the benefits now extends to Tamed Pets, Summoner creatures, Necromancer pets, and Mage summons - Huzzah!
The Shepherd's Crook is a two-handed macing weapon and the cornerstone of the herding system. Without a crook in hand, your herding skill lies dormant — equip one, and your pets immediately benefit from your training.
Necromancers who walk the path of undeath have access to a darker version: the Cursed Shepherd's Crook. This sinister instrument, distinguished by its deep purple hue, can be purchased from the Collector of Souls vendor using soul currency. Only those who have embraced undeath may acquire one.
The Cursed Crook functions identically to a normal Shepherd's Crook for herding purposes — your pets receive the same damage and speed bonuses. However, it unlocks two powerful necromantic abilities:
Raising the Undead — When collecting souls from fallen creatures, a necromancer wielding a Cursed Crook may raise undead servants from certain corpses. Up to three undead can be raised in a single soul collection. Without the Cursed Crook equipped, you will sense the dark potential but lack the means to harness it.
Not all creatures yield undead servants. Among those that do:
Blood Siphon — This necromantic spell requires the Cursed Crook to be equipped. Attempting to cast it with any other weapon will cause that weapon to be unequipped automatically.
Over the years, various seasonal crooks have been awarded during Easter events. These special crooks function identically to the standard Shepherd's Crook for herding purposes — any crook will do.
Simply equipping any crook and having trained Herding skill is enough to empower your pets. There is no ability to activate — the bond between herder and beast does the work automatically.
Your pets deal increased damage against creatures, scaling with your Herding skill. At grandmaster level, your followers can deal up to 35% more damage than without your guidance.
Your pets gain increased movement speed, scaling with your Herding skill. At grandmaster level, your pets gain up to +20% movement speed, allowing them to keep up with you and their targets much more effectively.
Note: Passive bonuses only apply against creatures. They do not grant additional damage against other players or their pets.
Long ago, the Aggression ability was used by Herders to direct their Pets against specific foes. Herding is now fully passive and references to the Aggression ability should be ignored.
Simply have your crook equipped while your pet fights. Each time your pet lands a hit, you have a chance to gain skill. There is a short cooldown between gain checks, so this is a steady method of training.
Scholars of inscription have discovered how to craft Veterinary Manuals — enchanted tomes that, when activated, enhance your herding abilities beyond their natural limits. These magical books may bear any combination of the following blessings:
| Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|
| Increased Herding Damage | Further increases the passive damage your pets deal (5-10% bonus) |
| Increased Herding Effectiveness | Enhances both damage and speed bonuses from herding (10-20% bonus) |
| Increased Aggression Damage | Strengthens the passive damage bonus from Herding |
| Increased Aggression Duration | Further Increases the pet's movement speed bonus |
The quality of these enchantments varies. Inscribers may achieve standard or radiant magnitudes, with the finest manuals providing substantially greater benefits.
A herder bearing a powerful Veterinary Manual alongside a well-crafted crook can push their pet's capabilities far beyond what skill alone provides.
| What You Need | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Any crook equipped + Herding skill | Passive pet damage bonus (up to +35%) |
| Any crook equipped + Herding skill | Passive pet speed bonus (up to +20%) |
| Crook + Aggression ability | Active damage boost (+20% base, stackable to 3) |
| Cursed Crook + Necromancy | Raise undead from certain corpses |
| Cursed Crook + Blood Siphon | Required for the Blood Siphon spell |
| Veterinary Manual (inscribed book) | Enhanced herding damage and speed bonuses |
May your crook never splinter and your pets never falter.
— The Britannia Tamers' Guild