You know what’s better than beating a giant monster with a sword? Getting a giant monster to do it for you. That’s the creed of every beastmaster in gaming—a wonderfully unhinged club where the membership fee is usually just some raw meat, a mysterious flute, or a soul-deep pact with a bear. As a lifelong gamer, I’ve always been drawn to characters who look at a towering acid-spitting skag or a metal-plated tyrannosaur and think, “Yeah… we could be besties.” In 2026, the beastmaster fantasy is stronger than ever, with new DLCs, remasters, and even live-service shenanigans reminding us that nothing beats charging into battle with a furry (or scaly, or robotic) companion by your side. So put on your animal-whisperer hat, and let’s celebrate the most iconic beastmasters who ever graced our screens.
The Tarnished (Elden Ring) – Because Sometimes You Need a Jellyfish Ally
Picture this: you’re a forsaken warrior, freshly banished, suddenly called back to the Lands Between because a cosmic golden hoop snappily broke. The world is terrifying. Everything wants to kill you. And then a nice lady hands you a bell… a bell that can summon spectral beasts. Cue the Spirit Jellyfish. Honestly, the Tarnished is the ultimate DIY beastmaster—you can roll with a pack of wolves, a headless troll, or that weirdly loyal mimic tear that looks just like you. The beauty of Elden Ring’s beastmaster magic is that it’s entirely in your hands. Want to be a mage with a hawk summon? Go for it. Craving a bear that tanks Godrick while you snipe from a safe distance? Absolutely. In 2026, the game still spawns insane summon combos thanks to the community’s endless creativity, reminding me that the scariest thing in the Lands Between isn’t Margit—it’s a naked Tarnished with a jellyfish.
Takkar (Far Cry Primal) – Sabretooth Taxi Service, 10,000 BCE
Rewind to the Stone Age, when the ultimate survival flex was walking into camp on the back of a sabretooth tiger while your tribe looked on in awe. Takkar, the Wenja tribesman, is my personal highlight of Far Cry Primal. He starts as the lone survivor of his hunting group and slowly becomes a literal predator whisperer. The first time I tamed a bear and sent it barreling into an enemy outpost, I felt like I’d hacked reality. Takkar’s beastmaster skills develop organically—from baiting wolves to riding tigers—and each new animal adds a layer of hilarity to the chaos. There’s something profoundly satisfying about a stealthy ambush where your owl drops beehives on heads while your pet leopard mauls a Neanderthal… life goals, honestly.
The Fortnite Loopers – Taming Wolves and Riding Boars Into the Storm
Let’s be real—Fortnite is basically a fever dream where Batman does the griddy and then rides a wolf across a floating island. Since Chapter 2 Season 6, wildlife taming has been a thing, and it’s only gotten wilder by 2026. Boars, wolves, even raptors can be bribed with meat and turned into mounted death machines. The sheer absurdity of the scenario never gets old. I once saw Goku riding a wolf while someone in a hot-dog costume opened fire from a raptor’s back. It’s not just gameplay; it’s performance art. Fortnite’s beastmaster vibe isn’t about deep lore—it’s about the moment you look your squadmate in the eye and say, “Hold my chug jug, I’m going to ride this boar off a cliff.” And then you do.
Rexxar (Warcraft) – Half-Ogre, Full-Time Bear Dad
You can’t talk about beastmasters without paying homage to Rexxar, the half-ogre, half-orc champion of the Horde. His sidekick Misha the bear isn’t just a pet—she’s his ride-or-die, his therapist, and probably the only one who can match his appetite for raw meat. Rexxar is a walking tank with axes and a permanent plus-one who happens to be a grizzly. Even in 2026, after countless Warcraft expansions and spinoffs, the duo remains iconic. What makes Rexxar so great is that he’s deadly on his own, but with Misha he’s a one-man army. I mean, the dude casually tames wild wyverns and boars; he’s basically a chaotic zoo owner with an axe to grind… literally.
Karroch, the Beastmaster (Dota 2) – Boars, Hawks, and a Primal Roar
In Dota 2, Karroch is the blueprint for the archetype—he literally goes by “Beastmaster.” Raised among the royal menagerie of Slom, this guy summons a poison-spitting boar and a scouting hawk as naturally as I summon snacks during a Netflix binge. His kit is beautifully synergistic: the boar slows, the hawk provides vision, and his primal roar cuts through team fights like a hot knife through butter. What I love is the understated humor of it—imagine being a cosmically powerful ancient and getting pecked to death by a bird. Karroch’s beasts may not look flashy, but they do the job, and that’s the mark of a true master.
Yuna (Final Fantasy X) – Summoner Supreme, Aeon Commander
Yuna’s beastmaster credentials are often overlooked because she’s so soft-spoken, but don’t let the gentle demeanor fool you. As a summoner, she commands Aeons—immense, otherworldly creatures like Valefor, Ifrit, and the towering winged nightmare Bahamut. Unlike other beastmasters who merely ask nicely, Yuna can fully control every move of her summons. The Cloisters of Trials unlock these gods, and by the end of the game, you’re essentially piloting a flaming dragon that can overkill a boss into oblivion. In Final Fantasy X-2, she even mixes things up with dresspheres, but that Aeon bond remains her core awesomeness. It’s beastmastery with a touch of divine intervention.
Captain Olimar (Pikmin) – The Unexpected Plant-Tamer
Okay, hear me out. Pikmin aren’t beasts in the traditional sense—they’re more like sentient, multicolored root vegetables that scream when thrown. But Olimar is absolutely a beastmaster. Stranded on a hostile planet, he discovers these tiny minions, teaches them to reproduce (organic multiplication, folks!), and leads them into battle against bulborbs and giant crab monsters. The loyalty of a hundred Red Pikmin charging a wall of fire is weirdly heartwarming. They’ll carry giant ship parts, demolish obstacles, and even drown en masse if you’re not careful. Olimar’s rapport with his plant pals is pure, chaotic, and terrifyingly efficient. In 2026, as the Pikmin series continues to bloom (pun intended), his status as a beastmaster only grows more endearing.
FL4K (Borderlands 3) – Robot, Murder Enthusiast, Professional Pet Parent
Introductions are unnecessary for FL4K—the self-aware robot who woke up one day and chose violence, accompanied by a loyal creature that shares their bloodlust. FL4K’s pets range from Skags (spitballs of acid doom) to Spiderants (spike-heaving tankers) to Jabbers (monkeys with guns… yes). The genius of FL4K is that their pets mirror the Borderlands chaos perfectly: they’re not just combat pets, they’re an extension of the robot’s very existential need to cause explosions. My favourite is the ION Loader that shoots lasers while FL4K giggles metalically. The bond between a robot and their Skag is something truly special—like Mad Max meets a heartwarming pet commercial, if that commercial was directed by a pyromaniac.
Aloy (Horizon) – Overriding the Robot Food Chain
Aloy’s childhood was all about exile and mystery, but she grew up to literally hack the planet’s metal megafauna. In Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West (and, by 2026, whatever new chapter awaits), she overrides robotic creatures that mimic ancient animals. That means you can ride a mechanical charger like a post-apocalyptic cowgirl, or turn a Thunderjaw into your personal bodyguard. The moment you first override a Tallneck and realize you’ve bent a walking skyscraper to your will… chef’s kiss. Aloy isn’t just a beastmaster; she’s a digital druid who turns apex predators into allies, and every override feels like a tiny rebellion against the world’s mechanical gods.
The Pokémon Trainer – The Original Catch-’Em-All Beastmaster
Let’s address the Elephant Pokémon in the room: Pokémon trainers are the OGs. Since 1996, we’ve been coaxing wild creatures into tiny balls, evolving them through the power of friendship (or rare candy exploitation), and battling gym leaders like it’s a Tuesday. In 2026, the franchise is still going bananas—whether it’s a new region, a nostalgic remake, or a random mobile spin-off that consumes my weekends. The bond between a trainer and their Pokémon is the purest form of beastmastery: it’s built on companionship, with just a pinch of type-matchup strategy. Catching a Lechonk may not sound as epic as taming a sabretooth, but when that little fella evolves and steamrolls a legendary, you’ll feel like the ultimate beastmaster. And honestly… who doesn’t want to ride an Arcanine through a sunset-lit valley? That’s the dream.
The 2026 State of the Beastmaster
Looking across these legends, one thing is crystal clear: the beastmaster fantasy isn’t a phase—it’s a forever mood. Games keep finding new ways to let us bond with creatures, whether through high-tech overrides, spiritual summons, or just bribing a boar with an apple (again). In 2026, I’m still seeing new mods, updates, and indie titles that zero in on the thrill of leading a pack. It’s primal, it’s hilarious, and it taps into that childhood impulse to befriend a wolf in the backyard. So go ahead, pick your spirit animal (or your plasma-spitting spiderant) and charge into battle with claws bared. The beastmaster life is the only life I want—and apparently, I’ve got plenty of company.