Updated the OP with a Base game only Budget Pet Conjurer.
Also added the link to Rainbow Dodo just in case someone has Base game + AoM, but not FG.
Also a shout out to a certain someone who had a hand in the naming of the budget base game build:
Hello! I was reading through your amazing collection of guides, and I am particularly interested in the Cabalist build that is listed under your budget builds. However, I don’t understand what benefits Possession gives to pets. I understand that MoD isn’t ideal, but can you tell me a bit more about how Possession is useful in that scenario? As far as I can see, MoD gives at least some benefits to pets while Possession only benefits players.
Possession is taken for the the benefits it gives to the player.
MoD even with pet bonuses, simply sucks too much to waste the exclusive slot on it.
Birds are kind of dumb sometimes, you move them to the perfect shotgun spot, then 0.8 seconds later they run away :P.
I wonder if they run away because they are being hit… or its just random.
Couldn’t figure out how the AI works. I do know that they behave differently from tank pets that just charge in.
Pussy birds.
I wonder if modifier/bonus to reap spirit skill (such as rr, xxx dmg, a dmg converted to b dmg, …) affect the pet itself or not?
I have experienced that too. But then again, I never really bother with the pet attack command (too lazy), so it never bothered me 
Does not affect the Pet.
Pet attack is best used defensively to relocate pets out of pools of dangerous [insert color] stuff. Otherwise, keep them on aggressive stance and they’ll attack better than you can direct them to do so.
Wrong, microing pets, specially birds, to achieve the shotgun effect, is very useful, otherwise many shots are missed.
Both of you are right, but it depends on the context and the situation.
It is indeed correct that for familiars against single targets, microing them means theoretically more damage since you can make all their attacks hit the same target.
However, against multiple targets their AI does a better job and manually controlling them can lead to a DPS loss.
2 Likes
Hi, Maya.
Between all of your pet builds, what is your most favorite and your most fun to play build in your opinion?
This one: The Fluffy Squishy - Pet Conjurer
Second option would be: Will O Wisp - Pet Cabalist
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Thanks for your answer!
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Maya, how do you level up Fluffy Squishy? I’m going for the lazy birb version, but not sure whether to max pets first or climb masteries a bit more. Atm I have 6 points in each pet base skill. Only mid-20s atm.
Personally, I simply went for the Solo Occu all the way to 94 and then changed the skill points around.
That should still work, but with just enough points into Shaman early on to get a 16/16 Briarthorn for the extra pet for an easier time.
The points needed can be taken from what would have gone to the Hellhound’s skills.
But after getting a Briarthorn, going back to Occultist and focusing on it (except for the Hound skills other than 1 point in Ember Claw) should be the most straightforward route.
Something like this should do:
L10 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/vNQY8qMN
L20 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/b28egoGV
L30 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/q2MnWqQV
L40 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YNn6EOyN
L50 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/bVAwPd1N
L60 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YZeKzdp2
L70 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/JVl605oN
L80 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YVWO3BdV
L90 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/m233o5j2
Don’t mind the items, the links are just modified Occu ones from my build diary 
You can also get Assassin’s blade for the extra Physical RR for Briarthorns until you can convert pet physical into elemental.
Look here for the devotion setup in that case: https://www.grimtools.com/calc/gZwL8WbN
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Thanks Maya. I usually max pets first, but for 3 it’s a bit of a juggle over who to do first. I’ll swop stuff around for the level 30 plan and take it from there. 
Only a few more levels off that anyway, just hit L26.
2 Likes
Added another Cabalist to the list
Blame @Avyctes for trying to out-laze me…
Hi Maya. How would you level a cabalist? I am leveling a pure necromancer and they are breaking me.
L10 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/vNQY8qMN
L20 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/4VxmBKaZ
L30 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/Q2zDk9vZ
L40 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/eZPOkYBV
L50 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/vNQOgoMV
L60 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/RVvLjvmN
L70 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/JVl6DEXN
L80 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/dVbnQE3V
L90 - https://www.grimtools.com/calc/D2p6koeZ
That should work. Try to get an Early Scorpius Pummeler if you can.
(Ignore the items)
3 Likes
Thank you very much Maya, I hope to have my armed character soon
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Hi, returning player from ~end of may I think. Last I left off I was following the lightning squishy build and having a pretty good time of it but it seems it is outdated now. I have most of the gear for any of the builds you listed, both conjurer and cabalist but I dont have any of the bysmiels trinkets items. Whats my best bet until I manage to get a hold of those?