Summary
Once Humanhas an interestingpet system. Players can capturedeviants, which have three main functions: There are deviants that provide benefits within a player’s base, deviants that can help with crafting, and deviants that are combat companions.
Many of the deviants that a player can capture in thissurvival horror gamehave cute, almost cartoon-like designs. They also have somewhat comical animations, even the combat deviants. In contrast, some combat deviants, such as the Zeno-Purifier, have a highly detailed model. This has led players to criticize the consistency of game assets, pointing at the fact that summoning a cartoon pet in a realistic game world breaks immersion. Whether you are for or against cartoon pets in a game with otherwise realistic scenery, knowing which combat pets are best is crucial to success inOnce Human.

7Mini Fester
Fun Tentacle Attack
As combat deviants inOnce Humango,Mini Festeris one of the most fun to use, simply because it is so comical when running around in combat. This deviant will attack multiple enemies by launching squirmy tentacles at them. This might sound strange, but it is quite effective.
Getting hold of the Mini Fester is a little more complicated than most deviants. The player will need to find a PvE Mist event. These are marked by a large purple ball on a stem, which can be seen at some distance. Once the player completes the Mist event successfully, they have a chance of receiving a Mini Fester as one of the rewards.

6Mini Wonder
A Bullet Sponge
One of the most enjoyable aspects of using deviants in combat when playingOnce Humanis that they all have such unique abilities.Mini Wonderis a purely defensive deviant that simply intercepts incoming bullets, keeping them away from the player. Note that it specifically deals with bullets; it won’t block melee attacks.
Mini Wonder is pretty easy to get, as it is located within the Forsaken Monolith, which every player is sent to as part of the story arc. Therefore, most players will unlock this combat deviant at an appropriate stage in the game.

5Voodoo Doll
Transfers Damage To Enemies
This is another defensive combat deviant inOnce Human. It is extremely easy to get once the player has enough levels and decent gear to tackle the Sunbury School POI. There is a junkyard to the west of the school, and a quest available inside thatrewards players with theVoodoo Doll.
The Voodoo Doll can be very useful in boss fights, because of its core mechanic. When the player takes incoming damage, there is a chance for theVoodoo Dollto reflect a portion of it back onto the enemy that dealt it. It’s a simple ability, but can be very effective when the player is likely to take a large amoutn of damage at once.

4Shattered Maiden
Freeze And Fear Debuffer
TheShattered Maidencombat deviant is quite unique inOnce Human. Even though this is a game that focuses on FPS combat, it doesn’t really go in-depth with special attacks that buff the player or debuff an enemy in some way. Shattered Maiden does apply debuffs though: It frightens and freezes enemies.
This deviant can only be acquired one way as well, which is another misnomer. The player has to complete a Refinery Pollution Point, and then has a chance of receiving the Shattered Maiden deviant as a reward.

3Zeno-Purifier
Teleports To Enemies
TheZeno-Purifierdeviant is one of the best combat pets inOnce Human, only overshadowed by the Lonewolf’s Whisper deviant. Every player is assured of getting this deviant as long as they complete the “Of Mist And Mirage” phase of the Challenges system, which most players will do almost by accident.
The Zeno-Purifier is great fun to use in combat. With its awesome samurai warrior model, it teleports to enemies and attacks them with its sword before teleporting to the next, and so on. If the player is lucky enough to loot a level 2 or level 3 Zeno-Purifier, it will become a must-have combat assistant.

2Butterfly’s Emissary
Deals Direct Damage
Everybeginner toOnce Humanhas to go through a short tutorial experience. As part of this tutorial, they will be given theButterfly’s Emissarydeviant, and instructed on how to use an individual containment device to control it.
However, the Butterfly’s Emissary is actually a very good combat deviant, and can carry the player all the way to the endgame if they are not lucky enough to capture a better combat deviant in the meantime. The Butterfly’s Emissary simply attacks a target over and over, doing considerable damage before it runs out of energy. It’s simple, but effective.

1Lonewolf’s Whisper
A Pack Of Wolves
TheLonewolf’s Whispercombat deviant is arguably the best of all the combat deviants available inOnce Human. It is pretty easy to acquire, as it is a possible spawn at the end of theShadow Houndboss fight in the Monolith of Thirst. When summoned, multiple wolves come forth, attacking every enemy they can get to.
What makes this excellent combat deviant even better is that it is possible to farm the boss inside the Monolith of Thirst to try and get a better one. A level 4 Lonewolf’s Whisper is a truly outstanding combat companion that can carry the player a long way in the game.
