Earlier today I saw some eggs being hatched with unfortunate attribute choices, so I thought it was high time for a very basic guide on the dragon families and whether they're Magic or Physical based by nature. Feel free to add to this guide with more information on the topic, I'll just be scratching the surface in my initial post.
Here's also a link to the wiki, so I can be lazy and really not write much at all: Dragons
And HERE is the link to Anya/Demonfang's beginners guide, which is where I base most of my information in this guide. For more detailed information, check it out! : Beginner dragon guide
As you can see, theres multiple Dragon Families to keep track of. 17, to be exact. For you, as a future dragon master, that means 17 different Families to learn what attributes each bases itself on
Attributes:
Strength: increases Physical Damage and Physical Defense
Intelligence: increases Magic Damage and Magic Defense
Constitution: increases maximum Health and Health recovery
Ferocity: increases Critical Hit Chance and Critical Hit Power
Focus: increases Physical Defense and Armor Penetration
Dragon Affinity: increases Magical Defense and Magic Penetration
So here you have a screenshot of one of my lair dragons. He has maxed out skill slots, and his bonus is good as well (if you just look at the numbers). Lets look a little closer. This here is a bird, belonging to Skytouched Dragon Family. Looking at "Ability Type", it says Intelligence, meaning this dragon Family, the whole of the Skytouched Family is intelligence, or Magic based if you will. This means that Focus, which is this boy's additional bonus, is not all that good for him due to it being a physical stat(it increases physical defense and armor penetration)
Following up on the attributes, a little info on the Families is in place:
Thanks to the best Demonfang in the world, for having made and linked me amazing guides on all dragon families (shes linking it here as well because bae).
Best attributes: Intelligence, Dragon Affinity, Constitution
Skytouched dragons are easily available in the wild, first encountered right outside Helmoth, the starter town. Mostly used as healers due to their high intelligence, and healbased evolution skills, they make for great support dragons (heals and buffs) for all classes. The birds have fast and continous attacks, making them good at Magic DPS as well.
For the Magic based classes, Oracle and Sorcerer, they are absolutely essential. For the Sorcerer that doesn't have many ways of healing themselves, aside of Dragon Soul skills, they are much needed. For the Oracle, who can heal themselves, birds are just as important. When the Oracle gets their Dragon God skills, mounting a bird while the skills are in effect greatly boosts damage dealth to enemies.
Best attributes: Constitution, Focus, Dragon Affinity
Stalwart dragons have a high availability in the wild, and you'll run into the first ones not too far into Puretia. They make for very good tanks, though I personally prefer the more elusive Ironhides. Benefitting the most from physical skills, they are still capable of making good use of some magical skills. A surprisingly flexible dragon.
All classes can benefit from having a tank in their team. Especially for the squishy classes such as Ranger and Sorcerer, a good tank ,ay very well be the road to survival.
Best attributes: Ferocity, Focus, Strength
High availability in the wild, first seen outside Paeon Farm. Swiftfoots are, as the name implies, swift. Often refered to as Raptors, they hit hard and fast, but that's more or less all they're capable off.
Never used for buffing, and is only taught heals to keep itself alive. This Ferocity based companion makes for great DPS, but doesn't have high survivability for long battles. Depending on your class, they can work well with both a Magic and Physical base - but we recommend keeping most of its attribute points in Ferocity, or you'll risk taking away this dragons only charm.
Best attributes: Strength, Focus, Dragon Affinity
Yet another dragon with high availability, first found past halfway into the first zone. Designed to be attack dragons, they can juggle magical and physical skills with the right training. They're capable of handling any situation, and if necessary they can tank their way through battle. You should never rely on a paragon as your go-to tank though, for that purpose there is Stalwarts and Ironhides.
Found in the stables of most PvP-oriented players due to their ability to fight, buff and debuff even with their mounted skills.
Best attributes: Strength, Focus, Dragon Affinity
Not available in the wild before the release of Wynnadia, but high availability in the zones where it exists. Designed with heavy combat in mind, this incredible flexible dragon can do anything. A hybrid magical/physical build is even encouraged. HOWEVER, keep a clear picture of the dragon you want in mind when training your razorspine, a good hybrid is hard to make, and this dragons evolution skills points more towards physical damage.
Best attributes: Focus, Strength, Constitution
High availability starting from the first zone. These crocodile-like dragons are often seen accompanying Guardians, due to their mounted healing skills scaling off Focus. These dragons can be quite tanky, and function as both healer and attacker. A versatile dragon that is hard to master.
Mostly seen by a Guardians side, they are a decent choice for Rangers as well, albeit less effective. Very rarely seen by the side of Sorcerers and Oracles.
Best attributes: Focus, Strength, Constitution
First introduced in the wild in Korhala, it's neither a high or low availability dragon. Can possibly be found on some Sky Islands. If the Aqua dragons remind you of crocodiles, the dunestalker is more of an iguana lookwise. Works best with physical skillsets, yet tend to start off with magical skills.
All in all a dragon rarely seen by a players side, due to the hard work and time investement necessary to make this dragon do what other dragons do easier/better.
Best attributes: Dragon Affinity, Intelligence, Constitution
Availability is high, starting from the area outside Consus Cave. Among the best Magic based dragons in the game. While the Skytouched and Phantom dragons are excellent healers, the bat-like Windrider focuses towards damage. Can be considered a glass cannon of sorts, and I recommend giving them (and all dragons) heals to up their survivability. These dragons are gliders, and are incapable of flying.
Rarely seen beside the Guardian, but all the more often seen with the other classes. For the Ranger, who is a glass cannon themselves, having a Windrider as their partner makes for a fun challenge. However, as one would expect, these dragons work the very best by the side of Oracles and Sorcerers. Very similar to the Skytouched dragon in this regard.
Best attributes: Strength, Constitution, Ferocity
In Savage Hunt the first Fabled available to you is in the form of an Egg, obtained by using Soul Gaze inside Consus Cave. Availability is decent, and the wild ones wander around the world at specific times. Ancient dragons however, are rarer than the Fabled, and do NOT roam the world. Only obtainable from eggs and Dungeons.
These dragons are well-rounded. Because of this, they suit multiple roles, such as tanks, healers and (physical) damage dealers. Due to the size of Ancients, I find them hard to use for PvE, but they hit harder than the Fabled Ancient by default. The Ancient dragon is pretty bound to a physical build, and its not recommended to play around too much with it. The Fabled however, with a VERY specific image in mind, can get away with a somewhat Magical build. I don't recommend it, personally as an Oracle I keep my fabled physical and have a skytouched for the magical tasks. A Magic based Fabled will never reach the full potential of its species.
In my opinion everyone should have at least one well trained Fabled or Ancient in their stable. The Fabled Ancient does well as a debuffer, due to its evolution skills.