Companions by source

Achievement reward
The following companions are only available to players who have met a certain achievement criteria. Companions related to a specific world event are excluded from this list.

Profession
The following companions are learned from items that players may create with professions.

World events
The following companions are only available during the progress of certain world events. The Argent Tournament is excluded from this list.

Generally available
The following companions are generally available to any player and, unless noted, the item from which they are learned is not soulbound. Once the item is used (to learn how to summon the companion), it is destroyed. Beforehand, however, the item may be freely traded to other players. Companions from world events and companions created by professions are excluded from this list, even though some of these may be traded freely to other players. Most of the companions on this list are the result of quests or random drops.

Some of the following companions are only sold by vendors from one faction, but they may be traded to the other faction via the Neutral AH if they are BoE.

No longer available


 * Vampiric Batling – Dropped from Prince during the Scourge Invasion. No longer available.

Blizzard Authenticator Activiation
Sent as a thank you for linking a Blizzard Authenticator to your account.
 * Core Hound Pup

Blizzard Pet Store
Some pets are available exclusively through purchase from the Blizzard Pet Store. First available for purchase on Feb. 22, 2010 for a limited time, are two new plush toys: the Gryphon Hatchling and Wind Rider Cub. These toys come with a matching "BONUS In-game Companion" of the same name, via a loot code card. The companions are Account-bound and are not faction-based.
 * Gryphon Hatchling
 * Wind Rider Cub

No longer available
The following companions are no longer available in the game, except to those who received them previously. Common examples are rewards for purchasing the collector's edition of a game or participating in a real life event.

Collector's Editions
These companions are only available to players who bought the Collector's Edition of the game. They are not tradeable in any way. Players may only choose one companion, but each character on the same account can choose a different companion. As the item is bound to your account, it is now possible to have all three on one character.
 * Zergling Leash
 * Panda Collar
 * Diablo Stone

These companions are only available to players that purchase the Collector's Edition of the Burning Crusade expansion pack. Only European players are able to obtain both companions for each character.
 * Netherwhelp's Collar
 * Lurky's Egg (European only)

This companion is only available to players that purchase the Collector's Edition of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion pack.
 * Frosty's Collar

This companion is only available to players that purchase the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Collector's Edition.
 * Mini Thor

This companion is only available to players who purchase the Collector's Edition of the Cataclysm expansion pack.
 * Lil' Deathwing

BlizzCon
The Murky companion is only available to people who attended the BlizzCon event and worked on both US and European realms. Another baby murloc was made available to European players through conventions and competitions.
 * Blue Murloc Egg (BlizzCon 2005)
 * Pink Murloc Egg (European events)
 * Heavy Murloc Egg (BlizzCon 2009)
 * Smoldering Murloc Egg (Blizzcon 2010)

Arena Tournament
The Murkimus the Gladiator pet was given to all players who entered the 2009, 2010, or 2011 Arena Tournament and played at least 50 (or 200 for 2009) rated arena matches with a 3v3 arena team.
 * Murkimus' Little Spear

World of Warcraft Trading Card Game
Available only to those players who receive a rare "loot" card in the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game.
 * Hippogryph Hatchling
 * Banana Charm
 * Rocket Chicken
 * Dragon Kite
 * Soul-Trader Beacon
 * Landro's Lil' XT
 * Landro's Lichling

Blizzard Worldwide Invitational

 * Fortune Coin (appears to be only valid on Korean servers)
 * Tyrael's Hilt

Country Specific Giveaways

 * a housecat made of jade. Given out to players on Chinese realms who logged in between October 19 and November 24, 2009. Grants the Feat of Strength.
 * a housecat made of onyx. Given out through the mail to players on Korean realms as part of a promotion. Grants the Feat of Strength.
 * Competitor's Souvenir blue and purple Chinese dragon – Reward available only in China, and only during the 2008 Summer Olympics Spirit of Competition event. There were samples of this companion in the Ironforge and Orgrimmar battle rooms during the 2008 Summer Olympics. On EU and US servers, this appears to have been due to a bug, and the item does not appear to even have a valid item id in the US and EU.

World of Warcraft Anniversary Pets
Mailed to all players as gifts for WoW's 4th and 5th anniversaries, one to every character. These pets bind to account, do not disappear once learned, and can be kept so that any new character can learn them by mailing one from an older character that has the item.
 * Baby Blizzard Bear - 2008
 * Onyxian Whelpling - 2009

Advertisements and Promotions
Available via the Mountain Dew Choose Your Side promotion website by redeeming using a Battle.net account. Available only from June 9, 2009 - August 20, 2009.
 * Warbot Ignition Key (US only)

Battle.net Account Conversion
Mailed as a thank-you gift, first sent on Oct. 15, 2009, to all early adopters of converting their World of Warcraft accounts to Battle.net accounts, before Nov. 11, 2009 (Nov. 12, 2009 for EU Realms).
 * Unhatched Mr. Chilly