For me, top 3 most used are Arthur, Bouncing Bertha, Swooping Zhivago. Those are the jugs I will always keep in inventory.
Generous Arthur as noted above. Endgame party situations for DEF- and HP-. Cheap and spammable NPC jug.
Bouncing Bertha (or NQ Scissorleg Xerin) is obviously still a great choice for physical AoE, and fantastic for farming any easier/older content (my go-to for Einherjar, Assaults, Nyzul). Not bad on harder stuff too, does some good SCs with master.
Swooping Zhivago for nice SCs with master, Def-, Dispel, piercing damage. Good for stuff like Apex. I tend to prefer Zhivago over Sefina for similar purposes. I also just like the look of the big ridiculous Tulfaire (surely the most important consideration).
Honorable mentions:
- Vivacious Gaston I like a lot for self Atk+ buff, I tend to use that in like wave 1-2 Dyna farming where mobs die fast and it's hard to tag stuff with Slug Def-, will just give myself the lengthy 25% atk+ buff with no massive defensive penalty like Rage (though depending on how fast your group kills the NMs, def- on NMs might be optimal for alliance DPS if they aren't already melting). Silence and Para provide nice utility.
- Warlike Patrick is still good for Fireball magical AoE damage on trash. Cheap NPC jug option for AoE purposes when Bestial Loyalty is down and you have to Call Beast.
- Daring Roland is pretty cool for Jettatura terror and solid damage, great Unleash spam choice.
- Blackbeard Randy is one I sometiems pull out for a cheap NPC on lower stakes content where I might want to use the pet to do some physical damage. I'd go Safina, Roland, or Zhivago if Bestial Loyalty is up, but if you're just spamming something on a budget or getting a Beast type mob out for Killer Instinct, I usually keep a stack of Randy handy ;P
- Fatso Fargann for TP Drainkiss spam. Extremely valuable niche use pet when that niche comes into play.
- Jovial Edwin if I want defensive buffs and/or need an aquan for Killer Instinct. Sturdy, can take some hits if you need to Snarl some enmity onto Edwin.
I guess Sultry Patrice is fine, though for practical situations where I want a tanky pet I'm usually gonna job change to PUP. Patrice prob better if you want to grab multiple mobs with AoE though.