I use either Finvir’s Trinket or Almalexia’s lantern when I’m not on a templar to light the way.
Mudballs and Questionable Meat Sack have already been mentioned.
Justal’s Falcon is the closest I’ll get to bird pet so far, I wish I could harvest a fishing material from the prey it brings me though.
Battered Bear Trap used to do a lot of damage.