Catching wild Aniimo starts as a story tutorial and later becomes a free, repeatable way to fill out your team and your Aniilog.
When You Can Catch Aniimo
Catching is first introduced as a tutorial during the "An Idyllic Trip" main story quest, which asks you to catch an Emberpup. Once you reach the "Setting Out Again" main quest, catching opens up completely: you can catch wild Aniimo in the field without any more tutorial prompts.
How to Catch Aniimo (Controls)
Throwing the Aniipod takes two inputs: one to aim and one to throw.
| Platform | Controls |
|---|---|
| PC (keyboard and mouse) | Right-click to enter Catch mode, then left-click to throw the Aniipod. |
| Xbox controller | LT to enter Catch mode, then X to throw the Aniipod. |
If the Catch Rate Looks Low
Your catch rate drops when the target's level is higher than yours. When that happens, the game tells you directly: "This target's level is too high. Try raising your level before coming back to catch it." If you see that message, level up before trying again.
Why You Should Catch Aniimo
Catching isn't just about filling out your team. Every catch grants XP to your character and to the Aniimo in your party, so it doubles as a way to grind XP. Registering a caught Aniimo in your Aniilog also grants rewards: 50 Research Points for that area, plus separate rewards for completing a Family and for completing a Form. On Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox, each catch unlocks an achievement too.
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Defeat this Aniimo | +10 Research Points |
| Catch this Aniimo | +10 Research Points |
| Complete the evolution of this Aniimo | +10 Research Points |
| Complete 2 evolution paths | +20 Research Points |
| Use Skills | +10 Research Points |
Raising that Aniimo's Aniilog Research Level through these tasks also increases how many accessories it can equip: 2 slots at Bronze, 3 at Silver, 4 at Gold, and 5 at Prismatic.
Aniimo Index · Shiny Aniimo Guide · Setting Out Again Walkthrough · All Guides