How to Catch Aniimo: Controls and Catch Rate

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.

How to Increase Catch Rate

Catch rate is your chance of successfully catching an Aniimo. Aniipods raise it, and rarer Aniipods have a higher multiplier. For example, a Budsquire showing 50% with a regular Aniipod shows x2 Aniipod Hyper and Guaranteed Success once you switch to an Aniipod Hyper.

For every Aniipod and how it affects catch rate, see: Aniipod Types & Catch Rate Guide

Some combat states and field actions also raise your catch rate:

Reasons for a Lower Catch Rate

One reason is a level gap. Your catch rate drops when the target's level is higher than yours, and 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.

Your catch rate also drops in the following states, and each one applies a penalty:

Catching Tips

Twine with an Aniimo from the same family

While you're Twined with an Aniimo from the same family as your target, it won't get spooked or flee, so you can walk right up to it. This is especially useful for securing rare special forms before you start a fight and switch to your BREAK or counter Aniimo.

Sneak through cover

Moving through tall grass, bushes, and patches of flowers hides your approach, which makes it much easier to get behind a target for the x1.5 Backstab.

Bait with food

Throw or place food near a wild Aniimo to make it start eating. That raises the catch multiplier and keeps it in place, so it's easy to get behind it.

Catch whole groups with Draw In and a Tumbler

Use an Aniimo with a Draw In skill to pull a wild group into one spot, then roll a Tumbler through it to catch up to 10 Aniimo in one throw. This is the fastest way to build up the catch count needed for Prismana to appear.

For more on getting Prismana to appear, see: How to Get Prismana and Spawn Them Fast

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.

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