Revision 4

Catching an Aniimo is the start of it. Raising one runs through a set of progression systems that sit on top of the base stats every creature ships with, and the launch build reshaped several of them.

The clearest signal of the studio's intent is what it deleted. The rune system is gone from the launch build entirely, and the random rune slots that used to sit on Carried Items went with it. Anything written from beta footage that describes runes is describing a system that no longer exists.

Capability Awakening

Capability Awakening is the investment layer for an individual creature. Two rules govern it at launch.

The reset rule matters more than it sounds. Below level 60 there is no such thing as a wasted investment, so experimenting with a creature costs time rather than materials.

Resonance

Resonance star rank is the second axis alongside level. It is one of the two things that unlocks a creature's capability caps, so a high-level creature at a low star rank is still capped.

Materials and Inheritance

Inheritance is what carries progress from one creature to another, and the automatic Capafruit transfer means a Pathfinder no longer has to re-feed a replacement creature from scratch.

Evolution

Evolution is separate from training. A creature moves up through as many as three published growth stages, named in the index as the Lumin Stage, the Gamma Stage and the Nova Stage, and several lines branch so that one starting creature can become two or three different final forms. A branch can require a level, materials, quest progress, a learned Talent or a Potential threshold. Evolution Lines gives the Emberpup, Flameruff, Celestis and Chirpi recipes. Check the Evolution menu for form-specific requirements, including the required Potential for Beach Tromber. Paid pre-order material also described an exclusive material for branching evolution.

Potential

Every individual creature carries an Acquired Potential rating grading its aptitude, with Perfect Potential at the top. Potential is fixed to the individual rather than the species, so two creatures of the same species and the same Form can be worth very different amounts of investment. Wild spawn rates for high-potential 9/9 and 10/10 creatures were raised for launch, and Sparkling Cube catches now guarantee Perfect Potential outright.

Where Creatures Spend Their Time

Raised creatures are not only for battle. Aniimo can be sent on expeditions, which makes them unavailable for other activities while they are away, and they can be stationed at The Homeland, where each species contributes its own Homeland abilities to the work being done there. Day-to-day roster handling runs through a dedicated Aniimo Management screen.

Managing development in the client

Open Aniimo Management and select Training to access Star Up and Capability Awakening. Check the displayed level and star requirements before investing materials. Inheritance covers moving development to another individual, while Held Item Contracts explains species-specific equipment effects.

Character titles also gate creature progression. See Pathfinder Progression and Elite Training for the assessment route.

Choose the right growth material

EXP, Capability Awakening, Resonance and evolution use different materials. Match the material to the Training or Evolution screen before spending it.

A Psyche Fruit changes a creature’s personality. Buy it from Joff at an Outpost for 100 Glimmer, or open Shop, choose Item and then Glimmer. It is used from the Aniimo Items inventory tab and takes effect immediately without a second confirmation, so check the selected creature before using it.

Elite Training covers Pathfinder assessments. Held Item Contracts explains the separate equipment-contract system; its materials do not substitute for growth or evolution materials.