Aniipods are the tools you use to catch Aniimo. Before a throw, decide which creature and form you are aiming for; otherwise, a successful catch can still leave you searching for the version you wanted. Start with an ordinary wild target, then keep the separate Legendary route below in mind.
Understand the basic Aniipod throw
The Gamescom 2025 hands-on showed a simple sequence: aim an Aniipod at an Aniimo, look at the displayed catch chance, and throw. This previews the interaction; it is not a fixed catch-rate table for the launch game. Xbox Wire's hands-on capture example.
For a first attempt, separate three checks:
- Target: are you aiming at the creature you intended to catch?
- Chance: what does the capture display say for this attempt?
- Outcome: did the capture succeed, or are you still dealing with the encounter?
A chance below 100% can fail. One missed catch does not establish a permanent catch rate, and someone else's successful throw does not make yours certain. Treat the display as information for that attempt, not a promise.
Look for the right form in the right region
The official game description connects encounters with environment, weather, phenomena and time of day. Check the form you want before planning a trip. Official catching overview.
Basic Nimbi and Rainstorm Nimbi are separate form entries. Basic lists Nimbus Fields and The Argent Strait; Rainstorm lists Nimbus Fields. If you want the Wind/Electric combination, choose Rainstorm for your shortlist instead of substituting Basic just because both are called Nimbi. Basic entry · Rainstorm entry.
| Keep on your shortlist | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Creature and form name | Stops a different variant replacing the target |
| Listed habitat | Gives the outing a region instead of an aimless search |
| The property you want | Makes it clear when a different form would not satisfy the goal |
“Rainstorm” in a name is not a complete spawning recipe. Use the form comparison guide to check the differences before making a long detour.
Keep Irisalis separate from ordinary catching
The September 3 launch announcement describes this Irisalis sequence:
- Gather legendary tokens through exploration and story progress.
- Craft a personal Legendary Aniipod.
- Enter the exclusive encounter that then appears on the map.
- Defeat Irisalis and use the Aniipod you crafted.
The checkpoint is crafting the personal Aniipod before looking for that encounter. If it is missing, token collection is the earlier stage to focus on. Do not plan around repeatedly entering the old test challenge and throwing ordinary capture items. Launch Irisalis encounter announcement.
Decide what to do with your catch
Compare the exact form with the job on your shortlist. For a Wind/Electric target, check that combination; for a movement companion, read the exploration effect rather than judging the portrait.
If the creature is right but its form is different, keep the intended form on your list. If both match, move on to Twining or choosing an exploration ability. A useful first collection grows from clear targets, not from trying to solve every rarity question at once.