What devices are used to catch Aniimo?

Pods are the throwable half of the kit and traps are the placed half. A pod goes at the creature. A trap goes on the ground in a wild Aniimo's path, so the thing walks into it before you commit anything. Neither is tied to combat. You can take a creature out in the world with stealth, a trap and a pod throw, without a fight ever starting.

Before you throw, the game puts a catch percentage on screen. Check it rather than throwing the moment an encounter begins. It moves with your approach: coming at an Aniimo from behind lifts it, catching one asleep lifts it further, and being spotted and engaged drags it down. A good number is not a promise. The pod shakes and the attempt can still fail.

When to spend a pod

Pods are worth conserving for rare spawns, weather-dependent creatures and quest targets, since what appears in the world shifts with location, weather, other environmental conditions and the time of day. Early on, though, spend freely. Catching at least one of every Aniimo you meet during the opening quest and the trip to the first city is the right call: catches award player experience, more so for species you have not caught before, and every catch pays out Credits. Once you have a species, catch it again. Stats vary between individuals and the only way to get a good one is repetition.

Two early limits are worth knowing. Pawney cannot be caught directly in the wild in early play. And if the Alpha Rookey will not go down, standard non-Alpha Rookey spawn in the area around it, so you still leave with one.

Things that raise your rate over time

Your player level affects how effective your catches are in certain zones. It never locks you out of an area, so you can walk into somewhere well above your level and simply find creatures harder to secure. Regional passive trees are the fix. Upgrading them improves stats, traversal and capture rates, and one branch specifically raises catch rates for certain Aniimo.

In co-op, capture is not a solo job. Players can assist each other on wild Aniimo, which is the cheapest way to improve a bad percentage without spending anything from your own bag.

Not settled: The item's name appears as Aniipod, Anipod and antipod across the game's own text, and which spelling sticks is not settled yet.