What does Companion EXP do?

The number is not power. Nothing you take into a fight gets stronger when it goes up. The Companion Handbook, also called the Companion Guide, is Aniimo's seasonal battle pass, and its levels are the gate on reward tiers and nothing else.

Behind those tiers sit cosmetics, journey-assisting items, and one unique Aniimo form. They unlock gradually as the experience accumulates, so a season is a slow drip rather than two or three big claims. The Handbook is also part of the game's microtransactions, which is what decides how much of that drip actually reaches you.

Which rewards a level actually hands over

With the standard edition, your levels only pay out on the free top track. The optional Advanced edition costs $10 and unlocks both tracks, so the same level yields the bonus rewards as well. Level up on the standard edition and you are still passing tiers whose paid side you are not claiming.

If you pre-ordered the console Advanced Edition, the Advanced Companion Handbook standard battle pass tier is bundled in, along with exclusive in-game accessories. That is the same access, already paid for.

Where the points come from

The monthly pass is a direct source: 6,000 companion experience points, distributed over 30 days rather than paid out in one lump. You collect it across the month, so the timing of when you buy it matters as much as the total.

Not settled: The paid structure is not settled. The pass is described both as a free track plus two paid tiers and as a single $10 Advanced edition unlocking both tracks, and how a second paid tier fits alongside that is unclear at this stage.