Pet Capture (Explore)

Pet Capture is one of the primary methods for obtaining more Pets for your Lair. A large majority of Aywas pets can be collected in this manner. Pets can only be captured in Explore; thus, you need at least one pet already in order to get more. In addition to a pet, you also need a Capture License before attempting to catch pets - without one, you will be fined for Poaching. Capturing pets is actually two methods rolled into one - you can use items to catch them, or battle the pet and weaken it. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Item Capture
Capture via items is easier but more costly financially. The items which can be used to capture pets are Blue Tranq, Gold Tranq, Silver Tranq, Net, Cage, and Vial of Sleepiness. Of them, only the Tranqs and Nets are cost effective choices. Large numbers of capture items are best acquired through User Shops, though if you're persistent occasionally the Explore Shop stocks a few. The prices of these items fluctuates widely but predictably - when new pets are released, especially for a Special Event or new Explore area, the cost rises as everyone scrambles to get the new pets. If you are planning on using items to capture pets regularly, stock up after events are over and prices have fallen again.

Once you have a supply of capture items, all you need to do is find the pet you wish to capture. It's recommended to check for other users selling the pet you're after in the Shop Search before you decide to try and catch one yourself - with anything below Hidden Rare it's often cheaper to buy the pet outright off someone else than spend money on capture equipment. Use the Aywapedia or do a search here to determine what Explore area the pet you're looking for appears in. If it's a Super Rare (R70) or above, or Legendary Rare (R100), see the section on Useful Equipment, below.

To capture a pet with an item, you must use the item before you engage in battle. This is the number one mistake new players make when trying for an item capture. If you click on the "FIght (Pet Name)" button you cannot use items to catch that pet, you will have to try a Battle Capture instead. Capture items will show up if you click on "Use Item" while in Battle, but an error message will be generated if you attempt to use them.

Battle Capture
Pets can be captured without items, which is less expensive but more risky than an Item Capture. To perform a Battle Capture, your Active Pet must weaken but not defeat the pet you wish to capture in Battle. If you knock out the pet, it will escape and you will have to look for another and begin the process all over again. Battle Captures are less certain than Item captures for two reasons - the pet you are trying to catch will be doing it's best to KO your active pet, and there is always a risk that your active will knock out the wild pet you're trying to catch. Thus, it is important that your active pet be well equipped for the task. A variety of moves, especially those of low level/power is critical. Avoid at all costs moves which poison, since poison does damage continually and you cannot stop it. Moves which paralyze and/or freeze are good choices, as they immobilize the opponent without doing further damage, possibly preventing it from attacking back. A high level pet is best for capturing since it can absorb damage for many rounds while you are trying to capture wild pets without fainting. Some experimentation with movesets is necessary depending on the level of your explore pet and the pet you are trying capture. Don't forget to adjust your Battle Equipment as needed.

Once you have weakened the pet, capture is simply a matter of spamming the "Attempt Capture" button until it works. It is possible to catch pets at full or nearly full HP, but it's far more difficult than when most of their hit points are gone. Higher level and higher Rarity pets are also more difficult to capture. Pets with poison inducing moves are your worst enemy when attempting a Battle Capture, as they can often faint your active pet before you manage to get them caught.