For the uninitiated,Ni No Kuniis a role-playing game with game mechanics similar to those found in the mainPokemongames. While roaming the world, players come into contact with creatures they can catch and tame to fight for them in battle.LikePokemon, not all familiars are created equal.
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In fact, many of the familiars are leagues better than others. Even familiars of the same type can have wildly different stats. The familiars are built for different purposes as well; some are designed to be a tank, some are offensive spell-casters, some serve more of a utility role (like a healer), while some are less stout but are quick and powerful attackers (glass cannons).
Updated on July 13, 2025, by Jeff Drake:Ten is a good starting-off point for a list, but at some point, an expansion is needed. There are so many great familiars inNi No Kunithat ten only begins to scratch the surface. The original list identified what most players would consider the best familiars. There are other familiars though; familiars that deserve to be on this list of the best in the game. This update will add five additional familiars to the list and rank them accordingly. Some of the new familiars to this list are not great fighters - they are nonetheless incredibly useful in a fight.
Updated on October 2nd, 2022 by Jeff Drake:Ten is good starting-off point, fifteen adds some hidden gems to the mix of best familiars, but twenty is about when this list starts representing the best of the best familiars inNi No Kuni.This game did a good jobof balancing the familiars so that all of them are worth taming and training. Even with the best balancing though, there are still many familiars that are clearly better than others. Keep in mind this list is in the broadest terms, as some familiars are better with certain characters. Some familiars, like Wimpeafowl, are top tier familiars through the use of gems, but in general are just pretty good.
20Dynamite
The Dynamite and Mermite are the metamotphose forms for Mighty Mite. They are built a little differently; with the Dynamite being more of an attack familiar and the Mermite being geared more towards support and defense. What tips the scale in favor of the Dynamite, for this list anyway, is the fact that its final trick is the physical attack Super Slash. The Mermite’s last trick is Smoke Bomb.
In terms of stats the Dynamite is a little outclassed among the other familiars on this list. That doesn’t mean it can’t keep up with the familiars on this list - Dynamite is ascrappy little fighter with some surprisingly strong attacks.
19Gobforsaken
Gobforsaken is one of the two metamorphose forms for Gobfather. What sets this familiar apart from most others is its high attack rating and accuracy.This familiar hits hard and doesn’t miss much; though, its magic attack rating isn’t the best. The alternate metamorphose form, Gobspeed, has just a low a magic attack and worse physical attacks than Gobforsaken.
In addition to some good attack tricks, Gobforsakengets some great support and Dark-type tricksthat cause crippling status ailments on opponents (along with some damage).
18Hurlcules
Hurlcules starts as a Hurly, then metamorphoses into the Burly Hurly. The Burly Hurly can metamorphose into one of two final stages - the Hurlabaloo and Hurlcules. The Hurlabaloo is one of the best familiars inNi No Kuni, but there are a few factors that make the Hurlculesa better choicewhen the time comes to metamorphose your Burly Hurly.
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This familiar may be a bit slow, but it doesn’t need to be fast with itshigh attack rating and an excellent list of powerful tricks. Among the best are Time to Shine, Earsplitter, and Phantom Fangs. Hurlcules isn’t highly vulnerable to anything and is resistant to Poison and Curse.
17Wimpeafowl
This Sleepeafowl family of bird familiars aregreat support familiars. Wimpeafowl is one of the final forms and comes with some good magic attacks to go with its sky-high magic attack rating. The only real problem with Wimpeafowl is the fact it doesn’t get an attack trick until level 23.
After level 23 Wimpeafowl gets three attack tricks, and all of them are strong Water or Storm tricks. Waterspout and Whirly Whirlies can both hit multiple enemies for serious damage. Sand Blast, Slow Poke, and Drowsy Drops are its support tricks; they only affect a single target, butcause status effects that can easily tip a fight in the player’s favor.
16Snaptrap
There are only a few familiars that make better a tank than Snaptrap. This venus fly trap-inspired familiar is not onlya stout defender, but it has a pretty decent attack rating as well. Snaptrap also has a list of tricks that’s a good balance of physical attacks, support, healing, and fire attacks.
Sanptrap is the third metamorphose form of Whippersnapper, with Trapper Snapper being in between. The alternate third form, Claptrap, has a higher defense but a much lower attack. The balance of attack and defense in Snaptrap is a much more favorable ratio.
15Cogdenser
Cogdenser is a fantastic choice for one of Swaine’s familiars. It has a very strong defense - very tank-ish. Cogdenser doesn’t have to sacrifice too much in the attack department for this good defense either. In fact,its Magical Attack rating is quite high; which is good considering it only has magical attacks (rather than physical).
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Cogdenser has access to a great trick-list. Like a lot of the familiars on this list, its trick-list has anice blend of support and attack tricks. It can learn the Soulshield trick; this makes Cogdenser nigh impervious to magical attacks. The Cogdenser begins as a Cogger. The Cogger metamorphoses into a Hot Cog, and then can become either a Cogdenser or Supercogductor.
14Tokotocold
Tokotocold’s trick-list is primarily support and healing tricks. It does get a couple of attack moves, but attacking is not why a player should be bringing this familiar along to a fight. Tokotocoldgets healing tricks that can heal the whole group, as well as a trick that greatly heals one target.
This familiar also gets support tricks thatput opponents to sleep and prevent them from casting. Tokotocold is an extremely handy familiar to have in a fight - just make sure to bring some other familiar to do the actual fighting. This is one of the best support familiars inNi No Kuni.
13Scrapdragon
Scrapdragon is afantastic all-around familiarthat is very tank-ish. Most tanks have somewhat low attack ratings to offset their defensive capabilities - Scrapdragon doesn’t have this weakness. This familiar can deal as much damage as it can take. If the player has some healing familiars with Scrapdragon then it’s capable of taking on enemy groups by itself without much problem.
This is the final metamorphose form of Sapdragon (then Flapdragon). The alternate third metamorphose form is Napdragon. This familiar gets better magical attacks than Scrapdragon, whereas Scrapdragongets some devastating physical attacks. Both Napdragon and Scrapdragon fast growth rates andwill have their best tricks before level 25.
12Baddy-Daddy
The Fuddy-Daddy is a weak familiar that’s not worth much in a fight. Its third metamorphose form, Baddy-Daddy, is an absolute beast on the battlefield though. For starters, the Baddy-Daddy has great stats. Theonly stat that could be considered below average is Accuracy, and it’s not low enough to really be a problem.
The trick-list available to Baddy-Daddy hassome of the best attack moves available. Thunderstorm and Wallup both hit multiple enemies for significant damage - Thunderstorm also has a chance to Confuse the targets. Baddy-Daddy is resistant to Sleep, Poison, and Confusion, while only being weak against Stun and Nix.
11Purrloiner
The members of the Purrloiner family areclassic examples of a glass cannon. For starters, Purrloiner has a very fast attack and movement speed. This gives it an advantage during battle. The evolved version - specifically the Puss in Boats - has an excellent attack rating. This familiar is not Highly Vulnerable to anything and is only Vulnerable to unconsciousness and confusion.
The main drawback to the Purrloiner, Puss in Bouts, and Puss in Boats is that toward the end of the game itmay be a bit outclassed- but is still a viable choice. In the early part of the game, however, it is an excellent choice for Oliver.
