The Engineer’s Best Friend: Choosing the Right Familiar in Ni no Kuni
For aspiring engineers venturing into the magical worlds of Ni no Kuni, selecting the perfect familiar isn’t just about raw power; it’s about synergy, strategy, and maximizing the engineer’s unique toolkit. With diverse titles in the series, from Wrath of the White Witch to Cross Worlds, understanding the best familiar for your engineer requires a tailored approach.
The Crab o’ Lantern: A Top Choice for Engineers
Generally, for many Ni no Kuni titles, the Crab o’ Lantern emerges as a strong contender. The Crab o’ Lantern is especially useful for its elemental buffs, often boosting fire damage or other beneficial stats. Since the Engineer class frequently lacks native crowd control, a familiar that provides support, damage amplification, or even supplementary damage can significantly enhance survivability and damage output. When playing in Ni no Kuni Cross Worlds, make sure to consider the element type of your engineer to synergize the familiar to amplify the element type.
Why Synergy Matters for Engineers
The Engineer class typically excels at ranged attacks and strategic support. Their strength lies in their ability to control the battlefield, buff allies, and debuff enemies. A well-chosen familiar should complement these abilities, addressing any weaknesses and amplifying their strengths. In Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch, Oliver’s best familiars are often categorized as catastroceros (evolved from dinoceros), petramander (evolved from sillymander), or claptrap (evolved from whippersnapper).
This also means considering the Engineer’s passive skills. If you’re leaning into a healing build, familiars that provide healing boosts or defensive buffs will be invaluable. A familiar that increases critical hit rate can also synergize with the right build. The choice of familiar is never one-size-fits-all; it’s about tailoring your team to fit your playstyle.
Familiar Attributes to Prioritize
- Elemental Synergy: Align the familiar’s element with your Engineer’s skills for increased damage output.
- Buffing Capabilities: Look for familiars that provide attack, defense, or critical hit buffs to enhance your Engineer’s abilities.
- Crowd Control: If your Engineer lacks crowd control, choose a familiar with skills that can stun, knock back, or otherwise disrupt enemies.
- Healing/Support: A support-focused familiar can provide valuable healing and sustain, especially in longer battles or challenging content.
Ni no Kuni FAQs for Engineers and Familiars
1. Should I have multiple familiars of the same element?
Yes! If a Familiar provides buffs for a certain Element, you should consider having multiple Familiars of the same element so that these buffs stack across your party. In Ni no Kuni Cross Worlds, assembling a team of familiars with complementary elemental affinities can lead to devastating combos.
2. What is the best skill for the Engineer?
For Ni no Kuni games, Meteor Strike is often mentioned as one of the best Special Skills to obtain for the Engineer, as it summons a meteor towards an area and stuns all monsters caught in the range. This is extremely efficient, considering the Engineer doesn’t have a lot of crowd control options available to them.
3. What are some other good familiars besides the Crab o’ Lantern?
Other great familiars depend on the specific Ni no Kuni game you’re playing. In Wrath of the White Witch, Dinoceros is a powerhouse. In Cross Worlds, Bunnybot (Light), Dinoceros (Darkness), and Stagthorn (Earth) are strong contenders. Adapt your choice to the game’s mechanics.
4. Is the Swordsman a better starting class than the Engineer?
Both the Swordsman and the Engineer are viable starting classes, but for different reasons. The Swordsman is often recommended for beginners due to its straightforward melee combat and durability. The Engineer requires a more strategic approach and understanding of buffs, debuffs, and positioning.
5. What’s the best way to level up my familiar?
Focus on battling enemies that are slightly above your familiar’s level. Utilize experience boosting items and equipment. In some games, certain locations offer higher experience yields. Feed the familiar treats!
6. How do I evolve my familiars?
Evolving, or metamorphosing, familiars usually requires reaching a certain level and using a specific item. Check your familiar’s details to see the requirements for its next evolution stage. Certain familiars can only be obtained through evolution.
7. What are the best passive skills for the Engineer?
For passive skills, players may want to consider Pure Medic or Conversion. Pure Medic will allow the Engineer to boost her healing abilities for her teammates along with familiars. This skill can be particularly useful if players are playing in a larger team with each character having an equipped familiar. Also look for passives that increase critical hit damage, attack, and defense.
8. What is the best element type for an Engineer familiar?
The best element type will often depend on the enemy you’re facing. However, a well-rounded team that covers multiple elements is generally recommended. Aligning your familiar’s element with your own skills can create powerful combinations.
9. Are rare familiars worth the effort?
Rare Familiars are familiars that, unlike regular ones, appear in color. They are hard to find, and feature a unique music in battle. In addition to that, they have a higher level than regular overworld Familiars. If you find a rare familiar that synergizes well with your Engineer, they are usually worth pursuing. Their enhanced stats and unique abilities can provide a significant advantage.
10. Where can I find the Crab o’ Lantern?
The location of the Crab o’ Lantern varies depending on the Ni no Kuni title. Consult online guides and community resources for specific locations in your game.
11. How important is familiar personality?
The impact of familiar personality also varies between Ni no Kuni titles. In some games, certain personalities are more suited for specific roles (e.g., aggressive for attackers, cautious for healers).
12. Can I get every familiar in Ni no Kuni?
Yes, but… Not every familiar form is available in the wild. Some you have no choice but to level up and metamorphose lower tier familiars to acquire.
13. Is Ni no Kuni beginner friendly?
As with most games with class choices, each has their pros and cons, but certain classes are better for beginners. The Engineer can be slightly more complex to master due to its reliance on strategy and tactical buffs.
14. Is there romance in Ni no Kuni?
There is no romance but…. By the end of the game you’ll get strong hints about person who will become Evan’s “soul mate”, wife and future Queen. You can also control this charter once Evan will save her.
15. How does the Games Learning Society relate to games like Ni no Kuni?
The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) explores how games can be powerful tools for learning and development. Games like Ni no Kuni present opportunities to learn about strategic thinking, resource management, collaboration, and problem-solving – all skills that are valuable in real-world contexts.
Mastering the Familiar System: Engineer Edition
Ultimately, the best familiar for your Engineer will depend on your play style, party composition, and the specific challenges you face. Experiment with different combinations, learn the strengths and weaknesses of each familiar, and don’t be afraid to adapt your strategy as you progress through the game. Whether you are exploring the rich worlds of Ni no Kuni, or studying the pedagogy behind engaging gameplay, knowledge of the Games Learning Society and its work could prove helpful. With careful planning and a little experimentation, you’ll forge an unstoppable partnership between your Engineer and their loyal familiars.