Battles guide

Who can battle

Grown-up pets can battle when they are awake, not sick and have enough energy. Every battle uses some energy, so a tired pet needs a nap before the next one. Wins and losses both earn experience, and a win earns more. A pet that loses just curls up for a nap.

Training, Arena matches and friendly battles

In an Arena match you never see the other player's nickname or their pet's name. You see its species, its look, its level and a friendly label such as "Rival Spark". There is no chat, so a battle is just a battle.

Taking turns

Each turn, you and your rival both choose what to do, and then the turn plays out. You have 30 seconds to choose. If the clock runs out, your pet picks for you, so a battle never gets stuck.

• A move. Your pet can carry up to four moves. Each move has a number of uses, shown on its card.
• Block. Cuts down the next hit. The Block button shows how much it will stop right now.
• Focus. Saves up stars. When your stars are ready, your next hit breaks right through a Block.
• Release. Some big moves wind up for a turn first. Next turn, tap Release to let them go, and watch out: your rival can see you winding up.

Tapping Run away leaves a battle, but it counts as a loss.

The five elements

Every pet and most moves have an element. A move that is strong against its target gets a green Strong! tag and hits harder. Each element is strong against two others and weak against the other two, so there is no best pet.

The skill tree

Every pet starts with Bonk and Nibble. As your pet levels up it earns skill points to learn new moves from five branches:

• Basic: simple, steady moves every pet knows.
• Power: big hits, one line for each element.
• Guard: moves that help your pet take a hit and stand firm, like Brace and Bounce Back.
• Cunning: tricks that slow your rival down or catch it off guard.
• Spirit: the branch that pays off good care, with moves like Nap and Bond Beam.

Choose up to four moves to take into battle. A good mix beats four big hits.

Tips for winning

• Look at the element tags before you pick a move.
• If your rival is winding up a big move, Block.
• If your rival keeps blocking, Focus first, then hit.
• Keep an eye on each move's uses. A move with none left cannot be picked.
• Practise new moves in Training before an Arena match.

Fair for everyone

Battles are fair by design. Nothing that can be bought makes a pet stronger, rivals are matched by strength, and every result is worked out by the game's server, so nobody can cheat their way to a win. A pet a few levels lower can still win with smart play.

Ratings and seasons

Each season, every player's rating starts at 1000. Arena matches move it up or down, and it settles where your skill is, so playing better matters more than playing longer. The ranks show the season's top 100 and a board of just your friends, each by nickname. When a season ends, the top players get special looks that can never be bought, and a new season begins.

The eight arenas

Battles happen in eight arenas. Five are open to everyone, one for each element. Three special arenas are prizes for caring for and growing up your pet.

Crystal Cave (special)

A sparkly cave full of pink, blue and lilac crystals.