Ni No Kuni: The 15 Best Familiars, Ranked (2023)

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch originally launched in 2013 for PlayStation 3 to critical acclaim. It went on to have a sequel with Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom for PlayStation 4 in 2018. Fortunately for fans who missed out onthe first title, the game was re-released for PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch in 2019.

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Ni No Kuni follows the story of Oliver, a young boy who discovers that he belongs in another world and is actually a wizard. It's up to Oliver and his companion Drippy to save the other world from the evil wizard Shadar.There are familiars that can help in battles, an,d once Esther has joined your team, you can recruit even more familiars. Check out the best familiars below, excluding the golden versions, which are stronger counterpartsbut are only available post-clear.

Updated December 19th, 2020: Christmas is already here and it can be a real struggle to buy for some of the gamers in your life. If you're looking for something great for a younger gamer, or something a little different for the RPG-lover in your life — Ni No Kuni has got you sorted.

Available on PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch, this adorable RPG features superb animated scenes from Studio Ghibli, an intriguing storyline, and the ability to collect and train familiars. People love to hunt down and collect various monsters in games, and the Ni No Kuni familiars are perfect for this. Check out these 15 familiars that we recommend you utilize in your team.

15 Seed Sprite

You'll unlock the Seed Sprite familiar very early on in the game, but it's largely not useful until you unlock the fourth character who has an affinity with theNymphae genus of familiar. This familiar is perfect for that character and is a great healer to have on your team.

Additionally, it can be found on Ugly Duckling Isle if you want a different Seed Sprite than the one the game gives you. Its secondary form is Sprout Sprite, and when it comes to choosing the third form, we recommend that you chooseSugarplum Sprite overSweetpea Sprite.

14 Griffy

The great thing about the re-release of Ni No Kuni for PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch is that all ticket familiars will be given to you at some point. So, for example, Griffy was originally a pre-order bonus ticket familiar from Amazon, but now you can just cash in your in-game ticket after the trials.

Griffy is one of the best attackers that you can assign to Esther and as it is of the Aves genus, Esther has an affinity with it too. Its secondary form is Greater Griffy, then after that, you can choose to make it eitherGriffurnace or Griffrigerator.

13 Ice Maiden

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Ice Maiden is another great choice for the secret fourth character you will eventually unlock as she isof theDaemonia genus, which he has an affinity for. Ice Maiden can be found in the north region of the Winter Wonderlands.

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Her next form is Ice Queen, then you have the choice ofEldritch Empress or Sinister Sovereign. We recommend Eldritch Empress as it's a fantastic tank with high physical and magical defense, as well as the Defend command, making her a perfect tank choice.

12 Thumbelemur

You'll be given a Thumbelemur as part of the storyline in Ding Dong Dell, but you can also later catch them from Swan Island. As a member of theBestiae genus, it makes an ideal partner for Swaine and is a decent attacker.

Its next form isDumbelemur and when it metamorphoses for the third time, we recommend choosingAye-Aye Sir over Aye-Aye Catcher, as the latter fulfills the role of healer and there are better healers to choose from than Aye-Aye Catcher.

11 Lagoon Naiad

Lagoon Naiad is another great choice for the fourth character you unlock, and as it is of the Nymphae genus, he has an affinity for this familiar type. It can be found on Friday Island and its secondary form is Sea Naiad.

This familiar is a great choice for a healer, though there is a better one for this character later on in the game. When it comes to the third metamorphosis, we recommend theGreater Naiad over theLesser Spotted Naiad.

10 Dinoceros

As part of theDracones genus,Dinoceros is an ideal familiar for Oliver. It is vulnerable to poison but has nothing that it is highly vulnerable to. Additionally, it's easy to level and has some very powerful moves.

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Dinoceros can be found atThe Genie's Steps, and it metamorphoses into Destroceros, before becoming either Catastroceros orDemoliceros. To ensure its final form is the powerhouse you want it to be, you should wait until Destroceros learns Belly Buster at level 16 before metamorphosing it into its final form, and Catastroceros is usually the preferred choice.

9 Whippersnapper

Whippersnapper is arguably the best familiar to fulfill the role of a tank for Oliver. As part of the Vermes genus, it has an affinity with Oliver. It can be found in theDeep Dark Wood area.

Its next evolutionary form is Trapper Snapper, and then it can morph into eitherSnaptrapor Claptrap, both of which are good. However, if you find you need a little extra help, choose Claptrap as its final form, as ithas some healing tricks it can use to support the party.

8 Bonehead

Bonehead is part of theMortui genus, and this makes it the perfect choice for an attacker for Swaine who has an affinity with this genus. Not only does it deliver strong attacks, but it also has a resistance to physical attacks. Boneheads can be found in theGolden Grove-South area and morph into Bone Ranger before its final forms of either Bone Brigadier or Bone Baron.

Bone Baron is the recommended choice for players, which can also be found in theShimmering Sands desert area. Generally, however, it is better to level your familiars yourself to make them asstrong as possible.

7 Hooray

Hooray is part of the Aquatica genus, and this makes it an ideal attacker for Esther's team. Arguably, it is the best attacker for her, as not only is it a powerful attacker, but it has high speed and defense too. Additionally, it has a good range of offensive tricks at its disposal.

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Hoorays can be found in thesea just south of the Summerlands, generally around Castaway cove. It metamorphoses into Hip-Hooray before its final branching forms ofGrimray or Springray.

6 Oroboros

Oroboros is part of theVermes genus, making Oliver the best choice for this critter due to his affinity with them. It has a high magic stat that makes it a brilliant spellcaster or healer choice for Oliver to use depending on the final form that the player chooses.

Oroboros is found in the Rolling Hills area and metamorphoses intoChloroboros before its final forms of eitherObscuroborosor Fluoroboros. For a healer role, chooseFluoroboros, but, for a spellcaster role, chooseObscuroboros.

5 Monolith

Monolith is part of the Automata genus, so it is best used with Swaine who has an affinity with this type. Monolith is a brilliant tank choice for Swaine, as it has a natural resistance to physical attacksas well asa high defense.

Monoliths can be found in The Bayous area near Castaway Cove and metamorphose intoMegalith before its final forms ofPaleolith or Neolith. Both final forms are good, but Paleolith has a handy trick called "Upsy-Daisy," which revives an unconscious ally.

4 Napcap

Napcaps are exceptional spellcasters and very handy healers to have in your party. As part of the Flora genus, they are best used with Esther.

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Napcaps are found in the Golden Grove area and metamorphose into Duncecap before its final forms ofMadcap or Nightcap. To make it the most efficient healer, you might want to get it to level 32, as Duncecap to learn "Second Wind," before morphing it into a third form. Nightcap is the better healer/support role of the final forms based on the tricks it can learn.

3 Sillymander

Sillymander is the fastest familiar in the game and can also hit hard, making ita great choice for an attacker in your team. As part of theVermes genus, they are best used with Oliver who has an affinity with them.

Sillymanders can be found in the Vault of Tears, and it metamorphoses intoSlamander before it transitions into its final forms ofPyromander or Petramander. Pyromander is the best choice, as Petramander has a weakness to physical attacks.

2 Lumberwood

Lumberwood is of the Flora genus and is best suited for Esther. It is the best tank in the game, and, if you have Esther set to defense and she has this little guy out, she essentially never dies.

Lumberwood can be found in theNo Longer Mine area and metamorphoses into Limberwood before turning into eitherUmberwood or Wildwood. Wildwood is the preferred choice of most players, but, if you find you are struggling a little, then choose Umberwood as it has some healing tricks.

1 Toko

Toko is capable of becoming one of the best powerhouse healers if the player is willing to put the time in. Not only is it a grind to obtain as it only has a 2% chance of being recruited and is prone to running away, but it also takes a long time to build it up to its final forms.

Tokos can be found on Ugly Duckling Isle and give massive amounts of EXP as a reward, so that's one upside to farming them. Its next form is Tokotoko, eventually metamorphosing into either Tokotocold or Docotoko.Tokotocold can heal the entire party with its Healing Rain trick, while Docotoko is a good choice for party buffs and removing status ailments as well as being able to revive party members. It's a perfect choice for the fourth party member's team.

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