AniimoVerseAniimoVerse

Search AniimoVerse

Find Aniimo, skills, items, guides and tools.

Install AniimoVerseFull screen from your home screen, with no address bar.
Appearance
Official Aniimo site
Expedition members crossing a white flower meadow in Idyll as a winged Aniimo glides past a distant spire
System guide · Story

Journey to Idyll walkthrough: Aniimo chapter 1

Chapter 1 is the prologue and the tutorial in one. Four quests take you from the landing point in Starfall Valley to a student badge at the Polaris Institute, and along the way they hand you your first Emberpup, three Aniilog entries, a choice between Helion and Lunara, and the first real fight in the game. Nothing here is level gated, so this is the one chapter you can run end to end in a sitting.

BeginnerStoryBy AniimoVerse7 min read226 reads
4quests41tracked objectives28,000CreditsNonelevel gate
01

What happens in chapter 1

You arrive in Idyll as a special observer on an expedition, catch your first Aniimo in Starfall Valley, follow a runaway survey drone underground, and come out of it enrolled at the Polaris Institute with a licence to record what you catch.

Show the plot

The trip opens with Nicole walking you through identity verification and a guided first catch. Starfall Valley is the Institute's chosen starting ground, so the next quest is pure fieldwork: three species, three Aniipod throws, three Aniilog entries.

Chasing BINI #9 into a cave turns the trip. A cube swallows the drone, you fall into an ancient ruin, and the Aniimo waiting in there asks you to choose between Helion and Lunara before a Summoned Infergon comes through the floor. Nicole fights it with you.

Principal Oswen pulls you back to Astra afterwards and offers you a place at the Institute. The enrollment ceremony opens character management, the tour ends at the front desk, and Dr. Lewis sends you back to Idyll to upload the catch results that switch the Aniilog on for good.

Requires
No gate
Regions
Starfall Valley, Nimbus Fields
Quests
4
Unlocks
Character management unlocked, Aniimo Management unlocked
02

An Idyllic Trip

Where this happens

  • Starfall Valley
  • Prologue, no gate

  1. Follow Nicole and verify your identity

    Nicole meets you at the landing point and asks for your papers. This is the name and appearance screen, so take the time you want here: renaming later costs an item.

  2. Explore Idyll until the marker moves

    Walk the marked path. The game is teaching movement, so use Shift to dash on PC; the full control list is in the PC controls guide.

  3. Capture the Emberpup Nicole points at

    The first catch is scripted. Weaken nothing, aim the Aniipod and throw. If the throw misses, the Emberpup stays where it is and you can throw again.

  4. Catch up with Nicole

    She calls you from further up the trail. Nothing is missable behind you, so run straight to her.

  5. Burn the vines across the path

    Twine with your new Emberpup, aim Fire Bolt at the vine wall and hold the skill until it catches. Burning obstacles is the core traversal verb in Aniimo and it comes back in every Sanctum.

  6. Enter the valley

    The burnt gate opens into Starfall Valley proper and closes the quest.

Quest log objectives

  1. TalkFollow Nicole to complete your identity verification.
  2. GoExplore Idyll!
  3. FieldCapture the Emberpup
  4. CatchTry catching the Emberpup!
  5. CatchCatch Emberpup
  6. GoCatch up with Nicole. She's calling for us!
  7. FieldBurn the vines blocking the path and enter the valley!
  8. GoEnter the valley!
Fire is the key, not the Aniimo: Any Fire Aniimo can burn the vines. If you lose the Emberpup later, the same Twining trick works with anything that carries a Fire skill.
03

Aniimo Catching Journey

Where this happens

  • Starfall Valley
  • 3 Aniilog entries

  1. Talk to Nicole to start the survey

    She hands over the survey brief and the marker moves to the drone.

  2. Catch up to BINI #9

    The drone drifts ahead of you down the valley. Follow it rather than the terrain; it sets the pace for the whole quest.

  3. Catch a Celestis

    A Dark flier with Shooting Stars and Star Glide. Knock its health down first, then throw. Report back to Nicole once it is in the pod.

  4. Catch a Hummin

    A Grass ground type. It runs. Twine and dash to close the gap, or hit it once to make it stand and fight.

  5. Catch a Skippy

    The Water one, and the one that matters. Skippy carries Water Orb, Ice Orb and Healing Water, and it is the counter to the boss two quests from now. Catch it, then level it as you go.

  6. Restock from Nicole if you run dry

    Running out of Aniipods does not fail the quest. The objective flips to "Go find Nicole" and she tops you up.

Quest log objectives

  1. TalkTalk to Nicole.
  2. GoCatch up to BINI #9!
  3. CatchTry catching a Celestis!
  4. TalkCapture complete, talk to Nicole!
  5. CatchTry catching a Hummin!
  6. CatchTry catching a Skippy!
  7. TalkYou don't have enough Aniipods. Go find Nicole.
Keep the Skippy: It is the only Water Aniimo the prologue gives you, and Water hits the chapter boss for 1.6x. Do not release it for bag space.
Willow grove in Idyll with small Aniimo perched on branches and an Aniipod x4 pickup notice in the corner
Aniipods lie around the valley as pickups, so a dry bag is usually a short walk rather than a trip back to Nicole.
04

The Mysterious Cavern

Where this happens

  • Instanced cavern
  • Boss: Summoned Infergon

  1. Reach the cavern floor

    The cube takes BINI #9 and drops you into an ancient ruin. There is no way back up, so head for the marker.

  2. Talk to the mysterious Aniimo and choose

    Two Aniimo wait on the carved floor: Helion, the Light fire-maned cub, and Lunara, the Light moon rabbit. This is the starter choice and it is permanent for this save.

  3. Follow the lit path through the ruin

    Follow the lit path. The ruin is linear and the only branch leads to a dead end.

  4. Clear both tracking points

    The quest drops two Track Point markers in sequence. Stand in each one until the ring fills.

  5. Help Nicole defeat the Summoned Infergon

    A Lv 10 Fire Infergon breaks through and Nicole fights it beside you. It is the first real damage check in the game.

  6. Talk to Principal Oswen and Nicole

    The fight ends in a cutscene that moves you to Astra. Speak to Oswen to close the chapter beat.

Quest log objectives

  1. GoReach the Area
  2. TwineTalk to the mysterious Aniimo.
  3. GoExplore this mysterious place.
  4. GoHurry, go see what's happening!
  5. GoTrack Point 1
  6. GoTrack Point 2
  7. GoHelp Nicole defeat the mysterious Aniimo.
  8. FieldDefeat the enemy!
  9. GoTalk to Principal Oswen and Nicole.
  10. TalkContinue the story
Bring the Skippy to the Infergon: Infergon is Fire, so Water and Earth hit it for 1.6x and your Emberpup only does 0.625x. Twine with Skippy, open with Water Orb, and dodge the charge rather than trading through it. Helion and Lunara are both Light, which is neutral here.
The Mysterious Cavern objective Defeat the enemy with a Lv 10 Summoned Infergon health bar and a skill energy prompt
The tracker names the quest and the objective in the top left while the boss health bar sits across the top.
Helion and Lunara standing on a carved ancient floor lit by blue glyphs during the cavern choice scene
Helion on the left, Lunara on the right. Both are Light, and the pick is permanent.
05

Institute Initiation

Where this happens

  1. Talk to Principal Oswen and Nicole in Astra

    The quest opens in the Institute main hall. Oswen offers you the place; take it.

  2. Follow Nicole on the tour

    Three stops: the corridor, the Skylight Camera, then the front desk. The camera stop is also the photo tutorial.

  3. Finish the tour and make your choice

    The front desk asks which department you join. The answer sets flavour text and the greeting you get later; it does not change your stats or your kit.

  4. Complete the enrollment ceremony

    This is the step that unlocks character management, which is where your own Pathfinder skills and stats live. See the Pathfinder skills guide for what to spend your first points on.

  5. Report to Dr. Lewis

    He is the expedition lead and every later chapter routes through him. Find him at the Polaris Institute marker.

  6. Go back to Idyll and upload your catch results

    Fast travel to the Nimbus Fields Outpost and use the terminal. Uploading is how catches turn into Aniilog records, and it is the step that unlocks the Aniilog itself.

  7. Talk to Dr. Lewis about the results

    He reads the upload back to you and the Aniilog banner fires. From here every catch you report adds Safaris.

  8. Follow Dr. Lewis out of the Outpost and find Bohr

    Bohr stands at the Holographic Discovery Booth outside. Talking to him closes chapter 1 and opens the road to the Breezy Plains Branch.

Quest log objectives

  1. TalkTalk to Principal Oswen and Nicole.
  2. GoFollow Nicole on a tour of the Institute
  3. GoSkylight Camera
  4. StoryNavigate to the front desk.
  5. TalkFinish the institute tour and make your choice
  6. StoryComplete the enrollment ceremony
  7. TalkComplete your enrollment.
  8. GoReport to Dr. Lewis.
  9. TalkReport to Dr. Lewis.
  10. GoGo to Idyll.
  11. ReportUpload your catch results.
  12. TalkUpload your catch results.
  13. StoryTalk to Dr. Lewis about the results.
  14. TalkTalk to Dr. Lewis about the results.
  15. GoFollow Dr. Lewis out of the Outpost
  16. StoryGo talk to Bohr by the Holographic Discovery Booth.
This quest pays the first 300 Safaris: Safaris are Pathfinder experience. Uploading catch results is the cheapest repeatable source in the early game, so get into the habit here rather than hoarding unreported catches.
Two expedition members standing in a dark glowing forest with drifting lights and a small Aniimo between them
Chapter 1 ends with the expedition back on the road and the next branch already marked.
06

What comes next

Chapter 2, Setting Out Again, sends you to the Breezy Plains Branch for Lumin Amber and then to Nimbus Fields for the freshman lesson, the First Spark Sanctum trial and your first regional badge. It is still ungated, so you can run straight into it.

Before you go, three things pay off immediately: level the Skippy, read the catching guide for the throw timings the prologue skips, and open the main story hub to see where the first level gate sits.

5chaptersMain story hubEvery chapter in order with its level and title gate.4chestsFirst Spark SanctumThe trial chapter 2 asks for, with the full chest route.Day 1checklistBeginner guideWhat to do with your first evening once the prologue ends.
The three pages that follow on from chapter 1.
07

Frequently asked

Should you pick Helion or Lunara in the cavern?

Both are Light and both hit the same matchups, so pick on kit. Helion leans on Light Bombardment and Holy Storm for sustained damage; Lunara carries Lunar Eclipse and Lumin Bolts. The choice is permanent for that save.

What is the boss in The Mysterious Cavern?

A Lv 10 Summoned Infergon. It is Fire, so a Water Aniimo such as the Skippy from the previous quest hits it for 1.6x while your Emberpup only lands 0.625x.

Which Aniimo do you catch in chapter 1?

Four: a scripted Emberpup, then Celestis, Hummin and Skippy for the Aniilog survey. The cavern then adds Helion or Lunara.

Is there a level requirement for Journey to Idyll?

No. All four quests are ungated, and the first level and title gate in the main story does not appear until chapter 4, at Pathfinder Level 25 with the Student II title.

Browse all 96 Aniimo guides