Pet Guide: Strategic Investment Framework
Our Approach: This guide goes beyond "which pet is best" to help you make smart investment decisions based on YOUR kingdom age, playstyle, and goals.
Most pet guides tell you Lion is the best pet. That's true—eventually. But what if your kingdom is 45 days old and Lion won't unlock for another 65 days? What should you do RIGHT NOW?
This guide provides a decision framework for every stage of your Kingshot journey.
The Pet Investment Mindset
Here's what most guides miss: pets are a long-term investment, not a quick power boost. The question isn't "which pet is strongest?" but rather:
- What pets can I actually access right now?
- How long until better pets unlock?
- Should I invest heavily now or save resources?
- What's my return on investment over 30/60/90 days?
Kingdom Age: Your Pet Timeline
Pets unlock based on kingdom age—not your personal level. This creates a universal timeline every player follows:
| Kingdom Age | What Unlocks | Strategic Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0-54 | Nothing | Focus elsewhere |
| Day 55-60 | Gray Wolf, Lynx, Bison | Early utility available |
| Day 80 | Cheetah, Moose | First combat options |
| Day 110 | Lion, Grizzly Bear | Major turning point |
| Day 190+ | Giant Rhino, Mighty Bison | End-game pets arrive |
The Waiting Game: Even if you're the #1 player on your server, you're still bound by kingdom age. A whale on a day-50 server has zero pets. A F2P on a day-200 server has access to everything.
The Investment Decision Framework
Use this framework at each stage of your kingdom:
Days 55-79: The Foundation Phase
Available Pets: Gray Wolf, Lynx, Bison
The Dilemma: These pets are useful but will be outclassed. How much should you invest?
Our Recommendation:
| Pet | Investment Level | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Gray Wolf | Level 15-20 | Construction speed helps now, diminishes later |
| Bison | Level 15-20 | Gathering utility stays relevant |
| Lynx | Level 20 MAX | 40 stamina/day is the ceiling—more is waste |
Key Insight: Don't pour resources into Gen 1 pets. Get them functional, then SAVE your pet food and Taming Marks for Gen 3-4 pets.
Resource Math: 1000 pet food on Gray Wolf now vs. 1000 pet food on Lion later. Lion provides 3-4x the stat value per food spent. Patience pays.
The ROI Analysis: Where Your Resources Matter Most
Let's think about pets as investments with returns:
Lion (Gen 3)
- Investment: Pet food + advancement materials
- Return: Forgehammers, Truegold, Charms every 1-2 days
- ROI Timeline: Compounds over months
- Verdict: Best long-term ROI in the game
Mighty Bison (Gen 4)
- Investment: Pet food + advancement materials
- Return: More troops in rallies → more kills → better rewards
- ROI Timeline: Immediate in battles
- Verdict: Best combat ROI for rally leaders
Gray Wolf (Gen 1)
- Investment: Pet food + advancement materials
- Return: 7% faster construction
- ROI Timeline: Diminishes as builds get longer
- Verdict: Early value, poor long-term ROI
Refinement: The Stat Multiplication System
Refinement is separate from leveling. It uses Taming Marks to boost Health and Lethality for each troop type.
How It Actually Works
- You spend Taming Marks
- Stats randomly go UP or DOWN
- If net power increases → keep it
- If net power decreases → reroll
- Stats hit rarity thresholds and lock in
The Rarity Lock System
Once a stat reaches a rarity threshold, it cannot drop below that tier:
Gray → Green → Blue → Purple → Gold
Each pet has different thresholds based on base rarity:
| Pet Tier | Purple Threshold | Gold Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 (Wolf) | 4.69% | 6.7% |
| Gen 1 (Lynx/Bison) | 9.39% | 13.41% |
| Gen 2 | 14.08% | 20.11% |
| Gen 3 | 20.34% | 29.05% |
| Gen 4 | 31.28% | 44.69% |
Refinement Reality: Purple is achievable with patience. Gold is whale territory—the resource cost becomes extreme. Know when to stop and move to another pet.
Smart Refinement Strategy
| Rarity Level | Taming Mark Type | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Gray → Green | Common | Easy gains, cheap marks |
| Green → Blue | Common | Still reasonable success rate |
| Blue → Purple | Advanced | Success rate drops, need better marks |
| Purple → Gold | Advanced + Luck | Extremely difficult, diminishing returns |
Stat Stacking Confirmation: Yes, all pet refinement stats stack. If Wolf gives +2% Archer Lethality and Lion gives +4%, you have +6% total.
The Lynx Question: Why Level 20 is the Hard Cap
Every guide says "cap Lynx at 20" but never explains why. Here's the math:
- Level 20 Lynx generates 40 stamina/day
- Each Pet Adventure costs 10 stamina
- You can run 4 Pet Adventures daily
- 4 × 10 = 40 stamina needed
Level 20 perfectly covers daily adventures.
Beyond level 20, you generate excess stamina with nowhere to spend it—pure waste. The extra stamina from other sources (events, purchases) should be saved for Terror Hunting and special events.
Common Decision Scenarios
"I just hit Day 55. What do I do?"
Get Gray Wolf and Bison to ~15-20. Get Lynx to exactly 20. Then STOP and save everything for better pets.
"Lion just unlocked but my Cheetah is level 35. Should I switch?"
Yes, immediately. Lion's passive item generation outweighs Cheetah's pet food at any level comparison. Every day you delay Lion is lost Truegold/Forgehammers.
"I'm F2P but want to be competitive in rallies. Mighty Bison or Lion?"
Lion first, always. Here's why: Lion's drops (Forgehammers, Charm items) make your HEROES stronger. Stronger heroes > more rally troops for F2P players. Mighty Bison matters more for players who already have maxed heroes.
"Should I refine Gen 1 pets at all?"
Minimally. Get them to Green rarity for cheap stat boosts, then save all Taming Marks for Gen 3-4 pets where the same marks give 3-5x the stats.
Quick Decision Flowchart
What should I upgrade right now?
- Is Lion available? → Upgrade Lion
- No Lion yet, but Cheetah available? → Upgrade Cheetah to 25, then save
- Only Gen 1 available? → Get to level 15-20, then save everything
- Mighty Bison available AND you lead rallies? → Split focus: Lion + Mighty Bison
Summary: The Three Rules
After all this analysis, pet strategy comes down to three rules:
Rule 1: Respect Kingdom Age Don't over-invest in early pets. Better options are coming.
Rule 2: Lion is Non-Negotiable Once available, Lion becomes your #1 priority regardless of playstyle. The passive item generation is unmatched.
Rule 3: Playstyle Determines Everything Else
- Rally leaders → Mighty Bison + Giant Rhino
- Rally joiners → Lion focus (your pets don't help in others' rallies)
- F2P → Lion forever, combat pets are luxury
The pet system rewards patience and strategic thinking. Don't chase short-term power—build for the long game.