AION 2 Pets GuideSouls per level, owned effects by genus, Black Cloud Merchant
AION 2 (Global / Asia server) has 206 pets. You collect them with pet souls dropped by monsters, and every pet you level up adds permanent stats to your character. Here is how many souls you need and the fastest ways to get them.
How to unlock pets
- Follow the main story to about level 11 in Episode 2 and finish the quest "All Geared Up".
- The Pets menu opens and you pick one of three starter pets.
- Elyos players get it through the Dawn Legion quests in Verteron.
Pet levels and souls needed
Every pet is collected and leveled with its own pet souls. The numbers are the same for every regular pet: 105 souls in total per pet.
| Pet level | Souls | Total | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collect (Lv 1) | 5 | 5 | Pet unlocked, owned effects |
| Lv 2 | 25 | 30 | Stronger owned effects |
| Lv 3 (max) | 75 | 105 | Stronger owned effects, Transform |
- Each level raises the pet’s owned effects, passive stats you get just for having the pet.
- Each level also gives Genus Insight EXP (+500 when collected, +250 at level 2 and level 3).
- Souls of a level 3 pet turn into that genus’s Soul Crystals automatically, so they are never wasted.
Some guides say pets transform at "soul level 5". That number comes from the Korean version; on Global the pet level cap is 3.
Soul calculator
105 souls to Lv 3
Enter the progress shown in the Pets menu for the current level (for 12/25, enter 12).
Owned effects by genus
Pets belong to five genera, and each genus raises different stats.
| Genus | Pets | Main owned effects | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cogni | 41 | HP, Critical Hit, Might | Klaw, Krall Warrior, Mumu Worker |
| Fera | 65 | Mount Ground Move Speed, Accuracy Bonus, Dexterity | Papis, Sparkie, Kailin |
| Natura | 48 | Stamina, Critical Hit Resist, Precision | Agrint, Forest Guardian, Konutin Worker |
| Varian | 46 | Mount Sprint Stamina Cost Reduction, Evasion Bonus, Constitution | Swarm, Kalgolem, Silver Blade Rotan |
| Special | 6 | Unique (no Transform) | Pagati, Black Dragon, Sky Whale |
- Owned effects stack across every pet you own. Switching your active pet does not remove them.
- Regular pets unlock Transform at level 3 (max). Special pets cannot transform.
- For damage, start with Cogni. For easier travel, Fera and Varian help most.
Genus Insight and analysis
Collecting and leveling pets fills the Genus Insight track of their genus. Each track goes up to level 10, and higher levels open more stat slots.
- Analysis rolls a random stat into each open slot for Soul Crystals and Kinah (4 Soul Crystals and 1,000 Kinah per slot).
- You can lock rolls you like, but each locked slot raises the cost of the next analysis.
- Pets and Genus Insight are shared across characters on the same server. Soul Crystals are earned per character.
How to get pets
| Source | Details |
|---|---|
| Monsters | Field monsters drop pet souls. The Source tab in the Pets menu shows which monsters drop each pet. |
| Black Cloud Merchant | A shop inside the Shop menu. Pets cost 100,000 Kinah, often 10–30% off. Stock rotates every hour. |
| Pet chests | Random pets. Some chests pick a genus, and Growth Pet Chests also exist. |
| Awakening battles, achievements | Some pets come from Awakening battle rewards or achievement rewards. |
| Events and pass | Event rewards and the Daeva Pass shop offer some pets. |
Tips for farming souls
- The same pet often spawns in several zones, so check the Source tab and pick the closest one.
- Farm where the target monsters are packed together.
- For pets that only live in the enemy faction’s zone, farm while a Spacetime Rift is open.
Black Cloud Merchant refresh costs
The Black Cloud Merchant is not on the map. Open the Shop (H key) and select it at the top left. Stock refreshes automatically every hour and differs per character. If you don’t want to wait, you can refresh for Kinah, but each refresh in the same hour costs more.
| Refresh | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinah | 500 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 |
| #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | |
| Kinah | 6,000 | 8,000 | 10,000 | 12,000 | 15,000 |
Ten refreshes cost 61,500 Kinah in total. Costs are player-reported and may change.
FAQ
When do pets unlock in AION 2?
Around level 11 in Episode 2, after the main quest "All Geared Up". You then pick your first pet from three starters.
How many souls do you need to max a pet?
105 per pet: 5 to collect it, 25 more for level 2 and 75 more for level 3 (max). Souls of a pet that is already level 3 turn into Soul Crystals of its genus automatically.
Do I lose the bonus if I switch pets?
No. Owned effects come from every pet you have collected, whichever pet you ride or summon.
Where is the Black Cloud Merchant?
It is not an NPC on the map. Open the Shop (H key) and select Black Cloud Merchant at the top left. Stock rotates every hour, and you can refresh it early for Kinah.
Are pets shared between characters?
Yes, pets and Genus Insight are shared by all your characters on the same server. Soul Crystals for analysis are earned per character.
Compiled from Global guides and in-game data as of October 14, 2026. Updates may change these numbers, so trust the game first. See also the AION 2 Rift Timer for the Asia server.