Pets
Kingshot Pets: Build Order, Taming Marks and All 14 Pets
Pets look like a side system until you realize how much combat power sits in them. In this guide I break down what I've learned about unlocks, the refinement trap that eats Taming Marks, and the exact order I would build pets in, whether you spend or not.
Last updated 2 September 2026.
How to build the Beast Cage
The Beast Cage is the building that holds your pets, and you cannot rush it. It becomes available on server day 54 once your Town Center is at level 18, and it appears in the build menu like any other building from that day on. Until both conditions are met the pet system is invisible, which is why new players on a young server cannot find it. Once it is up, the three Generation 1 pets are yours immediately and every later generation unlocks by server day, as the table below shows.
Pets unlock by server age, not by your progress
The Beast Cage opens on day 54 of your server together with Town Center level 18, and every player gets there at the same time no matter how fast they built. The generations then arrive on day 90, 140, 200, 280, 370 and 450, which is the schedule in the table below.
Most pets also need the previous one at a set level, and that is the part people walk into: Cheetah needs Bison at 15, Moose needs Cheetah at 15, Lion needs Moose at 15, and from Generation 5 the gate moves up to level 30. Plan one pet ahead or the unlock day arrives while the pet before it is still level 8.
Leveling and refinement are two different games
Leveling with Pet Food raises the primary squad attack and defense buffs, with an advancement step every 10 levels. Refinement is the part people get wrong: a Taming Mark rerolls all six secondary stats at once, some go up, some go down, and the mark is spent whether you keep the roll or not. Once a stat climbs into a higher rarity it can never fall back down, which is what makes refining worth it long term.
Banking your Taming Marks for event days is the single best habit in this system. Refining scores real points in events like KvK prep, leveling with Pet Food scores almost nothing. And keep Advanced Taming Marks for Epic tiers and above, they're wasted lower down.
There is a third layer above both of these that catches people out. Advancement is a step change rather than a gradual climb, and it runs on two materials spent together: Nutrient Potions and Growth Manuals. Budget them against each other rather than separately, because running out of one leaves the other sitting in your bag. Both are worth saving for a pet scoring window for the same reason Taming Marks are: advancement is chunky enough that timing it doubles what it is worth.
All 14 pets at a glance
| Icon | Pet | Gen | Unlocks | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Bison | 1 | Day 54 | Grip of the Titan |
 | Gray Wolf | 1 | Day 54 | Construction Aide |
 | Lynx | 1 | Day 54 | Comforting Embrace |
 | Cheetah | 2 | Day 90 | Scent Mastery |
 | Moose | 2 | Day 90 | Horror Stare |
 | Grizzly Bear | 3 | Day 140 | The Howler |
 | Lion | 3 | Day 140 | Gift of the King |
 | Giant Rhino | 4 | Day 200 | Wild Charge |
 | Mighty Bison | 4 | Day 200 | Fearless Roar |
 | Alpha Black Panther | 5 | Day 280 | Deadly Bite |
 | Great Moose | 5 | Day 280 | Antler Impact |
 | Ironclad War Elephant | 6 | Day 370 | Elephant's Guard |
 | Regal White Lion | 6 | Day 370 | Territorial Power |
 | Ironclad War Bear | 7 | Day 450 | Ursa's Rage |
The build order I would follow
F2P: Gray Wolf and Bison early because they're what you have, then everything into Lion from day 140. Its digs hand you Forgehammers, Truegold and charm items every day or two, and those compound across your whole account. Cheetah bridges the gap with free Pet Food. Cap Lynx at level 20, that covers your four daily Pet Adventures and not a point more.
Spenders: Mighty Bison first, because more troops per march wins fights even at lower stats, then Giant Rhino and Grizzly Bear. Rhino and Mighty Bison also give the biggest refinement returns, so Advanced Marks go there.
Before a Bear Hunt rally: activate Mighty Bison, Alpha Black Panther and Giant Rhino, and Great Moose if you're the one calling the rally. One classic waste to avoid: Moose's Horror Stare does nothing against the bear, it has no health bar to shrink.
Frequently asked questions
When do pets unlock in Kingshot?
By server age. The Beast Cage opens on day 54 together with Town Center level 18, and the later generations follow on day 90, 140, 200, 280, 370 and 450. Most pets also need the one before them at level 15, or level 30 from Generation 5 onwards.
What are Taming Marks and when should I use them?
Refinement currency. A mark rerolls all six secondary stats of a pet at once, and it gets used up whether you keep or discard the roll. Spend Common Marks on lower tiers, save Advanced Marks for Epic and above, and ideally refine on event days that score points for it.
Which pet should F2P players build first?
Lion, as soon as it unlocks on day 140. Its digs feed you Forgehammers, Truegold and charm items that make every march stronger. Until then, Cheetah pays for itself through free Pet Food.
Do refinement stats from different pets stack?
Yes, additively across all your pets at the same time. That is why refining a second pet is often better value than chasing the top tier on one.