Star number does = difficulty, technically (really this is far more in effect in the Lost Grove)
In captured pets from pre-Grove areas, star number tells you how much mana a pet will have if captured (in non-fabled species, 1=60, 2=80, 3=100, and 4=120. Fabled species are +20 to each of those capping out at 120. However, it is different in the Lost Grove, not the least because 120 isn't the mana cap anymore)

- White star, common, 0 Trait points
- Green star, uncommon, 1 Trait point (a carried trait)
- Blue star, rare, 2 Trait points (1 visible trait, or two carries)
- Purple star, epic, 4 Trait points (2 visible traits, or 1 vis/2carry, or 4 carry)
- Yellow/Gold star, legendary, 6 Trait points
- Red star, Mythical, 8 Trait points (always at least 2 visible traits)


Carried traits and hidden traits (hidden = the pet has a more dominant visible trait, in the same slot) can only be seen in the pet genetics section if a pet has been genetically tested, though they can be passed to offspring regardless.

Example pets from our own stables:
common,
uncommon,
rare (1vis), rare (2carry),
epic (2vis), epic (1vis/2carry), epic (4carry),
legendary (3vis), legendary (2vis/2carry), legendary (1vis/4carry), legendary (6carry),
mythical (2vis/4carry) (only myth we have, so the only example from our stable we can give)

1-star/ 60 mana
2-star/ 80 mana
3-star/ 100 mana
4-star/ 120 mana

Thank you so much for the detailed answer! I had no idea about mana being related to the amount of stars.

Also thank you for providing excellent examples of tamed pets of different rarities and trait combinations! I bought the genetic scanner and test kit yesterday so I'm trying to learn as much as I can about carried traits and trait dominance.

Trait Dominance isn't really that hard- here's a terrible explanation image that we made quickly a while ago:


aka, N>A>B>C>D>E>etc, going down the alphabet

(image is linked to post four of one of our guides, which has Section 9 Visible Traits, Carried Traits, Hidden Traits)

Very interesting guide! Thank you again.

Where could I get an exceptional snare trap?

Exceptional grove traps are currently unpurchasable so far as I know. They'll be buyable once you can get the second upgrade for the Lost Grove trading post, but that requires gather items that we don't have access to yet.

Thank you! I can't wait til the story progresses

When capturing a sylesti, do I attack the same move I use the trap or do I skip?

it would depend- if you a) don't mind potentially KOing it, or b) it definitely has enough HP to survive, you could attack with one or all of your pets, but otherwise you would skip.

Thank you so much! After I read this, I had caught a sylesti almost right away!