THE SHORT ANSWER

Choose a riding pet

Choose your riding pet by the route you need to complete: speed helps open travel, while jump matters for climbing and obstacles. Compare the cards on pets you own, then ride the same route with each candidate. A larger base speed number alone does not establish which pet gets your egg home more reliably.

Match the mount to the terrain

The early-to-middle card examples show why two fields matter. Crocodile is faster than Deer at 3.94K versus 3.25K base speed, yet Deer has 111 jump against Crocodile’s 98. Spider combines 3.69K speed with 129 jump. That makes Spider worth comparing on an obstacle-heavy route even beside faster pets.

These are selection clues, not a claim that a particular jump value clears every branch or wall. A useful mount must also fit how you turn, land and approach the return path. Keep the pet that lets you repeat the journey with fewer failed approaches.

September 17 base cards: compare the route tradeoff before choosing a ride.
PetBase speedBase jumpBase incomeReported hatch label
Deer3.25K1111501 in 9K
Crocodile3.94K981701 in 75K
Spider3.69K1291601 in 25K
Horse5.34K1083501 in 500K

Run a fair riding comparison

Start both pets at the same landmark and finish at your plot. Use the same path and record missed jumps as well as arrival time. First test without carrying an egg so a failed comparison does not cost the egg you are trying to secure.

Inspect the owned-pet cards before testing. If one pet has been fed or mutated and the other has not, the test still answers which pet is useful today, but it does not isolate the species difference. Save a note of their current values so you know what actually competed.

Fix the reason the ride failed

If repeated landings fail, try a higher-jump candidate or choose a lower route. If the return is smooth but too slow, prioritize speed or a closer egg. If you repeatedly turn the wrong way, rehearse the path; replacing the mount will not teach the landmarks for you.

Once one route is reliable, extend the search gradually. The official game loop connects faster pets with finding rarer eggs, but a distant target still needs a successful return. Keep a useful secondary mount when it solves a climb your main flat-ground ride handles poorly.

Choose a riding pet: common questions

Should I always ride my rarest pet?

Use the pet that handles your current route. The documented rarity label does not settle jump performance, and your owned upgrades may change the speed comparison.

Can a slower pet be a better mount?

Yes, for a route where its higher jump or more reliable handling avoids detours. Test that route rather than assuming base speed predicts the whole journey.

Sources & record notes

Community records and player reports describe the dated evidence linked here. Check the live game before a purchase or reset; route advice is our editorial recommendation.