The Raccoons Sneak In: MiroPets Welcomes Its Thirty-Third Species

Somebody Has Been in the Bins

It started with a knocked-over flowerpot in the Garden. Then a suspiciously tidy stack of acorns behind the Adoption Center. Then, one evening, a pair of bright eyes behind a little dark mask, watching from the hedge and clearly making plans.

The Raccoon has arrived - the thirty-third species to join MiroPets, and easily the nosiest. Bold eye-mask, fluffy cheeks, a thick ringed tail, and a pair of clever little paws that are into absolutely everything.

And, as is tradition, it did not come alone: there are thirty-five raccoons, one for every colour and theme in the game.

Thirty-Five Masked Bandits

The everyday crowd covers all ten colours, from Blucoon the blue to Whiskaroo the white, with Tangerac, Razzle, Racoonie, Reddycoon, Yellocoon, Racconia, Raccoonzy and Coonster in between. For the first time, a new species comes in three poses - some sit, some trot along on all fours, and some stand up and give you a wave.

The rarer sorts bring the weather with them: Embercoon has a flame for a forehead tuft, Mossbreeze grows leaves and trails a little vine, Raccolite is dusted in snowflakes, Racconaut rides in on sea-green, Stormcoon crackles with lightning and Neoncoon glows in the dark. Maskaroo wears navy and cream, Raccoonche has the toque and apron, Raccroot the full business suit, and Racquet - headband on, polo pressed - is ready for a game of tennis.

The epics are where it gets properly strange. Cosmoon carries a galaxy in its fur. Raccaroo runs the full rainbow. Candicoon has a candy-striped tail, Racconix is midnight black with a violet glow, and Shincoon shimmers. Nerdcoon has the spectacles and bow tie, Racoonhoy the pirate hat and eye patch - worn, naturally, over the mask - Wizcoon the starry robe, and Meracoon trades its back half for a shimmering fish tail. The lovestruck Cuddlecoon rounds out the set.

A Raccoon Egg Every Hour Until 25 September

Here is the part worth setting an alarm for.

Until 25 September, at least one raccoon egg is added to the Adoption Center every hour, on the hour - on top of the usual eggs. The board refreshes at the top of every hour, and the Adoption Center page has a countdown telling you exactly how long until the next egg drops and how long the featured week has left to run.

The usual caveat applies: the five legendaries - Chromoon the chrome, Gildycoon the golden, Prismcoon the stained glass, Opaloon the opal and Obsidicoon the obsidian - do not appear in the adoption rotation, and neither does Cuddlecoon. Cuddlecoon waits for Valentine's. The legendaries, though, have a door of their own this week - see below.

The Legendary Raccoon Egg

For launch week only, the Treasure Trove has a Legendary Raccoon Egg: guaranteed to hatch one of the five legendaries, and never one you already have.

Let it be a surprise for $5.99, or choose exactly which Raccoon you want for $7.99. VIPs get their usual discount, a pet slot and a 15-minute nest are included, and because no egg ever repeats, five eggs is the whole set. It leaves the Trove with the hourly eggs on 25 September.

Sticky Paws

Those clever little hands are not just for show.

In the Pet Arena, every raccoon comes with Sticky Paws: it reaches out, snatches the nearest opponent and yanks them right up close. Someone keeping a careful distance from you? Not any more.

Over in Pet Dash, raccoons have the Coin Magnet knack, the same one foxes and squirrels enjoy: coins are picked up from further away. If it is shiny and nearby, a raccoon already has it.

Go and Meet One

The eggs are dropping hourly at the Adoption Center until 25 September. Adopt one, hatch it, and enjoy sharing your home with a masked little troublemaker.

Just check your pockets afterwards.