Smudge quickly became one of the most talked-about companions in Fisch after the Shady Bazaar update released. The pet comes with several useful passive abilities, including easier catches, passive trash farming, and even the chance to collect Shady Scrips while exploring the Bazaar.
However, many players are still confused about how Smudge leveling actually works. Unlike most companions in Fisch, Smudge does not gain XP through normal fishing alone. Because of that, leveling the companion can feel extremely slow if you do not understand the system properly.
If you want to max out Smudge faster, here are the best methods currently available in Fisch Roblox. Also check out our Fisch Codes for more rewards!
How Smudge XP Works
Before farming XP, it is important to understand how Smudge levels up. Smudge gains experience whenever you earn Shady Scrips naturally through gameplay. This means the pet only receives XP from activities that reward scripts directly. One important thing many players miss is this:
- Converting cash into Shady Scrips does NOT give XP
- Earning scripts from quests DOES give XP
- Bazaar activities that reward scripts also count
Because of this mechanic, simply spending millions of cash inside the Bazaar will not level your Smudge at all.
Complete Shady Angler Quests
The fastest and most reliable method to level Smudge is by repeatedly completing quests from the Shady Angler NPC inside the Shady Bazaar.
These quests usually ask players to catch specific fish and return them in exchange for Shady Scrip rewards.
Since Smudge gains XP whenever you earn scripts naturally, grinding these quests becomes the best leveling strategy available right now.
Some quests can reward large amounts of scripts depending on the fish requested, making this method far more efficient than passive grinding.
Focus on Easy Fish Requests
Not every Shady Angler quest is worth doing immediately.
Some requests involve rare or difficult fish that may take a very long time to catch. If your goal is leveling Smudge quickly, it is usually better to focus on quests involving common or fast-to-farm fish.
Completing multiple smaller quests quickly is often more efficient than spending hours hunting a single rare target.
This method helps maximize your Shady Script income over time, which directly speeds up Smudge leveling.
Use the Shady Rod for Extra Scripts
If you already own the Shady Rod, it can help speed up Smudge progression even more.
One of the rod’s passive abilities rewards players with one extra Shady Script after every perfect catch. Since these scripts are earned naturally during gameplay, they also contribute toward Smudge XP.
This creates a strong combo:
- Use Shady Rod
- Land perfect catches consistently
- Earn extra scripts
- Gain faster Smudge XP
Players with good fishing timing can level Smudge noticeably faster using this setup.
Farm During Long Fishing Sessions
Smudge leveling is designed around long-term farming instead of instant progression.
Because of this, players who spend more time actively fishing and completing Bazaar content will naturally level the companion faster.
Some players are already combining:
- Auto fishing setups
- Shady Angler quests
- Shady Rod farming
- Foggy weather bonuses
This allows them to slowly stack scripts over several hours while also progressing Smudge at the same time.
Take Advantage of Foggy Weather
Foggy weather improves several Smudge-related passives, making it one of the best times to grind.
During foggy conditions:
- Smudge collects trash fish faster
- Shady Script discovery becomes more common
- Passive farming becomes more efficient overall
While the bonus is not massive, every extra script helps when leveling Smudge over long grinding sessions.
Many players now wait for foggy weather before starting extended Bazaar farming.
Avoid Wasting Cash on Script Conversion
One of the biggest mistakes new players make is converting huge amounts of cash into Shady Scripts expecting Smudge XP. Unfortunately, purchased scripts do not count toward progression.
Even though buying scripts is useful for unlocking Bazaar items quickly, it will not help level your companion. If your main goal is Smudge XP, focus entirely on earning scripts through gameplay instead.
Final Thoughts
Leveling Smudge in Fisch can feel slow at first, but once you understand how the XP system works, the process becomes much easier. The best strategy right now is repeatedly farming Shady Angler quests while using tools like the Shady Rod to generate extra scripts naturally.
Players who focus on active script farming instead of cash conversion will level Smudge much faster over time. Combine that with long fishing sessions and foggy weather bonuses, and you can steadily build one of the most useful companions currently available in Fisch Roblox.