Getting the most out of familiars? Which are the best familiars what is the best way to level them?

[Greywolf]

Do I need to grind EVs and IVs? Do they have hidden stats and does the sign of the familiar matter? I have heard that you should wait till the first form of your familiar is maxed out before evolving but the Sage calls me names and wont let me continue until I evolve my Mite, is my Mite ruined now?

[Valkinaz]

there is no EV or IV in game.

Signs do matter as they boost damage to and from other signs. For example moon sign do +20% damage to star familiar and get +20% from attacks of sun familiar. At high levels that rather noticeable numbers

When you evolve familiar you keep 10% of previous form stats. That means if you lvl familiar from 90 attack to 100 your new form will have +10 attack instead of +9 compared to wild catch. So its not THAT important unless you want absolutely best familiar possible which is not exactly needed for story missions

[Dewa_Kulkas]

Just tame Dinoceros and you'll not regret it EVER

[Freezpior]

I have 3 dinoceros lol

[Valkinaz]

While not perfect comparacement dew to some amount of stat randomisation, still somewhat telling:

Two freshly caught mites. One is metamorphed ASAP(Left one), other is maxed. Final form Dynomite in both cases
https://imgur.com/a/BRv2zfd

All hail tokocold

[Gamerzilla]

I was able to beat the game and +game content with the starter 3 and randos I picked up along the way (1 tank, 1 heals, 1 dps type for each person) and really didnt struggle except for certain cheesetastic fights... cough last story boss phase cough. I never felt the need to grind out levels for Dino's and othr OP familiars but I did it anyways for giggles. It shaved maybe 10% off the time it took to kill the final postgame boss. Thats about it...
As long as you defend on time or tank the bosses hits with a high defence familiar who can taunt, the damage they deal is trivial except one *ususally* telegraphed move per boss that is designed to be blocked. An easily tamed Megalith has so much defence it takes 1 damage from the final story boss attacks and can continually spam taunt and then defend to keep all non-aoe attacks off your other party. Pair that with extra stamina equipment and say a poison proc and your good to go. Also one if its evolves can cast ressurect.