The Smudge Companion is one of the biggest utility additions introduced in the Shady Bazaar update for Fisch. You can purchase it for 25 S$ (Shady Scripts) from the Companion Dealer NPC inside the Bazaar, and once equipped, Smudge provides several passive bonuses that help both fishing and currency farming.
It can automatically collect Sludge-mutated trash fish, occasionally find free Shady Scripts, and reduce hooked fish movement speed by 20%, making difficult catches easier to control. Smudge also features a unique leveling system tied specifically to earned Shady Scripts, though converted scripts from cash exchanges do not count toward its XP progression.
Quick overview of the Smudge Companion in Fisch Roblox
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Companion Name | Smudge |
| Update | Shady Bazaar |
| Purchase Cost | 25 S$ |
| Currency Needed | Shady Scripts |
| Bought From | Companion Dealer NPC |
| Main Use | Passive fishing bonuses |
| Best Weather Synergy | Foggy Weather |
| Leveling Method | Earning Shady Scripts |
Where to unlock Smudge in Shady Bazaar
To unlock Smudge, you first need access to the Shady Bazaar area in Fisch. Once inside the Bazaar, locate the Companion Dealer NPC, who sells the Smudge companion for 25 Shady Scripts.

Unlike regular cash purchases, Smudge requires the new S$ currency, which means you must either earn scripts naturally through Bazaar activities or convert your standard cash into scripts using the Script Vendor.
After purchasing the companion, Smudge becomes equipable through the companion system menu.
How to equip the Smudge Companion
Once purchased, open your companion inventory and select Smudge as your active companion. When equipped, you will immediately notice a purple trail effect following your character.

This visual effect is important because it also helps identify when Smudge’s debuff passive activates during fishing encounters.
The companion works passively, so you do not need to manually trigger any abilities.
Smudge’s passive abilities explained
Smudge is valuable because all three of its abilities work automatically while you play.
Trash Collection passive
The first passive allows Smudge to periodically catch a random trash fish with the Sludge mutation. These fish also appear with a 2.5x XL size modifier, making them larger than standard trash catches.
Under normal conditions, this passive activates roughly every 1–2 minutes. During foggy weather, the activation speed doubles, allowing Smudge to trigger every 30–60 seconds instead.

| Passive | Effect | Foggy Weather Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Trash Collection | Catches random Sludge trash fish | Trigger speed doubles |
This makes fog one of the best weather conditions for passive farming sessions.
Shady Script S$ collection passive
Smudge also has a second hidden passive tied directly to the Shady Bazaar economy.
While simply walking around the Bazaar, there is a very rare chance that Smudge will collect one free Shady Script for you. The odds are low, but the passive works in the background while exploring or managing vendors.

Foggy weather slightly improves the odds of this passive triggering as well.
| Passive | Reward | Trigger Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Script Collection | 1 free Shady Script | Walking around Shady Bazaar |
Although this ability is inconsistent, it becomes surprisingly useful during long grinding sessions because Shady Scripts are otherwise difficult to farm quickly.
Fish movement debuff makes fishing easier
Smudge’s third passive is the most useful for active fishing gameplay.
Whenever you hook a fish while Smudge is equipped, the fish’s movement speed is reduced by 20%. This effectively makes difficult catches easier to stabilize and control during the fishing minigame.
You can tell the passive is active because the hooked fish gains a purple coloration, matching Smudge’s purple particle trail.

| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Fish Debuff | Reduces hooked fish movement speed by 20% |
This bonus is especially useful when targeting fast or erratic fish species that normally require high control stats.
How to level up Smudge quickly
Smudge uses a unique progression system compared to other companions in Fisch.
Instead of leveling through catches or playtime, Smudge gains experience based on the number of Shady Scripts you personally earn.
However, there is one major restriction players should know:

Scripts obtained through cash-to-script conversion do not provide Smudge XP.
That means only naturally earned scripts contribute toward companion progression. If you simply exchange money for S$, Smudge will not gain experience from those purchases.
| Method | Counts Toward XP? |
|---|---|
| Naturally earned Shady Scripts | Yes |
| Bazaar activities | Yes |
| Script drops/passives | Yes |
| Cash-to-script conversion | No |
Because of this system, players who actively participate in Bazaar content will level Smudge significantly faster than players who rely entirely on currency conversion.
Why Smudge is one of the best companions in Fisch
Smudge stands out because it supports both passive grinding and active fishing gameplay at the same time. The automatic trash farming provides extra resources, the script passive occasionally generates premium currency, and the fish slowdown effect directly improves catch consistency.
The companion becomes even stronger during foggy weather, where both farming speed and script chances improve simultaneously.
For players focusing heavily on the Shady Bazaar update, Smudge is currently one of the most efficient long-term utility companions available in Fisch.
If you plan to spend time farming Shady Scripts or fishing inside the Bazaar update, unlocking Smudge early is highly recommended. The companion slowly pays for itself through passive rewards while also making difficult fish encounters easier to manage.
Its unique script-based leveling system also gives players a long-term progression goal tied directly to the new Shady Bazaar mechanics.