Welcome to the Palpagos Islands
Palworld blends creature collection with survival crafting in a way that’s both familiar and fresh. After 50+ hours building bases and catching Pals, here’s everything new players need to know to thrive on the Palpagos Islands.
⚡ Update: Palworld hits Version 1.0 on July 10, 2026 with a new World Tree endgame, the biggest Pal drop yet, and PvP. See our full Palworld 1.0 breakdown before you jump back in.
Quick Summary:
- Build a Workbench immediately, don’t farm with fists
- Catch multiple Pals of the same type for base work
- Assign Pals to your base using the Palbox
- Food management is critical early game
- Focus on unlocking the Pal Sphere first
Table of Contents
- First 10 Minutes: What to Do
- Catching Pals Efficiently
- Base Building Basics
- Working Pals Explained
- Food and Survival
- Combat Tips
- Early Progression Path
- FAQ
First 10 Minutes: What to Do
Your first few minutes set the pace for everything. Do this immediately:
1. Gather 2 Wood
Punch trees (yes, really) to get Wood. You only need 2 pieces to start.
2. Build a Primitive Workbench
Open the build menu and craft a Primitive Workbench. This unlocks tool crafting.
3. Craft Stone Tools
Make a Stone Pickaxe and Stone Axe. Now you can gather resources properly.
4. Gather Resources
Collect Wood, Stone, and Fiber. You’ll need lots of all three.
5. Unlock and Craft Pal Spheres
Once you hit level 2, unlock Pal Spheres in the Technology menu. Craft 5-10 immediately.
Catching Pals Efficiently
Catching Pals is the core loop. Here’s how to do it well:
Damage First:
Lower a Pal’s HP before throwing a sphere. The lower the HP, the higher the catch rate. But don’t kill it!
Approach from Behind:
Back attacks deal bonus damage and give a catch rate bonus. Sneak up when possible.
Match Sphere to Pal Level:
Basic Pal Spheres work on low-level Pals. Stronger Pals need Mega Spheres or better.
Catch Multiples:
You want multiple copies of useful Pals. They can work simultaneously at your base and catching duplicates gives bonus XP.
Base Building Basics
Your base is your home. Place it wisely:
Location Matters:
- Near resources (ore, trees, water)
- Flat ground for building
- Away from high-level enemy spawns early on
Essential Structures (Build Order):
- Palbox, Stores and assigns Pals
- Wooden Chest, Storage for materials
- Berry Plantation, Passive food generation
- Campfire, Cooking food
- Bed, Rest and respawn point
- Feed Box, Pals eat from this automatically
Base Pal Limit:
Your Palbox limits how many Pals can work at your base. Upgrade it to increase capacity.
Working Pals Explained
Pals aren’t just for combat, they’re your workforce:
Work Suitabilities:
Each Pal has icons showing what work they can do:
- Kindling, Operates furnaces, cooking
- Watering, Waters crops
- Planting, Plants seeds
- Generating, Produces electricity
- Handiwork, Crafts at workbenches
- Lumbering, Cuts trees
- Mining, Mines ore
- Transporting, Moves items between storage
- Gathering, Harvests crops
Assigning Pals:
Open the Palbox, select a Pal, and drop them into your base. They’ll automatically find work matching their suitabilities.
Pal Sanity:
Working Pals get stressed. Build Hot Springs and beds to restore their sanity, or they’ll work slowly and get sick.
Food and Survival
Hunger kills more new players than combat:
Early Food Sources:
- Red Berries, Grow wild, low nutrition
- Berry Plantations, Passive berry farming
- Cooked Meat, Hunt Pals for Raw Meat, cook at Campfire
Feed Box:
Place a Feed Box and stock it with food. Your working Pals eat from it automatically. Keep it full or they’ll starve and stop working.
Your Hunger:
You need to eat too. Carry cooked food when exploring. Berries work but cooked meat is better.
Combat Tips
Combat is dangerous early on. Stay smart:
Use Your Pals:
Send Pals to fight while you attack from range or flank. Don’t face-tank everything yourself.
Elemental Weaknesses:
- Fire beats Grass/Ice
- Water beats Fire
- Electric beats Water
- Ground beats Electric
- Ice beats Dragon
- Dark and Neutral have no weaknesses
Dodge and Reposition:
Roll to dodge attacks. Don’t stand still. Mobility keeps you alive.
Retreat When Needed:
If you’re outleveled, run. Death means dropping items and a long respawn.
Early Progression Path
Follow this path for smooth early game:
Levels 1-5:
- Build Workbench, craft tools
- Set up first base with Palbox
- Catch 5-10 starter Pals
- Build Berry Plantation and Feed Box
Levels 5-10:
- Unlock and build Primitive Furnace
- Smelt Copper Ingots
- Upgrade to Metal Tools
- Expand base workforce to 5+ Pals
Levels 10-15:
- Unlock Egg Incubator
- Start breeding Pals
- Build ranches for passive resources
- Explore further from base
Levels 15-20:
- Tackle first boss tower
- Unlock flying mount capability
- Establish second base
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I heal Pals?
Pals heal slowly over time. Use healing items or place them in the Palbox to recover faster. Build a Hot Spring for passive healing at base.
Can Pals die permanently?
In normal mode, no. Downed Pals return to the Palbox and need rest. In harder difficulties, permadeath is possible.
How do I get a mount?
Catch a rideable Pal and craft its saddle. Check the Pal’s info to see if it’s mountable. Unlock saddles in the Technology menu.
What’s the best starter Pal?
Cattiva is excellent, high Handiwork, Mining, and Transporting. Lamball is great for Handiwork. Catch both early. When you outgrow them, our Palworld tier list for 1.0 covers the upgrades for every role.
How do I play multiplayer?
Host a world and invite friends via the multiplayer menu. Up to 4 players in co-op, 32 on dedicated servers.
Recommended Gear for Long Sessions
Palworld sessions run long once base building clicks. These picks cover comfortable audio, seating, and inputs for the grind. Prices are current as of July 2026.
Sony INZONE H9
Wireless with noise canceling and 360 Spatial Sound for PC and PS5. Down $102 from list.
Corsair T3 Rush
Fabric build with memory foam lumbar support, 46% off list for Prime Day.
Ducky Zero 6108
Hotswap Cherry MX2A Reds with Bluetooth, at half its usual price.
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Summary
Palworld rewards preparation and planning. Build your Workbench immediately, catch multiple Pals for base work, and keep everyone fed. Assign Pals based on their work suitabilities, manage their sanity, and expand gradually. As you level up, our Palworld stat priority guide shows which player stats to boost first. The Palpagos Islands have plenty of secrets, take your time discovering them. And before you dive in, our best difficulty settings guide helps you tune the world to how you want to play.