Palworld blends classic survival gameplay with the mechanics of catching different monsters and putting them to work for your own purposes. With a large map, all of this can feel overwhelming, and as a new player you’ll first need to find your bearings. Since its release in early 2024, the game has also received many updates, so returning players will likely appreciate a refresher. Palworld is full of surprises and offers many hours of fun. To make your start easier, let’s look at the best beginner tips.
Optimise Palworld settings for maximum enjoyment
Before you even jump into the game, you should adjust a few settings. These can make your gameplay easier or harder, depending on what you want. When creating a new world, choose “Custom” and set everything to your liking. Of course, don’t make it too easy for yourself either. Keep in mind that these values are multipliers.
These Palworld settings are worthwhile:
- Slightly increase XP gain
- Slightly increase Pal spawns
- Higher catch rate
- Slower hunger drain for Pals
- Increase HP and stamina regeneration for the player
Palworld resource farming: wood and stone first
In your first hours you’ll gather plenty of materials, but your main focus should be wood and stone. These let you craft most basic items you unlock via technologies. Plant fibre and cloth soon become important too, but you can ignore ores and other high-end resources for now. That’s mainly because your carrying capacity is very low. We’ll sort that in tip number 8.
Catch Pals and farm XP quickly in Palworld
In the second section of your technologies you unlock Pal Spheres, which let you catch Pals. You should prioritise this early on, as catching new Pals helps you earn more experience. Check the Paldeck to see how many Pals of a type you’ve already caught. You receive a bonus once you’ve caught 12 of each species.
We recommend following this routine for every new Pal, both at the start and as you progress. Especially in the early hours, this nets you a lot of XP.
Use Pal skills and Partner Skills deliberately
Unlike its big inspiration, Palworld lets you do much more with your Pals than just fight. Combat is part of the game, but not crucial at the beginning. Active and passive skills are mainly for combat, as are the stats.
More important early on are your Pals’ other abilities. Chief among these are Partner Skills, which can grant various bonuses. For example, they can increase your carrying capacity or boost attacks. Also pay attention to your Pals’ Work Suitability when you want to use them outside of combat. These attributes range from Transporting and Mining to Watering your fields.
Day-night cycle in Palworld: spawns and tips
A full day lasts 32 minutes, with roughly 27 minutes of day and 5 minutes of night, unless you’ve changed the settings. You’ll likely work and hunt for Pals during the day, but night holds many surprises. For instance, different Pals spawn then, which are nocturnal and usually stronger. If you’re missing entries in the Paldeck, head out at night. Craft a torch for light and warmth.
Spend technology points wisely and unlock recipes
Progress comes primarily via technologies, where you unlock new blueprints for crafting recipes. Per level-up, you receive 6 standard technology points, which you can invest in the tree. Most recipes cost 1 to 3 points.
Early on, it pays to simply follow the sections and unlock key items step by step. Sometimes you can skip things you don’t currently need. Later you can unlock weapons, decorations, and equipment for your Pals here as well.
Building a base in Palworld: location and layout
Base building is a key part of Palworld, because a home lets you explore more of the game and have your Pals work for you. Choose a flat, safe, and resource-rich area for your first camp. Make sure the nearby Pals are peaceful and won’t attack you.
At first, your base primarily serves as your storage, especially as a beginner. Over time you can expand it to produce materials, farm, and breed Pals.
Allocate attributes: health, weight, and stamina
With every level you also gain stat points to invest. We recommend focusing on stamina, carrying capacity, and health to start with. These help you move faster, withstand more damage, and expand your inventory. Other values like attack, defence, or work speed are secondary at first.
Find Lucky Pals: glittering rare variants
In Palworld you can find rare Pals that you recognise by their glittering effect. They aren’t differently coloured, but they are slightly larger than normal. They’re called Lucky Pals and have improved stats as well as rare skills that normal versions don’t have. It’s absolutely worth catching these Pals and using them in battle.
How often they appear is down to luck. Sooner or later you should stumble across them; they aren’t extremely rare and you’ll notice them right away when they appear on the map.
Conclusion: starting Palworld in 2026 with the best beginner tips
Palworld is still well worth playing in 2026, offering varied and compelling gameplay. Catch new Pals, build your base, and begin your adventure on Palpagos Island. In the first few hours, focus on levelling up, catch lots of Pals, and build your first small base. After that you’ll be well prepared to explore the wide island.
Rent one of our servers for Palworld, so you can play together with your friends. It’s even more fun, and it makes it easier to prove yourselves against the later bosses.
