Palworld combines classic survival gameplay with the mechanics of catching various monsters and putting them to work for you. With a large map, it can feel overwhelming at first, and new players need some time to get their bearings. Since its early 2024 release, the game has received many updates, so returning players may also need a refresher. Palworld is full of surprises and offers hours of fun. To make your start easier, here are the best tips for beginners.
Optimize Palworld settings for maximum fun
Before you even jump in, adjust a few settings. These can make your gameplay easier or harder, depending on what you want. When creating a new world, select “Custom” and tweak everything to your liking. Don’t make it too easy, though. Keep in mind the numbers are multipliers.
These Palworld settings are worth it:
- Slightly increase XP gain
- Slightly increase Pal spawns
- Higher catch rate
- Slower hunger depletion for Pals
- Increase player HP and Stamina regeneration
Farm resources in Palworld: Wood and stone first
In your first few hours, you’ll gather lots of materials, but focus on wood and stone first. These let you craft most basic items you unlock via technology. Plant fibers and cloth also become important, but you can ignore ore and other high-end resources for now. That’s mainly because your carry weight is very low. We’ll fix that in tip number 8.
Catch Pals and farm XP fast in Palworld
In the second tier of your technology tree, you unlock Pal Spheres for catching Pals. Focus on this early, because catching new Pals lets you earn more experience. Check the Paldeck to see how many of each type you’ve caught. You get a bonus after 12 captures per species.
We recommend following this routine for every new Pal you encounter, both early on and throughout the game. In the first hours, this nets you a lot of XP.
Use Pal skills and Partner Skills strategically
Unlike its biggest inspiration, Palworld lets you do much more with your Pals than just battle. Combat is part of the game, but not the top priority early. Active and passive skills are geared more toward fighting, as are the core stats.
More important are other Pal abilities. Chief among them are Partner Skills, which grant various bonuses. These can help you carry more or boost your attacks. Also pay attention to your Pals’ Work Suitability if you plan to use them outside of combat. These ratings include carrying, mining, watering crops, and more.
Day-night cycle in Palworld: Spawns and tips
A full day lasts 32 minutes: roughly 27 minutes of day and 5 minutes of night, unless you change the settings. You’ll likely gather and hunt Pals during the day, but night holds surprises, too. For example, different Pals spawn at night, often 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 is driven by technology, where you unlock new blueprints for crafting recipes. Each level-up grants 6 standard technology points, which you can invest in the tree. Most recipes cost 1 to 3 points.
Early on, it’s best to work through the tiers to unlock essentials step by step. Sometimes you can skip items you don’t need yet. Later, you can unlock weapons, decorations, and gear for your Pals.
Build a base in Palworld: Location and layout
Base building is a key part of Palworld. A home base lets you explore more of the game and have your Pals work for you. Choose a flat, safe, resource-rich area for your first camp. Make sure nearby Pals are peaceful and won’t attack you.
At first, your base serves mainly as storage, especially for beginners. Over time, you can expand it to produce materials, run farms, and breed Pals.
Allocate attributes: Health, weight, and stamina
With each level, you also earn stat points to spend. Early on, focus on stamina, carry weight, and health. These help you move faster, stay alive longer, and expand your inventory. Other stats like attack, defense, or work speed can wait.
Find Lucky Pals: Shimmering rare variants
You can also find rare Pals that shimmer. They aren’t different colors, but they’re larger than normal. These are called Lucky Pals and come with improved stats and rare skills that normal versions don’t have. It’s worth catching and using them in battle.
Their spawn rate is random. You should run into them sooner or later—they aren’t extremely rare—and you’ll recognize them as soon as they appear on the map.
Conclusion: The best Palworld beginner tips for 2026
Palworld is still worth playing in 2026 thanks to its varied gameplay. Catch new Pals, build your base, and begin your adventure on Palpagos Island. In your first hours, focus on leveling up, catching lots of Pals, and setting up your first small base. After that, you’ll be well-prepared to explore the island.
Rent one of our Palworld servers, team up with your friends, and have even more fun while making it easier to take on the later bosses.
