Palworld 1.0 Early Game Starter Guide

The first couple of hours in Palworld decide how smoothly the rest of your run goes. Spend your early time and Technology Points on the right things and your base almost runs itself. Waste them and you grind. This guide walks you through exactly what to catch, build, and unlock first.

Quick Answer

In your first hours: catch a few starter Pals (Cattiva for carry weight, Lifmunk for crafting), build the Palbox to claim a base, unlock Pal Spheres and a Stone Pickaxe in the tech menu, and set up base basics (campfire, wooden chest, logging site, stone pit, feed box, berry plantation, and a primitive furnace). Then push toward saddles and a glider for faster travel.

Your First 30 Minutes

1. Punch trees and rocks for Wood and Stone to craft your first tools.
2. Craft Pal Spheres and catch the Pals around you. Numbers matter early, so catch plenty.
3. Build the Palbox to claim your base area. This unlocks Pal work and crafting.
4. Assign your first Pals to work so wood, stone, and crafting start happening automatically.

Best Starter Pals to Catch

Grab these common early Pals, each fills a role you will lean on for hours:

• Cattiva: extra carry weight so you loot more per trip.
• Lifmunk: speeds up crafting at your base.
• Lamball: wool for cloth and early armor.
• Foxparks: kindling for cooking and smelting, plus a flamethrower for combat.
• Pengullet: watering for crops.

Full details in our Best Beginner Pals guide.

Base Basics to Build First

Prioritize the facilities that unblock food, materials, and crafting:

• Campfire for cooking and warmth
• Wooden Chest for storage
• Logging Site and Stone Pit so Pals gather automatically
• Feed Box and Berry Plantation to keep Pals fed
• Primitive Furnace to smelt ore into ingots

Tip: catch two or three of each work Pal, not one. A single worker gets overwhelmed and your production stalls. Doubling up early keeps everything moving.

Tip: unlock the basic Grappling Gun as soon as it appears in the tech tree. Firing it pulls you forward even when you are massively over-encumbered, so you can haul huge stacks of ore, wood, or stone across your base in one shot instead of crawling at overweight speed.

First Technology Unlocks

Spend your first Technology Points in this order:

1. Pal Spheres (you need these to catch anything)
2. Palbox and base basics
3. Stone Pickaxe and tools
4. Pal Gear (saddles) so you can ride mounts
5. Gliders for faster exploration

Skip decoration and early armor for now. Full order in our Technology Unlock Priority guide.

Pro Tip: Split the Tech Tree in Co-op

If you are playing with a friend or guild, do not both unlock the same things. Each player has their own Technology Points, so split the tech tree: one player unlocks weapons and armor, the other unlocks base structures and saddles. Then craft gear for each other. You effectively double your available tech points and progress twice as fast in the early game.

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Catching only one of each Pal. Bases need multiple workers per job. Catch in bulk.
• Ignoring the feed box. Hungry Pals work slowly and lose sanity. Keep food stocked.
• Hoarding tech points. Spend them on spheres, tools, and saddles, not decoration.
• Fighting over-leveled Pals. Stick near your level early, and weaken Pals before throwing spheres.

What to Do Next

• Pick your first catches with the Best Beginner Pals guide.
• Spend points right with the Technology Unlock Priority guide.
• Speed up your climb with the Fast Leveling Guide.

FAQ

What should I do first in Palworld 1.0? Gather Wood and Stone, craft Pal Spheres, catch starter Pals, build the Palbox, and set up base basics like a campfire, chest, and food production.

What Pals should I catch first? Cattiva (carry weight), Lifmunk (crafting), Lamball (wool), Foxparks (kindling), and Pengullet (watering).

What technology should I unlock first? Pal Spheres, then the Palbox and base basics, tools, saddles, and gliders. Skip decoration early.

How does the tech tree work in co-op? Each player has their own Technology Points, so split unlocks between you and craft gear for each other to progress faster.