Palworld Walkthrough — Start to Endgame

Palworld is Pocketpair's open-world survival crafting game where you capture creatures called Pals and put them to work in your base — or take them into combat. Often called 'Pokemon with guns,' it blends creature collection with factory automation, base building, and third-person shooter combat. The game hit 25 million players within its first month of Early Access and continues to receive major content updates adding new Pals, regions, and mechanics.

This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. Follow this path to avoid common traps that stall most players.

Quick Progression Summary

Phase 1: Getting Started — Windswept Hills

The starting region with abundant basic resources like Wood, Stone, and Paldium. Hosts low-level Pals perfect for your first captures and base workers. Several fast travel points unlock here and the terrain is beginner-friendly.

Level/Difficulty: Level 1-10 Key Rewards: Starter Pals (Cattiva, Lamball, Chikipi), basic resources, first base location

What to Do in Windswept Hills

1. Learn Pal capture. Pals are captured by weakening them in combat then throwing Pal Spheres. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
2. Pick Fire Type as your starting build. It's the most forgiving option.
3. Assign Pals to base tasks matching their highest work suitability — a Mining 3 Pal mines three times faster than Mining 1, making a massive difference in production speed.
4. Acquire your first equipment upgrade — Rocket Launcher or whatever's available.
5. Clear all main content before moving on.

Phase 1 Checklist

• Understand Pal capture fundamentals
• Fire Type selected and functional
• Windswept Hills main content cleared
• Ready for Verdant Brook

Phase 2: Early Game — Verdant Brook

A lush riverside area with Grass and Water type Pals. Good farming resources and flat terrain ideal for a second base. Contains mid-level dungeon entrances with rare Pal spawns inside.

Level/Difficulty: Level 10-20 Key Rewards: Water Pals for Watering tasks, Ore nodes, dungeon loot

What to Do in Verdant Brook

1. Work on base building automation. You build bases with crafting stations, farms, ranches, and production lines, then assign Pals to work them based on their Work Suitability skills (Kindling, Watering, Planting, Mining, etc. This system becomes critical from here on.
2. Farm for Rocket Launcher if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
3. Breeding can produce Pals with Lucky, Legend, or Swift passives stacked together. Use breeding calculators online to plan parent combinations for ideal offspring.
4. Complete all objectives before pushing to Astral Mountains.
5. Consider whether Dark Type might suit your playstyle better than Fire Type.

Phase 2 Checklist

• base building automation integrated into gameplay
• Rocket Launcher acquired
• Verdant Brook fully cleared
• Ready for Astral Mountains

Phase 3: Mid Game — Astral Mountains

A high-altitude region with rare Pals and dangerous encounters. Flying mounts are strongly recommended. Contains high-tier ore deposits and some legendary Pal spawn locations. The thin air means less cover and more exposure to raids.

Level/Difficulty: Level 30-40 Key Rewards: Rare Pal spawns, high-tier ores, legendary Pal encounters

What to Do in Astral Mountains

1. Master breeding system. Breeding combines two parent Pals at a Breeding Farm to produce eggs. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
2. Start working toward Assault Rifle. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
3. Rush the Pal Sphere Launcher technology for easier captures at range — it's far safer than running up to hostile Pals to throw spheres manually.
4. This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
5. Start investing in work suitability for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.

Phase 3 Checklist

• breeding system mastered
• Assault Rifle acquired or in progress
• Astral Mountains fully cleared
• Ready for Dessicated Desert

Phase 4: Late Game — Dessicated Desert

A harsh desert biome requiring Heat Resistant Armor. Home to Fire and Ground type Pals, including several powerful combat Pals. Resource nodes here include Sulfur and other advanced crafting materials.

Level/Difficulty: Level 25-35 Key Rewards: Fire Pals (Blazamut), Sulfur deposits, desert-exclusive Pal spawns

What to Do in Dessicated Desert

1. Finalize your build. You should be running Dark Type or Fire Type with optimized gear.
2. Assault Rifle should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
3. Feed Pals regularly and provide beds to keep their SAN (sanity) high. Low sanity Pals work slower, get sick, and eventually stop working entirely.
4. raid defense optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
5. Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Frostbound Mountains.

Phase 4 Checklist

• Build fully optimized
• Assault Rifle upgraded to max
• Dessicated Desert fully cleared
• Ready for Frostbound Mountains

Phase 5: Endgame — Frostbound Mountains

The endgame ice region with the toughest wild Pals and best resources. Ice Pals here have Cooling work suitability essential for certain production chains. Cold Resistant Armor is mandatory or you'll take continuous damage.

Level/Difficulty: Level 40-50 Key Rewards: Ice Pals, Diamond deposits, legendary Pal spawn points, endgame materials

What to Do in Frostbound Mountains

1. Frostbound Mountains tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
2. Build multiple bases for different resource nodes — one near ore deposits for mining, one in a forest for wood, and one near water for farming.
3. The endgame loop: run Frostbound Mountains, optimize gear, push harder content.
4. Experiment with Dragon Type for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
5. This is where raid defense mastery separates good players from great ones.

Phase 5 Checklist

• Endgame content on farm
• Best-in-slot gear acquired
• Frostbound Mountains fully cleared
• Ready for challenge content

Common Progression Mistakes

• Not building an organized base with Pal Beds, Feed Boxes, and Hot Springs — Pals without rest and food break down and stop working within a game day.
• Releasing duplicate Pals instead of using the Condenser to merge them — condensed Pals gain star upgrades that permanently boost their stats.
• Ignoring breeding mechanics until endgame — even early breeding can produce Pals with significantly better passive skills than wild catches.
• Building your base in a location without nearby resource nodes — relocating a base wastes enormous time and materials.
• Using only one Pal type in combat — element matchups matter enormously. A Water Pal vs Fire boss deals double damage while taking half.

Key Tips for Smooth Progression

1. Assign Pals to base tasks matching their highest work suitability — a Mining 3 Pal mines three times faster than Mining 1, making a massive difference in production speed.
2. Breeding can produce Pals with Lucky, Legend, or Swift passives stacked together. Use breeding calculators online to plan parent combinations for ideal offspring.
3. Rush the Pal Sphere Launcher technology for easier captures at range — it's far safer than running up to hostile Pals to throw spheres manually.
4. Feed Pals regularly and provide beds to keep their SAN (sanity) high. Low sanity Pals work slower, get sick, and eventually stop working entirely.
5. Build multiple bases for different resource nodes — one near ore deposits for mining, one in a forest for wood, and one near water for farming.

For detailed build optimization, see Palworld builds. For quick wins, check tips & tricks.