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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault Rifle | S | General combat, weakening Pals for capture | The mid-tier automatic weapon with good damage and rate of fire. |
| Rocket Launcher | A | Tower bosses and legendary Pal encounters | The highest-damage weapon for taking on tower bosses and legendary Pals. |
| Crossbow | A | Early game exploration and stealthy Pal weakening | An early-game ranged option that's quiet and efficient. |
| Shotgun | B | Close-range combat against large Pals and raiders | Devastating close-range weapon that deals massive burst damage. |
| Sword | B | Stamina-efficient combat when paired with tanky Pals | The primary melee weapon, surprisingly viable with the right stats and Pal backup. |
S-Tier: Assault Rifle
The mid-tier automatic weapon with good damage and rate of fire. Crafted at a High Quality Workbench with Refined Ingots and Polymer. Effective against most enemies and much safer than melee since you can weaken Pals for capture from range.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | General combat, weakening Pals for capture |
| Key Mechanic | Pal capture |
| Recommended Build | Dark Type |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Assault Rifle: Pairs naturally with Dark Type thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Rocket Launcher
The highest-damage weapon for taking on tower bosses and legendary Pals. Expensive ammo but one-shots most regular enemies and chunks boss health bars. Crafted late-game with Advanced materials.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Tower bosses and legendary Pal encounters |
| Key Mechanic | base building automation |
| Recommended Build | Fire Type |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Rocket Launcher: Pairs naturally with Fire Type thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Crossbow
An early-game ranged option that's quiet and efficient. Three types of bolts (regular, fire, poison) give tactical flexibility. Lower DPS than guns but available much earlier and ammo is cheaper to craft.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Early game exploration and stealthy Pal weakening |
| Key Mechanic | breeding system |
| Recommended Build | Water Type |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Crossbow: Pairs naturally with Water Type thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Shotgun
Devastating close-range weapon that deals massive burst damage. Best against large Pals where all pellets connect. Pump-action variant is available mid-game and the double-barrel comes later with higher burst.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Close-range combat against large Pals and raiders |
| Key Mechanic | work suitability |
| Recommended Build | Electric Type |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Shotgun: Pairs naturally with Electric Type thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Sword
The primary melee weapon, surprisingly viable with the right stats and Pal backup. Low stamina cost and decent damage make it useful for conserving ammo. The Metal Sword and above can stagger smaller Pals.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Stamina-efficient combat when paired with tanky Pals |
| Key Mechanic | raid defense |
| Recommended Build | Dragon Type |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Sword: Pairs naturally with Dragon Type thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Windswept Hills
- Rocket Launcher → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Crossbow → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Assault Rifle → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- 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.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Palworld Guides
- Palworld Palworld Overview
- Palworld Best Builds
- Palworld Tier List
- Palworld Walkthrough
- Palworld Beginner's Guide
- Palworld Tips & Tricks
- Palworld Combat Guide
- Palworld Boss Guide
- Palworld Maps & Locations
- Palworld Crafting Guide
- Palworld Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Palworld, check out these related guides:
- Rust Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Valheim Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
