The first few Pals you catch in Palworld set the pace for your whole early game. Pick the right ones and you’ll have a working base, a mount and a steady supply of crafting materials within your first hour. Here are the best starter Pals to catch first and what each one does for you.
Looking for a Pal with a specific job? Filter them all with our free Palworld Pal finder.
The early base trio: Lamball, Cattiva & Depresso
The very first Pals you meet are genuinely useful base workers. Lamball handles handiwork, transporting and farming; Cattiva mines, gathers and transports; and Depresso brings handiwork and gathering. Catch several of each early — a base full of these covers your basic crafting and hauling while you go hunting for better Pals.
Foxparks — your first fire
Foxparks is a must-catch. It provides Kindling to power your first furnace and campfire, and equipped as a Partner it becomes a handheld flamethrower — your first real ranged weapon. Few early Pals pull double duty this well.
Lifmunk & Pengullet — craft and water
Lifmunk is a great early handiwork Pal and, as a Partner, fires a ranged attack. Pengullet brings Watering for your first plantation (and can be lobbed as an ice attack). Together they round out a self-sufficient starter base.
Vixy — passive income
Vixy is a secret MVP. Place it on a Ranch and it digs up Pal Spheres and gold coins on its own — free capturing materials and money while you do other things. Catch a few and let them farm your economy in the background.
Your first mounts: Direhowl, Nitewing & Eikthyrdeer
Mobility changes everything. Direhowl is a fast early ground mount, Nitewing is your first proper flying mount, and Eikthyrdeer doubles as a mount and a Lumbering worker that helps you gather wood. Unlock their saddles and your exploration speeds up dramatically — see our best mounts guide for the full upgrade path.
What to prioritise first
- Catch a handful of Lamball/Cattiva/Depresso to staff your base.
- Get Foxparks for kindling and your flamethrower.
- Add Lifmunk (handiwork) and Pengullet (watering).
- Put a Vixy or two on a ranch for free spheres and gold.
- Tame Direhowl, then Nitewing, for travel.
- Breed toward Anubis as soon as you can — it’s the biggest early power spike. See our breeding guide.
Start your adventure with friends
Everything’s better co-op. A Palworld dedicated server keeps your world online 24/7 with full PC and Xbox crossplay, so you and your friends can build your first base and catch your starter team together — and it’s ready for the 1.0 launch on July 10, 2026.
Tip: use our free interactive Palworld map to scout the best spots, ore deposits, fast-travel points and landmarks across the Palpagos Islands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Pal to catch first in Palworld?
Foxparks is the best early all-rounder — it gives you kindling and a flamethrower. Stock up on Lamball, Cattiva and Depresso as base workers alongside it.
What Pal gives free items?
Vixy — placed on a ranch, it digs up Pal Spheres and gold coins automatically.
What is the best early mount?
Direhowl for ground travel and Nitewing for flight are the easiest strong early mounts.
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