Last week, my roommate Lila spent three nights yelling at her Switch. Not because she lost a boss fight—because her favorite Pal, a fluffy little Lamball she named Cotton, starved to death while she fumbled with a broken base. She’s not alone: Palworld blew up faster than a Grenade Launcher last month, and half of us new players are just winging it, turning our first playthroughs into chaotic disaster movies (think: Pals escaping, bases catching fire, accidentally picking fights with level 30 Foxparks when we’re still level 5). I’ve been there too—so I rounded up the 10 tips that would’ve saved me from crying over wasted materials and hungry Pals.
First: Stop ignoring Lamballs. I know, they look like fuzzy clouds with legs, but they’re your first MVP. Think of them as your game-day sidekick—they gather wood, carry items, and even help you build. Skip trying to catch “cooler” Pals like Foxparks early; a Lamball will keep your base running while you figure out the ropes. Streamer xQc learned this the hard way last month—he ranted on Twitch about how he ignored Lamballs, then spent an hour carrying wood by himself. Spoiler: He caved and caught three Lamballs 10 minutes later.
Second: Pick the right starter Pal. The game lets you choose between Lifmunk, Foxpaw, and Lamball—and no, Foxpaw isn’t the “cool” choice just because it has fire powers. If you’re new, go Lamball (we already talked about why) or Lifmunk. Lifmunk can climb trees to grab rare fruits, which means you’ll never run out of food for your Pals. Foxpaw is great… if you want to accidentally set your base on fire (ask me how I know). Save the fire Pals for later when you know how to handle them.
Third: Don’t hoard Pal Spheres. Those little red orbs you use to catch Pals? I spent my first hour hiding them like they were gold, scared I’d “waste” them. Bad move. Common Pals (like Lamballs and Chickpees) only need basic Pal Spheres—use ’em freely. Save the better spheres (like Great Pal Spheres) for rare Pals, not the ones you see every 10 steps. It’s like saving your best snacks for a party, not a random Tuesday—don’t overcomplicate it.
Fourth: Build a feeder before anything else. Lila’s Cotton died because she built a fancy house first, then forgot to feed her Pals. Don’t be Lila. As soon as you drop your first base, throw down a feeder and fill it with berries (Lifmunk can grab those fast!). Pals don’t just “get hungry”—they stop working, get sad, and eventually die.
Fifth: Avoid the “red zone” Pals early. You’ll see them on the map—big, scary Pals with red icons, like the lightning-fast Jolteon lookalike, Sparkit. I thought I was tough and tried to catch one at level 7. Spoiler 2: It one-shot me, and I lost all my materials. Think of those red-zone Pals as a concert’s VIP section—you’re not ready for them yet. Stick to green and yellow icons until you hit level 15.
Sixth: Save your wood and stone. I know, building a huge base sounds fun—but your first base should be tiny. Like, “just big enough for a feeder and a bed” tiny. I wasted 200 wood on a giant wall that collapsed two hours later (thanks, storm!). Use small, simple structures first—you can upgrade later when you have more Pals to help. It’s like moving into a studio apartment before a mansion: start small, avoid chaos.
Seventh: Use your Pal’s skills. Each Pal has a unique ability—Lamball carries heavy stuff, Lifmunk climbs, Foxpaw lights fires. I spent an hour chopping wood by hand before realizing my Lifmunk could do it 10x faster. Just hit the “Pal Command” button and assign them tasks—they’re not just pets, they’re your workforce.
Eighth: Don’t forget to sleep. Your character gets tired, too! I pulled an all-nighter trying to catch a rare Pal, and my stamina dropped so low I couldn’t even run from a weak Vixy. Sleep in your bed every in-game night—it resets your stamina and keeps you from passing out mid-adventure.
Ninth: Collect every berry you see. Berries are your best friend. They feed your Pals, heal you, and even sell for a few coins. I walked past a bush of Berries once because I thought “I don’t need them”—then Cotton got hungry 10 minutes later. Grab ’em. All of ’em.
Tenth: Have fun with it. Yeah, this sounds cheesy, but Palworld’s charm is in the chaos. My first base caught fire, my first Lamball ran away, and I once accidentally released a Pal I’d spent 20 minutes catching. But that’s part of the fun! Don’t stress about being “perfect”—even streamers like Pokimane laughed about her messy first playthrough. Just grab your pals, build a (small!) base, and enjoy the ride.
At the end of the day, Palworld isn’t about being a pro—it’s about not crying over a starving Lamball. With these tips, you’ll skip the frustration and jump straight to the good stuff: catching cool Pals, building better bases, and turning your playthrough into a win. Now go—Cotton would want you to do better than Lila and me.
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