Best Pals for combat in Palworld

Let's fight.

A motivated Pal ready to empty a weapon in Palworld
Image via Pocketpair

Combat is crucial to Palworld, especially if you want to tackle some of the game’s more significant objectives like Towers and Field Bosses. Even the basic act of catching Pals requires you to fight them, but there’s nothing wrong with having your Pals at your side.

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Here are our picks for the best Pals for combat in Palworld, no matter where you are.

What Pals should I put in my party for combat?

The types of Pal you have should be a huge focal point. If you’re going out to explore, you’ll want a mix of types so you always have an effective Pal. But if you’re targeting an area or hostile Pal of a specific type, like a Field Boss, loading up on two or three Pals of the most effective type will be a better strategy.

Pay attention to Pal abilities, though, as some may have attacks different from their type: Tanzee, for example, a Grass-based Pal, can learn the Ground-based ability Sand Blast.

Aside from type and effectiveness, consider your Pals’ individual stats and abilities. Pals with a higher level will be more viable in combat, as will ones with passive skills that improve attack and defense. Their Partner Skills will also come into play.

Best combat Pals in Palworld

Here’s a detailed tier list of the best combat Pals in Palworld. The table shows their name, their type, and their Partner Skill. Rather than make a complete tier list of every Pal, we’ve highlighted the best in the list below, then provide five Pal suggestions for each stage of the game: early game, mid-game (around level 20-30), and late game (around level 50).

Pal NameTypePartner Skill
Jormuntide IgnisFire/DragonStormbringer Lava Dragon
JormuntideWater/DragonStormbringer Sea Dragon
OrserkElectric/DragonFerocious Thunder Dragon
ShadowbeakDarkModified DNA
FrostallionIceIce Steed
QuiernDragonSky Dragon’s Affection
WarsectGround/GrassHard Armor
GoriratNeutralFull-power Gorilla Mode
AnubisGroundGuardian of the Desert
GrizzboltElectricYellow Tank
FoxparksFireHuggy Fire
RushoarGroundHard Head
LifmunkGrassLifmunk Recoil
CattivaNeutralCat Helper
ChilletIce/DragonWriggling Weasel

Best early-game combat Pals

Foxparks

  • Type: Fire
  • Partner Skill: Huggy Fire
  • Strongest Move & Power: Fire Ball 150
  • Type Weakness: Water

Foxparks is a Fire-type Pal capable of using two powerful Fire abilities. But Foxparks shines the brightest (literally) when their Partner Skill is activated after you build their harness. Pick them up, and they become a temporary, powerful handheld flamethrower, effective against most types—especially Grass. Just don’t expect it to be applicable against Water-type Pals.

Rushoar

  • Type: Ground
  • Partner Skill: Hard Head
  • Strongest Move & Power: Rock Lance 150
  • Type Weakness: Grass

Rushoar is a Ground-type Pal whose greatest strength is its Reckless Charge ability, which can provide a helpful stun against several types of pals. Rushoar has one of the highest Attack stats of any Pal, and they’re also valuable as both a mount and for Mining on the go once you unlock their Partner Skill.

Lifmunk

  • Type: Grass
  • Partner Skill: Lifmunk Recoil
  • Strongest Move & Power: Spine Vine 95
  • Type Weakness: Fire

Lifmunk is a Grass-type Pal with one of the best combat-oriented Partner Skills of any early-game Pal. When activated, Lifmunk leaps on top of your head and assists you in combat by firing a Submachine Gun at the enemy you’re aimed at while you hold down its Partner Skill ability button. Against bosses, this ability is a real lifesaver, and Lifmunk’s Grass abilities are particularly effective against Water-type Pals.

Cattiva

  • Type: Neutral
  • Partner Skill: Cat Helper
  • Strongest Move & Power: Power Shot 35
  • Type Weakness: Dark

Cattiva is a Neutral-type Pal, but that doesn’t stop it from being a melee powerhouse. Cattiva’s special skill, Punch Flurry, is incredibly destructive if they can get up close. In addition to that skill, Cattiva’s presence in your party also improves your carrying capacity.

Chillet

  • Type: Ice/Dragon
  • Partner Skill: Wriggling Weasel
  • Strongest Move & Power: Cryst Breath
  • Type Weakness: Fire

Chillet is an Ice and Dragon-type Pal, which makes them effective against both Fire and Dark-type Pals. Dragon Cannon and Ice Missile are two of the strongest active skills in the game.

Best mid-game combat Pals

Quivern

  • Type: Dragon
  • Partner Skill: Sky Dragon’s Affection
  • Strongest Move & Power: Aqua Burst 100
  • Type Weakness: Ice

Quivern is a Dragon-type Pal that’s great for the party, given it can learn various moves across other types such as Water and Grass. Like all Dragon Pals, it can also learn Dragon Meteor, one of the strongest skills in the game. And with Sky Dragon’s Affection, those Dragon-type abilities are even stronger while mounted.

Warsect

  • Type: Grass/Ground
  • Partner Skill: Hard Armor
  • Strongest Move & Power: Rock Lance 150
  • Type Weakness: Fire & Grass

Warsect is a Ground/Grass-type Pal that’s effectively a giant beetle. Warsect is one of the toughest Pals in the game with its hard outer shell, which greatly boosts defense. Hard Armor enhances your attacks with Fire Damage and also increases your defense. You can counter various types with Fire, Grass, and Ground attacks.

Gorirat

  • Type: Neutral
  • Partner Skill: Full-power Gorilla Mode
  • Strongest Move & Power: Ground Pound 85
  • Type Weakness: Dark

Gorirat is a Neutral-type Pal with exceptional attack and defense ratings. Gorirat is also one of the most elusive and powerful Pals once its Full-power Gorilla Mode skill is active, allowing it to leap around and dodge attacks before slamming its opponents.

Anubis

  • Type: Ground
  • Partner Skill: Guardian of the Desert
  • Strongest Move & Power: Ground Smash 140
  • Type Weakness: Grass

Anubis is a Ground-type Pal that you would typically have to wait until the end-game phase to catch, but you can get him earlier via a handful of different breeding combinations. Guardian of the Desert buffs both the player and the Pal, with the player receiving Ground damage on their attacks and Anubis receiving increased dodge chances during battle.

Grizzbolt

  • Type: Electric
  • Partners Skill: Yellow Tank
  • Strongest Move & Power: Lightning Strike 120
  • Type Weakness: Ground

Grizzbolt is one of the most recognizable Pals, but it’s also one of the best, especially in the Electric category. Grizzbolt can take on various Fire, Dark, and Electric attacks in its arsenal. Catching Grizzbolt is crucial to unlocking one of the most fun Partner Skills in the game, as you can equip a mounted minigun while riding them.

Best late-game combat Pals

Jormuntide Ignis

  • Type: Dragon/Fire
  • Partner Skill: Stormbringer Lava Dragon
  • Strongest Move & Power: Fire Ball 150
  • Type Weakness: Ice & Water

Jormuntide Ignis can easily be considered the strongest Pal for combat in the game. The Dragon and Fire typings are some of the most overall effective, and Jormuntide Ignis has both. Like with other Dragons, its Partner Skill enhances attacks of its secondary type (Fire) while mounted.

Jormuntide

  • Type: Water/Dragon
  • Partner Skill: Stormbringer Sea Dragon
  • Strongest Move & Power: Hydro Laser 150
  • Type Weakness: Ice & Electric

Jormuntide, the Water-based version of the all-powerful Dragon, is as strong as its fiery counterpart. Its Water attacks are enhanced while mounted.

Orserk

  • Type: Electric/Dragon
  • Partner Skill: Ferocious Thunder Dragon
  • Strongest Move & Power: Lightning Strike 120
  • Type Weakness: Ice & Ground

Orserk is another formidable dragon hybrid with access to Electric and Dragon-type attacks. It’s also a valuable party addition for grinding Pal Fluids since it causes more to be dropped from defeated Water types.

Shadowbeak

  • Type: Dark
  • Partner Skill: Modified DNA
  • Strongest Move & Power: Divine Disaster 160
  • Type Weakness: Dragon

Shadowbeak is one of the best, if not the best, dark type of Pal in Palworld. Shadowbeak is also equipped with Water-type attacks and has enhanced Dark attacks if mounted. Catching Shadowbeak is a worthwhile challenge.

Frostallion

  • Type: Ice
  • Partner Skill: Ice Steed
  • Strongest Move & Power: Blizzard Spike 130
  • Type Weakness: Fire

Frostallion is perhaps the strongest Ice Pal in the game. Its Partner Skill is also doubly effective, as it has enhanced Ice attacks while mounted and enhances player attacks with Ice damage.

Tip:

Palworld is a game in early access, so the content in the game is subject to change. If and when that happens, this piece will be updated alongside it.


There you have it! You know everything you need about the best Pals for combat in Palworld. Good luck!

Author
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Scott Robertson
VALORANT lead staff writer, also covering CS:GO, FPS games, other titles, and the wider esports industry. Watching and writing esports since 2014. Previously wrote for Dexerto, Upcomer, Splyce, and somehow MySpace. Jack of all games, master of none.