The meta shifts with the arrival of Palworld 1.0, as new units enter the best Pals list. Certain options remain, like the undisputed speedster of the skies. On the other hand, some of the newly discovered Pals join the top-tier ranks for raw strength as well as other unique utilities for your Palworld experience. Here, you’ll check out the Top 10 best Pals in Palworld 1.0 that help define the current metagame.

Top 10 Best Pals in Palworld 1.0 Tier List, Ranked

Gone is the chaotic scramble of Early Access, as Palworld 1.0 introduces a refined ecosystem of efficiency. While every Pal has a purpose, the ones that rise to the top are those that offer a synergy of combat and Work Suitability. You’ll find ten of the most notable examples of this philosophy in the following list:

10. Moldron

As one of the new Pals introduced in Version 1.0, Moldron is an underestimated champion of Palworld’s industrial revolution. Spawning at the volcano biome, this Fire/Ground Pal specializes in the often-overlooked Mining and Kindling Work Suitability combination. Although Moldron’s levels for these Work Suitabilities aren’t as high as other, higher-tier choices, it becomes a great mid-game choice for completing tasks at the base that require heat and an organic pickaxe. Moldron isn’t only great at the base, as it’s also an ideal choice to bring on the field. With its Partner Skill, Magma Overload, its attack increases for each additional Fire or Ground Pal in the party. Players who wish to take advantage of these elements can increase Moldron’s damage output by up to 16%.

9. Knocklem

Known as Palworld’s gentle giant, Knocklem is the base’s heavy lifter. With a Work Suitability combination of Gathering Lv. 4, Mining Lv. 7, and Transporting Lv. 7, this Pal is the endgame solution to the ever-present need for ore and logistics at the base. In combat, Pal Tamers can actively command Knocklem to activate its Partner Skill, Steel Guardian Mode. Doing so increases its attack and defense stats temporarily, making it a viable tank for absorbing devastating boss attacks. While a practical choice for combat and work, Knocklem’s lumbering speed leaves much to be desired. Although it can gather and transport multiple items at once, various smaller, more agile Pals can beat Knocklem to the punch in completing gathering and transporting tasks.

8. Panthalus

If you’re looking for raw, unadulterated power in Palworld, Panthalus is the answer. It’s nigh-impossible to miss out on this Pal, as summoning it is part of unlocking the World Tree. Additionally, the capture is guaranteed, allowing almost every Palworld player to have at least one Panthalus in their Pal storage. For its stats, Panthalus boasts the highest Attack and Defense stats out of all other Pals in Palworld. This massive whale also guards the base and bombards anything that dares cross its attention. However, Panthalus’s Partner Skill, Resonant Guardian, also restricts players from summoning more than one of the same species at the same time. Also, it doesn’t have any Work Suitability, which is a first in Palworld history. Ultimately, Panthalus can be great for raid defense, but its restrictions keep it from rising to higher ranks on this list.

7. Frostallion

Are you having trouble dealing with dragons in Palworld? Mount a Frostallion, and witness icy fury rain down upon the whittling health bars of dragons. As an ice-cold harbinger of death, Frostallion declares war on Palworld’s serpentine terrors with the help of its Partner Skill, Icy Steed. With it, mounting a Frostallion changes your attacks to Ice and enhances all Ice attacks. On top of that, Frostallion is an incredible flyer that only falls short of faster airborne speedsters like Jetragon. However, its over-reliance on its elemental type can be a liability when dealing with wild non-Dragon Pals.

6. Hartalis

Hartalis is the ultimate shield for dealing with endgame bosses in Palworld. Its Partner Skill, Sacred Barrier, generates an impenetrable barrier that blocks all attacks when activated. When mounted, you and your companion Hartalis can do triple jumps, increasing survivability through enhanced evasiveness. In combat, Hartalis is no pushover with its skills. In particular, its exclusive skill, Purifying Light, engulfs the entire battlefield with a blinding, highly damaging shine that can decimate crowds with relative ease. Still, its stats and skills focus more on defense than on offense, making it struggle to defeat powerful bosses sooner rather than later. When it’s not exercising its god-like prowess, Hartalis is a boon at the base. Its Gathering Lv. 7 and Lumbering Lv. 7 Work Suitabilities ensures you’ll never run out of wood for your building and crafting projects.

5. Bellanoir Libero

If Frostallion excels in Ice, Bellanoir Libero is the queen of the Dark. Although her Defense stat is average at best, she’s a glass cannon to the core. Her stats and skills are designed for high-risk, high-reward gameplay. Note that Bellanoir Libero possesses one of the highest Attack stats in Palworld. Additionally, her active skill pool can wipe out entire groups of enemies in seconds. Her Partner Skill, Nightmare Stare, is a testament to that resolve. Still, if you plan to keep Bellanoir Libero on the field for extended periods, prepare to bring more health-restoration items for her than usual. After all, her glaring weakness is her fragility, as one good hit from a powerful attack can knock her out fast.

4. Solenne

Solenne encourages party diversity with its Partner Skill, Untainted Maiden. In particular, this ability increases the player’s Attack by 30% if all Pals in the party are different species. This Pal’s Dark/Neutral typing also means you’ll only worry about dragons dealing immense damage to Solenne. At the base, some players would want to summon multiple Solennes for crafting and building operations. After all, this Pal’s Handiwork Lv. 8 Work Suitability makes quick work of any item- and structure-creating project. Still, Solenne is one of the few late-game Pals in Palworld that doesn’t have an exclusive active skill. Nonetheless, it’s undeniable that this Dark/Neutral-type Pal works wonders on the field and at the base.

3. Jetragon

If you want to “be speed” in Palworld, mount a Jetragon. Feel the difference in flight speed upon mounting this dragon as compared to when you were riding a Nighthawk during early-game. On it, the Palpagos Islands, and the regions beyond, open up, transforming a tedious journey into a thrilling flight. In combat, Jetragon boasts an above-average Attack stat. With it, this flying drake can lay down significant firepower from above. However, Jetragon has a fairly large hitbox, which may frustrate some players who struggle to evade certain attacks. But for map exploration and farming endgame dungeons, Jetragon is an invaluable time-saver that many Palworld veterans refuse to leave base without.

2. Anubis

Anubis was, and still is, one of the best Pals in Palworld for combat and work. Now with the release of Version 1.0, this Pal excels in Handiwork, Mining, and Transporting Work Suitabilities, making light work of many crafting, construction, ore generation, and logistics tasks. While handy at the base, the Work Suitability levels of Anubis fall short of other Pals that have more dedication to the aforementioned abilities. Despite this shortcoming, this Pal still serves as the dream worker for any Palworld veteran. In combat, Anubis delivers quick, melee Ground attacks to pummel the living daylights out of opponents within reach of its fists and kicks. Speaking of fast, its Partner Skill, Guardian of the Desert, won’t only infuse the Ground element to the player’s attacks up to 10%, but it also lets this Pal dodge attacks with speedy sidesteps.

1. Orserk

Orserk received a reworked Partner Skill with the release of Palworld 1.0. Before, its Partner Skill, Ferocious Thunder Dragon, allowed Water Pals to drop more items when defeated. Now, this ability increases the Attack and Defense of the active Pal by up to 30% each time the player hits an enemy with a bullet. This enhanced skill makes the humble Snock turn into a force of nature to be reckoned with. Also, players can trigger the stat-boosting effect of Orserk’s Partner Skill using bullet-like weapons. That means using gear like the Terraprisma can activate this effect. Additionally, Orserk’s Electric/Dragon typing makes it resistant to multiple elements, namely Electric, Dragon, Water, and Dark. While it’s definitely one of the best Pals in Palworld, new players will now have to wait until they unlock the World Tree to capture one. Otherwise, travel to another Palworld server with an unlocked World Tree to get one early.