The best Palworld 1.0 pals for running your base like a well-oiled machine

We all have our favorites, but my strategy of 'use the cutest little guys' doesn't guarantee I've always got the best Palworld pals in 1.0. After my adventures in early access, I think I've learned my lesson, and finally have some actual recommendations for the best Palworld pals for suitabilities like Kindling, Handiwork, Medicine Production, and more.

Before you begin your hunt for the best pals

Handbooks make "best pal" lists far more subjective, so don't sweat it if you don't see your favorite companions here. This list mostly prioritizes base suitability levels first, but the occasional partner skill or pal availability may shake things up.

• You can use the Pal Condenser to improve a pal's rank, then use handbooks until they've reached level 10 in the selected work suitability.
• Check pal partner skills when searching for pals yourself. Some pals have base buffs that make them preferable over raw work suitability levels.
• Early Palworld players may recall pathing issues around their bases that prevented pals from working, but now they'll start working even if they can't reach an assigned station. That said, crowding furniture around the Palbox seems to cause occasional issues, so don't place it in tight spaces.
• It's not much of a problem after the pathing fixes, but I prefer smaller or medium-sized base pals if there's a negligible difference in their stats. They just get in my way sometimes, and I can't see what I'm doing with an Alpha Jourmuntide sitting on me.

Best pals for Cooling ❄️

Bastigor (No. 191)

Bastigor has the highest starting base suitability for Cooling in Palworld, and while I haven't tried popping this guy into the Pal Condenser just yet myself, I don't think I'll need to. My Bastigor stays assigned to Cooling tasks only, but it could be handy for Lumbering or Mining in a pinch.

Best pals for Gathering 🌿

Venusa (No. 178)

Jetdragon has the highest starting Gathering in Palworld, but Venusa is just such a strong jack-of-all-trades that it's my top recommendation. Gathering isn't a suitability I struggled to maintain, so I invested my time into Venusa's four suitabilities over Jetdragon's single talent.

Best pals for Generating Electricity ⚡

Oserk (No. 187)

I seemed miserably cursed when it came to Electricity Handbook drops, so stocking up on an army of Oserks made sustaining power at multiple bases a breeze. The only bummer is that you'll have to wait until you enter the World Tree to score one, but hey, at least it's not another boss pick.

Best pals for Handiwork 🤚

Solenne (No. 182)

Solene has the highest starting Handiwork suitability in Palworld, and boy did I need it when I finally stumbled upon one. The deeper into the late game I got, the more I dreaded most crafting tasks thanks to higher Handiwork demands. Solene is sequestered off in the World Tree, so you'll have to wait a while before capturing one, but I was more than happy to see it.

Best pals for Kindling 🔥

Dupin (No. 174)

Dupin doesn't start with the highest Kindling level—that honor goes to Renjishi—but adding the joker pal to your roster may be a deal too good to pass up. They're abundant in the World Tree, but you can actually find Dupin lurking around one spawn point on every island in Palpagos. Plus Dupin has more Handiwork and Medicine Production. Those are two stats I'll never pass up.

Best pals for Lumbering 🪵

Celesdir Noct (No. 157b)

A good Knocklem Ignis could pull double-duty if you don't mind splitting its attention between Lumbering and Mining, though Celesdir Noct was a nice upgrade since I seem to be perpetually out of wood. It's an overworld boss in the World Tree, so I've delayed upgrading its base suitability, but that's absolutely my next project.

Best pals for Mining ⛏️

Knocklem Ignis (No. 159b)

Aegidron starts with level 8 mining suitability, but I can't justify picking it for a single speciality when Knocklem Ignis is good for three. Its affinities make the hulking suit of armor good for mining, transporting its haul, and cooking up a quick snack.

Best pals for Medicine Production 💊

Silvance (No. 193)

Silvance has the highest starting work suitability for Medicine Production in the game, but it's only available as a boss in the World Tree, so it's a very endgame pal. Higher level crafts lean heavily into Medicine Production, and since Silvance has four other specialties it can lend a hand with, it's absolutely worth the hassle. Weird moth guy is definitely one of my favorite new pals in Palworld 1.0.

Best pals for Planting 🌱

Dandilord (No. 194)

Like Silvance, Dandilord is another World Tree boss that's well worth the investment. Not only is it fantastic as a base pal for Planting (and several other tasks), but it's also a real lifesaver when exploring the World Tree thanks to its poison immunity passive. Anything with high Medicine Production and Handiwork is a win, having the best Planting stats is a bonus.

Best pals for Transporting 📦

Mimog (No. 144)

Mimog doesn't have the highest Transporting base suitability by far, but the little guy is so stinkin' fast that it more than makes up for it. If you've got a Wumpo managing your Cooling stations, it gives Mimog a little capacity boost, too. I let a few other suitability pals occasionally help out here, but pairing that with Mimog and a few handbooks was more than enough to keep things tidy.