Palworld Pals Capturing Guide

The Palworld Pal-catching mechanics are extremely important since the whole video game relies on them; however, they are also the trickiest because the game only reveals the basics, leaving a lot of room for testing. Capturing low-level Pals is also relatively easy as long as you know what items you need and how the whole process works. But there is more than meets the eye in Palworld.

To help you get started, in this guide, I share with you the basics of Pal capturing and some interesting aspects that you may not be aware of, especially early in the game.

How To Capture Pals in Palworld

To capture a Palworld Pal, first, you need a specific item known as a Pal Sphere. Early in the game, you use the basic Pal Sphere, but as you progress, you gain access to more powerful Pal Spheres capable of capturing high-level Pals.

The Pal Sphere is crafted at the Primitive Workbench using basic materials such as Wood, Stone, and Paldium Fragments. When placing the Workbench, remember that you can’t move the Palworld structures. Once you get your first Pal Sphere, you are ready to capture your first critter; however, you should also consider crafting a Wooden Club or any other tool capable of inflicting damage.

The basic strategy to catch Pals requires you to weaken the critters before throwing the Pal Sphere at them. The Wooden Club is the perfect weapon to capture your first Pal. After you have both the Club and the Sphere, equip the weapon by pressing Y (on Xbox), then look around for some low-level Pals such as Lamballs.

Approach the Pal you want to capture and hit it several times with your Club, but be careful not to kill it. When the Pal’s health bar lowers, press RB on Xbox, target the critter, and then release the Pal Sphere. If you pay attention to the Pal, you can notice a circle surrounding your target.

The circle shows your Capture Rate. The Palworld Capture Rate refers to your chance of capturing or catching the Pal. The higher the Capture Rate, the better; however, there is also a chance for the Pal to escape. To increase the Capture Rate, you must weaken the Pal by attacking it.

It is also worth knowing that if you miss your target or the Pal escapes, you’ll waste your Pal Sphere. Simply put, the Pal Spheres are consumable, so treat them accordingly and make sure to craft them before heading out.

Tips & Tricks for Catching Palworld Pals

Now that you know the basic method to catch Pals in Palworld, here are several tips and tricks you can use as you progress in the game or encounter high-level Pals.

Backstrike Back Bonus

The Palworld Backstrike Bonus is something you want to learn the moment you set foot on your island. It refers to the bonus you get by attacking a Pal from behind. While this may not mean much at first, later in the game, when you access more powerful Pal Spheres, this bonus becomes significant, especially if the targeted Pal is unaware of your presence.

Early in the game, if you use one of your companions to capture a Pal, focus on throwing your Pal Sphere when your target is facing away to secure a Back Bonus.

Improve Your Pal Spheres

If you check your Technology Tree, you can notice that Palworld comes with various Spheres. While you start the game with the regular Pal Sphere, later, as you level up, you unlock better Spheres, such as the Mega Sphere below.

High-level Pal Spheres allow you to catch or capture better Pals. You should focus on leveling up your Base as fast as possible to gain access to better Spheres. It is also worth noting that the upgraded versions of the Palworld Spheres require more materials, so make sure you don’t waste a Mega Sphere to capture a low-level Pal such as a Lamball. Use the Spheres based on the level of the Pal you want to catch.

Find Lifmunk Effigies

While exploring the island, you’ll most likely encounter some green statues like the one pictured below.

These are known as Lifmunk Effigies. They are very precious and also limited, meaning that they don’t respawn. The Lifmunk Effigies allow you to increase your Palworld Capture Rate by offering them to the Statues of Power. While they have random locations, make sure you look for them whenever you explore new areas.

Learn the Status Conditions

Some Pals, especially those harder to catch, can inflict status conditions in battles. For example, the Sparkit has a partner skill named Static Electricity, which, as you can guess, inflicts electric damage against a particular type of element – specifically Ground. Learning how to use status conditions effectively in battle is mandatory for defeating bosses and high-level Pals.

The table below lists all Palworld elements available in Early Access, their strengths, and weaknesses.

Change the Capture Rate in the Game’s Menu

If you encounter difficulties in catching Pals in Palworld, you can improve the Capture Rate through the game’s menu. To do this, when selecting the world, check the Change World Setting at the bottom of the screen. Navigate to Custom Settings, then adjust the slider, moving it to the right. The maximum value is 2, while the standard Capture Rate is set to 1. This tweak is similar to the one used to keep your Pals fed.

Using these tips to your advantage is recommended from the moment you start playing the game; however, there are other features you most likely missed, so consider visiting our Palworld Wiki hub whenever you get stuck.