Palworld 1.0 was released on July 10, 2026, bringing 72 new paladins, the Awakening and Mutation mechanics, the new Sunreach region, and access to the World Tree. This tier list provides a complete breakdown of the strongest paladins in version 1.0, taking into account all changes: combat power, proficiency, passive skills, and new leveling mechanics. Whether your goal is to defeat raid bosses, build an efficient production base, or find the fastest mount for exploring the world, choosing the right palad is crucial. While each palad has its own purpose, only a few consistently stand out thanks to combat power, partner skills, and proficiency.
Table of Contents
Major Changes in Palworld 1.0 and Their Impact on Palad Selection
Overview of the 72 New Paladins and Stat Rebalancing
The update added 72 new paladins, 47 of which are completely new types, and 25 are variants of existing ones. The total number of paladins in the game has reached 287. The player level has been increased from 65 to 80. The developers have also rebalanced the stats and abilities of all paladins, making major changes to base building, multiplayer, and graphics.
The new paladins are scattered across various locations, but most can be found in the new Sunreach region—a floating archipelago—and around the World Tree. Among the newcomers are true gems like Renjishi (the best Kindler), Shaolong (the best Irrigator), and Dandilord (the best Planter).
Awakening and Mutation Mechanics for Leveling and Breeding
Version 1.0 introduced two mechanics that radically change the approach to leveling.
Mutation is a rare breeding outcome. When crossing, there is a small chance to produce an egg containing a mutated paladin—a completely different species that does not fall through the standard breeding formula. This paladin spawns with a unique passive skill that cannot be obtained in any other way, and comes with two Condensation Stars. The exact mutation chance has not been officially published, but community testing estimates the base chance to be 0.7-1% per egg with a standard cake, and around 3% with a cake focused on mutations.
Important: the mutation improves the stats of the paladin you were trying to breed. It also produces a completely different, higher-ranked paladin. For example, pairs around Hartalis consistently yielded Aegidron from the mutated egg, while pairs around Jormuntide Ignis yielded Eidrolon Ignis. However, there is a ceiling: legendary paladins and tower bosses can no longer mutate into anything higher, and in version 1.0, their breeding is limited to mating with their own kind.
Awakening is an endgame mechanic that allows you to permanently improve the stats of an existing paladin. The increase is approximately 7-10% after full awakening. This requires Radiant Gems, which are obtained in the World Tree zone. These are used to craft Awakening Stones, each for a specific element, at the Ancient Workbench.
The order of actions: first, hatch and mutate the Paladin, then level it up to 80, raise its Trust to 10, condense it, and only then awaken it. Awakening is the final step, the final upgrade that cannot be rolled back. So take your time.
New Endgame Locations Sunreach and the World Tree
Sunreach is a floating archipelago where most of the new Paladins reside. The World Tree is an endgame location, accessible near the endgame. Radiant Gems and Holy Water from the World Tree, necessary for awakening, are obtained there.
Tier List of the Best Pals in Palworld 1.0
While every player has their personal favorites, these pals show the most consistent results in Palworld 1.0.
S Tier The Strongest Pals and Mounts
S-tier contains the absolute best companions. They dominate late-game combat, raids, exploration, and high-level base production.
Tier A Reliable Endgame Companions
Tier A includes some of the strongest palls in the game. Many players can comfortably complete most endgame content using only them.
BEST PALLS BY CATEGORY – 2026
Tier B All Around Midgame Palls
These palls are excellent in the mid and late game. They lack the overwhelming power of higher-tier paladins, but Tier B offers excellent utility.
Tier C Starter Polearms for Beginners
Most Tier C polearms are quite usable throughout the game, especially for beginners. They have useful roles, but they are usually replaced by stronger alternatives later in the game.
Which Tier S Pals Should You Catch First?
If you are starting over in Palworld 1.0, some Legendary Pals provide much greater long-term value than others.
Anubis is arguably the best first priority. It remains useful throughout the game: it speeds up crafting (Crafting Lv. 6), efficiently gathers resources (Foraging Lv. 6), transports materials, and performs well in combat. It can also be bred much earlier than caught in the wild.
Jetragon should be the next big target for those who value exploration. Its incredible flight speed (Gathering Level 8) significantly reduces travel time across the vast world map.
Those focused on raiding should target Bellanoir Libero or Blazamut Ryu, while Frostallion remains the best choice for ice-based combat builds.
Players looking to automate their base should never overlook Orserk—its Level 8 Electricity makes powering advanced structures effortless.
Best Pallant Combos and Elemental Damage Synergy
How Buff Stacking Works in a Party
In Palworld 1.0, synergy between Pallants in a party is a fundamental element, essential for effectively completing the most challenging content. Some Pallants provide passive buffs to the entire party, and these buffs stack.
For example, Frostallion transforms a player’s attacks into ice while mounted. Ragnahawk does the same with fire. Putting multiple paladins with a single elemental buff in a party can dramatically increase damage output.
The Strongest Paladin Combos Against Raid Bosses
For raid bosses, paladins with high damage and survivability are crucial. Bellanoir Libero is the queen of dark damage. Paired with Shadowbeak, which buffs dark attacks, they become a machine of destruction.
For protection from damage, use Hartalis with its barriers and triple jump. And if you need pure area-of-effect DPS, use Xenolord with its powerful Dragon damage and incredible speed.
Maximum Paladin Leveling in Palworld 1.0
Obtaining Radiant Gems for Awakening
Radiant Gems are obtained in the World Tree zone. They are bound to elements, so awakening a fire paladin requires fire gems, an ice paladin requires ice gems, and so on. Gems drop from defeated pylons in this zone—and, apparently, they are quite common. Awakening Stones, however, must be crafted at the Ancient Workbench using Gems and Holy Water from the World Tree.
Top Passive Skills for Warlords and Pallbearers
Version 1.0 introduced new World Tree passive skills—powerful but with significant debuffs.
For Warlords:
God of Destruction: +40% attack and +20% defense, but -50% max HP. Ideal for high-damage Pallbearers if you are willing to compensate for the health loss through positioning.
Twin-Edged Holy Blade: +50% attack, but -30% defense. Great for long-range Pallbearers like Jetragon and Blazamut Ryu.
Sanctified Meat Shield: +50% defense, but -30% attack. Works on tanks and Pallbearers with lifesteal—Felbat, Lovander.
Dimensional Leap: +50% movement speed. Invaluable for mounts—Jetragon leaves all competitors far behind with this passive.
Demon God: A direct attack and defense bonus with no penalties.
For Worker Pallbearers:
Artisan: +50% work speed—a must-have for any Worker Pallbearer.
Serious: +20% work speed.
Work Slave: +30% work speed, but -30% attack (perfect for pure Worker Pallbearers).
Breeding and New Breeding Combinations in 1.0
Breeding has undergone significant changes in version 1.0. Many combinations from Early Access no longer work. Here are some tried-and-true combinations for key Paladins:
Anubis: Jormuntide + Selyne, Flaracle + Dupin, Roujay + Blazamut
Eidrolone: Anubis + Frostallion, Anubis + Paladius, Jormuntide + Dandilord
Renjishi: Dupin + Dandilord, Anubis + Blazamut Ryu, Anubis + Hartalis, Jormuntide Ignis + Blazamut
Braloha: Cryolinx + Grizzbolt, Lullu + Bastigor, Relaxaurus Lux + Loupmoon Cryst
Condensation has been simplified in 1.0: 48 copies are now required for maximum rank, up from the previous 116.
Mutations add an element of randomness to breeding. The chance is low, but the reward is worth it—a mutated Paladin can be several tiers higher than expected. To increase your chances, use specialized cakes and breed in large batches.
Frequently Asked Questions About Palworld 1.0 Paladins
Which Paladin is best for base work?
Anubis is the best all-around worker thanks to its level 6 Crafting, Mining, and Transport skills. Orserk is the best choice for power generation. Among the new Paladins, Renjishi (Kindling) and Shaolong (Watering) are worth considering.
Which mount is the fastest in Palworld?
Jetragon remains the fastest flying mount in Palworld 1.0. With the Dimensional Leap passive, its speed becomes inhuman. Among ground mounts, Necromus and Paladius are the best.
Has breeding changed in Palworld 1.0?
Yes. Version 1.0 changed many breeding combinations. Players should always use the updated combinations when planning new Paladins.
What are Mutation and Awakening?
Mutation is a rare breeding outcome that produces a completely different Paladin with a unique passive. Awakening is an endgame mechanic that allows you to permanently boost your paladin’s stats by 7-10% using Radiant Gems from the World Tree.
Should you level up your existing paladins or focus on new ones?
Old favorites like Anubis, Jetragon, and Orserk remain in S-tier and are still the best in their niches. But new paladins like Renjishi, Shaolong, and Bastigor occupy unique positions that do not cover the old ones. The best strategy is to combine proven classics with the best newcomers.
There is no single perfect paladin, but several consistently outperform others. Jetragon dominates the skies, Bellanoir Libero destroys raid bosses, Anubis remains a top-tier worker, and Orserk ensures the smooth operation of advanced bases. Rankings may change as updates are released, but these paladins currently represent the strongest available in Palworld 1.0.
