Do Pals Evolve In Palword? The Answer Is Actually Complicated

Palworld blends the survival and creature-collecting genre into a unique twist of a game, but how does it handle the staple of creature evolution?

Summary

Fusion breeding or egg hatching allows for new types and variations of Pals.
Palworld has a roster of 111 Pals split into nine types, each with strengths and weaknesses.
Evolution in Palworld could work in ways that make it stand out compared to others in the genre.

While most creature-collecting games use the evolution mechanic, Palworld's method is more complicated. Evolutionary lines have become common practice in the genre, allowing a creature that originally looked weak to grow into something powerful. The physical design is also upgraded to allow a more fearsome creature to take the stage. This is a good way to fill out a roster and give a sense of progression as players move throughout the game. Based on other games, evolutionary lines are usually one or two long, with occasional split evolutions, depending on the situation.

Palworld has a relatively large roster of Pals to collect, starting at 111 with a roadmap that plans to add more. These 111 are split up into nine types, each having one weakness and one strength, except for Fire, which is strong against two. This may seem a bit light when compared to other games of this genre, but once in the game, it feels more filled. Pals can be caught normally in the wild or found in eggs; some Pals only come from boss battles, while others will require two specific Pal combos to fusion breed.

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Do Pals Evolve In Palworld?

The ultimate truth in Palworld is that Pals do not evolve, at least not after being caught. Though there is no way to traditionally evolve a Pal as players may be used to, it does seem like Pals evolve in the wild. A good example of this is Pengullet and Penking, two Pals that appear to be suitable evolution candidates. There is a chance they evolve in the wild, which is why Penking can be caught. However, there is also the chance they are two completely unrelated Pals who are just similar-looking. So far, there is no confirmation of either theory.

In place of evolution, Palworld has a system of being able to create fusion Pals. This is essentially the same Pal, but they gain a new Type, or their original Type is replaced. An example of the latter would be Jolthog, which is originally an Electric Type, but Jolthog Cryst is an Ice Type. An example of the prior would be Vanwyrm, originally Fire/Dark, while its fusion Vanwyrm Cryst is Ice/Dark. These variants are a bit more tricky to find, as some are rare spawns while others can only be acquired through hatching eggs.

Large eggs often have higher chances of rewarding these fusion Pals.

Though they are not evolutions, these fusion variants do fill the same roles to some extent. They are different takes on more common Pals, and the type differences can make them more effective in certain battles. The chase needed to get them also gives the sense of progression that players may miss with the lack of traditional evolutions. Overall, it could prove to be a suitable stopgap if evolution is planned for the future, with the bonus of being a fun gimmick.

How To Breed Pals in Palworld

Stronger and rarer creatures can be found while breeding Pals in Palworld ultimately making some of the best workers and fighters that can be used.

Why Do Pals Not Evolve In Palworld

Overall, three reasons come to mind why Pals do not evolve in Palworld. The first of which is the simplest answer but also makes the least sense. There is the chance evolution was simply not done in time for the early-access release, and developer Pocketpair did not want to delay the game. With plans to have the game in this early-access state for at least a year, it would be understandable. However, an evolution mechanic doesn't seem overly complicated if the designs for the other Pals are already in place, making it a confusing decision if so.

Reason two could be a stylistic choice on the side of Pocketpair. Perhaps it simply didn't want Pals to evolve, making each one its own unique creature. This has its advantages, as players could theoretically use any Pal they desired, even in the endgame. Palworld likes to give its players freedom of choice, which has become one of the game's best qualities. In contrast, most other creature-collectors include evolution, so even though Palworld claims to be more like a survival game, it's a head-scratching decision.

Palworld: Every Pal Strengths, Weaknesses, Resistances, & Elements

Pals in Palworld will each have their strengths and weaknesses based on their type, which players will need to take advantage of to form their team.

The final reason would be to avoid causing more controversy. While there has been no proof so far, Palworld has been accused of copying Pokémon designs. This could have been anticipated, which led to either shelving evolution or scrapping the idea altogether. Despite all the success it has had so far, there was always the chance Palworld would have failed or been taken down by legal options. A caveat here is that many other Pokémon clones who have not been taken down still utilize evolution.

How Evolution Could Work In Palworld

Much like with reasons why, evolution in Palworld could work in a myriad of ways. The most obvious way would be what most creature collectors use, items, or levels. This method is simple, so it wouldn't be hard for either developers or players. It also helps express the feeling of progression through the game as players' Pals get stronger. A nice bonus feature to bring along with it would be letting the Pal stay in its original form if desired.

The other route Palworld could take is more towards the lifelike themes it leans into. Pals could evolve after killing a specific number of Pals or completing certain quests that are important to their species. This type of process gives more involvement and variety to evolution while still ending with the same result. The beauty of this is that, with how open and unrestricted Palworld is, the options presented to players could be near limitless.

With or without evolution, Palworld has achieved massive success that not many other non-AAA studios can lay claim to. Even so, it would not be the worst option to add this common mechanic to the title just to increase what players can do in the game. This would join a long list of early-access changes on the roadmap that fans are already excited about. Regardless, as things currently stand, Pals do not evolve in Palworld, but the hope for its future addition should be high.

Palworld

Released January 19, 2024 Developer(s) Pocket Pair Inc. Publisher(s) Pocket Pair Inc. Genre(s) Crafting , Open-World , RPG , Survival Related Topics About The Author

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