To get mounts fast in Palworld, you must reach Player Level 6, build a Pal Gear Workbench using 10 Paldium Fragments, 30 Wood, and 15 Cloth, and capture your first rideable Pal such as Rushoar or Melpaca. Once captured, unlock the corresponding mount saddle from the Technology menu using Technology Points—such as the Rushoar Harness at Level 6 or Melpaca Saddle at Level 7—and craft it at your Pal Gear Workbench using Leather, Fiber, and Paldium Fragments. Once forged, key mount items permanently reside in your Key Items inventory, allowing you to ride your Pal immediately upon summoning them with the interact key.
The Fastest Way to Unlock Your First Mount in Palworld
Traversing the Palpagos Islands on foot severely slows down your exploration pace, resource harvesting, and map reveal rate. Unlocking your very first ground mount in the first hour of play fundamentally shifts your gameplay tempo. The entire unlock process hinges on reaching Level 6 as quickly as possible, as this is the exact level requirement for both the Pal Gear Workbench and your first mount gear recipe in the Technology Tree.
To hit Level 6 within 15 to 20 minutes of spawning at the Plateau of Beginnings, take advantage of the Catch Bonus XP System. Capturing 10 of any specific Pal grants a massive exponential experience bonus. Focus immediately on crafting basic Pal Spheres at a Primitive Workbench (1 Paldium Fragment, 3 Wood, 3 Stone per sphere) and capture 10 Lamballs, 10 Chikipis, and 10 Cattivas. Avoid fighting higher-level wild Pals early on; simple sphere spam on low-level targets yields the fastest EXP curve available.
Once you reach Level 6, open your Technology menu and spend your accrued Technology Points to unlock two essential nodes: the Pal Gear Workbench (Level 6) and the Rushoar Harness (Level 6). If you have extra points, you can also unlock the Melpaca Saddle at Level 7 or the Direhowl Harness at Level 9. Construct the Pal Gear Workbench at your base structure. It requires:
- 10 Paldium Fragments (Mined from small blue Paldium rocks along riverbanks or crushed from regular Stone).
- 30 Wood (Gathered from ground branches or chopped from trees using a Stone Axe).
- 15 Cloth (Crafted at a Primitive Workbench using 30 Wool dropped by Lamballs).
Building this facility permanently unlocks the capability to forge specialized key items, including saddles, harness rigs, and Pal-specific weaponry, directly from your base.
Essential Early Game Mounts and Technology Unlocks
Not all early-game Pals offer the same movement efficiency. While any mount is a massive step up from sprinting on foot, knowing which wild Pals to prioritize saving your spheres for can shave hours off your early traversal phase. Here are the top early-game mounts ranked by accessibility, speed, and utility:
1. Rushoar (Level 6 Technology Unlock)
Rushoar is the earliest mount you can ride in Palworld. Spawning in abundance around the central Grassy Behemoth Hills and Windswept Hills at levels 3 to 6, Rushoar is easy to capture using standard Pal Spheres. Its unique partner skill, Hard Head, allows you to perform a charging sprint that shatters Ore nodes and rocks rapidly. Crafting the Rushoar Harness requires 10 Leather, 5 Stone, and 5 Paldium Fragments.
2. Melpaca (Level 7 Technology Unlock)
Melpaca offers superior base sprint speed and stamina compared to Rushoar. Found wandering the open fields near the Plateau of Beginnings and Fort Ruins, Melpaca serves as a smooth early-game cruiser. Its saddle unlocks at Level 7 and requires 10 Leather, 5 Wool, and 5 Paldium Fragments. Melpaca's low crafting requirement makes it the preferred early ground choice for players who skip Rushoar.
3. Direhowl (Level 9 Technology Unlock)
Direhowl is the undisputed fastest early-game ground mount. Featuring a base sprint speed vastly outclassing both Rushoar and Melpaca, Direhowl's partner skill, Direhowl Rider, allows it to move slightly faster than standard rideable Pals. Direhowls roam in packs near the Ravine Entrance and Grassy Behemoth Hills, typically around levels 8 through 12. Unlocking its harness at Level 9 requires 10 Leather, 20 Wood, 15 Fiber, and 10 Paldium Fragments.
4. Eikthyrdeer (Level 12 Technology Unlock)
Eikthyrdeer introduces vertical mobility to your exploration arsenal. It features a intrinsic Double Jump mechanic, enabling you to clear high cliffs, river gaps, and jagged rocks without dismounting. Found frequently near the starting valley and central forests, its saddle unlocks at Level 12 and requires 15 Leather, 20 Fiber, 10 Ingots, 20 Horns, and 15 Paldium Fragments.
5. Chillet (Level 13 Technology Unlock)
For players seeking a hybrid mount that excels in combat, Chillet is an exceptional target. The Level 11 Alpha Boss Chillet spawns just south of the Fort Ruins fast travel point. Capturing this Alpha Pal—or wild Chillets found in colder regions—gives you access to the Chillet Saddle at Level 13 (requires 20 Leather, 10 Cloth, 20 Fiber, 15 Paldium Fragments). While mounted, Chillet converts all player attack damage into Dragon-type damage, making it a combat powerhouse against early Neutral and Dark Pals.
How to Farm Saddle Crafting Materials Efficiently
The primary bottleneck to getting mounts fast isn't experience—it is gathering the raw crafting materials required for saddle recipes, specifically Leather, Horns, and Ingots. Knowing where to farm these materials will prevent tedious grinding at your workbench.
Farming Leather Fast: Leather is dropped by specific wild Pals when killed or captured. In the starting zone, target Foxsparks, Fuack, Melpaca, Eikthyrdeer, and Rushoar. Running a loop through the valley west of the Plateau of Beginnings with a Wooden Club or Fire Bow yields 30 to 50 Leather within 10 minutes. If you have accrued gold from selling items, you can buy Leather directly from Wandering Merchants at the Small Settlement (located west of the starting area) for 150 Gold each. For more ways to fund your material purchases, check out our detailed guide on how to farm gold fast in Palworld.
Farming Horns & Ingots: Horns drop exclusively from horned Pals like Eikthyrdeer, Caprity, and Arsox. Hunt Eikthyrdeer aggressively in the central forests to stockpile Horns for mid-tier saddles. Ingots require building a Primitive Furnace (Level 10 Technology) using 20 Wood, 50 Stone, and 3 Flame Organs, then refining 2 Ore into 1 Ingot using a Fire-element Pal like Foxsparks or Rooby for Kindling.
| Mount Name | Tech Level | Mount Type | Key Crafting Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rushoar | Level 6 | Ground / Mining | 10 Leather, 5 Stone, 5 Paldium Fragments |
| Melpaca | Level 7 | Ground | 10 Leather, 5 Wool, 5 Paldium Fragments |
| Direhowl | Level 9 | Ground / High Speed | 10 Leather, 20 Wood, 15 Fiber, 10 Paldium Fragments |
| Eikthyrdeer | Level 12 | Ground / Double Jump | 15 Leather, 20 Fiber, 10 Ingot, 20 Horn, 15 Paldium |
| Nitewing | Level 15 | Flying Mount | 20 Leather, 10 Cloth, 15 Ingot, 20 Fiber, 20 Paldium |
Unlocking the First Flying Mount: Nitewing Strategy
While ground mounts dramatically improve speed, terrain obstacles such as steep mountains, deep ocean channels, and vertical cliffs remain major hindrances until you unlock flight. The fastest pathway to air mobility in Palworld is obtaining Nitewing at Level 15.
Nitewing is a Neutral-type large bird Pal that circles the skies of the central starting landmass, typically around levels 9 to 11 near the Grassy Behemoth Hills and Fort Ruins. Because Nitewing flies above reach, pull it down to combat height using a ranged weapon like a Three-Shot Bow or Crossbow. Once grounded, lower its health into the red zone and toss standard or Mega Spheres to capture it. Using a Fire Pal like Foxsparks helps melt its health pool quickly.
At Level 15, unlock the Nitewing Saddle in your Technology Tree. Crafting it at your Pal Gear Workbench requires:
- 20 Leather
- 10 Cloth
- 15 Ingots
- 20 Fiber
- 20 Paldium Fragments
Once crafted, press and hold the interact key while Nitewing is summoned to mount up. Flying allows you to glide directly over ocean barriers to reach high-value islands, collect EFFIGIES, and access fast-travel points easily. Keep a close eye on your mount's stamina wheel while hovering over deep water; if stamina runs out completely over open sea, your Pal dismounts, putting you at risk of drowning.
If you experience graphics rendering hitches or frame stutters while flying at high altitudes across newly loaded landmasses, consult our step-by-step performance troubleshooting guide on how to fix Palworld crashes on PC to keep your flight sessions smooth.
Mid-Game Speed Demons: Upgrading to Fenglope and Pyrin
As you progress into the 20s and 30s level bracket, early mounts like Rushoar and Nitewing begin to feel slow. To maximize your traversal efficiency across the wider map, you should target mid-game speed demons that offer vastly superior sprint rates, lower stamina drain, and unique mobility moves.
Fenglope: The Ultimate Ground Explorer
Fenglope is widely considered the single best ground mount in Palworld for general exploration. It possesses the fastest base sprint speed in its tier, paired with a massive double-jump that allows it to scale shear cliff faces easily. Furthermore, its active skill, Acid Rain / Cloud Tempest, propels Fenglope forward at supersonic speed, acting as a free burst dash.
You can capture a guaranteed Level 25 Alpha Boss Fenglope inside the Falls Mineshaft (located beneath the waterfall near the Bamboo Groves). Alternatively, you can breed a Fenglope early at Level 19 by building a Breeding Farm and pairing simple Pals such as Direhowl and Melpaca. Unlocking the Fenglope Saddle at Level 26 requires 30 Leather, 30 Fiber, 20 Ingots, 20 Cloth, and 30 Paldium Fragments.
Vanwyrm: The Premier Mid-Game Flying Mount
Nitewing is great for early flight, but its movement speed and stamina pool are quite low. At Level 21, you can upgrade to Vanwyrm (Fire/Dark type). Vanwyrm flies significantly faster than Nitewing and boosts player damage dealt to enemy weak points while mounted. Vanwyrm spawns abundantly around the Ravine Entrance and the volcanic borders of Mt. Obsidian. Its saddle unlocks at Level 21 and requires 20 Leather, 15 Flame Organs, 15 Ingots, 15 Fiber, and 20 Paldium Fragments.
Pyrin & Rayhound
At Level 30, unlock the saddle for Pyrin, a fiery steed whose sprint speed matches end-game mounts. Pyrin converts your attack damage to Fire element while mounted. If you prefer multi-jump capabilities over sheer ground speed, target Rayhound (Saddle unlocked at Level 26), which features an unprecedented Triple Jump ability, making mountain scaling effortless in the Desecrated Desert.
Advanced Mount Mastery: Passive Skills and Breeding Tactics
Simply catching a mount is only half the equation if you want maximum movement speed. In Pocketpair's mechanics, movement speed is heavily modified by a Pal's individual Passive Skills. A mount with optimal movement passives can run up to 75% faster than a base version of the exact same Pal species.
When catching or breeding mounts, check their status screens for these specific movement-focused passive traits:
- Swift: +30% Movement Speed (Tier 3 Passive)
- Runner: +20% Movement Speed (Tier 2 Passive)
- Legend: +20% Movement Speed, +20% Attack, +20% Defense (Late-game Legendary Passive)
- Nimble: +10% Movement Speed (Tier 1 Passive)
By pairing a male and female Pal at a Breeding Farm with these traits, you can stack Swift + Runner + Nimble + Legend onto a single mount, granting a massive +80% movement speed stack. A Swift/Runner Fenglope moves so quickly across terrain that it easily outperforms base-level flying mounts, allowing you to breeze past enemies and farm distant resource nodes in seconds.
If you find yourself needing to reallocate your character stat points to boost your personal Stamina pool or Carrying Capacity to complement your fast mounting playstyle, read our breakdown on how to respec skill points in Palworld. Having high character stamina paired with a Swift/Runner mount ensures you never get stranded in hostile biomes during high-speed exploration runs.
Mastering early mounts, gathering materials systematically, and breeding for movement passives gives you the speed needed to explore high-level towers, gather rare schematics, and tackle end-game encounters. For strategies on taking down Palworld's toughest encounter once your mobile setup is ready, check out our guide on how to defeat Palworld's secret boss. Additional technical reference data and full Pal drops can be checked at the community-maintained Palworld Wiki.