Verified on Palworld v0.4.x, April 2026. Speed values may shift with updates — check in-game after patches.
Quick Start: 8 Steps to Your First Mount
- Reach Technology Level 2 and unlock the Pal Gear Workbench.
- Build the Pal Gear Workbench: Wood ×30, Paldium Fragment ×10, Cloth ×2.
- Capture a Direhowl — this auto-reveals its saddle blueprint in the Tech Tree.
- Spend 2 tech points to unlock the Direhowl Saddle at Technology Level 9.
- Craft the saddle at the Pal Gear Workbench.
- Open the Pal menu, select Direhowl, and equip the saddle in its gear slot.
- Press F (default) while near the Pal to mount.
- At Level 15, catch a Nitewing to open your first flying saddle tech unlock.
How Saddle Riding Actually Works
Capturing a Pal is what unlocks its Pal Gear entry in the Tech Tree — spotting one in the wild does nothing. Once captured, you spend tech points on the blueprint, then craft the gear at a Pal Gear Workbench. The workbench itself unlocks at Technology Level 2 and requires a Pal with Handiwork suitability to operate it — a common Lamball handles this fine at the start.
Not every Pal can be ridden. The Rideable Pals list covers 65+ ground mounts, 22 flying mounts, and 11 water mounts — but many Pals you’ll catch exist only for base work. Before you sink tech points into a saddle, confirm the Pal appears on that list. The Palworld Wiki’s Rideable Pals page is the fastest check.
One important distinction: flying Pals are split into two groups — those that can hover without stamina drain and those that will drown mid-flight if your stamina hits zero. For long exploration flights, always check which category your flier falls into before crossing an ocean.
Best Ground Mounts by Game Stage
Ground mounts cover the bulk of early and mid-game travel. The gap between a Level 9 Direhowl and a Level 49 Necromus is massive — here’s when each upgrade is worth making.
| Pal | Saddle Level | Sprint Speed | Special Ability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direhowl | 9 | ~1,050 | — | First mount, easy to find near spawn |
| Univolt | 14 | ~1,000 | Electric conversion, generates power at base | Base builders who want a dual-purpose Pal |
| Fenglope | 26 | ~1,050 | Double jump | Reaching elevated terrain, mid-game exploration |
| Pyrin | 30 | ~1,300 | Fire-type attack conversion | Fastest mid-game option if you prioritise raw speed |
| Necromus | 49 | ~1,600 | Double jump | Open terrain, fastest ground mount in the game |
| Paladius | 49 | ~1,400 | Triple jump | Cliff-heavy areas, hidden chest hunting |
The Necromus vs Paladius decision is the one mid-game guides skip. Necromus has a sprint speed of roughly 1,600 — the fastest ground Pal in the game. Paladius sits around 1,400, which looks like a clear loss on paper. But Paladius is the only ground mount with a triple jump, letting it reach ledges and chest spawns that Necromus literally cannot access. If you’re going for completion — especially the volcanic and frozen regions where terrain is broken into vertical layers — Paladius earns back those 200 speed points in saved time.
The practical upgrade path: ride Direhowl until Level 25–30, swap to Pyrin for mid-game speed, then decide between Necromus (speed priority) or Paladius (exploration priority) at 49. Fenglope is worth picking up at Level 26 specifically for the double jump — reaching earlier areas of the map that require platforming saves repeated detours.
The Flying Mount Saddle Chain: Nitewing to Jetragon
Flying mounts are where Palworld’s traversal system becomes genuinely fast. The upgrade chain runs six tiers from Level 15 to Level 50, and skipping steps is possible if you know which ones are worth the wait.
| Pal | Saddle Level | Sprint Speed | Why Use It | When to Upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitewing | 15 | Low | First flier — any air mobility beats none | As soon as Vanwyrm is catchable |
| Vanwyrm | 21 | ~850 | Meaningful early speed upgrade | Can skip directly to Beakon if levels allow |
| Beakon | 34 | ~1,200 | Electric infusion, solid A-tier speed | Hold here until Level 48–50 if you want a direct Frostallion/Jetragon path |
| Ragnahawk | 37 | ~1,100 | Fire infusion; lateral to Beakon, not an upgrade | Skip if already on Beakon |
| Frostallion | 48 | ~1,500 | Ice attack conversion, S-tier speed | Immediately if Jetragon isn’t available yet |
| Jetragon | 50* | 3,300 | Fastest mount in the game; homing missile Partner Skill | Final flying mount — never replace |
*Jetragon uses a Missile Launcher item, not a conventional saddle.
Jetragon’s sprint speed of 3,300 isn’t a marginal improvement — it is more than double Frostallion’s 1,500 and faster than every ground and water mount in the game. The speed gap between Jetragon and second place is larger than the gap between Nitewing and Frostallion across the entire mid-game upgrade path.
To unlock it: reach Technology Level 50, spend 5 tech points on Jetragon’s Missile Launcher, then craft it at the Pal Gear Workbench using 100 Leather, 140 Paldium Fragment, 200 Refined Ingot, and 50 Circuit Board. The item slots permanently into your key item inventory — it doesn’t disappear. Jetragon itself spawns at Mount Obsidian in the southwesternmost region of the map; the closest fast travel point is the Beach of Everlasting Summer. This is a legendary Pal — expect a serious fight and bring sphere boosters.
The Partner Skill, Aerial Missile, fires a series of homing missiles while you’re mounted. That makes Jetragon viable in combat situations where other flying mounts leave you defenseless while airborne.
One post-endgame note: Xenolord unlocks a saddle at Technology Level 60 with a sprint speed of 2,700 and the Meteor Wings Partner Skill. It’s slower than Jetragon but still S-tier, and becomes an option for players pushing beyond the base endgame. Crafting requires 30 Leather, 50 Dark Fragment, 30 Meteorite Fragment, and 200 Paldium Fragment — a different material set that takes additional farm time.
Best Water Mounts: Don’t Just Fly Over It
The common mistake is treating ocean crossings as a flying problem. Flying over water works until your stamina runs out mid-ocean — and several Pals cannot hover without stamina drain, meaning a failed crossing kills you. Water mounts eliminate the stamina risk entirely and move faster through water than any flier can sustain.
| Pal | Saddle Level | Sprint Speed | Upgrade Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfent | 10 | Low | First water mount; unlocks at Level 10, eliminates stamina drain |
| Azurobe | 24 | Fast | S-tier swimmer; significant speed step up |
| Jormuntide | 39 | ~1,800 | Best water mount for most of late game |
| Neptilius | Late | ~2,000 | Fastest swimmer in the game; post-endgame target |
Unlock Surfent at Level 10 as a bridge the moment ocean content opens up. Azurobe at Level 24 is a strong upgrade that most players can hit during mid-game progression without a dedicated farm. Jormuntide at Level 39 is the water mount equivalent of Frostallion — strong enough to carry you through the rest of the game if you don’t grind for Neptilius. Neptilius sits at a sprint speed of 2,000 — faster than every ground mount in the game — but requires late/post-endgame investment to obtain.
Which Mount Fits Your Playstyle?
| Player Type | Ground Priority | Flying Priority | Water Priority | Upgrade Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Player | Direhowl (L9) — catch near spawn | Nitewing (L15) | Surfent (L10) | As soon as saddle unlocks in Tech Tree |
| Casual | Pyrin (L30) or Fenglope (L26) | Beakon (L34), then jump to Jetragon | Azurobe (L24) | Only upgrade when travel feels slow |
| Hardcore Optimiser | Necromus (L49) | Jetragon (L50) — the only endgame target | Jormuntide (L39), then Neptilius | Sequence: L9 → L15 → L34 → L49/50 |
| Completionist | Paladius (L49) — triple jump for hidden content | All tiers for collection; Jetragon for speed | All water Pals; Neptilius for max speed | Collect all saddles; unlock all tech entries |
When NOT to upgrade: The Vanwyrm-to-Beakon jump (Level 21 to 34) gains roughly 350 sprint speed over 13 tech levels. For casual players, those tech points may be better spent on base upgrades. Skipping from Nitewing directly to Beakon — or even holding Beakon until Jetragon is within reach — is a legitimate strategy that won’t meaningfully slow exploration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to build a saddle to ride every Pal?
Yes — every rideable Pal requires specific Pal Gear crafted at the Pal Gear Workbench. You can’t ride a Pal by simply adding it to your party. The saddle (or equivalent gear) must be crafted and then equipped to the Pal via its inventory slot.
What’s the single best first mount to get?
Direhowl. Its saddle unlocks at Level 9, it spawns commonly near starting areas, and its sprint speed of roughly 1,050 is competitive until mid-game. No other early mount is easier to obtain at that speed tier.
Is grinding to Level 50 for Jetragon actually worth it?
Yes — but only if late-game exploration is your focus. Jetragon at 3,300 sprint speed cuts map traversal time by more than half compared to Frostallion. If you’re primarily building or farming in a fixed region, Frostallion handles it fine. If you’re actively crossing the map to catch Pals or find dungeons, Jetragon is not optional at the endgame.
Can you use your own weapons while riding a flying mount?
With most mounts, no — you’re locked into the Pal’s partner skill while airborne. Jetragon is the standout exception: its Aerial Missile partner skill fires homing missiles while you’re mounted, making it a combat-viable flier. Xenolord’s Meteor Wings also activates while riding, though it unlocks post-endgame at Level 60.
Necromus or Paladius — which wins for late-game ground travel?
Necromus for speed-focused play: its ~1,600 sprint is the fastest ground mount in the game and the double jump covers most terrain. Paladius for exploration and completionism: the triple jump reaches locations Necromus cannot, which matters specifically in the volcanic and frozen mountain regions where content is placed on high ledges. Both unlock at Level 49 — you can farm both and swap depending on where you’re heading.
Build the Chain, Not Just the Mount
The mistake most players make isn’t choosing the wrong mount — it’s staying on an early-game Pal too long because the upgrade steps feel unclear. The chain is straightforward: Direhowl gets you moving, Nitewing gets you airborne, Surfent eliminates ocean deaths, and Jetragon removes every remaining traversal limitation. Every mount in between is optional depending on how you play.
Palworld’s update cadence means new rideable Pals arrive regularly — Xenolord at Level 60 is already pushing the flying mount meta above the original Jetragon-as-ceiling assumption. For the current patch, Jetragon remains the peak flying mount; for ground, the Necromus vs Paladius decision is the one worth sitting with before spending tech points.
For full tier rankings on which Pals are worth your base slots beyond mounts, see our Palworld Best Pals Tier List 2026. And if you’re still working through the early game, the Palworld Beginner’s Guide 2026 covers base setup and tower boss progression alongside mount fundamentals.
Sources
- Rideable Pals — The Palworld Wiki (palworld.wiki.gg)
- Fastest Mounts in Palworld Ranked — Dexerto
- Best Mounts and All Mount Pals — Game8
- Fastest Flying Mount Pals Tier List — Game8
- Palworld Best Mounts: Early, Mid & Late Game — 4NetPlayers
- How to Get Jetragon’s Missile Launcher — Game8
- Xenolord Saddle — The Palworld Wiki (palworld.wiki.gg)
I've been playing video games for over 20 years, spanning everything from early PC titles to modern open-world games. I started Switchblade Gaming to publish the kind of accurate, well-researched guides I always wanted to find — built on primary sources, tested in-game, and kept up to date after patches. I currently focus on Minecraft and Pokémon GO.