Dark pals fill one job in Palworld that nothing else can. They are the only element that hits Neutral pals for extra damage, which makes them essential whenever you are farming or fighting the game’s many Neutral creatures. The trade-off is a weakness to Dragon, so you rarely want a Dark pal fronting a Dragon boss. What makes the best Dark pals worth keeping is their Partner Skills, which range from flat attack boosts to weapon effects and higher catch rates.
Quick answer: Frostallion Noct and Necromus give you the strongest raw Dark damage, Xenolord scales best for late-game bosses, and Solenne, Loomen, and Wispaw are the utility picks that boost weapon builds and catch rate.
How Dark pals perform in a fight
Dark deals increased damage to Neutral and takes increased damage from Dragon. Dark pals are also immune to the Blind status, so they keep their accuracy in situations that would blind other elements. That immunity matters more than it sounds, because a couple of the pals below apply Blind themselves.
Here is a fast comparison of the seven, sorted by what they actually bring to your team.
| Pal | Type | Main draw |
|---|---|---|
| Frostallion Noct | Ice/Dark | Turns your attacks Dark, +10% to +40% attack, inflicts Blind |
| Necromus | Dark | Twin Spears combo with Paladius, +30% Dark attack |
| Xenolord | Dragon/Dark | +30% to Dragon and Dark moves, bonus for gun builds |
| Solenne | Dark/Neutral | Up to +80% player attack with an all-unique party |
| Loomen | Dark | Makes arrows explode on hit |
| Dandilord | Dark | Stacks poison and shields you from poison damage |
| Wispaw | Dark | Higher catch rate on back-bonus throws |
The heavy hitters for Dark damage
Frostallion Noct
Frostallion Noct is the go-to mount for a full Dark damage build. Its Partner Skill, Black Steed, converts every one of your attacks to Dark, adds an attack boost that scales from 10% up to 40%, and inflicts Blind on whatever you hit. On top of that it carries two Passive Skills. Legend gives a general stat bump, and Lord of the Underworld hands it a 30% boost to Dark attacks. That combination puts it among the strongest combat pals in the game.
Necromus
Necromus has one of the most distinctive kits in Palworld 1.0. Its Partner Skill, Dark Knight of the Abyss, ties into its unique Active Skill, Twin Spears. When you fire off Twin Spears with Paladius also in your party, Paladius appears and attacks alongside it, which is where the “twin” comes from. Necromus shares the Lord of the Underworld Passive for a 30% Dark attack boost and also carries Legend, making it a clean endgame pick that slots into almost any team.
Xenolord
Xenolord doubles as one of the best Dragon pals, which makes it a strong answer to late-game bosses. Its exclusive Passive Skill, Invader, grants a 30% damage boost to both its Dragon and Dark moves. The Partner Skill, Meteor Wings, rewards gun users by increasing the damage of the pal you are fighting with when you use a bullet-based weapon. If your loadout leans on firearms, Xenolord earns its spot.
Pals that boost your weapon build
Solenne
Solenne, a Dark/Neutral pal added in 1.0, has become a favorite for player-attack builds. Its Partner Skill, Untainted Maiden, hands you an attack boost as long as every pal in your party is a different species. That bonus starts at 30% and climbs to 80% when the pal is upgraded. Solenne is also the best base worker in the game, sitting at the highest Handiwork level, Level 8, so it pulls double duty away from combat.
Loomen
Loomen is built for a bow and arrow setup. Its Partner Skill, Lantern Enchantment, makes your arrows explode when they land on a target. The explosion deals at least 15% explosive damage and can be pushed up to 30% with upgrades. If your ranged build relies on arrows, keeping Loomen in the party turns single hits into small area blasts.
Utility picks for catching and survival
Wispaw
Wispaw earns its place through catching rather than fighting. Its Partner Skill, Death-Cheating Feline, raises your capture rate whenever you land a back-bonus throw, meaning you hit the target from behind with a Pal Sphere. It is available early and carries Level 2 Handiwork, so it is also useful in your base while you build the rest of your roster. Note that Wispaw is caught at night.
Dandilord
Dandilord is a status specialist that leans on poison. Its Partner Skill, Mist Stalwart, applies stacking poison to enemies when activated, ranging from two stacks up to six. Just as important, it protects you and your pals from poison damage. That protection extends to the toxic gas found in the World Tree area, which makes Dandilord a practical companion for that part of the map.
Which of these you prioritize comes down to how you play. If you want a straightforward Dark damage core, Frostallion Noct and Necromus carry the most weight, with Xenolord waiting for gun-heavy endgame fights. If you are shaping your build around a specific weapon, Solenne and Loomen amplify what you already do, and Wispaw and Dandilord round things out for filling your Paldeck and surviving the game’s more hostile zones.
