Sadist is a Rank 1 combat passive in Palworld that pushes a Pal toward pure aggression. It raises damage output at the cost of durability, making it a fit for Pals you plan to use as attackers rather than tanks or workers.
Quick answer: Sadist gives Attack +15% and Defense -15% to the Pal that has it, it is always active, and you obtain it by catching Splatterina or by inheriting it through breeding since it cannot be bought from any merchant.
Sadist effect and stats
The skill applies both of its effects to the Pal that holds it. The attack boost affects the Pal’s own damage, while the defense reduction lowers how much damage it can soak. There is no trigger to manage, the modifiers stay on at all times.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank | 1 |
| Positive effect | Attack +15% |
| Negative effect | Defense -15% |
| Activation | Always active |
| Known limitations | None |
How to get Sadist
Sadist is not sold through any passive modification service, so you cannot pay gold to add it. You have to get it from a Pal that already carries it, either by capturing one or by passing it down through breeding.
Catch Splatterina
Splatterina, a Dark type Pal, can spawn with Sadist naturally. Since each Pal can roll up to four random passives when caught, you may need to capture several copies before one shows up with the skill. The passives are only revealed once the Pal is in your possession.
Inherit it through breeding
Offspring can inherit passives from their parents, so a parent that already has Sadist can pass it to a child. Inheritance is random, which means the process can take several attempts before the offspring picks up the exact trait you want.
To move Sadist onto a Pal that does not naturally carry it, breed a Splatterina (or any Pal already holding Sadist) with your target species and keep hatching eggs until the trait appears on the offspring.
How Sadist stacks with other passives
A single Pal holds no more than four passives, and the same passive cannot appear twice on one Pal. Different passives that touch the same stat do stack, so pairing attack boosts multiplies the offensive payoff. The catch is that defense passives pulling the other way will chip into Sadist’s downside or cancel part of its upside.
These attack passives combine cleanly with Sadist for an even bigger damage total.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Ferocious | Attack +20% |
| Demon God | Attack +30%, Defense +5% |
| Legend | Attack +20%, Defense +20%, Movement Speed +15% |
| Serenity | Attack +10%, skill cooldown -30% |
| Brave | Attack +10% |
Defense-boosting passives work against Sadist’s penalty and can undo the trade-off you were aiming for.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Diamond Body | Defense +30% |
| Burly Body | Defense +20% |
| Hard Skin | Defense +10% |
| Masochist | Defense +15%, Attack -15% |
| Pacifist | Attack -20% |
Note: Masochist is the direct mirror of Sadist. Putting both on the same Pal would cancel out, since one adds attack and cuts defense while the other does the reverse.
Sadist rewards a clear build plan. Slot it on a combat Pal you intend to keep swinging, stack it with other attack traits, and avoid mixing it with defense passives that fight its purpose. Because you can only get it from Splatterina or through breeding, expect to spend time capturing or hatching before it lands on the Pal you want.
