Element matchups matter in Palworld. Hitting an enemy Pal with an element it is weak to deals 2x damage, while resisted elements deal only 0.5x. This guide covers all 9 elements, their interactions, and the best element choices for each major boss fight.
Element Effectiveness Table
| Attacking Element | Strong Against (2x) | Weak Against (0.5x) | Status Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | None | Dark, Ground | None (raw damage) |
| Fire | Ice, Grass | Water, Dragon | Burn (DoT) |
| Water | Fire, Ground | Electric, Grass | Wet (increases Electric damage taken) |
| Grass | Water, Ground | Fire, Ice | Poison (DoT) |
| Electric | Water, Neutral | Ground, Dragon | Stun (brief immobilize) |
| Ice | Dragon, Grass | Fire, Water | Freeze (full immobilize) |
| Ground | Electric, Fire | Water, Ice | Slow (movement speed reduction) |
| Dark | Neutral, Electric | Dragon, Fire | DEF reduction |
| Dragon | Dark, Fire | Ice, Neutral | ATK reduction |
Quick Reference: Best Element for Each Situation
| You Need To | Use Element | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Kill Water Pals | Electric or Grass | Fire, Ground |
| Kill Fire Pals | Water or Ground | Ice, Grass |
| Kill Dragon Pals | Ice | Fire, Dark |
| Kill Electric Pals | Ground | Water, Dark |
| Kill Ice Pals | Fire | Water, Ground |
| Kill Dark Pals | Dragon | Neutral, Electric |
| Kill Ground Pals | Water or Grass | Electric, Fire |
Element Recommendations by Boss
| Boss | Best Element | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Zoe & Grizzbolt (Tower 1) | Ground | Grizzbolt is Electric — Ground 2x damage |
| Lily & Lyleen (Tower 2) | Fire | Lyleen is Grass — Fire 2x damage |
| Axel & Orserk (Tower 3) | Ground | Orserk is Electric/Dragon — Ground hits neutral-to-strong |
| Marcus & Faleris (Tower 4) | Water | Faleris is Fire/Flying — Water 2x |
| Victor & Shadowbeak (Tower 5) | Dragon | Shadowbeak is Dark — Dragon 2x |
| Auri & Shaolong (Sunreach) | Ice / Water | Ice for Electric-Dragon Auri; Water for Fire-Dragon Shaolong |
| Bjorn & Bastigor (Feybreak) | Fire | Both are Ice — Fire 2x damage |
| Zenara & Astralym (World Tree) | Dragon | Both are partially Dragon-typed |
Dual-Element Pals
When a Pal has two elements (e.g., Jormuntide Ignis is Fire/Dragon), the effectiveness calculation checks both elements. The damage is calculated using the best matchup for the attacker’s element against either of the defender’s elements.
Example: Jormuntide Ignis (Fire/Dragon) takes 2x from Water (hits Fire) and 2x from Ice (hits Dragon). It resists Fire (resisted by Dragon) and Electric (resisted by Dragon).
FAQ
Does the status effect always apply?
No. Status effects have a percentage chance to apply per hit. Higher-level skills and higher-element-level Pals have better status application rates.
Does same-element bonus exist?
Yes. A Pal using a skill matching its own element deals approximately 20% more damage than using a non-matching skill.
Are there immunities?
No. The strongest resistance is 0.5x (half damage). No element grants full immunity.
Related guides: Combat & Elements Guide | Tower Bosses Order
