Palworld Lab Research: Best Subjects to Upgrade First

Updated 14 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide explains which Pals to prioritize upgrading through Pal Labor Research in Palworld, covering the most efficient choices for base management and combat. You’ll learn the best early, mid, and late-game research subjects, how the system works, and common mistakes to avoid. The top choices are Anubis for handiwork and transport, Jormuntide for watering and kindling, and Astegon for mining and combat.

How Pal Labor Research Works

Pal Labor Research is a feature added to Palworld that lets you permanently enhance specific Pals through a dedicated research lab. You place a Pal in the lab, select a research project, and over time the Pal gains bonuses to its work suitability, stats, or passive abilities. The research consumes resources like Pal fluids, ingots, and ancient civilization parts, and it takes real-world time to complete.

Each research project targets a specific Pal species and a specific trait. For example, you might research “Increased Handiwork Speed” for Anubis, which permanently boosts that Pal’s work speed. The research lab itself must be built in your base, and only one research project can run at a time unless you build multiple labs. The Pal assigned to research is unavailable for other tasks during the process, so plan your base workforce accordingly.

Why Upgrade Order Matters

Research is a long-term investment. Since each project takes hours and consumes valuable resources, you want to prioritize Pals that give the biggest return. A Pal that works on multiple tasks, like Anubis (Handiwork, Mining, Transport), benefits more from a single research slot than a Pal that only does one niche job. Similarly, Pals used in combat benefit from research that boosts their stats, but their work suitability is often more valuable for base progression.

The order you choose should reflect your current stage in the game. Early on, you need fast base construction and resource gathering. Mid-game, you need efficient production lines for weapons and spheres. Late-game, you need high-level combat Pals for bosses and raids. Research that supports your immediate bottleneck is always better than research for a Pal you rarely use.

Best Early-Game Research Subjects

In the first few hours, your base struggles with basic tasks: gathering wood and stone, transporting items, and crafting. Prioritize Pals that are common and versatile.

Lamball – Research its transport speed. It’s everywhere, and faster transport means your other Pals spend less time idle.
Cattiva – Handiwork speed research. Cattiva is your first real crafter, and boosting it speeds up early construction.
Foxparks – Kindling research. You need fire for cooking and smelting, and Foxparks is a reliable early source.

These Pals are cheap to catch and easy to replace, so you can afford to keep one in the lab without crippling your base. The research bonuses they get will carry you through the first few tower bosses and base upgrades.

Best Mid-Game Research Subjects

Once you reach level 20-30, you unlock better Pals and more complex production chains. This is when research starts to shine.

Anubis – This is the single best research subject in the game. It has level 3 Handiwork, level 3 Mining, and level 2 Transport. Researching any of these makes it a one-Pal production line. Prioritize Handiwork first, then Mining.
Jormuntide – It has level 4 Watering and level 2 Kindling. Watering is essential for farms, and Kindling helps with furnaces. Research its Watering speed first; you’ll never need another water Pal again.
Penking – A solid alternative if you can’t find Anubis yet. It has level 2 Watering, Handiwork, and Mining. Research its Handiwork to make it a decent mid-game all-rounder.

These Pals are harder to catch but worth the effort. The research bonuses stack with their natural high levels, making them vastly superior to any early-game Pal.

Best Late-Game Research Subjects

After level 40, you’re looking at endgame content: legendary Pals, hard-mode bosses, and the oil rig. Research here focuses on combat and high-tier production.

Astegon – It has level 4 Mining and level 3 Handiwork, plus strong combat stats. Research its Mining speed to make it the ultimate ore gatherer, and its attack for boss fights.
Blazamut – Level 4 Kindling and excellent combat. Research its Kindling speed for the fastest smelting in the game, and its HP for survivability.
Frostallion – Level 4 Cooling and a top-tier mount. Research its Cooling speed for food preservation, and its Ice attack for dragon-type bosses.

These Pals are rare and require high-level spheres to catch. The research investment is steep, but the payoff is a permanent boost to the best Pals in the game. If you only have time for one, choose Astegon for its dual work and combat role.

Common Research Mistakes to Avoid

Players often waste research time and resources on suboptimal choices. Here are the most frequent pitfalls:

Researching low-tier Pals late-game – A +10% speed boost to Lamball is worthless when you have Anubis. Focus on Pals you’ll use for the entire game.
Ignoring transport – Many players research only production skills, but transport bottlenecks are common. A fast transporter like Anubis or Wumpo Botan keeps your base flowing.
Not building multiple labs – You can build more than one research lab. If you have the resources, run two or three projects simultaneously to speed up your progress.
Leaving the lab Pal idle – Once a research project is complete, the Pal returns to your base. Make sure you immediately assign it to a task, or it will stand around doing nothing.

Also, remember that research bonuses apply to that specific Pal, not all Pals of the same species. If you catch a better Anubis later, you’ll need to research it again. So only research your best individual Pal.

How to Read Research Results

After completing a research project, the Pal’s stats page will show a small icon indicating the bonus. For work suitability, the level number stays the same, but the actual speed increases. For combat stats, you’ll see a percentage boost in the stat display. The bonuses are permanent and stack with other buffs like food and partner skills.

You can check the research lab’s log to see what each project does before you start it. The tooltip will show the exact percentage increase, so you can compare projects. For example, a Handiwork speed research might give +10%, while a Mining speed research gives +15%. Prioritize the higher percentage for the Pal you use most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I research a Pal that’s already in my party?
Yes, but the Pal must be in your base to be placed in the research lab. You can remove it from your party, place it in the lab, and then take it back out after research starts. However, the Pal is unavailable during the research, so you can’t use it in battle or for base work until the project finishes.

Does research work on alpha or lucky Pals differently?
No, research applies the same bonus regardless of the Pal’s size or rarity. An alpha Anubis gets the same +10% handiwork speed as a regular one. The only difference is the base stats, which are already higher for alpha and lucky Pals.

Can I cancel a research project and get resources back?
No, once you start a research project, the resources are consumed and the time is locked in. You cannot cancel or pause it. Make sure you’re ready to commit before starting.

Do research bonuses apply to Pals bred from the researched Pal?
No, research bonuses are tied to the individual Pal, not its genetics. If you breed two Anubis, the offspring will not inherit the researched bonuses. You’ll need to research each Pal separately.

Is there a limit to how many research projects I can do?
Each Pal can have multiple research projects, but only one at a time. There is no overall cap on the number of projects, but you’re limited by the number of research labs you build and the resources you have.

What’s the best single research project for a new player?
Start with Anubis’s Handiwork speed. It’s the most impactful single upgrade, reducing crafting time for everything from weapons to base structures. If you don’t have Anubis yet, use Cattiva’s Handiwork as a placeholder.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.