Top PvP and Raid Pals from the Tides of Terraria Update
The Tides of Terraria update reshapes how you approach combat in Palworld. New islands, environmental hazards, and raid mechanics emphasize mobility, ranged pressure, and flexible team roles. Bosses telegraph attacks differently and introduce weak-point mechanics that reward precise targeting and coordinated partner skills. The update also expands implant options and weapon mods, making implant synergy and weapon selection central to building a competitive team.
This guide focuses on the five combat pals that consistently deliver across raid, open-world, and PvP scenarios in the new meta. It explains why each Pal excels, how to gear and implant them, and how to compose teams that cover weaknesses while maximizing damage and survivability. Expect practical tactics, progression advice, and a full FAQ to answer common questions.
How to read this guide
I’ll present each Pal with a role summary, why it’s strong in Tides of Terraria, recommended implants and weapons, and practical tactics for raids and PvP. After the Pal breakdowns, you’ll find sections on team composition, implant priorities, capture and breeding tips, and a detailed FAQ. I keep bullet use minimal and favor clear paragraphs and short subsections for readability.
What makes a top combat Pal now
Top Pals in this update share several traits. They scale well with implants, have partner skills that exploit weak points, and either provide sustained ranged pressure or mobility to avoid telegraphed attacks. Survivability matters: Pals that can self-sustain or that enable kiting are more valuable than glass cannons that die to a single mistake. Versatility is prized; Pals that can switch between crowd control and single-target damage let you adapt to unpredictable raid phases.
Pal 1 — The primary DPS: Jormuntide Ignis
Role and why it matters Jormuntide Ignis is the archetypal primary damage dealer in the Tides of Terraria meta. It combines high base attack with AoE and single-target skills that scale strongly with attack and crit implants. Its elemental kit often exploits boss weaknesses introduced in the crossover content, and its partner skill increases damage to weak points, which is crucial for Moon Lord–style encounters.
Implants and weapon pairing Prioritize implants that boost attack and crit. Attack speed implants are useful if you pair Jormuntide with a high-rate-of-fire weapon. For weapons, energy rifles and charge-based guns that let you maintain consistent pressure are ideal. Weapon mods that add elemental damage or increase weak-point damage amplify Jormuntide’s strengths.
Tactics In raids, position Jormuntide to hit both adds and the boss’s vulnerable zones. Use its AoE to clear minions quickly, then switch to single-target skills when the boss exposes a weak point. In PvP, Jormuntide’s burst can punish exposed players, but you must protect it from crowd control; pair it with a mobility Pal or a buffer that can remove debuffs.
Pal 2 — The mobility and burst specialist: Jetragon
Role and why it matters Jetragon brings unmatched mobility and burst AoE. It’s the Pal you want when fights require repositioning, rapid add clearing, or punishing telegraphed attacks. Its speed allows you to kite dangerous mechanics while still dealing meaningful damage.
Implants and weapon pairing Speed and cooldown reduction implants are top priorities. Lightweight weapons that favor quick follow-up shots or short cooldown skills let Jetragon capitalize on its mobility. If you plan to use it in PvP, add crit implants to increase burst lethality.
Tactics Use Jetragon to control engagement distance. In raids, it’s the Pal that chases down exposed weak points and interrupts enemy casts. In PvP, Jetragon excels at hit-and-run tactics: engage, unload burst, then disengage before the enemy can respond. Keep it paired with a support Pal that can heal or provide shields when it overextends.
Pal 3 — The heavy hitter and mount: Xenolord
Role and why it matters Xenolord is the single-target powerhouse and an excellent mount for players who want to maintain sustained pressure on boss weak points. Its partner skills often increase damage to specific body parts, making it a natural choice for fights that require precise targeting.
Implants and weapon pairing Attack implants and HP implants for survivability are recommended. When mounted, you’ll want a weapon that allows you to fire while moving—energy rifles and certain charge weapons work well. Weapon mods that increase penetration or weak-point damage are particularly effective.
Tactics Mount Xenolord to stay mobile while focusing on the boss’s vulnerable zones. Its high single-target damage makes it the go-to Pal for phases where the boss exposes a core or eye. In PvP, Xenolord’s mount advantage lets you chase down fleeing opponents and maintain pressure, but be mindful of crowd control that can dismount you.
Pal 4 — The control and sustain specialist: Neptilius
Role and why it matters Neptilius provides water-based control and team sustain. It’s especially valuable on maps with water hazards or when bosses summon water-based adds. Its passive skills often boost team survivability, and it can disrupt enemy positioning with area control abilities.
Implants and weapon pairing Defensive implants that increase HP and damage reduction are ideal. Pair Neptilius with weapons that have knockback or slow effects to maximize its control role. Cooldown reduction implants help keep its control skills available during critical phases.
Tactics Use Neptilius to lock down areas and protect your damage dealers. In raids, it can hold adds in place while Jormuntide and Xenolord focus the boss. In PvP, Neptilius is the anchor that denies space and forces opponents into unfavorable positions. Keep it behind the front line and use its control to create windows for your DPS to strike.
Pal 5 — The healer and buffer: Lyleen Noct
Role and why it matters Lyleen Noct is the premier support Pal in the update. Its healing and buffing capabilities extend raid longevity and enable aggressive strategies that would otherwise be suicidal. Lyleen’s partner skill often reduces cooldowns or increases healing potency for the team.
Implants and weapon pairing HP and cooldown implants are the priority. A support weapon that increases healing output or grants shields is ideal. If you plan to use Lyleen in PvP, consider implants that reduce debuff duration or increase movement speed to reposition quickly.
Tactics Keep Lyleen in the backline and time its major heals for when the team takes burst damage. Use its buffs proactively before boss phases that deal heavy damage. In PvP, Lyleen can turn the tide by keeping a single carry alive long enough to secure a kill; protect it at all costs.
Team composition principles
A balanced team in Tides of Terraria typically includes a primary DPS, a mobility/burst Pal, and a support or control Pal. That core covers damage, repositioning, and sustain. Swap in Xenolord when a fight demands focused single-target damage, or bring Neptilius when control and area denial are more valuable. For PvP, favor speed and burst; for raids, favor sustain and weak-point synergy.
Synergy matters more than raw power. A Jormuntide that benefits from Lyleen’s cooldown reduction and Neptilius’s control will outperform a slightly stronger but isolated DPS Pal. Think in terms of complementary roles: who enables your main damage dealer, who protects them, and who punishes mistakes.
Implant priorities and how to choose them
Implants are the single biggest lever for tuning a Pal to a role. For DPS Pals, prioritize attack, crit, and attack speed. For tanks and control Pals, prioritize HP, damage reduction, and stagger resistance. For supports, cooldown reduction and healing potency are essential.
When selecting implants, consider the fight’s tempo. Short, bursty encounters reward crit and speed; long, attrition-based fights reward HP and sustain. Don’t over-specialize: keep one implant slot flexible so you can swap for specific boss mechanics.
Weapon and mod selection
Weapons in the update vary from rapid-fire energy rifles to heavy charge cannons. Choose weapons that let your Pal play its role without being forced into awkward positioning. For mounted Pals, pick weapons that allow firing while moving. Mods that add elemental damage, increase weak-point damage, or grant penetration are high-value because they scale multiplicatively with Pal damage.
A practical approach is to equip your primary DPS with a weapon that maximizes sustained DPS, your mobility Pal with a weapon that favors quick follow-up shots, and your support with a weapon that enhances its utility (shields, heals, or debuffs).
Capture, breeding, and progression tips
The update introduces new spawn mechanics and rare island spawns. Prioritize capturing a strong core team early and then breed for ideal IVs. Focus breeding on the primary stat for each role: attack IVs for DPS, HP for tanks, and cooldown or healing potency for supports. Trust mechanics now grant passive stat gains over time, so rotate Pals into active duty to raise trust and unlock bonuses.
Fishing and dungeon runs introduced in the crossover yield unique items and Pals. Make time to clear these activities weekly; the rewards accelerate progression and can net rare implants and weapon mods.
Practical raid walkthrough: Moon Lord style encounter
Approach the fight with a plan: designate a weak-point target, assign a mobility Pal to handle adds, and keep your healer ready for burst phases. Start by clearing adds with Jetragon while Jormuntide and Xenolord focus the boss’s exposed core. Use Neptilius to control the battlefield and prevent adds from overwhelming your DPS. When the boss telegraphs a heavy attack, kite with your mount and use Lyleen’s major heal to recover.
Timing is everything. Save cooldowns for the boss’s enrage windows and use implants that reduce cooldowns to chain your most powerful abilities. If the boss splits into multiple targets, switch to AoE and use Jetragon to collapse the adds quickly. Communication and role discipline are the difference between a clean kill and a wipe.
PvP approach and quick-swap recommendations
PvP favors speed, burst, and the ability to punish mistakes. Build a team with a fast opener, a burst follow-up, and a support that can deny kills or extend fights. Jetragon and Jormuntide make a lethal opening pair: Jetragon engages and forces defensive cooldowns, Jormuntide follows up with heavy damage. Keep Lyleen in reserve to counter enemy burst or to clutch-heal a teammate.
Quick-swap implants for PvP: speed, crit, and cooldown reduction. Keep one implant slot dedicated to mobility or escape tools. In PvP, positioning and timing trump raw stats; use terrain and movement to create windows for your burst.
Economy and resource management
Invest in implants that give the most marginal benefit first. Early on, a single attack implant on your primary DPS yields more value than spreading implants thin across multiple Pals. Save rare materials for weapon mods that complement your main Pal’s role. Farming routes that combine fishing, dungeon runs, and island clears are the most efficient way to gather the materials you need for implants and mods.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
A frequent error is over-investing in a single Pal without building a supporting cast. Even the strongest DPS needs a buffer or control Pal to reach its potential. Another mistake is ignoring weak-point mechanics; fights in Tides of Terraria often reward precise targeting. Finally, don’t neglect implants that improve survivability—surviving a phase is worth more than a marginal DPS increase that gets you killed.
Playstyle variations and advanced tips
If you prefer solo play, favor Pals with self-sustain and mounts that let you kite. For group play, specialize: one player focuses on weak-point damage, another on control, and a third on sustain. Advanced players will rotate implants between fights, using a defensive set for enrage phases and an offensive set for short burst windows. Learn boss patterns and practice timing your partner skills to coincide with weak-point exposures.
Minimal bullet summary of the five Pals and roles
Jormuntide Ignis — primary DPS; attack and crit implants; energy rifles.
Jetragon — mobility and burst; speed implants; quick-fire weapons.
Xenolord — heavy single-target; mount; attack and HP implants.
Neptilius — control and sustain; defensive implants; area-denial weapons.
Lyleen Noct — healer and buffer; cooldown and HP implants; support weapon.
FAQ
Which Pal should I prioritize first? Prioritize the Pal that best fits your playstyle. If you like dealing damage and carrying fights, start with Jormuntide Ignis. If you prefer mobility and map control, begin with Jetragon. For solo players who want survivability, Xenolord as a mount plus a Lyleen support in the Palbox is a strong early investment.
How do implants change the meta? Implants let you specialize Pals for roles. They amplify strengths and can compensate for weaknesses. In Tides of Terraria, implants that boost weak-point damage and cooldown reduction are particularly powerful because many bosses have exposed phases that reward precise timing.
Are any of these Pals mandatory for endgame raids? No Pal is strictly mandatory, but the five listed here are the most consistently effective across raid and PvP content. A team built around these roles will handle most endgame encounters more reliably than a team lacking mobility, sustain, or weak-point synergy.
How should I approach breeding for IVs? Breed for the primary stat of each role: attack IVs for DPS, HP for tanks, and cooldown/healing potency for supports. Use trust and rotation to raise passive gains while you breed.
What’s the best way to farm rare implants and mods? Combine island clears, dungeon runs, and fishing routes. Prioritize activities that drop the specific materials you need and run them on a loop. Weekly events and raid rewards often yield the rarest items.
How do I adapt my team for PvP? Shift implants toward speed and crit, swap in a faster Pal for mobility, and keep a support that can deny kills. Practice quick-swap loadouts so you can change implants between matches.
Should I focus on weapon mods or implants first? Implants usually give a higher marginal return early on, especially on your primary DPS. Once your main Pal has a solid implant set, invest in weapon mods that enhance its role.
How do I handle bosses with multiple weak points? Assign roles: one player focuses on the primary weak point, another handles adds, and a third manages sustain. Use control Pals to keep adds from interfering with weak-point targeting.
Closing strategy and final checklist
Before a major raid or PvP session, run through a short checklist: confirm implants are optimized for the fight, ensure weapon mods match the boss’s weaknesses, and verify that your team covers damage, mobility, and sustain. Rotate Pals into active duty to raise trust and keep breeding for IVs that match each role. Remember that synergy and timing are more important than raw numbers; a coordinated team with moderate gear will outperform a disorganized team with perfect gear.
Quick answer: Here’s a compact companion sheet with recommended implant loadouts and weapon mod pairings for each Pal, plus a clear step‑by‑step raid plan for the Moon Lord boss so you can execute a clean kill.
Companion quick-reference sheet implant loadouts and weapon mods
Jormuntide Ignis — Role: Primary DPS. Implants: Attack; Crit; Attack Speed. Weapon mods: Elemental burn; Weak‑point damage; Fire penetration.
Jetragon — Role: Mobility/Burst. Implants: Speed; Cooldown Reduction; Crit. Weapon mods: Rapid fire; Short cooldown; Stagger.
Xenolord — Role: Heavy single-target / Mount. Implants: Attack; HP; Damage Reduction. Weapon mods: Weak‑point multiplier; Penetration; Stabilizer for firing while mounted.
Neptilius — Role: Control and sustain. Implants: HP; Damage Reduction; Cooldown Reduction. Weapon mods: Knockback; Slow; Area control.
Lyleen Noct — Role: Healer/Buffer. Implants: Healing Potency; Cooldown Reduction; HP. Weapon mods: Shielding; Heal amplification; Debuff cleanse.
Loadout notes: prioritize one flexible implant slot per Pal so you can swap for boss mechanics. For PvP swap Speed and Crit into two slots; for long raids favor HP and Cooldown Reduction on support Pals.
Step‑by‑step raid plan for Moon Lord (specific boss)
Moon Lord is summoned with a Celestial Sigil and requires a Summoning Altar; it has multiple eyes that must be targeted to deal damage, and the fight rewards precise weak‑point targeting.
Prepare: craft the Celestial Sigil and place a Summoning Altar in a disposable raid base; bring mounts, ranged weapons, and at least one dedicated healer.
Phase 1 — Opening and add clear Deploy Jetragon to clear adds and control space while Jormuntide Ignis applies sustained pressure to the boss body. Use Neptilius to lock down adds and prevent interference. Keep Lyleen ready for burst heals.
Phase 2 — Weak‑point focus When the Moon Lord exposes an eye or core, mount Xenolord and focus weak‑point damage. Time Jormuntide’s partner skill and weapon weak‑point mods to coincide with exposures for multiplicative damage. Use cooldown implants to chain high‑damage windows.
Phase 3 — Enrage and sustain If the boss enters an enrage, switch implants if needed: move one HP implant onto your primary DPS and ensure Lyleen’s major heal is off cooldown. Kite with mounts and use Neptilius to control space; avoid stacking where AoE hits multiple players.
Phase 4 — Finish and cleanup As the final core falls, maintain pressure but conserve major cooldowns for any sudden burst phases. Secure the kill by alternating burst windows and heals; collect drops and salvage the Summoning Altar area.
Tactical reminders: assign roles before the fight, keep one player on add control, and rotate implants between attempts to optimize for the boss phase you struggle with most.
Quick answer: Swap implants to match each raid phase: favor offensive implants for weak‑point windows, defensive and cooldown implants for enrage and sustain, and keep one flexible slot for situational mechanics. Below is a concise, phase‑by‑phase implant swap list tailored to the five core Pals and the Moon Lord–style encounter.
Pre‑fight loadout and flexible slot
Before engaging, equip a baseline set that balances offense and survivability. Primary DPS Pals (Jormuntide, Xenolord) should start with Attack and Crit; mobility Pals (Jetragon) with Speed; control Pals (Neptilius) with HP; support (Lyleen) with Cooldown Reduction and Healing Potency. Keep one implant slot empty or filled with a flexible implant (e.g., Impatient or Runner) you can swap between phases.
Pre‑fight loadout and flexible slot
Opening and add‑clear phase
During the opening, the goal is fast add removal and safe positioning. Swap one implant on your mobility Pal to Cooldown Reduction so burst skills are available more often. On your DPS, keep Attack but temporarily replace Crit with Attack Speed if your weapon benefits from sustained fire. Support keeps Healing Potency but can add Serenity if available to reduce incoming burst damage.
Opening and add‑clear phase
Weak‑point windows (primary damage phase)
This is the highest‑value window for damage. Move implants to maximize multiplicative output: both Jormuntide and Xenolord should run Ferocious/Brave (high attack) and Crit; if you have a Weak‑Point Multiplier implant or vendor implant that boosts precision damage, slot it now. Swap Jetragon to Crit for follow‑up burst and set Lyleen to Cooldown Reduction so major heals and buffs are ready between windows.
Weak‑point windows
Enrage and sustained damage phases
When the boss enrages or phases into prolonged damage, prioritize survival. Move one implant on your primary DPS to HP or Hard Skin, and put Burly Body or Damage Reduction on Neptilius. Lyleen should keep Healing Potency and add HP if you expect heavy AoE. Keep Jetragon on Runner or Infinite Stamina to maintain kiting and repositioning.
Enrage and sustained damage phases
Emergency and clutch swaps
Reserve a single implant slot across the team for emergency mechanics: Mercy Hit to prevent sudden deaths, Impatient to shave cooldowns, or Nimble to escape ground hazards. Use these only when a specific mechanic threatens a wipe; otherwise, keep them in your flexible slot for phase swaps.
Emergency and clutch swaps
Post‑phase cleanup and reset
After a heavy phase, revert DPS to balanced Attack/Crit, restore Lyleen’s full Cooldown Reduction setup, and return Neptilius to HP/Damage Reduction. Use this window to heal, reapply buffs, and prepare the flexible slot for the next weak‑point exposure.
Post‑phase cleanup and reset
Key takeaways: Plan swaps before the fight, assign a player to manage implant changes, and keep one flexible slot per Pal for situational mechanics. Implant sources and vendor availability vary by activity; prioritize implants you can reliably obtain from Bounty Officers and the Arena Merchant.
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