Back when I was a noob, I tried crossing the Palpagos Islands entirely on foot. Then, I quickly learned that Palworld’s map has zero mercy for anyone without wings. Every cliff face turned into a fifteen-minute detour, and I gave up on walking mounts almost immediately. That is when I went down the rabbit hole of figuring out exactly which flying Pal gets you off the ground fastest, and which ones are actually worth the grind versus a quick placeholder ride.
So, in this guide, I will walk you through the best mount options after the 1.0 release that will work the best for you (at least according to my opinion).
The 1.0 update also opened the door to some new ways of customizing your experience beyond just mounts. To know more, read our article Can You Use Mods in Palworld 1.0?
Jetragon is the fastest flying mount in the entire game
Jetragon is basically a jet engine with wings and holds the title for the highest top speed of any mount in Palworld, flying or otherwise, with a sprinting speed of 3300. However, all that raw velocity comes at a cost, since Jetragon only carries 100 stamina, which turns it into a sprinter rather than a marathon runner. It is brilliant for closing distance in a hurry, but it will leave you gliding on fumes if you push it too far.
If you want that same top-tier speed without watching your stamina bar drain in seconds, Xenolord makes a compelling case for itself as the steadier alternative. It gives up a sliver of Jetragon’s top speed in exchange for significantly more staying power, making it the better travel companion for long-distance flying rather than short bursts. Riding Jetragon also hands you its built-in missile launcher through the Aerial Missile partner skill, turning your mount into a weapon in its own right, though that can work against you if your build depends on a specific piece of gear.
Getting there takes real commitment though. The saddle for Jetragon does not unlock until Technology Level 79, and crafting it demands 70 leather, 60 Paloxite ingots, 24 AI cores, and 210 Paldium fragments. Jetragon itself spawns around Mount Obsidian and can also be fought as a Level 70 Alpha in the No. 3 Wildlife Sanctuary.
Some of the base materials needed for saddles and other gear come from surprisingly simple crafting steps early on. To know more, read our article How To Make Wooden Board In Palworld 1.0?
The best flying mounts by stage of the game
As good as Jetragon is, you will not have access to it for most of your playthrough, so here is how the flying mount options stack up as you level.
This is an overview of all the Pals that you can mount to fly during the different stages of the game. This will help you plan your progression better:
| Stage | Pal | Technology Level | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early game | Nitewing | 15 | Common around the starting area, especially forests and cliffs east of the Plateau of Beginnings | Your first flying saddle, useful with Tornado Attack and Wind Cutter |
| Early game | Vanwyrm | 21 | North of the starting area, lush forests before Twilight Dunes; also around the volcano base | Fire/Dark dual type, faster than Nitewing with combat utility |
| Mid game | Ragnahawk | 33 | Primarily around Mount Obsidian; also northwest of Small Settlement at lower levels | Strongest mid-game option, converts damage to Fire |
| Mid game | Helzephyr | 33 | Northeast of starting area, lush forests and cliffs near Marsh Island | Adds Dark type damage while mounted |
| Mid game | Quivern | 36 | Level 23 Alpha at Sealed Realm of the Winged Tyrant (northeast map) | Dragon type, buffs other Dragon Pals in your party |
| Late game | Suzaku Aqua | 44 | Near Azure Tapestry fast travel point on the southwest island, close to Level 68 PIDF Tower | Water type, solid stepping stone toward Jetragon |
| Late game | Selyne | 53 | Sakurajima island, especially during Meteorite events | Dark/Neutral type, strong Active Skills but shorter cooldowns |
| Late game | Panthalus | Unlocked via main quest | Deserted Islet, after progressing main quest and beating tower boss Auri | No saddle needed, guards your base while flying |
| Late game | Jetragon | 79 | Around Mount Obsidian; Level 70 Alpha in No. 3 Wildlife Sanctuary | Fastest top speed in the game |
| Late game | Xenolord | 66 | High-level areas around Mount Obsidian and the northeast volcanic regions | Slightly slower than Jetragon but far better stamina for long trips |
Frostallion and Frostallion Noct also earn their place in the mid-to-late game tier, offering some of the strongest all-around stats before Jetragon enters the picture. However, the exact Technology Level for their saddles has shifted slightly across updates, so it is worth double-checking your own in-game Tech Tree once you are in that range rather than relying on a single fixed number.
Certain rarer crafting materials in this level range can also be tricky to track down without knowing exactly where to look. To know more, read our article Palworld: Where to Find Nightstar Sand in 1.0 (Locations, Farming Tips, and the Glowing Bug)
How the top speed tier actually breaks down
Once you get past the early grind, several Pals start jostling for the fastest overall spot alongside Jetragon. Xenolord sits right next to it in the top tier like a more patient sibling, giving up a touch of speed for a much longer flight range. Its Meteor Wings skill sweetens the deal further by boosting the damage of any weapon-wielding Pals riding along in your party.
Panthalus, meanwhile, skips the saddle grind entirely and just lets you hop on. It cruises and sprints at a flat 3000 speed with no separate boost from sprinting itself, almost as if it is always coasting at full throttle. On top of that, it doubles as an airborne guard dog, patrolling and defending your base the moment it is not being ridden. It falls just short of Jetragon’s top speed, but what it trades away in raw pace, it earns back in versatility.
Shaolong and the Eidrolon variants round out the upper tier with a different trick up their sleeve. Both Eidrolon and Eidrolon Ignis feed off the company they keep, gaining a movement speed boost for every Dragon or matching element Pal in your party. Stack that buff high enough with the right team, and their effective speed can climb dramatically. That said, this is very much a team-dependent party trick rather than a guaranteed edge, so neither Pal reliably beats the field outside a heavily optimised Dragon or Fire focused lineup.
The best passive skills for a faster mount
Regardless of which Pal you choose, certain Passive Skills can meaningfully boost your flying speed further. Look out for these when catching or breeding your mounts:
- Nimble: a ten percent increase to movement speed
- Runner: a twenty percent increase to movement speed
- Swift: a thirty percent increase to movement speed
- Legend: a twenty percent boost to Attack, Defense, and Movement Speed, exclusive to Legendary Pals
- Dimensional Leap: a fifty percent increase to movement speed, though it also raises Hunger depletion by fifteen percent
If you are aiming for a dedicated speed build, prioritize catching or breeding Pals that already carry one of these skills rather than relying on raw base stats alone.
There’s actually a much longer list of passives that were added or reworked with the update, well beyond just the speed-focused ones. To know more, read our article Palworld 1.0: Every New Passive Skill and What It Actually Does?
Well, these were my two cents on the best flying pals in the game right now. I hope this guide will help you deploy better flying mounts in the game.
And don’t worry, whether you are playing on a UK server with your mates or grinding solo somewhere in the US, the mount progression works exactly the same for everyone. So, enjoy the grind with your pals carefree.
Playing with friends got a fair bit smoother after 1.0 too, with several communication upgrades added to the game. To know more, read our article Palworld 1.0 Multiplayer: Voice Chat, Improved Text Chat, and Everything Else That Changed. So, enjoy the grind with your pals carefree.
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