Palworld Guide: How To Rob The New 1.0 Wildlife Sanctuaries
Getting vaporized by a laser drone was definitely not on my bingo card when I went to catch a fuzzy forest creature.
Early access sanctuaries were boring little islands you visited to poach a rare catch and immediately leave. The 1.0 update completely overhauled them into protected conservation areas built by an ancient civilization, turning what used to be a simple detour into a high-stakes heist. You'll notice a giant energy barrier surrounding them now, but it doesn't actually block you from walking right through. The real problem is the security system waiting on the other side.
Evading The Patrol Drones
Every sanctuary is crawling with defense drones broadcasting bright red detection beams. If a drone spots you, your relaxing gathering trip instantly becomes a fight for your life.
They'll pursue you aggressively and deal incredibly heavy damage. This ties directly into the reworked crime system. Getting caught on these islands counts as trespassing, and as your wanted level goes up, the game sends much stronger pursuers after you to put you six feet under. Before you start a massive firefight you can't finish, understand that you have two choices here. You can sneak through the searchlights to grab your specific loot, or you can go loud and fight the drones head-on. If you botch a stealth run, just break line of sight and wait out the heat until they stand down.
Wildlife Sanctuary No. 1: The Forest
This is the easiest reserve to hit and the best place to start if you want to test the stealth mechanics. Teleport to the Sea Breeze Archipelago Castaway Great Eagle Statue and head north to coordinates (57, -677).
Forest Pals And Loot
You're primarily here to harvest Ancient Bark, but the local wildlife is a massive draw if you're looking for productive workers for your base upgrades. You'll find Elgrove, Lunaris, Vaelet, Eikthyrdeer Terra, Elphidran, and Penking. The main event is a Grizzbolt boss fight, but if you bring an Exotic Sphere, you can actually catch it while it sleeps. The sanctuary chests here pull from the Forest Chest Tier 2 pool, giving you Sapphires, Bellanoir Slab Fragments, and schematics for Metal Armor, Handguns, Swords, SMGs, Makeshift Shotguns, and Muskets. Just know that pendants no longer drop from these chests, as you have to craft them now.
Wildlife Sanctuary No. 2: The Volcano
Things get significantly hotter here, both in temperature and security. Teleport to the Ruined Fortress City in the northern part of the volcano region and head to (-677, -113).
Volcano Pals And Loot
The layout is much more open here, which means there are more drones patrolling the area with wider lines of sight. Sneak past the beams to collect small blue stones called Ancient Lava, or hit up the various fishing spots scattered around the island. The Pal roster steps up in difficulty, featuring Level 38 to 40 spawns including Kitsun and Pyrin Noct. You've also got to deal with a Level 55 Astegon boss guarding the area. Don't bother trying to farm the drones themselves, as defeating them drops absolutely nothing of value.
Wildlife Sanctuary No. 3: The Desert
This is the absolute endgame gauntlet. Fast travel to either the Deep Sand Dunes or The Furtherest Flats in the desert and glide over to (660, 635).
Desert Pals And Loot
This reserve is heavily guarded with multiple drones scanning an incredibly flat, open terrain. It's very easy to accidentally pull aggro during a wild Pal battle. You'll be dodging lasers to collect scattered bone remains that grant Ancient Bone. The wildlife here will absolutely send you back to the lobby if your party presets aren't optimized. Almost everything spawns at Level 50 or higher. Expect to run into Mammorest Noct, Fenglope, Frostallion Noct, and a brutal Level 51 Shadowbeak boss. I highly advise maxing out your gear before setting foot on this island. If you need a refresher on where your current strength fits in, check my map level zones guide.
Crafting With Ancient Materials
All that sneaking and fighting is mandatory if you want the best accessories and traversal gear in the game.
You'll need massive quantities of Ancient Bark, Ancient Lava, and Ancient Bone to craft the top-tier upgrades. Before you waste hours wandering aimlessly on the wrong island, check exactly what you need to farm below.
