Hopefully you'll find some of this useful, even if you're an experienced player. At the bottom, you'll also find links to two third-party websites that I use regularly.
Below the cut:
Bug catching
Hunting the rare creature forms (azure, proudhorned, etc.)
Decor (useful items, decorating, etc.)
Gardening
Multiplayer
Einar's pebbles
Bug catching with lures
If I'm searching for a specific bug, especially if that bug is rare/epic, I always use a buzzy jar alongside it. That way, when that bug appears, it immediately lets me know in the form of a butterfly symbol at the top of my screen. It might feel like a waste when they'll be spawning so close to you, but it makes things so much easier.
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Best times for bug catching
Even if the bug you're searching for technically appears at any time, it is good to strategize a little.
For example: the cursed raspberry beetle. If you're going to use a lure in an attempt to find it, your best chances lie between 6pm and 3am, when the common blue butterflies stop spawning. That leaves you with only bugs that spook/despawn, and a much higher chance to find something rarer.
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Bug catching with others
Unfortunately for introverts like me, the most efficient way to hunt/catch things in this game is always going to be with others. With that said, there are ways to do it that don't require much conversation, if any.
For starters: you do not have to join any parties. Lures work for everyone on the server. You just won't get extra xp, and I believe creatures are less likely to drop loot if you haven't gotten a hit in before it loses all its health (haven't looked into it enough to know exactly how that works - maybe someone else knows)
If you do decide to join a party, you are not at all required to have a headset, third-party app like Discord, etc. Most of the parties i've been a part of have basically no talking at all because it's too hard to hunt/catch and type. We run around and hunt/catch/fish for fifteen to twenty minutes, say our goodbyes/thank you's and then part ways. It's great.
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Useful House Decor
Up until recently, I had a tendency to just toss everything I got from villagers into my chest rather than finding a spot for it. So, I was missing out on a lot of things that had the potential to be quite useful.
These four pieces in particular are absolutely worth having on your plot, even if you don't feel they fit the vibe (or you can just place them on an unused plot)
#1 - Ancient Rock Garden. A kitsuu leaves a random gift for you each in-game day, consisting of things from meat, fur and spicy pepper seeds, to dispel/slowdown/fine arrows and gold ore.
#2 - Young Silverwing Nest. A silverwing leaves a candy egg in the nest for you once per real life day, which resets at 4:00 AM UTC.
#3 - Ancient Galdur Statue. Leaves an acorn, pinecone, juniper or samara seed once per real life day, including flow seeds if you're lucky / have completed The Gardeners New Oneness quest. Supposedly, the chances of receiving a flow seed increase every time a new tree grows to maturity on the same plot.
#4 - Piksii Grove. Again, leaves one elderwood-related gift per real life day (elderwood lures/arrows/smoke bombs, infected essence, elderflowers/orchids, slime potions, etc.)
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The importance of seed makers
This is also something I've severely neglected to use until recently, mostly because I didn't take the time to really understand how it worked, which meant I was spending money/guild tokens I did not need to spend on seeds that I could easily remake on my own.
For instance: Rockhopper pumpkins. I did not want to spend essence on pumpkin seeds when I need so many for my beloved Tamala's quests, so I visited Badruu's store and bought just one for 350 coins. That pumpkin then goes into the seed maker, and four pumpkin seeds come out when it's done.
If you really want to up your productivity, make sure you've got at least one worm farm in use, as it gives HarvestBoost fertilizer alongside the worms. That means you're getting more crops from the harvest than you normally would.
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Another use for star quality items
Most of what doesn't fall under the category of decor when looking in your chest (plants aside) need to be of star quality for you to place it on your plot. That goes for gemstones, meals, bugs, fish, etc.
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Einar's pebbles
I posted something about these pebbles a little while ago and there were quite a few players, both new and seasoned, who were still unsure of what to do with them. So, for those who aren't aware: they are to be given back to Einar via gifting.
If you click on the gifting option while talking to a villager, you can still alternate between these three sections. His pebbles will appear in the quest category of your inventory (i've already completed mine, so i don't have a photo of the pebbles themselves) and you can give one a day.
As a side note: you'll be able to tell what things have the potential to be gifted to villagers by looking at what's greyed out (though, nothing will be greyed unless you're in the process of talking to a villager and picking out a gift)
You can keep track of the pebbles you've found by looking at the accomplishment in-game and/or ticking them off on the Palia tracker (linked below). Here is how to find all ten.
Hunting for Waveback, Azure, Proudhorned and Bluebristled
When it comes to strategies that I use on all four, I only really have one: Never shoot at them from anywhere that isn't at least on the same level as them. If they're on a hill, make sure you're at the top of it - otherwise you'll only get one or two arrows in before there's nothing but the slope of the ground to hit.
#1 - Azure chapaa
The azure chapaas are by far the easiest to hunt, as long as you've got at least one dispel arrow per chapaa. Walk up close to them with your arrow pulled back and ready. Wait until it spooks and creates its duplicates. Then use your dispel arrow to shoot just one of them. It can be any - doesn't matter if it's the real one or not.
This stuns it for a short period of time, meaning it won't move and there's no duplicates, and gives you just enough time to swap ammo and finish it off with fine arrows (or keep going with dispel, if you've got a comfortable amount)
#2 - Proudhorned Sernuk
I've not come across any "easy" way to hunt these guys, except for trapping them against a corner. Both cliffs and mountains work. Their movements are a lot more predictable when they've only got so many places to run, and as long as you keep hitting them with dispel, they have to escape by foot. Also, by shooting them just as they start darting towards an exit, they're likely to head in the other direction as long as you're not standing behind it.
Obviously this is made harder depending on where they happen to spawn, but it does give you an advantage if you're able to find them in the right place. The easiest hunt i've gotten so far is at C4 / Flooded Steps.
#3 - Bluebristled Muujin
If you do it enough, hunting the bluebristled Muujin becomes quite easy to do on your own. Just be prepared to have a LOT of wood in your inventory when you're done, particularly if you're hunting more than one.
In case you didn't know, muujin appear either after cutting down trees or just roaming in the open. Their special ability is invisibility, and while that sounds like a huge pain in the ass (which it is. don't get me wrong), you can still track their movements by either the health bar or the dirt/grass that they kick up as they run. Not always easy, but it is absolutely doable.
If I find one out in the open, then I shoot it as many times as I can but ultimately just follow it until it climbs into a tree. You can either just go straight to cutting down that tree, or you can cut down the nearby ones first so it takes longer for it to hide. I cut down several of the nearest trees to make sure i have a clearer shot when it runs, but otherwise don't bother.
The next part is the hardest. The moment that tree has been cut, you'll have to change to your bow and arrow as quick as you can and start running after it. Sounds obvious, i know, but my first instinct used to be to grab my bow, stand still and just shoot from where I was standing. In the areas that these guys spawn, that's hardly an affective option.
Waveback Ogopuu
Don't use dispel arrows. That's my only piece of advice. All they do is stop it from spitting slime at you, and those few seconds that it takes to do it is how you get both guaranteed shots and extra time before it disappears.
Slime can also be combatted by the slime potion sold at Tamala's shop.
These four clips below are just a visual representation of what I do. They're not fool proof methods by any means. They're not going to work every time, and particularly with the muujin: it's going to be hard no matter what if you're doing it alone.
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Now for the websites:
Palia Tracker
Allows you to track your progress as you play (bugs, fish, artifacts, recipes, bundles, stickers/emotes, plushes, potato pods)
Has a live clock that matches the in-game one, and every creature is labelled with the times in which they can be found.
Tells you every villager's weekly gifts.
Let's you track your relationship progress.
Shows you profitable items + what they're worth.
Palia Party
A website for ongoing/upcoming parties that are being hosted.
Allows you to sign up for ones that interest you or create your own.
All parties are tagged to show if they're beginner friendly, how many people they need/want, where it's going to be held, when it's going to be held, etc.
If it's a party for cooking, you can choose your station.
Parties can be marked as private, so only people you invite can join.
It would be something only Elouisa and anyone who got really, really close to her would know.
You're at Elouisa's house late one night. The lights are low, the fire is warm, and the vibes are cozy.
You, Elouisa, and Caleri are seated around the coffee table.
Over a pot of steaming tea, the tea is hot.
Caleri spends all day at the desk in the library. She sees who passes by, who comes in, who checks out what book. She hears their whispers and knows their interests.
She knows Auni is dreaming of adventure when he checks out more books about explorers and pirates than books about bugs.
She knows Hassian is feeling heartbroken when he comes to read about romance or traditional courting practices.
She knows when Delaila is trying to perfect a recipe, when Ashura is feeling sentimental, and when Jel needs some inspiration.
It is through these bits and pieces that Caleri deduces the goings-on of Kilima.
The gossip is non-stop and the theories are spicy.
Caleri has metaphorically--and literally!--let her hair down.
She sheepishly covers her mouth as she insists that whatever you heard about Eshe's dispute with Tamala did not come from her.
Elousia makes a quip about an exotic creature, and you laugh while Caleri playfully rolls her eyes.
You propose increasingly unlikely scenarios to explain why Reth was seen ducking into the storeroom yesterday afternoon.
You all laugh and refill your cups.
Once the moons are high in the sky and the fire has died down, you bid the sisters goodbye and head home.
It's was a girls' night in. The vibes are cozy, the tea is hot, and the gossip is ever-changing.
Can't believe Jel is out here being horny on main for Reth, while Reth's only two braincells are busy wondering how much soup they can fit inside of the tailor.
"most palia players prefer partying" factoid actualy just statistical error. average palia player barely groups up. Gamers Georg, who spams parties to increase money/loot/exp, is an outlier adn should not have been counted
I will always be a Jel truther--my goth heart demands it 🦇🪡
However, I regret waiting so long to romance Reth. He has the best written romance by far. It's not even close. I freaking love this kid, and I regret romancing Hassian first.
Sorry Hassian and my Hassian girlies(gn), but I was immediately put off by the quest where he got mad at you for visiting and made you research traditions (that no one else follows?) at the library to continue the relationship. Like, grow tf up and tell me what you want. I'm too old for this shit. I stuck it out for the rewards, but I was thoroughly unimpressed.
Hassian also still greets me by saying, "I have a feeling you won't leave until you've spoken" or some variation of "Make it quick."
Like ok, fuck you too?? Level 4 romance means nothing? Fuck you and your pin. I lost interest a long ass time ago. I love the "angery but not for u" trope, but I don't feel like his "not for u" attitude is good enough to make up for it. He just seems childish and manipulative
Anyway, these are just my thoughts. I understand and respect those who are into him, but he's not for me, besties
Auni: I love this kid. I want him to think of me as a cool older sister or cool aunt. I bring him bugs every chance I get
Ashura: I want him to be my dad. Genuinely love him. Serious contender to be my Shepp
Badruu: He really turned the puns up to 11. I love him. Also want him to be my dad. And possibly my Shepp
Caleri: I wasn't too sure about her, but after getting to know her, I feel like we have quite a few similarities. Definitely want to be her friend. Could she be my Shepp? 👀
Chayne: I find him so calming. He also feels dad-like to me. 100% want him as a support figure/father figure regardless of who I choose as my Shepp
Delaila: Love talking to her. Really want to get to know her better at this point (but 100% want her to win all the prizes at farmers markets/festivals)
Einar: Absolutely adorable and I love him. Only platonically tho. I will give him as many Gils and shiny rocks as he wants
Elouisa: I wasn't sure at first, but I LOVE her unhinged theories. I want to be her best friend. I will investigate all the paranormal things with her. Contender for my Shepp. Girl let's go ghost hunting
Eshe: So snobby. So bougie. So bitchy. I wish she could be my Shepp 😫 (if only because it would be entertaining)
Hassian: First impressions? What an asshole. After some time, I am...intrigued. I want to figure him out. I want to know why he is the way he is. Also fucking love Tau, the gooodest boi
Hekla: Honestly... she freaked me out a little for a long time. I'm slowly coming around though
Hodari: Listen, I get it. I see where you all are coming from. But man's just not my type 🤷🏻♀️
Jel: Oh Jel, my beloved. I'm not exactly subtle about it. This man is my husband. Sad, skinny, pathetic, dramatic, goth guys are My Type™️. Would marry him like, yesterday 🥀😫🪡🖤😍
Jina: At first I wasn't sure, but the more I talk to her, I'm like, "Jina, my bestie." I'm a PhD student. I feel you. Also, WOMEN IN STEM, HELL YEAH!!!! I have a feeling we're gonna be great friends
Kenji: Not a fan of your extremely privileged life ("Have you tried inheriting property?" 😐😐😐) or the invasive chapaa situation... but I also don't dislike him as much as I thought. I feel like he's playing a role he doesn't really want to, but still enjoying/expecting the high life for little to no effort
Kenyatta: She should be my best friend. I was put off at first, but she is the coolest. I see quite a few aspects of myself in her
Nai'O: I feel like he's the sweetest boi ever. I'm both like, "He deserves better than Kenyatta" and "Kenyatta is good for him." Perhaps the most wholesome NPC
Najuma: I also want to be the cool older sister and/or cool aunt that she never had. This kid is a badass and smart as hell. I wish my friendship with her was better already
Reth: This man. I love him. I'm not sure if it's platonic or romantic yet. All I know is he's one of my favourite NPCs to talk to. He's funny, he's flirty, he's got a Tragic Backstory™️. I'm here for this soup boi whether he wants it or not
Sifuu: Two words: Bad. Ass. It's a crime that we can't romance her. I really want to ask her to be my Shepp, but I'm not sure it's a good fit
Tamala: I'm sorry, Tamala besties, but I just don't like her 😭 I really wanted to like her so bad, but her aggressive flirting paired with her unwillingness to consider me a friend/equal just rubs me the wrong way
Tish: Absolutely beautiful person. I want to be her bffl. That is all
Zeki: Crime Cat, my beloved. He is the most entertaining Shepp option (imo). He's got an eye patch, a gold tooth, and shady practices. I find him amusing. I want him to like me. Share his (dubiously acquired) riches with me. Please accept me into the black market. I won't tell, but I can't promise I'll participate (I probably will 👀)
Badruu: So wholesome. Ultimate dad. I want to be his bff
Caleri: Yes. We have tea weekly to discuss the tea ☕️
Chayne: Still very chill and wholesome, but I haven't interacted with him at all since maxing his friendship
Delaila: Still love her. I'm her number one Jam Fan
Einar: Adorable and wholesome as always. He really grew on me
Elouisa: My paranormal pal. My bestie. Love love LOVE her
Eshe: She's still the worst. I wish she would teach me everything she knows 🤩
Hassian: He was really growing on me. Then I romanced him. Almost immediately got over him. Maybe I'm just too old for that lack-of-communication shit 😅
Hekla: Yeah no. She weirds me out. I do not like talking to her. She's one of the few NPCs with whom I have not maxed out friendship. She just makes me uncomfortable tbh
Hodari: I still get it. He's still not for me 🤷🏻♀️
Jel: My beloved pixilated husband 😍 Still obsessed with his dramatic ass. Our wedding when 👀
Jina: I wanted to love her so bad. I'm a PhD student. I get the curiosity and the academic motivation. I love it! But girl, the imposter syndrome is taking over and I have enough of that in my own irl life. I feel like her consistent lack of confidence is also dragging me down
Kenji: I maxed out the friendship and have not thought of him since lmao
Kenyatta: Yeah, she's cool. Loving that she found a Path that she's passionate about. She'll be fantastic at whatever she chooses to focus on
Nai'O: Wholesome, but I maxed out his friendship and haven't thought about him much since then 😭
Najuma: She's cool af. Still want to be her cool older sister/cool aunt
Reth: Should've romanced him instead of Hassian. That's all I have to say
Sifuu: Yes. Still love her. I wish I could romance her instead of her son
Tamala: Still sorry, but the more I talk to her, the less I like her. She just makes me uncomfortable 😬
Tish: Still think she's lovely. Need a break from the constant, incessant positivity every once in a while
Zeki: My beloved Crime Cat. Love him more every day. Currently my #1 pick for my Shepp and it isn't even close
New!
Subira: At first I was like, come back with a warrant~~ but she's not so bad. Still not ratting out Zeki tho
I'm so over him. I'm almost to level 4 romance and it has been a struggle. He got mad that I visited his grove at night, didn't tell me why, and then made me research it at the library? Hell nah. I'd leave his ass so fast. I've been suffering through this to get his portrait tbh
I absolutely get the "rude to everyone, but secretly soft once you get to know him" vibe. But Hassian really put me off almost immediately. Sorry 😅
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