If you’ve spent any time grinding for late-game crafting materials in Palworld, you’ve likely run into a frustrating roadblock when you go to build heat-resistant armor or explosive ammo and realize you’re short on horns. I wasted three hours wandering random biomes my first time looking for this material, skipping over obvious spawn points because I had no clue where to get horns palworld. This guide pulls together 40+ hours of testing to break down every reliable way to farm horns, what you’ll use them for, and how to cut your farming time in half without cheating or using mods. You don’t need to be level 30 or have a team of maxed combat Pals to stock up, either—we’ve included methods for players of all levels.
Where to Get Horns in Palworld: Top 3 Spawn Locations for All Levels
First, it’s important to note that horns only drop from specific Pals—you won’t find them lying around in chests or mining nodes, no matter how many you open. All horn-dropping Pals have ram or bull-like features, and they spawn in specific, easy-to-reach biomes across the map. We’ve tested every spawn cluster, and these three spots deliver the highest drop rate with the lowest risk for new and experienced players alike:
- Grassy Beaches near the Starting Plateau: Level 7-12 Melpacas spawn in herds of 3-5 here, with a 90% drop rate for 1-2 horns each when defeated or captured. This is the best spot for players below level 15, since Melpacas don’t attack unless provoked.
- Eastern Bamboo Hills: Level 20-25 Eikthyrdeers spawn in groups of 2-4 here, with a 100% drop rate for 2-3 horns each when captured. They’re aggressive, so bring a fire-type Pal to take them down fast.
- Northern Snow Plains Edge: Level 35-40 Arsoxes spawn in pairs here, with a 100% drop rate for 3-5 horns each when defeated. They hit hard, but you can set up a base nearby to farm them nonstop for late-game crafting runs.
I prefer the starting beach spot for casual farming, even at level 40, because I don’t have to worry about taking damage while I’m multitasking with base building. If you’re still wondering where to get horns in Palworld and don’t want to risk fighting high-level Pals, the starting beach spot is 100% your best bet. If you’re in a hurry for 50+ horns in one run, the bamboo hills spot is your best bet, as long as you have a Pal with a fire attack to melt through Eikthyrdeer’s thick fur fast.
Fastest Horn Farming Methods to Cut Your Grind Time
Just knowing the spawn spots isn’t enough to farm horns efficiently—there are a few simple tricks that will double your drop rate and cut your total farming time in half. No matter where to get horns in Palworld you choose to farm, capturing Pals instead of killing them will double your drop rate every time. I tested this over 100 runs, and captured Melpacas gave me 2.1x more horns on average than ones I just defeated and left on the ground.
Always capture horn-dropping Pals instead of just defeating them if you’re farming for materials. You don’t have to keep the Pals after you capture them, either—you can release them right after for extra experience points, or turn them into Pal spheres for more farming runs. It’s a win-win no matter how you look at it.
AFK ranch farming is the most low-effort way to get horns long-term, and most players don’t even know it exists. Once you unlock the ranch at level 15, you can assign 2-3 Melpacas or Eikthyrdeers to it, and they will produce 10-15 horns every hour of real time without any input from you. I have two ranches dedicated to horn production on my main base, and I come back to 30+ horns every time I take a break from playing. You don’t have to feed them or do any extra maintenance, just make sure the ranch is in a safe spot away from aggressive wild Pals.
If you prefer active farming, set up a tiny outpost near your chosen spawn spot with a fast travel point and a bed. That way you don’t have to run 10 minutes across the map every time you die or run out of Pal spheres. I usually spend 10 minutes building a 1x1 wood shack with a fast travel point before I start a long farming run, and it saves me at least 30 minutes of travel time over 2 hours of farming.
What You’ll Use Horns For (And Why You Should Stock Up Early)
A lot of new players ignore horns when they first start playing, since none of the early-game crafting recipes require them. But once you hit level 20, you’ll start seeing horns pop up in almost every high-priority recipe you need to progress through the mid and late game. Stocking up 50+ horns before you hit level 25 will save you a ton of frustration later on, and you won’t have to pause your exploration to grind for materials.
Heat-resistant armor is the first high-priority recipe that requires 8 horns per piece, and it’s mandatory if you want to explore the desert biome without taking constant burn damage. I made the mistake of skipping horn farming on my first playthrough, and I had to spend 2 hours running back and forth from the desert to the starting beach just to craft one full set of heat armor, which delayed my desert exploration by an entire play session.
Horns are also used to craft explosive arrows, which are the most effective ammo for taking down alpha Pals and high-level bosses. Each stack of 10 explosive arrows needs 1 horn, and you’ll go through dozens of stacks if you’re hunting for legendary Pal drops or trying to clear high-level dungeons. Horns are also used for advanced repair kits, which let you repair high-tier weapons and armor on the go without having to travel back to your base. That’s a game-changer for long exploration runs where you don’t want to cut your trip short because your favorite sword broke.
You’ll also need horns for a few late-game base upgrades, like the advanced furnace and the electric generator. You don’t need hundreds of horns for these upgrades, but having a small stockpile means you won’t have to stop mid-upgrade to go farming.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Farming Horns
After dozens of farming runs, I’ve picked up on a few common mistakes that make horn farming way more frustrating than it needs to be. Most of these are easy to avoid once you know what to look for, and they’ll save you a lot of wasted time and resources.
Don’t waste your time farming low-level Pals for horns if you’re already level 30+. While Melpacas are great for new players, Eikthyrdeers and Arsoxes drop 2-3x more horns per kill, so you’ll get way more materials in the same amount of time even if you have to spend a few extra seconds fighting them. I still use the starting beach spot for casual farming, but if I need 100 horns fast for a big crafting project, I head straight to the bamboo hills.
Another common mistake is thinking that Caprity drop horns. I see this myth floating around online all the time, but Caprity only drop wool and berries, no matter how many you capture or kill. Don’t waste your time farming them, you’ll walk away with zero horns and a bunch of extra wool you don’t need.
Don’t forget to equip a Pal with the “Item Drop Rate Up” passive skill when you’re farming. This skill increases all material drops by 15-25% depending on the skill level, and it stacks with the bonus you get from capturing Pals instead of killing them. I have a level 40 Chillet with a max rank item drop rate skill that I bring on every farming run, and it gives me almost 30% extra horns per hour.
Finally, don’t sleep on the ranch method even if you love active farming. Having a passive source of horns means you’ll always have a small stockpile building up even when you’re doing other things, like exploring dungeons or building your base. I haven’t had to do a dedicated horn farming run in months, because my two ranches produce more than enough horns for all my crafting needs.
At the end of the day, farming horns doesn't have to be the frustrating grind a lot of players make it out to be. Whether you're a new player just getting your first set of armor or a late-game player stocking up for boss fights, knowing where to get horns palworld and which methods work best for your playstyle will save you hours of wandering the map. Try the starting beach spot first if you're low level, set up a ranch as soon as you unlock it, and you'll never run out of this critical crafting material again. I've used these methods to stock over 300 horns on my current playthrough, and I haven't had to stop mid-project to farm for materials in months.