I used to hate waiting for nightfall in Palworld. Now I look forward to it. That change happened when I first stumbled into a little owl wandering around the starting area, completely lost in thought.

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The Pal was Hoocrates, a Dark-type that resembles an owl and often paces aimlessly through the dark. Its Paldeck entry says it gets lost in its own thoughts, pondering its existence and becoming unaware of its surroundings. I expected it to be harmless. I was only half right. It will not bother anyone who walks by, and it does not flee from danger. But if a fight starts, Hoocrates stands its ground. That tiny owl has a Dark-type arsenal that can hurt.

Hunting Under the Moon

Hoocrates only appears at night. I learned that the hard way after spending an entire in-game morning searching empty fields. Once the moon came up, the little owls appeared everywhere. They bumped into trees and rocks while pacing around. They paid no attention to me.

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The map shows Hoocrates in nearly every early-game region. That made my capture plans simple. I did need to prepare though. Nighttime cold can freeze an underdressed player. I either wore warmer armor or brought a Fire-type Pal like Foxparks to stay warm. Spawn rates are common, so I caught ten Hoocrates in one quick outing. They are timid in how they ignore passing players, but once the battle starts, they will not back down.

Not My Base Worker

Back at base, I quickly realized Hoocrates is not a workhorse. It has Level 1 Gathering Work Suitability. That sounds fine until you compare it to Pals like Cattiva or Lifmunk. Those Pals gather and also handle other tasks. Hoocrates is a secondary assistant at best. I reserve my base slots for Pals with broader utility.

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The Real Value: Dark Knowledge

The reason to keep Hoocrates is its Partner Skill: Dark Knowledge. When I send out Hoocrates, it boosts the Dark moves of all allies on the battlefield. That is massive for an all-Dark team. Early on, I had Mau, Killamari, and Daedream available. Hoocrates sets them up beautifully. It may not be the strongest attacker, but it makes the whole squad stronger. I treat Hoocrates as a setup piece. Toss it out, let it do its job, then rotate into heavier hitters.

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Move Pool Breakdown

Hoocrates has an interesting move pool. It is not limited to pure Dark attacks. It can use Normal and Ground-type moves too, which can catch an enemy off guard. Here is the full list I compiled during my runs:

Move Power Charge Time
Air Cannon 25 2 seconds
Dark Ball 40 4 seconds
Shadow Burst 55 10 seconds
Sand Tornado 80 18 seconds
Spirit Flame 75 16 seconds
Nightmare Ball 100 30 seconds
Dark Laser 150 55 seconds

Dark Laser is my favorite. It takes almost a full minute to charge, but the beam hits hard. Nightmare Ball is the practical choice for shorter fights. I usually pair those big moves with faster options like Air Cannon or Dark Ball to keep pressure on enemies.

My Verdict

Hoocrates is not the best fighter in Palworld. Stronger and tougher Dark-type Pals appear at the same time. But for an early-game Dark team, Hoocrates feels close to necessary. Its Dark Knowledge skill adds real value. The little owl turns a decent squad into a dangerous one. I no longer avoid the night. I go looking for it. And when I see those spaced-out owls wandering through the moonlight, I know my next team upgrade is just a few spheres away.