How to Use Fishing Magnet in Palworld

The Fishing Magnet is a specialized tool in Palworld that allows players to salvage rare items from the sea. Unlike a standard fishing rod, which is mainly used to catch Pals or fish, the magnet is designed to pull up hidden salvageables from deeper waters.

This makes it essential for players who want to gather rare loot, craft advanced items, and optimize their resource farming. To use it effectively, you need the right gear: a fishing rod, bait, and a swimming mount.

This guide explains how to unlock and operate the Fishing Magnet, how the salvage minigame works, and the best strategies to maximize your loot.

Quick Requirements: Tech, Gear, and Mounts

Before you can start salvaging with the Fishing Magnet, certain prerequisites must be met. The Powerful Fishing Magnet requires technology level 61, so you need to progress through the technology tree first.

Alongside the magnet, you must have a fishing rod for salvage attempts, bait to attract catches, and a swimming mount to reach open‑sea salvage spots. Inventory space is also critical; if your bags are full, salvage items will be lost.

Checklist:

• Technology Level 61 to unlock the Powerful Fishing Magnet.

• Beginner Fishing Rod or stronger rods for salvage.

• Swimming mount for open‑sea salvage.

• Free inventory slots before starting.

How to Get a Fishing Rod and Bait

Fishing rods are unlocked through the technology tree, and there are six fishing rods available overall. The Beginner Fishing Rod becomes available at Tech Rank 15 and requires basic materials to craft. Once unlocked, you can upgrade to stronger rods later, which improve your success rate in salvage minigames.

Materials for Beginner Fishing Rod:

• Wood

• Stone

• Fiber

Bait is equally important. Different tiers of bait improve your chances of success:

• Simple Bait: Crafted from Pal Juice and flour, suitable for early fishing.

• High-Quality Bait: Requires rarer materials, increases catch rates.

• Deluxe Bait: Best option for rare catches and salvage.

Upgrading both rod and bait as soon as possible ensures smoother fishing and better salvage results.

How to Use the Fishing Magnet Tool

Once crafted, the Fishing Magnet must be equipped in your active tool slot. Approach a shoreline or salvage spot, aim at the water near the debris, and interact with the salvage spot rather than cast a line like normal fishing. The magnet will drop into the water and begin to retrieve hidden items. Wait for the process to complete, then check your inventory for salvage items.

Step‑by‑step:

1. Equip the Fishing Magnet in your tool slot.

2. Move to shoreline or salvage location.

3. Aim at the debris and press the interaction button.

4. Wait for retrieval animation.

5. Collect items from inventory.

Salvage Minigame with the Powerful Fishing Magnet

When using the Powerful Fishing Magnet, a salvage mini game begins, a mini mechanic introduced in the Tides of Terraria update. A timing meter appears as a circle with a yellow marker moving along a green bar, and you need to click the left mouse button at the right moment to stop it in the green area. Success consumes the magnet, while failure does not. The attempt can fail if the meter empties. If you miss, simply retry until successful.

Key points:

• Press when marker enters green zone.

• Failed attempts do not consume the magnet.

• Successful salvage may consume the Powerful Fishing Magnet.

Fishing Spots and Best Salvage Locations

You can find fishing spots around most water bodies by watching for fish shadows in the water, which signal potential catches or salvageables. Beginner Fishing Spots appear in early-game areas, while Intermediate Fishing Spots show up in mid-game areas. Master fishing spots have a better chance for rare fish and are marked by purple and green sparkles, so they should be prioritized.

Top salvage zones:

• Feybreak Island

• the south near Mount Obsidian in the ocean

• Shoreline flotsam on any island

High-level salvage spots are marked by gold metal rings and black barrels. These are the best places to find fishing spots for stronger rewards. Floating salvage spots can drop Coralum Ore and blueprints, and item drops vary by location and player progression level. These zones are known for higher salvage yields. Feybreak Island and the south near Mount Obsidian often spawn rare salvageables, while shoreline flotsam provides valuable items without requiring deep‑sea travel.

Building and Using a Fishing Pond

Fishing ponds allow passive fishing at your base. The Fishing Pond unlocks at Technology Rank 31, while the Large Fishing Pond unlocks at Technology Rank 55. Assign a Handiwork Pal to operate the pond, then select bait that matches the shadow size of your target. Ponds can obtain random fish based on the selected size, with higher-value outcomes sometimes including alpha pals.

Upgrading Fishing Rods and Improving Success

Rod tiers directly affect the salvage minigame. Higher‑tier rods make the green area easier to manage in the mini game, increasing success rates and giving a small bonus on tougher pulls. Crafting higher‑tier bait and choosing the right lure also improves catches. The right Pals on your team can further enhance loot. Always swap to stronger rods before attempting Master Fishing Spots.

Catching New Pals from Fishing

Fishing is not only for salvage; it also allows you to catch new Pals. Shadows in the water indicate species size. Targeting specific shadow sizes influences which Pal you catch. Duplicate Pals can be transferred or traded to optimize your roster.

Terraria Update Notes Affecting Fishing

The Tides of Terraria update introduced changes to fishing mechanics, including adjustments to magnet salvage. Official patch notes detail exact spawn tables and salvage rates, so always check them before farming. Updates may alter loot pools or salvage success chances.

Troubleshooting and Common Mistakes

Many players struggle with fishing because they overlook basic requirements. If the magnet won’t craft, check your Technology Rank. If salvage fails, make sure you are riding a water Pal for open‑sea attempts, and use faster mounts to cover salvage areas more efficiently, the idea is that speed helps when checking multiple spots.

Always clear inventory before attempting large salvages and remember that server lag can affect responsiveness when playing in multiplayer.

Final Tips and Optimization

For best results, plan farms as part of long-term bait or salvage prep and farm salvage near high‑level zones periodically. Use Pals like Jellroy to boost loot as a bonus to your runs. Upgrade base crafting stations to repair or replace magnets efficiently. Combining shoreline salvage with dungeon runs ensures a steady flow of rare items, with useful crafting materials also pulled from the water.