1: Craft a Pickaxe, Axe, and a Torch

To get to catching Pals, you’re gonna need Pal Spheres. And to craft Pal Spheres, you’re gonna need rocks, wood, and Paldium Fragments. Go ahead and craft a Primitive Workbench (it requires just 2 Wood) in an area suitable for your base. Something near rocks and trees is a good place to start.
Once you have your Primitive Workbench setup, get to making a Stone Pickaxe and a Stone Axe. You’ll need 5 Wood and Stone for each, so gather 10 Wood and Stone total. Craft those two items in addition to a hand-held torch to prepare for the evenings. Use the pickaxe to mine rocks on rock piles and the axe to chop down trees.