The Ultimate Guide to Knocking Out Dinos in Ark: Survival Evolved

The question of the best weapon for knocking out dinos in Ark: Survival Evolved is a common one among both new and veteran players. The short answer is: it depends on the situation, resources, and the dino you’re trying to tame. However, in most scenarios, a high-quality Longneck Rifle paired with Tranquilizer Darts is the most efficient and effective method. Let’s break down why this combination reigns supreme and explore other viable options.

The Power of the Tranquilizer Dart and Longneck Rifle Combo

Weapon Quality Matters

The effectiveness of a tranquilizing weapon in Ark isn’t just about its base stats; weapon quality plays a crucial role. When it comes to Tranquilizer Darts, their torpor damage scales dramatically with weapon quality. This means that a high-quality Longneck Rifle (Mastercraft or Ascendant) will significantly amplify the torpor inflicted by each dart, allowing you to knock out even the toughest dinos with fewer shots.

High Torpor, Low Damage

One of the critical advantages of Tranquilizer Darts is their focus on torpor infliction over health damage. This is vital because you want to incapacitate a dino, not kill it. Arrows, while effective in the early game, tend to inflict more health damage per torpor point, increasing the risk of accidentally killing your target, especially when dealing with lower-health creatures.

The Longneck Rifle’s Accuracy

The Longneck Rifle’s accuracy is another significant benefit. When dealing with moving targets, such as the elusive Argentavis or the aggressive Giganotosaurus, precision is paramount. The Longneck Rifle’s scope and pinpoint accuracy make it much easier to land consistent headshots, maximizing torpor damage and reducing the number of shots needed.

Other Viable Options

While the Longneck Rifle and Tranquilizer Darts are optimal, other options exist, especially for the early game or unique situations.

Tranquilizer Arrows: The Early Game Staple

Tranq Arrows are your go-to option early in the game. They are cheaper to craft and can be fired from a standard bow. However, they are less efficient than darts due to their lower torpor-to-damage ratio and lesser scaling with weapon quality.

The Crossbow: A Water Taming Savior

If you’re planning on knocking out aquatic dinos, the Crossbow is your weapon of choice. Unlike the Longneck Rifle, the crossbow can be used underwater, and with Tranq Spear Bolts, you can effectively subdue underwater targets. The Spear Bolts have decent torpor and damage but are very slow moving and not great on land.

Pulmonoscorpius: The Living Torpor Weapon

The Pulmonoscorpius (Scorpion) is a tameable creature that can inflict torpor with its attacks, making it useful for low level taming. While not the fastest way, it’s an early method that can be effective in a pinch. It does lack range, accuracy and can sometimes become overwhelmed with multiple creatures.

The Human Fists: Last Resort

While not recommended, your fists can technically inflict torpor. This is an absolute last resort method, extremely ineffective and dangerous but is still an option if you have no weapons or other options.

Understanding Torpor Mechanics

Torpor and Damage

It’s essential to understand that damage and torpor are directly related. The higher the damage inflicted by a weapon, the higher the torpor. Tranq Darts are exceptional because they maximize torpor while minimizing health damage.

Torpor Over Time

Torpor doesn’t stack instantly. There’s a delay between shots where the torpor you’ve inflicted builds up. Firing rapidly will lead to wasted shots because you are adding more health damage without additional torpor. You will need to learn the wait time between shots.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do Weapon Quality Affect Tranq Arrows?

Yes, weapon quality does affect Tranq Arrows, but the torpor scaling is significantly less compared to Tranq Darts. The main benefit from quality on tranq arrows is the increase in damage making the target bleed more increasing the overall health loss.

2. How Many Tranq Darts Do I Need for a Rex?

For a level 150 Rex, expect to use around 70 Tranq Darts. However, this can vary slightly based on the weapon quality and hit accuracy. Use Dododex to calculate the exact numbers for the levels you are planning to tame.

3. How Many Tranq Darts are Needed for a Giga?

A Giganotosaurus has a very high torpor resistance, so expect to use 80 to 150 Tranq Darts to knock it out. Always bring more than you think you need.

4. Can I Tame a Giga with Tranq Arrows?

Yes, you can, but it is highly inefficient due to the increased risk of killing it, the number of arrows it will take and is generally very time consuming. Use a Longneck Rifle and Tranq Darts if possible.

5. Are Tranq Spear Bolts Effective?

Tranq Spear Bolts are effective underwater but are slow moving. They are not very effective on land and should only be used when taming aquatic dinosaurs.

6. Why are My Tranq Arrows Killing Dinos?

Tranq Arrows inflict health damage in addition to torpor. Over-shooting, poor accuracy, and high weapon damage can lead to accidentally killing your target. Always aim for the head and space out shots.

7. Is a Higher Quality Bow Better for Tranq Arrows?

Yes, but the increased damage increases the risk of killing the target. A higher quality Recurve Bow will deal more torpor than a lower quality one, however it’s torpor per point of damage is not as effective as tranq darts.

8. What About Using a Flamethrower?

While the Flamethrower is powerful for damage, it doesn’t inflict torpor. Therefore, it is not useful for knocking out dinosaurs.

9. How Many Tranq Arrows are Needed for a Pteranodon?

For a Pteranodon, expect to use 4-6 tranq arrows and some narcotics depending on the level. Headshots are crucial and make the process faster.

10. Is a Crossbow Better Than a Bow for Tranq Arrows?

The Crossbow is more accurate than the simple bow and has higher damage. For underwater taming the crossbow is essential because it can be used underwater, where a bow cant.

11. How Many Tranq Arrows for an Alpha Raptor?

An Alpha Raptor is a very tough creature. Expect to use over 200 Tranq Darts or many more Tranq Arrows to bring it down safely if even possible. Most experienced players just use normal weaponry and kill them.

12. How Do You Increase Torpor Damage?

You can increase torpor damage by using a higher quality weapon, aiming for headshots, and spacing out shots appropriately.

13. Are Tranquilizer Darts Stronger Than Arrows?

Tranquilizer Darts have a much higher torpor per damage ratio, making them much more effective at knocking out dinos quickly without killing them.

14. Is a Recurve Bow Good for Taming?

Yes, the Recurve Bow is a powerful bow, dealing more damage than a simple bow, but still less overall damage than a crossbow and is good for early/mid game taming with Tranq Arrows. Its higher damage, means you must be more accurate to avoid killing your target.

15. How Do I Use Dododex?

Dododex is an invaluable resource for Ark players. You can look up any dino and it will calculate the exact number of Tranq Darts, arrows and other resources you will need based on the level of the target.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of knocking out dinosaurs in Ark: Survival Evolved is crucial for successful taming. The Longneck Rifle paired with Tranquilizer Darts stands as the most efficient method for most situations. However, knowing when to use Tranq Arrows, the Crossbow, or even a Pulmonoscorpius is essential. Always consider the target, resources, and environment when planning a taming strategy. With this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer the wilds of Ark!