Are Troodons Tameable? Unveiling the Secrets of Ark’s Most Unusual Tame
Yes, Troodons are indeed tameable in Ark: Survival Evolved, but not through conventional methods. Unlike most creatures in the game that can be tamed with food and patience, taming a Troodon requires a unique and rather brutal approach: sacrificing tamed creatures for its benefit. This makes them one of the most challenging and controversial creatures to acquire in the game. Understanding their specific taming process is crucial if you aim to add this tricky dinosaur to your collection. This guide will explore the complexities of taming a Troodon, the challenges involved, and answer your burning questions about this fascinating creature.
The Unconventional Taming Process
Why Sacrifice?
Troodons don’t respond to the usual methods of taming. They are tamed passively through the experience gained from killing tamed creatures. The more experience a Troodon gains from its kills, the closer it gets to being tamed. This unique approach sets them apart from almost every other creature in the Ark universe. The level of the sacrificed creature significantly impacts the taming progress: the higher the level of the tamed creature killed by a Troodon, the more taming progress it makes.
The Night Advantage
For maximum effectiveness, it’s recommended to only attempt taming a Troodon at night. This significantly increases the taming efficiency by a factor of 2.5x, making the process significantly faster and more economical. The darkness aids the Troodon’s effectiveness, accelerating its progress toward being tamed.
Setting Up the Sacrifice
- Taming Pen: Begin by constructing a secure taming pen to contain the Troodon and your sacrificed creatures. This will prevent your victims, and your soon-to-be-tamed Troodon, from running away.
- The Sacrificial Lamb: Next, you’ll need to obtain a high-level tamed creature. Ideally, a high-level baby Wyvern is often recommended due to its significant XP gain. Other tamed creatures can be used as well, but higher level specimens will yield better results.
- The Execution: Lure the Troodon into the pen with the tamed creature. The Troodon will then begin to attack and kill the sacrificial creature.
Taming Completion
The taming process is a test of patience and resources. Keep track of the Troodon’s progress and be prepared to sacrifice multiple creatures to reach 100% taming effectiveness.
Troodon Characteristics and Behaviors
Aggressive Nature
Troodons are incredibly aggressive towards humans, especially at night when they are known to hunt in packs. Their bites can quickly knock out a survivor, making them incredibly dangerous to encounter. They also rapidly deplete the stamina of tamed creatures they attack, adding another layer of danger to any interaction with them.
Intelligence and Speed
While they are no longer considered a valid genus taxonomically, the extinct Troodon is thought to have been one of the most intelligent dinosaurs. It boasted a significant brain-to-body ratio, with scientists theorizing that they may have been as intelligent as modern birds. These dinosaurs were also incredibly fast, with estimates placing their speed at around 30-40 miles per hour, making them formidable hunters.
What Can Troodons Tolerate?
Troodons can coexist with a variety of other dinosaurs, particularly those they prey on. They can be found near ornithopods, ornithomimids, and pachycephalosaurids, while typically avoiding conflict with large carnivores, armored herbivores, and sauropods.
What Happens After Taming?
Feeding Habits
Once tamed, Troodons behave like regular carnivores and eat standard meat. The sacrifice process is only for the taming phase and not their usual diet.
Versatility
While not as dominant as a Rex or Giganotosaurus, they make a unique and niche tame with very high intelligence and speed. Troodons can be quite the formidable ally when used strategically.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why is Troodon so Hard to Tame?
The unconventional taming process of requiring sacrifices makes Troodons one of the most difficult creatures to tame in Ark, demanding significant resources and a willingness to give up tamed creatures for the sake of this dino.
2. Can I Use Baby Dinos to Tame a Troodon?
Yes, baby dinos are excellent sacrifices for taming a Troodon because they provide considerable XP upon being killed. Higher level babies equal more taming progress.
3. Is it True Troodon Taming is Only Effective at Night?
Yes, taming a Troodon at night provides a 2.5x boost to the taming efficiency, which makes the process much more manageable.
4. How Does Creature Level Affect Troodon Taming?
The level of the tamed creature sacrificed significantly impacts the taming progress. Higher-level creatures provide more XP, accelerating the taming process.
5. Can Troodons Knock Out Survivors?
Yes, Troodons can quickly knock out survivors with their bites, making them one of the most dangerous smaller predators in the game, especially at night.
6. Are Troodons Smarter than Velociraptors?
Troodons are believed to be smarter than Velociraptors due to their larger brain-to-body ratio.
7. What Speed Can a Troodon Achieve?
Troodons are surprisingly fast, with the ability to run at around 30-40 miles per hour.
8. What Do Troodons Eat After Taming?
After being tamed, Troodons eat standard carnivorous foods, like meat. They do not need to be sacrificed after being tamed.
9. Why is Troodon No Longer Considered a Valid Dinosaur Genus?
The Troodon genus is no longer valid because its original classification was based on a single tooth. This made it difficult to accurately classify within its family, so the family of Troodontidae was split, with a new species not using that original “Troodon” name being assigned instead.
10. What Dinosaurs Can Live Peacefully with Troodons?
Troodons can generally coexist with small carnivores, ornithopods, ornithomimids, and pachycephalosaurids, but will avoid larger carnivores and armored herbivores.
11. How Is Troodon’s Brain Capacity Unique?
Troodons had a large brain-to-body ratio, suggesting they were among the smartest dinosaurs. Their brain size was closer to modern birds than to typical reptiles.
12. Is Troodon a Predator or a Prey?
Troodons were predators, hunting other smaller dinosaurs and creatures. They were active hunters rather than being prey for other large dinosaurs.
13. Can You Tame a Troodon Without Sacrificing Any Creatures?
Unfortunately, no, you cannot tame a Troodon without sacrificing other tamed creatures. This is the core mechanic of their unique taming process.
14. Is Troodon The Strongest Dinosaur In Ark?
While the Troodon is a unique and potent tame, it is not the strongest dinosaur in Ark. Creatures such as Rexes, Giganotosauruses, and other large creatures outclass it in raw power. However, a Troodon can be an extremely useful tactical and intelligent choice for your stable.
15. Are Troodons Closely Related to Velociraptors?
Troodons and Velociraptors are not the same species, but they are both part of Eumaniraptora. They are in different families: Troodontidae and Dromaeosauridae, and are very closely related.
In conclusion, while the taming process for Troodons is undoubtedly complicated and morally questionable, it also presents a unique challenge and opportunity within Ark: Survival Evolved. With the right preparation, a willingness to sacrifice, and an understanding of their behaviors, you can successfully add this unique and cunning creature to your roster. Good luck, survivor!