Can a Rex Damage a Rock Elemental in Ark: Survival Evolved?
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Yes, a Rex can damage a Rock Elemental in Ark: Survival Evolved, but it’s a challenging and often lengthy encounter. While it’s not the most efficient method, especially compared to other creatures or weapons, it’s entirely possible for a T-Rex to defeat a Rock Elemental with enough persistence and the right conditions. This article will explore the dynamics of this matchup, explain why it’s difficult, and answer frequently asked questions about dealing with these formidable foes.
The Challenge of Rex vs. Rock Elemental
The main reason a Rex faces difficulty against a Rock Elemental stems from the elemental’s inherent damage resistance. Wild Rock Elementals have a 90% damage reduction from non-explosive and non-armor-piercing attacks. While tamed Rock Elementals also have a substantial damage resistance (50% from wild creatures), the issue of resistance affects the viability of many common attacks, including those from a Rex. This massive damage reduction severely reduces the Rex’s raw damage output.
Understanding Damage Reduction
The damage reduction mechanic is crucial here. A Rex’s bite attack, while powerful against most creatures, is significantly weakened when facing a Rock Elemental. This means that each bite deals far less damage than it normally would, drastically increasing the time it takes to bring a Rock Elemental down. This is why players often rely on alternative methods of attack, particularly those that bypass or reduce the impact of the elemental’s armor.
Stamina Management is Key
Another crucial aspect to consider when using a Rex is stamina. Given the amount of time it can take to chip away at the Rock Elemental’s health, your Rex will likely run out of stamina multiple times during the fight. Managing stamina will be necessary, and using multiple Rexes or resting your Rex mid-battle can help. It’s important to remember that taking breaks will cause you to re-establish aggro with your Rex again.
The Right Rex Matters
While any Rex can potentially beat a Rock Elemental, a higher-level, well-bred Rex with good melee damage and health will significantly increase your chances of success. Mutations, Imprinting, and optimal leveling will all contribute to your rex’s effectiveness.
Alternatives to Rex
While Rexes are capable of beating a Rock Elemental, there are often superior options to consider. This doesn’t mean that Rexes are useless; they are capable and you can beat a Rock Elemental using them. However, the alternative means may be quicker.
Explosives
Explosives, such as RPG rockets and C4 charges, deal significantly more damage to Rock Elementals as they bypass a significant portion of the damage reduction. Using explosives is typically the quickest way to bring down a Rock Elemental, but it is also more expensive in terms of resources.
Tek Tier Weapons and Creatures
Tek rifles and tek-saddle dinos offer another strong option. Tek gear often deals explosive-like damage, making them effective against Rock Elementals. The Tek saddle can also provide a powerful attack mode, increasing the potency of your offensive output.
Bleed Damage
Bleed damage from creatures like Carnotaurus, Allosaurus, or Deinonychus, bypasses the Rock Elemental’s damage reduction to a certain extent. However, while effective, it is still a slow process, and often, you won’t receive much experience if you kill the Elemental solely with bleed damage.
Giganotosaurus
The Giganotosaurus is perhaps one of the most effective dino options for taking down Rock Elementals. Gigas appear to deal full damage or very high damage, making them significantly faster at destroying golems compared to other tames.
Conclusion
In summary, a Rex can damage and eventually kill a Rock Elemental in Ark: Survival Evolved, but it is not an optimal or efficient choice. The significant damage reduction applied to most attacks against Rock Elementals makes it a time-consuming and risky endeavor. While the feat is attainable, you should consider other options like explosives, Tek tier weaponry, bleed attacks, or a Giganotosaurus for a more efficient and safer encounter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can a wild Rex kill a wild Rock Elemental?
Yes, a wild Rex can theoretically kill a wild Rock Elemental, though it’s not common due to the Rock Elemental’s high damage reduction, requiring the Rex to put in lots of time. This means a player should not rely on wild dinos to help.
2. How much damage reduction do tamed Rock Elementals have against wild dinos?
Tamed Rock Elementals receive a 50% damage reduction from attacks by wild creatures.
3. Do Rock Elementals take damage from lava?
No, Rock Elementals are immune to lava damage. This makes them useful for traversing volcanic areas.
4. Are Rock Elementals immune to Wyvern breath?
Yes, they are completely immune to all elemental damage, including wyvern breath attacks. They also take reduced damage from Wyvern bites, further making them a perfect Wyvern counter.
5. Can you knock out a Rock Elemental with a cannon?
Yes, using a cannon is one of the most effective ways to knock out a Rock Elemental. A cannon deals high torpor damage, making it ideal for taming. The cannon must be mounted on a paracer platform saddle.
6. Are rockets effective against Rock Elementals?
Yes, rockets are very effective at dealing damage and torpor to Rock Elementals. They deal explosive damage, bypassing the damage reduction.
7. What’s the best weapon to use against a Rock Elemental?
Explosive weapons like rockets, C4, or the tek rifle are generally the most effective for damage. For torpor, the cannon is ideal.
8. Can you breed Rock Elementals?
No, Rock Elementals cannot be bred. They are one of the many creatures in Ark that are incapable of reproduction.
9. Are Rock Elementals affected by radiation?
No, Rock Elementals are not immune to radiation and can suffer radiation damage, and so you should avoid radiation zones.
10. Can a Giganotosaurus kill a Rex?
Yes, a Giganotosaurus can easily kill a Rex. Gigas are much stronger in terms of damage output.
11. Is a Rex stronger than a Spino?
The Rex and Spino are relatively even, however, in a head-to-head fight, a Rex will often defeat a Spino, thanks to its higher health and raw damage potential.
12. Can a Spino kill a Giganotosaurus?
No, a Spino would not win against a Giganotosaurus in most scenarios. The giga has speed and damage advantages that the Spino can’t overcome.
13. What are the best dinos to kill a giga?
Dinos such as Lightning Wyverns, Managarmrs, Velonasaurs, and Andrewsarchus can attack a giga from a distance, allowing them to damage it while avoiding its deadly attacks.
14. Can bleed damage kill a Rock Elemental?
Yes, bleed damage can kill a Rock Elemental, but it is a slow process. Bleed can bypass some of their armor, but often gives little experience.
15. Can a Rock Elemental be drowned?
No, Rock Elementals cannot drown, as they do not have an oxygen stat.