Can You Force Tame an Alpha Wyvern in ARK: Survival Evolved?
The definitive answer is no, you cannot tame an Alpha Wyvern in ARK: Survival Evolved, whether by force or any other conventional method. Alpha creatures, including Alpha Wyverns, are specifically designed as challenging adversaries meant to be hunted for loot and experience, not recruited into your tribe. They are significantly stronger than their non-alpha counterparts and possess unique abilities that make them formidable opponents.
Understanding Alpha Creatures and Taming Mechanics
The core game mechanics of ARK: Survival Evolved revolve around taming creatures to aid you in survival. However, the game also features Alpha creatures – significantly larger, stronger, and more aggressive versions of regular creatures. These Alphas are distinguished by a glowing red aura and significantly higher health and damage output. They also grant a substantial experience boost and valuable loot upon defeat.
Standard taming methods, such as knocking a creature unconscious and feeding it its preferred food, simply do not work on Alpha creatures. They are immune to tranquilizers and other disabling effects that would normally allow for a passive or knockout taming approach. This design choice is intentional, preventing players from easily acquiring extremely powerful creatures and disrupting the game’s balance.
Why Alpha Wyverns Are Untamable
The rationale behind making Alpha Wyverns untamable is multifaceted:
- Balance: Allowing players to tame Alpha Wyverns would drastically shift the power dynamic, potentially trivializing many of the game’s challenges. Their immense strength would make them overpowered mounts and war creatures.
- Challenge: Alpha creatures, including Alpha Wyverns, are intended to be endgame challenges that require coordinated teamwork and advanced weaponry to overcome. Taming them would undermine this aspect of the game.
- Gameplay Loop: The incentive to hunt Alpha Wyverns for their valuable loot, such as high-quality weapons and armor blueprints, is a core part of the ARK experience. Removing the need to hunt them would diminish this aspect.
- Lore: While not explicitly stated, the untamable nature of Alphas hints at their inherent wildness and the sheer power they represent within the ARK ecosystem.
Alternative Strategies: How to Interact with Alpha Wyverns
While you can’t tame an Alpha Wyvern, you can still interact with them in meaningful ways:
- Hunting for Loot: The primary reason to engage with Alpha Wyverns is for their loot. They drop high-quality blueprints and other valuable resources that are essential for endgame progression.
- Gaining Experience: Defeating an Alpha Wyvern grants a significant experience boost, helping you level up your character and your tames.
- Strategic Engagement: Planning and executing a successful Alpha Wyvern hunt requires careful preparation, teamwork, and a deep understanding of the creature’s attack patterns and weaknesses. This provides a rewarding and challenging gameplay experience.
- Resource Acquisition: Defeating Alphas yields resources that you can’t obtain otherwise, this gives you a great reason to defeat one!
Alpha Wyvern Specifics
Alpha Wyverns are significantly stronger and more aggressive than regular Wyverns. They are immune to tranquilizers and cannot be tamed. They have a red aura surrounding them, making them easily distinguishable. These powerful foes will generally require a team of skilled players to bring down.
Alpha Wyvern Loot
Alpha Wyverns drop a variety of high-quality items upon defeat. These often include Mastercraft and Ascendant quality blueprints for weapons, armor, and tools. You may also find rare resources and other valuable items in their inventories.
Encountering Alpha Wyverns
Alpha Wyverns are generally found in the same areas as regular Wyverns, but they are much rarer. Be prepared for a challenging fight if you encounter one. It’s best to approach with a well-equipped team and powerful tames.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Alpha Wyverns and Taming
1. Can I use mods to tame an Alpha Wyvern?
While some mods may claim to allow taming of Alpha creatures, including Alpha Wyverns, it’s important to understand that these are modifications to the base game and may not be balanced or supported. Using such mods can potentially disrupt your game’s balance and stability. Additionally, keep in mind that mods may become obsolete or incompatible with future game updates.
2. Is there a way to glitch or exploit the game to tame an Alpha Wyvern?
Attempting to glitch or exploit the game to tame an Alpha Wyvern is strongly discouraged. Exploiting game mechanics is considered cheating and can result in penalties, including bans from servers. Furthermore, it’s generally not a satisfying or rewarding way to play the game.
3. What are the best creatures to use for fighting an Alpha Wyvern?
Powerful creatures with high health and damage are essential for taking down an Alpha Wyvern. Some popular choices include:
- Giganotosaurus: A strong and powerful tame that can withstand great amounts of damage.
- Rex: The Rex is an excellent damage dealer and can also take a good amount of damage.
- Spinosaurus: A capable combatant that excels in both water and land, providing versatility in combat.
- Wyverns: Ironically, other Wyverns can be effective, especially if they are well-bred and imprinted.
4. What weapons are most effective against Alpha Wyverns?
High-damage weapons are crucial for taking down an Alpha Wyvern quickly. Effective options include:
- Rocket Launchers: Deal massive burst damage, especially with advanced rockets.
- Assault Rifles: Provide consistent and accurate damage output.
- Tek Weapons: Offer powerful abilities, but require Tek engrams and resources.
5. How much health does an Alpha Wyvern have?
The health of an Alpha Wyvern varies depending on the game difficulty settings and the specific Wyvern type (Fire, Lightning, Poison, Ice). However, they generally have significantly more health than their non-alpha counterparts, often exceeding several hundred thousand hit points.
6. Can I trap an Alpha Wyvern?
While you can build structures to try and trap an Alpha Wyvern, keep in mind that they are significantly stronger than regular creatures and can often break through standard walls and gates. Using reinforced structures made of metal or Tek is recommended.
7. What level should I be before attempting to fight an Alpha Wyvern?
It’s generally recommended to be at least level 80 or higher before attempting to fight an Alpha Wyvern. This will ensure that you have access to advanced weaponry, armor, and saddle blueprints.
8. How many people are needed to kill an Alpha Wyvern?
The number of players needed to kill an Alpha Wyvern depends on the gear and tames being used. However, a well-coordinated team of at least 3-5 players is generally recommended.
9. Do Alpha Wyverns spawn on all maps?
Alpha Wyverns are more likely to spawn on maps that natively feature Wyverns, such as Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, and Crystal Isles. However, they can also spawn on other maps if the spawn settings are modified.
10. Can I kite an Alpha Wyvern away from my base?
While you can attempt to kite an Alpha Wyvern away from your base, be aware that they are extremely fast and aggressive. It’s important to have a clear escape plan and be prepared to fight if necessary.
11. What kind of armor should I wear when fighting an Alpha Wyvern?
High-quality armor is essential for surviving an encounter with an Alpha Wyvern. Recommended options include:
- Flak Armor: Provides excellent physical protection.
- Tek Armor: Offers advanced defensive capabilities and special abilities.
12. Are there any specific strategies for fighting different types of Alpha Wyverns (Fire, Lightning, Poison, Ice)?
Yes, each type of Alpha Wyvern has its own unique attacks and weaknesses:
- Fire Wyvern: Immune to fire damage.
- Lightning Wyvern: Immune to lightning damage.
- Poison Wyvern: Immune to poison damage.
- Ice Wyvern: Immune to ice damage.
Adapt your strategy and weaponry accordingly.
13. Can Alpha Wyverns destroy metal structures?
Yes, Alpha Wyverns can damage and destroy metal structures. Using reinforced structures made of metal or Tek is recommended for base defense.
14. Do Alpha Wyverns respawn?
Yes, Alpha Wyverns will eventually respawn after being killed. The respawn time varies depending on the server settings.
15. What is the best way to prepare for an Alpha Wyvern fight?
Thorough preparation is key to a successful Alpha Wyvern hunt. This includes:
- Gathering a well-equipped team.
- Breeding and imprinting powerful tames.
- Crafting high-quality weapons and armor.
- Developing a clear strategy and understanding the Alpha Wyvern’s attack patterns.
- Crafting medical brews and other healing items.
In conclusion, while the allure of taming such a powerful creature is understandable, Alpha Wyverns are intentionally untamable to maintain balance and provide challenging endgame content in ARK: Survival Evolved. Focus on hunting them for their valuable loot and experience, and enjoy the thrill of the hunt!