Can You Tame a Tyrannosaurus Rex in Ark: Survival Evolved?

Yes, absolutely! The Tyrannosaurus Rex, often simply called the Rex, is one of the most iconic and sought-after creatures to tame in Ark: Survival Evolved. Despite its fearsome reputation and imposing size, taming a Rex is a very achievable goal for survivors. It requires strategy, preparation, and patience, but the reward of having a powerful Rex at your side makes it well worth the effort. This article will explain the process in detail and answer common questions players have about taming these magnificent beasts.

Taming a Tyrannosaurus Rex: A Step-by-Step Guide

Taming a Rex in Ark is not a simple matter of offering it a treat. It involves a process of incapacitation followed by a period of careful feeding. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Preparation is Key

• Gather Resources: Before you even think about approaching a Rex, ensure you have the necessary resources. This includes a good supply of narcotics or biotoxin to keep it unconscious, and plenty of the preferred taming food: Raw Meat or preferably, Prime Meat. Prime meat spoils quickly, so be prepared to get more while the Rex is unconscious.
• Prepare a Safe Taming Area: Choose an area that is relatively flat and free of other aggressive creatures. A sturdy taming pen is highly recommended, which will prevent the Rex from escaping and other dinos from interfering.
• Choose the Right Weapon: You’ll need a way to knock out the Rex, and it is better to use tranq darts or tranq arrows fired from a ranged weapon. High-level players often use a longneck rifle with tranq darts for a more accurate and safe method, while lower-level players can utilize a crossbow and tranq arrows. Avoid using melee weapons, as they can kill the Rex before it is unconscious.
• Mount and Transport: Consider how you will transport the Rex after you tame it. Argentavis are often the preferred flier to carry smaller, unconscious dinos, but you may need another method of transport, and may need to build a ramp or doorway to exit your taming pen.

2. Incapacitating the Rex

• Locate a Rex: Find a Rex you want to tame. Look for ones at the right level that are not in a very dangerous area.
• Engage with Caution: Aggro the Rex by attacking it with your tranquilizing weapon. Be prepared for a fight as you need to inflict enough torpor to knock it unconscious without killing it.
• Maintain Distance: Keep a safe distance and continue to inflict torpor until the Rex falls unconscious. Avoid letting the Rex get into a position where it can attack you, and do not get trapped.
• Monitor Torpor: Once the Rex is down, carefully watch its torpor level. If the torpor bar starts to drop, quickly use narcotics or biotoxin to increase it again. Let the Rex fall entirely asleep.

3. The Taming Process

• Begin Feeding: Once the Rex is unconscious, approach it, and open its inventory. Place your desired food, typically Raw Meat or Prime Meat into its inventory and the Rex will eat at its own rate.
• Prioritize Prime Meat: Prime Meat increases the taming efficiency and is crucial for faster taming and higher levels. Consider getting some prime meat while the Rex is sleeping.
• Monitor the Taming Bar: The taming bar will slowly rise as the Rex consumes food. Keep an eye on this bar and make sure the taming effectiveness does not drop.
• Maintain Torpor: Throughout this period, ensure that you keep the Rex’s torpor levels up using narcotics or biotoxin as needed. If the torpor drops too low, the Rex will wake up and you’ll have to start over.
• Wait Patiently: Taming a Rex can take a considerable amount of time, so be patient and vigilant during the entire process.

4. Claim Your Rex!

• Once the taming bar is completely filled, the Rex will become your loyal pet!
• Claim your dino with the “use” command and you can place a saddle on it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best food to tame a Rex?

While Raw Meat can be used, Prime Meat is significantly more effective, allowing for faster taming and higher taming effectiveness, resulting in a higher-level pet.

2. How many tranq arrows or darts do I need for a Rex?

The exact number of tranq arrows or darts depends on the Rex’s level. A level 150 Rex might require around 70 tranq darts, but lower-level Rexes will require less, while higher-level ones will require more. Dododex is a very useful external resource for precise taming calculations.

3. Can I tame an Alpha Rex?

Yes, Alpha Rexes can be force-tamed via admin commands or mods, but they cannot be tamed via the standard methods. These Alphas can be ridden and have special roar abilities.

4. What if the Rex wakes up during the taming process?

If the Rex wakes up, you will have to knock it unconscious again and start the taming process over. This is why maintaining torpor with narcotics or biotoxin is so important.

5. How do I keep Prime Meat from spoiling so quickly?

Utilizing a Preserving Bin or a tame capable of preserving meat will significantly extend the shelf life of Prime Meat. Also keep Prime meat on the creature itself to increase its spoil time.

6. Can I outrun a Rex?

With enough points invested into movement speed, it is possible to outrun a Rex on foot. However, this is risky. It is safer to use a flyer to escape and maintain distance from a Rex you are trying to tame.

7. What is the Rex roar and what does it do?

A Rex’s roar causes lower-leveled wild/non-allied dinos/survivors to defecate and run.

8. Are Rexes good for combat?

Yes, Rexes are excellent combat mounts. They are powerful, durable, and can take on many other creatures. They are a valuable asset for boss fights, but should not be taken against gigas unless the Rex is very well-bred.

9. Why is the Rex not eating the food I am giving it?

Make sure to place the food directly into the Rex’s inventory, not on the ground near it. The Rex will then eat the food on its own to gain taming progress.

10. How long does it take to tame a Rex?

The taming time varies depending on the Rex’s level, the food you are using, and your taming settings. Prime Meat will drastically shorten the taming time.

11. What happens if another dino attacks while I am taming?

Interference from other aggressive creatures can interrupt the taming process. It is essential to clear the area and/or use a taming pen.

12. Can I tame a Rex with just Raw Meat?

Yes, you can tame a Rex with just Raw Meat, but it takes longer and the final level will be lower due to the taming effectiveness dropping. It is always recommended to use Prime Meat if possible.

13. What are some alternatives to using tranq arrows or darts?

While less effective, tranquilizer spears can be used for knocking out creatures at low levels. Never use melee weapons as you will very likely kill the Rex before it becomes unconscious.

14. What does the taming effectiveness stat do?

Taming effectiveness influences the final level of the tamed creature. Higher effectiveness results in a higher-level tame. The higher quality taming food you use, the better this statistic will be.

15. Is taming a Rex worth it?

Absolutely! Rexes are one of the best tames in the game, excelling in both combat and transport. They are iconic tames and a valuable asset for any tribe.

In conclusion, taming a Tyrannosaurus Rex in Ark is a challenging but very rewarding experience that demonstrates a survivor’s skills in preparation, patience, and gameplay. By following the steps outlined here and considering the frequently asked questions, you can master the art of Rex taming and dominate the Ark.