Reaper Queens: Despawning, Impregnation, and Everything You Need to Know
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The burning question on every Ark: Survival Evolved survivor’s mind – do Reaper Queens despawn after fulfilling their rather unique maternal duties? The answer, as with most things in Ark, is a resounding “it depends,” but with a slightly more definitive lean towards “no, not usually.” A Reaper Queen should not despawn right after the impregnation cutscene, and they are not intended to despawn at all when tamed. Let’s delve into why this confusion exists and what factors can contribute to a disappearing queen.
Why the Confusion About Despawning?
The confusion stems from a few key factors: the original, buggy behavior of Reapers, the difference between wild and tamed queens, and the sometimes-unpredictable nature of Ark itself.
- Early Bugs: In the early days of the Aberration DLC, Reaper behavior was, shall we say, less than reliable. Despawning issues were common across many creatures, and Reapers weren’t exempt. Patches have addressed many of these problems, but the legacy of those glitches lingers.
- Wild vs. Tamed Queens: This is crucial. Wild Reaper Queens are intended to despawn eventually, especially if left outside render distance for extended periods. Tamed Reaper Queens, on the other hand (achieved primarily through admin commands, mods, or server configurations), should behave like any other tamed creature and persist in the world.
- Render Distance and Server Performance: Ark’s render distance plays a major role. If a wild Reaper Queen wanders too far from the player, especially on a server with high player activity, it can despawn to save resources. Even tamed Reapers can sometimes glitch out if the server is struggling.
- Accidental Suicide (The Pitfalls of Being a Queen): Reapers, especially wild ones, are not known for their stellar pathfinding abilities. It’s entirely possible for a Reaper Queen to accidentally fall into a pit, get stuck in the terrain, or otherwise find a way to remove herself from the gene pool, giving the illusion of despawning.
How to Prevent Reaper Queen Despawning (Specifically Tamed Queens)
If you’re fortunate enough to have a tamed Reaper Queen (through admin commands, a mod like Immersive Taming, or server-specific settings), you’ll want to take steps to keep her around:
- Keep Her Close: The closer you keep her to your base or active players, the less likely she is to despawn due to render distance issues.
- Stable Environment: A well-maintained server with good performance is critical. Lag and server crashes can lead to all sorts of weird behavior, including despawning.
- Secure Enclosure: Build a sturdy enclosure to prevent accidental falls or escapes. Reapers aren’t exactly graceful.
- Regular Interaction: Regularly interacting with your tamed Reaper can help ensure that the server recognizes her as an active entity and prevents her from being culled.
- Cryopods (Use Sparingly): While Cryopods can be a solution, prolonged storage in a Cryopod can sometimes lead to glitches. Use them as a last resort.
The Impregnation Process: A Quick Recap
Before we dive into the FAQs, let’s briefly revisit the Reaper Queen impregnation process:
- Find a Queen: Locate a Reaper Queen in the Aberration biome (or other modded locations).
- Lower Her Health: Bring her health below 2000, which is when they’re ready to transfer their symbiote to the host.
- Disable Charge Light: Turn off any charge lights (like glow pets) as they prevent impregnation.
- Tank and Wait: Tank her attacks for a short period, about 1-2 minutes, near the host.
- Pink Aura: Look for the telltale pink aura/mist surrounding the queen, indicating she’s ready.
- Get Impregnated: Approach her, triggering a cutscene. Afterwards, you’ll receive the Offspring Buff.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Reaper Queens
Here are 15 common questions about Reaper Queens, covering everything from taming to pregnancy and beyond.
Can you get a tamed Reaper Queen without mods or cheats?
No, under normal vanilla game conditions, it’s impossible to tame a Reaper Queen. Tamed queens are the result of using admin commands, mods (like Immersive Taming), or server configurations that alter the standard game mechanics.
How do you know if a Reaper Queen is ready to impregnate?
When the Reaper Queen’s health is below 2000 (or 10% of its maximum health, as some sources indicate), and she is not under the effects of charge light, she will emit a pink aura or mist. This visual cue signifies that she is ready to transfer her symbiote and impregnate a player.
Can you log off while pregnant with a Reaper? Does the timer freeze?
Yes, the gestation timer freezes when you log off. This means the 12-hour gestation period (on official servers) only counts your online time. The gestation will resume exactly where it left off when you log back in.
Why is the Reaper Queen not impregnating me?
Several factors can prevent impregnation:
- Charge Light: Any charge light will prevent impregnation.
- Insufficient Health: Ensure the queen’s health is low enough (below 2000).
- Distance: You must be close enough to trigger the cutscene when she’s ready.
How long are you pregnant with a Reaper in Ark?
On official servers, the gestation period is 12 in-game hours, but only online time counts. Single-player follows the same principle, as the game pauses when you log off.
Can you give birth to a Reaper Queen?
No, you can only give birth to Reaper Kings. Reaper Queens cannot be born, tamed, or obtained through normal gameplay without the use of cheats or mods.
Can you have Reaper twins?
Reaper Twins are an option in the game when enabled via events or mods.
Does the Reaper timer stop when you log out?
Yes, the timer freezes when you log out. The only things that will harm the baby inside you are radiation and server transfers.
Can you tame a Reaper King by lowering a Reaper Queen to low health?
No, this is a misunderstanding. You impregnate yourself by the queen by lowering her health to under 10%. However, you cannot tame her. After a certain time has passed, you will give birth to the Reaper King, it is a painful process in the game.
Can you tame a Reaper Empress?
The tameable Reaper Empress is typically obtained by killing a summoned or wild Empress and requires the use of an Origin Tranq bullet and flying on a Griffin over the ocean where it can’t burrow.
How do you tame a baby Reaper?
You don’t tame a baby Reaper. You are impregnated by a Reaper Queen, and after 12 in-game hours, a baby Reaper King will burst out of your chest.
Can you transfer servers with a Reaper baby inside you?
Yes, you can now transfer servers while pregnant with a Reaper. This was a change implemented in a patch to address previous issues.
Do Reapers respawn if killed?
Yes, Reapers do respawn after they are killed.
What do baby Reapers eat?
Baby Reapers primarily eat meat. You can either place meat in their inventory or allow them to harvest it from corpses.
Does the Reaper Queen’s level matter?
Yes, the level of the Reaper Queen directly influences the level of the baby Reaper King you will give birth to. A higher-level queen will result in a higher-level baby.
Hopefully, this guide has cleared up any confusion about Reaper Queens, their despawning habits, and the intricacies of Reaper pregnancies. Remember, Ark is a game of constant discovery, so don’t be afraid to experiment and learn as you go! For more in-depth learning and research on gaming and its effects, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. You can also find a wealth of information and studies about the impact of games on society and education at GamesLearningSociety.org.