Do Sabertooths Need a Saddle in Ark: Survival Evolved?
Yes, Sabertooths absolutely need a saddle in Ark: Survival Evolved to be ridden by a survivor after they have been tamed. Unlike certain creatures like the Gigantopithecus, Direwolf, Angler, Manta, and Wyvern, which can be ridden without a saddle, the Sabertooth requires its specific saddle to mount and control it effectively. Understanding this necessity is crucial for any player aiming to utilize the Sabertooth’s strengths in combat, exploration, and resource gathering.
Why a Saddle is Essential for Sabertooths
The Sabertooth Saddle isn’t just a cosmetic item; it is a fundamental piece of equipment. It provides crucial armor for the Sabertooth, significantly reducing the damage it takes in combat. The higher the tier of the saddle (ramshackle, apprentice, journeyman, mastercraft, and ascendant), the more armor it provides, making your Sabertooth a tougher combatant. Without a saddle, not only can you not ride the Sabertooth, but you also miss out on the protection that it provides, rendering it far more vulnerable to enemy attacks. Think of the saddle as a tanking upgrade to one of Ark’s popular tames.
Unlocking the Sabertooth Saddle
The ability to craft a Sabertooth Saddle is unlocked at level 37, making it a relatively early tame target for players who want a formidable mount. The recipe requires specific resources, which typically include hide, fiber, and metal ingots or scrap metal ingots. These materials are obtainable through resource gathering activities as you progress through the game. Once crafted, equipping the saddle on a tamed Sabertooth will allow a survivor to finally ride the feline.
How to Obtain a Sabertooth Saddle
There are a few ways to get your hands on a Sabertooth Saddle. First, you can craft it once you have unlocked it. Second, you can use a GFI (Give Item) command. For example, the command “GFI SaberSaddle” is used to give yourself one or more Sabertooth Saddles. Using this method is especially helpful for testing purposes or if you’re on a single-player or non-official server where cheating is allowed. You can also get them via fishing or in treasure drops but it is incredibly rare to obtain a saddle this way.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sabertooths and Saddles in Ark
To further clarify any confusion and provide additional useful information, here are some frequently asked questions regarding Sabertooths and their saddles in Ark: Survival Evolved:
1. What level do I need to be to use a Sabertooth Saddle?
You must be at least level 37 to unlock the engram (blueprint) for the Sabertooth Saddle and to be able to craft it. This means you’ll need to gather some XP first by performing activities such as exploration and taming other dinos, but you’ll reach this fairly quickly.
2. What materials are required to craft a Sabertooth Saddle?
The standard Sabertooth Saddle requires a combination of hide, fiber, and metal ingots or scrap metal ingots. The exact quantities may vary, but this is the core recipe for a basic saddle. You may see higher-tier saddles have different recipes, but the resource basics are generally the same.
3. Can you ride a Sabertooth without a saddle using forcetame command?
Yes, if you use the forcetame command, you can ride a Sabertooth without a saddle, but it does not gain the armor benefit and it is extremely dangerous. This method is typically only useful in single-player or non-official servers for testing or other reasons where bypassing normal gameplay is desired.
4. Are there any benefits to using higher-tier Sabertooth Saddles?
Absolutely! Higher-tier saddles such as apprentice, journeyman, mastercraft, and ascendant provide significantly increased armor to the Sabertooth. This allows it to withstand more damage in combat, making it a much more effective mount, especially in dangerous areas. The armor benefit is the primary purpose of saddles.
5. How do I tame a Sabertooth?
Taming a Sabertooth involves knocking it out, typically with tranq darts or arrows, then feeding it its preferred food, such as raw meat. Some methods suggest spending time with it to build up trust, but most players favor the knockout-and-feed method for effectiveness.
6. What does a Sabertooth eat?
Sabertooths in Ark: Survival Evolved primarily eat raw meat. This is common with most carnivores in the game. You can typically use any raw meat source that comes from other creatures.
7. Is a Sabertooth faster than a Raptor?
While Raptors are faster, Sabertooths offer a better balance of speed and resilience. They are more resilient and can deal more damage than Raptors, making them a popular choice for combat and resource gathering. Most players opt for a Sabertooth over the Raptor for this reason.
8. Is a Sabertooth a good tame for caves?
Yes, Sabertooths are excellent for cave exploration. They can handle a decent amount of damage, harvest large quantities of chitin and hide, and are nimble enough to navigate most cave systems. They’re a popular choice for early to mid-game caving.
9. Is a Sabertooth better than a Direwolf?
It depends on your playstyle. Direwolves are more powerful glass cannons, dealing high damage but are more vulnerable. Sabertooths are more tanky due to the saddle’s armor, able to endure more damage. Many people opt for wolves in packs due to their strength, but a well-levelled Sabertooth is a great solo mount.
10. How rare is a Sabertooth?
Sabertooths aren’t considered one of the more rare creatures in the game, but the color mutation versions are. While you’re likely to encounter one when looking, the ultra-rare coral-colored Sabertooth variant has a lower chance of hatching from a Fossil Egg.
11. What creatures can you ride without a saddle?
Several creatures in Ark: Survival Evolved can be ridden without a saddle, including the Gigantopithecus, Direwolf, Angler, Manta, and Wyvern. These exceptions are often for unique tames that are more powerful than average.
12. How can I get a Rock Drake saddle?
The Rock Drake Saddle is a specific saddle used for riding the Rock Drake, and it must be crafted after the engram has been unlocked. It is not found in drops like standard saddles.
13. What is the best saddle in Ark?
The best saddles are generally those of the ascendant quality, which provides the highest level of armor. The specific “best” saddle depends on the dino and purpose of that tame, but generally ascendant is best for armor purposes.
14. What is the GFI code for the Sabertooth Saddle?
The GFI code for the Sabertooth Saddle is SaberSaddle. Use this command in your admin console to give yourself one or more saddles.
15. Can I use a saddle on a baby sabertooth?
No. You must allow your baby Sabertooth to grow into an adult before applying a saddle. All dinos that require a saddle can only be saddled upon reaching adulthood.
Conclusion
In summary, a Sabertooth saddle is absolutely necessary for riding and fully utilizing a tamed Sabertooth in Ark: Survival Evolved. Not only does it allow you to mount and control the creature, but it also provides crucial armor that enhances its survivability in combat and exploration. Understanding the importance of the saddle and how to obtain it is key to leveraging the Sabertooth’s strengths in your Ark experience. Whether you’re embarking on a cave expedition or need a reliable combat mount, the Sabertooth, with its essential saddle, will prove to be a valuable asset.