How to Tame a Sabertooth in Ark: A Comprehensive Guide
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Taming a Sabertooth in Ark: Survival Evolved can be a rewarding experience, adding a powerful and versatile mount to your roster. Here’s the direct answer: To tame a Sabertooth, you must first knock it unconscious using tranquilizer arrows or darts, then feed it its preferred food, typically raw meat, until the taming process is complete. You’ll need to monitor its torpor level and use narcotics or narcoberries to keep it asleep during the taming process. Let’s delve into the specifics.
Prepping for the Hunt
Before you even think about approaching a Sabertooth, preparation is key. Here’s what you’ll need:
Required Items
- Tranquilizer Arrows or Darts: These are your primary tools for knocking the Sabertooth unconscious. Use a bow or crossbow for arrows or a longneck rifle for darts.
- Narcotics or Narcoberries: Essential for maintaining the Sabertooth’s torpor during the taming process. Narcotics are more effective but more resource-intensive to create than Narcoberries.
- Raw Meat (or Prime Meat): This is the primary food for taming a Sabertooth. Prime Meat significantly speeds up the taming process.
- A Flying Mount (Highly Recommended): A Pteranodon or Argentavis can be invaluable for scouting and repositioning yourself during the tame.
- Bola: Although not essential, a bola can immobilize the Sabertooth temporarily, making it easier to initiate the knock-out phase.
- Basic Armor and Weapons: For self-defense in case things go wrong.
Understanding Sabertooth Behavior
Sabertooths are aggressive carnivores and will attack on sight. They are also relatively quick, so be prepared for a chase. It’s recommended to engage them in a safe, open area where you can control the engagement.
The Taming Process Step-by-Step
Step 1: Locating a Sabertooth
Sabertooths are typically found in forested areas and mountainsides. They often spawn in pairs, so be prepared to handle multiple at once if necessary. Look for areas with open spaces and fewer obstacles.
Step 2: Initiating the Knockout
- Bolas: If you have one, use it to immobilize the Sabertooth briefly. This makes the initial shots easier.
- Positioning: Use a flying mount to gain a vantage point and maintain distance. If you don’t have a flying mount, use cover and distance.
- Tranquilizing: Begin firing tranquilizer arrows or darts at the Sabertooth. Monitor its torpor level by observing the creature’s behavior. If the Sabertooth starts to run, you’ll need to chase it, which can be tricky without a flying mount.
- Persistence: Be prepared to use a considerable number of tranquilizers to knock it out, especially if it’s a high-level Sabertooth.
Step 3: Feeding and Torpor Management
- Approaching the Unconscious Sabertooth: Once unconscious, approach it cautiously.
- Placing Food in Inventory: Place the raw meat (or preferably prime meat) in its inventory.
- Monitoring Torpor: Keep a close watch on its torpor level. If it begins to drop, use narcotics or narcoberries immediately.
- Patience is Key: The taming process takes time. Be prepared to camp out and monitor its progress.
Step 4: Claiming Your Tamed Sabertooth
- Successful Tame: Once the taming bar is full, the Sabertooth will awaken tamed and ready for you to ride.
- Equip a Saddle: You’ll need a Sabertooth Saddle to ride it (unlocked at level 37).
Tips and Strategies for Taming Sabertooths
- High-Level is Best: Taming a high-level Sabertooth is more challenging but results in a more powerful and durable mount.
- Use Prime Meat: If possible, use prime meat to speed up the taming process. It significantly reduces taming time.
- Clear the Area: Before starting, ensure the area is clear of other aggressive creatures to avoid unnecessary complications.
- Use Structures: Building a small taming pen can provide added safety during the taming process.
- Carry Extra Resources: It’s always best to have extra tranquilizers, narcotics, and food on hand, as taming can sometimes take longer than expected.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does a Sabertooth eat in Ark for taming?
Sabertooths prefer raw meat for taming. However, prime meat, raw mutton, and raw prime fish meat will dramatically speed up the taming process.
2. How many tranq arrows or darts does it take to knock out a Sabertooth?
The number varies depending on the Sabertooth’s level and your weapon’s damage. Lower level Sabertooths might require around 20-30 tranquilizer arrows or darts, while higher levels can take up to 40-50 or even more.
3. Is the Sabertooth a good tame in Ark?
Absolutely. The Sabertooth is an excellent all-around mount, effective for combat, gathering resources, and cave exploration. It is often considered an upgraded version of the Raptor.
4. What is a Sabertooth good for in Ark?
They are great for gathering meat, hide and chitin, traveling, and navigating caves. Well-trained Sabertooths can flay corpses for large quantities of hide.
5. Is a Sabertooth faster than a Raptor?
No. Raptors are faster, but Sabertooths are more resilient and deal more damage. Both can be leveled up to enhance either speed or damage.
6. Is a Sabertooth better than a Direwolf?
This depends on your playstyle. Direwolves are more powerful in terms of initial damage but are more fragile. Sabertooths are more durable and can take more damage, especially with a saddle.
7. How rare is a Sabertooth?
They are not considered "rare" in terms of spawning on the map, however, within Fossil Egg hatches, they are relatively rare.
8. Can you ride a Sabertooth without a saddle?
No, you need a Sabertooth Saddle to ride them, unless you force tame them through admin commands. The saddle is unlocked at level 37.
9. Can Sabertooths break wood structures?
Yes, Sabertooths can break thatch structures very quickly, however, wood is much more resistant.
10. Is a Sabertooth good for caves in Ark?
**Yes, they are excellent for cave exploration**. Their damage, durability, and ability to harvest resources make them ideal cave companions.
11. What is the strongest tame in Ark?
While there are many strong tames, the Rex is often considered one of the most powerful all-around tames due to its high health and damage output.
12. What is the most powerful pet in Ark?
Rex has one of the highest base stats making it one of the strongest pets in the game. It excels as a tank in both PvE and PvP.
13. How many tranqs for a Giganotosaurus?
A Giganotosaurus requires a significant number of tranquilizer darts, typically ranging from 80 to 150 or more, due to its high torpor resistance.
14. Can you tame Sabertooth Salmon in Ark?
Yes, but only using a Fish Basket. They cannot be tamed like other dinos.
15. What’s the fastest Dino in Ark?
The Gallimimus is generally considered one of the fastest dinos in Ark, although it lacks combat capabilities. However, in unofficial servers, modified settings might affect this.