How to Tame a Dodo in ARK: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’ve set your sights on taming a Dodo in ARK: Survival Evolved? Excellent choice! These adorable, if somewhat dim-witted, creatures are a fantastic early-game addition to your tribe, providing eggs for kibble and offering a hefty dose of cuteness to your base. Here’s the lowdown on how to add one to your collection.

The basic method is straightforward: Find a Dodo, knock it unconscious using a wooden club (or your fists), and then feed it berries until it’s fully tamed. Place the berries into its inventory to begin the taming process. Patience is key.

The Taming Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Preparation is Key

• Gather Resources: You’ll need a wooden club or your fists. A club is preferable as it deals more torpor (the stat that determines unconsciousness) with less damage. Also, collect a good amount of berries, especially Amarberries, as they are a Dodo’s preferred food. A stack of 50-100 is a safe bet, especially at low levels.
• Safety First: Dodos are generally harmless but it is important to be vigilant of your surroundings. Be mindful of other creatures that might pose a threat to both you and your intended tame.

Step 2: Locating Your Dodo

• Prime Locations: Dodos are commonly found on beaches and in grassy areas. Look near the shorelines and open fields in the early zones of the map.
• Observation: Once you spot one, approach with caution. You don’t want to startle it into running away before you’re ready.

Step 3: Knocking it Out

• The Torpor Game: Equip your wooden club and carefully approach the Dodo. Begin hitting it, monitoring its torpor bar. The goal is to fill the torpor bar before its health drops too low.
• Gentle Approach: If using your fists, be extra careful not to kill the Dodo. A few well-aimed punches should do the trick.
• Avoiding Damage: Pause between hits to allow the torpor to build up. This prevents accidental death of the Dodo, especially at lower levels.

Step 4: The Taming Feed

• Open Inventory: Once the Dodo is unconscious, access its inventory.
• Food Placement: Place the berries you collected into its inventory. The Dodo will automatically begin consuming them.
• Monitoring Taming: Watch the taming progress bar. Keep an eye on the torpor bar as well; if it gets too low, the Dodo will wake up.

Step 5: Keeping it Unconscious

• Force-Feeding: If the torpor starts to decrease rapidly, you might need to force-feed the Dodo more berries. Access its inventory and manually “use” a berry. This will replenish its torpor.
• Nacroberries: You can also use Nacroberries for a larger torpor boost. However, regular berries are usually sufficient for Dodos.

Step 6: Claiming Your Prize

• Taming Complete: Once the taming progress bar is full, congratulations! You’ve successfully tamed a Dodo.
• Name Your Dodo: Give your new companion a name and enjoy its company.
• Immediate Needs: Equip it with a saddle (if available) or assign it to your base for egg production.

Additional Tips for Dodo Taming

• Low-Level Tames: Dodos are best tamed at low levels. Higher-level Dodos require significantly more resources and time.
• Taming Effectiveness: The higher the taming effectiveness, the better the stats your tamed Dodo will have. Try to maintain a high torpor and use its preferred food to maximize effectiveness.
• Protect Your Tame: While taming, be aware of predators that might attack the unconscious Dodo. Clear the area if necessary.
• ARK Mobile: The taming process is identical in ARK Mobile.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dodo Taming

1. What food do Dodos eat in the wild?

Dodos in the wild likely consume a variety of plant matter including fallen fruits, nuts, seeds, bulbs, and roots. Some theories even suggest they may have supplemented their diet with crabs and shellfish.

2. What’s the best food to tame a Dodo in ARK?

Amarberries are the preferred food for taming Dodos in ARK. While they’ll eat other berries, Amarberries provide the best taming effectiveness.

3. How do I get Dodo eggs in ARK?

Dodos lay eggs randomly. To increase egg production, force-feed them Stimberries to make them poop more frequently. Be sure to have regular berries on hand to keep their food level up.

4. Can I breed Dodos in ARK?

Yes, you can breed Dodos in ARK. In ARK Mobile, breeding can result in Dodos of varying sizes. Smaller Dodos can be placed on your shoulder, while larger ones can be ridden.

5. How do I knock out a Dodo without killing it?

Use a wooden club and pace your attacks to allow torpor to build up. If using your fists, be very careful to avoid excessive damage.

6. What’s the maximum Dodo size in ARK?

The maximum Dodo size is 3.5x. Dodos above 2.4x can be ridden, and those below 0.75x can sit on your shoulder.

7. What did the Dodo evolve from?

DNA analysis has revealed that the Dodo is closely related to pigeons and doves belonging to the Columbiformes group. To learn more about the evolutionary relationships between birds and other animals, resources like the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) can be helpful.

8. Can you tame a Zombie Dodo in ARK?

Zomdodos can only be tamed after the DodoRex is killed during special events. Once the DodoRex is defeated, Zomdodos become passive and can be claimed by using the use key.

9. What are the benefits of having Dodos in ARK?

Dodos provide eggs, which are useful for making kibble. In ARK Mobile, they can be bred for size variations and used as shoulder pets or rideable mounts. Larger ones can even be used as “bombs”.

10. Can you tame a Bunny Dodo?

No, Bunny Dodos cannot be tamed. They are part of special events and are primarily used to collect Bunny Eggs for crafting.

11. What do Party Dodos do in ARK?

Party Dodos appear during anniversary events and are used to craft special event items in a Cooking Pot.

12. Are Dodos aggressive in ARK?

Despite their reputation, Dodos are not aggressive. They are usually passive and will only run away when attacked.

13. Can you tame a Dodo Wyvern?

Dodo Wyverns can be force-tamed, but you will lose them if you attempt to transfer them. When force-tamed, they can breathe fire and lightning.

14. How rare is a Golden Dodo in ARK?

Golden Dodos are rare. They typically spawn on beaches and can have their spawn rates manually adjusted in server settings.

15. Can Dodos get Swamp Fever in ARK?

Yes, Dodos can get Swamp Fever. They can be infected by leeches and then used to spread the disease to other creatures or players.

Taming a Dodo is one of the first steps in the fascinating world of ARK: Survival Evolved. With patience and a few berries, you’ll have a loyal companion ready to contribute to your survival. Good luck, survivor!