Is A Raptor a Good Mount? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer? Absolutely! The Raptor in Ark: Survival Evolved is an exceptional mount, especially in the early to mid-game. While it may not be the most powerful creature in the game, its combination of speed, agility, and ease of taming makes it a highly practical and valuable asset for survivors. Raptors excel as early-game explorers, reliable hunters, and even formidable combat mounts when used strategically. However, as the game progresses and you gain access to larger, more powerful creatures, the Raptor may transition into a more specialized role within your arsenal. Let’s dive deeper into why the Raptor deserves a place in your stable.
Why the Raptor is a Great Early Mount
Speed and Agility
One of the Raptor’s greatest strengths is its speed. These creatures are incredibly fast, allowing you to cover significant ground quickly and escape dangerous situations. This mobility is invaluable for scouting new areas, gathering resources, and transporting goods, particularly in the initial stages of the game. In addition, their agility allows them to easily navigate varied terrains and obstacles.
Ease of Taming
Compared to many other dinos in Ark, Raptors are relatively easy to tame. With some basic equipment like bolas, you can immobilize a Raptor and then knock it out using tranq arrows or a slingshot. The amount of resources required for taming a low to mid-level Raptor is also fairly low, making them an ideal choice for new players. Once tamed, Raptors require simple foods like raw meat for their upkeep.
Combat Prowess
While not a tank, Raptors are still capable in combat, especially when in a pack. A pack buff enhances their attack power, making them formidable opponents against many early-game threats. This means you can rely on a group of raptors for hunting and self-defense. They are agile enough to avoid some attacks, and they can deal a reasonable amount of damage on their own, making them very useful when starting out.
Saddle Availability
The Raptor saddle becomes available at level 18, which is easily attainable. It only requires 9 Engram Points to unlock the crafting recipe. This means that quickly after taming a Raptor, you’ll be able to ride it, significantly enhancing your mobility and utility.
Transitioning into Specialized Roles
Scouting
Due to their high speed and pack bonuses, Raptors make great scouts. While a Pteranodon may be superior for airborne scouting, the Raptor remains an excellent option, particularly if you prefer ground-based exploration. By investing in the speed and health stats of your raptors, they can become very effective for scouting out new zones, resources, and potential dangers.
Pack Hunting
Raptors are at their most powerful when used in a pack. Their pack bonus increases their damage output significantly. They can handle most early to mid-game creatures with a few members of a pack, making them excellent for hunting and gathering resources.
Combat Support
While not usually the front-line fighter in late-game scenarios, a pack of well-bred and leveled Raptors can still provide invaluable combat support. They can flank enemies, distract larger creatures, and pick off smaller threats. Their speed and agility make them hard for enemies to target, making them a tactical tool when managed correctly.
Conclusion: The Versatile Raptor
In conclusion, a Raptor is an exceptional mount in the early stages of Ark: Survival Evolved due to its speed, ease of taming, and combat capability. While it may not be the most powerful option later in the game, they remain useful as scouts, pack hunters, and combat support units. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced survivor, the Raptor is a valuable asset to have on your team and a worthwhile mount for many different tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Raptors as Mounts
1. Are Raptors hard to tame?
No, Raptors are relatively easy to tame. Once you have bolas to immobilize them, they only require a few tranq arrows or slingshot hits, along with some raw meat and narco berries or narcotics. This makes them ideal for new players.
2. What level do I need to be to ride a Raptor?
You need to be level 18 to unlock the Raptor Saddle engram, which is required to ride a tamed Raptor. The saddle requires 9 Engram Points.
3. How many tranq arrows does it take to knock out a Raptor?
The number of tranq arrows needed depends on the Raptor’s level. For a level 30 Raptor, it will take around 6 tranq arrows, while a lower-level one would require even fewer. Headshots are highly effective in knocking them out quickly.
4. What do Raptors eat?
Raptors primarily eat raw meat. They do not require specialized food, making them easy to care for. This makes them extremely easy to handle in the early game where basic resources are more readily available.
5. How does the Raptor’s speed compare to other early game mounts?
Raptors are among the fastest ground-based mounts available early in the game. Their speed makes them excellent for exploring and escaping dangerous situations. Other mounts like the Pteranodon may be faster for aerial travel, but the raptor dominates in ground mobility in the beginning.
6. What is the pack buff and how does it work with Raptors?
The pack buff is a bonus that Raptors receive when they are in close proximity to other tamed Raptors. This bonus increases their attack damage significantly, making them far more powerful when working together as a pack.
7. Can Raptors jump?
Yes, Raptors are agile and can jump, allowing them to navigate varied terrain and obstacles. Their ability to quickly jump and navigate, combined with their speed, make them versatile mounts.
8. Are Raptors good for combat?
Yes, Raptors are good for combat, particularly when used in a pack. Their speed and pack bonus make them effective fighters, especially against early to mid-game creatures. They are better in groups than on their own, however.
9. Can Alpha Raptors be tamed?
No, Alpha Raptors cannot be tamed. They are larger, stronger versions of regular Raptors and pose a significant threat. They are designed to challenge players, not be tamed.
10. How many tranquilizer darts do you need for an Alpha Raptor?
You should be prepared to use at least 200 tranquilizer darts to bring down an Alpha Raptor. They have high health and high torpor, making them very difficult to deal with. This high number is just to take them down, not to tame them as they cannot be tamed.
11. Can Raptors break through wood walls?
Alpha Raptors can break wood walls, but regular tamed Raptors cannot. This is another reason to be cautious around Alphas, and make sure your base is sufficiently secured.
12. What are some good stats to level up on a Raptor?
When leveling up a Raptor, it is recommended to focus on Health, Movement Speed, and Stamina. These stats will enhance their combat survivability, speed for exploration, and the amount of movement they can perform.
13. How many Raptors is best for a hunting pack?
A pack of 2 or more Raptors will benefit from the pack buff. For larger challenges, a pack of 3-5 Raptors will be more effective, and this can be expanded to 10+ Raptors for more late game areas.
14. Is the Raptor viable in late game content?
While they are not as powerful as some of the end-game creatures, Raptors can still be useful in a support role or as scouts in the late game. Their speed makes them valuable for certain situations, while their pack bonus still provides ample damage output. They may not be the primary source of damage or defense, but they can still be strategically effective.
15. What’s better, a Raptor or a Rex?
A Rex is considerably more powerful than a Raptor in direct combat and is a strong late-game mount. However, Raptors excel in the early game with their speed, ease of taming, and pack bonuses. Both serve different roles, and they are effective in their respective parts of the game. The Raptor makes a great starter mount and early game attacker, while the Rex is more of an advanced mount that is used more for combat.