What Can a Quetzal Carry? A Comprehensive Guide

The Quetzal, a majestic creature in the survival game ARK: Survival Evolved, is renowned for its remarkable carrying capacity, making it an invaluable asset for resource transport, creature relocation, and even strategic maneuvers. Understanding what a Quetzal can and cannot carry is crucial for any aspiring survivor looking to maximize their effectiveness in the game. So, let’s dive into the heart of the matter:

A Quetzal can primarily carry a wide array of creatures, supplies, and even human cargo, provided they fall within certain size and weight limits. It excels at transporting medium-sized creatures, enabling players to move tames from one base to another with ease. The Quetzal’s ability to pick up and carry creatures, or hold them on a platform saddle, opens up many strategic options.

Here’s a general overview of what you can expect a Quetzal to handle:

• Creatures: It can carry a variety of land-based dinos, most notably including:

  • Ankylosaurus
  • Carbonemys
  • Carnotaurus
  • Dimetrodon
  • Doedicurus
  • Gallimimus
  • Gigantopithecus
  • Mammoth
  • Megalosaurus
  • Megatherium
  • Stegosaurus
  • Therizinosaurus

• Humans: A Quetzal can certainly carry a human passenger.

• Supplies: A Quetzal can carry a vast amount of resources, making it ideal for long-distance supply runs.

• Platform Saddle: With a platform saddle, it can carry structures and even serve as a mobile base.

Limitations to Carrying

While the Quetzal is powerful, there are creatures it cannot carry. These limitations are usually based on size, weight, or in some cases, game mechanics:

• Other Flyers: Quetzals cannot pick up other flyers like Argentavis, Pteranodon, or Wyverns.
• Large Aquatic Creatures: Creatures such as Megalodon, Plesiosaur, and Ichthyosaurus are too large for the Quetzal to carry.
• Very Large Land Creatures: The Quetzal cannot pick up massive creatures like the Rex, Spino, Paraceratherium, and, of course, Brontosaurus directly with its feet. However, there is a caveat with the Rex, as outlined below.
  • Rex: Although it cannot be grabbed directly, a Rex can be carried on the back of a Quetzal using a platform saddle. This is a key difference, as the platform allows for support.
• Specific Creatures: Allosaurus cannot be directly carried by a Quetzal.

The Platform Saddle Advantage

The Quetzal’s platform saddle significantly expands its carrying potential. By building on the platform saddle, you can create mobile bases, add turrets (although this ability is restricted in later game updates for balancing purposes), and transport larger creatures such as the Rex by having them stand upon the platform itself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to provide more insights into the Quetzal’s carrying capabilities:

Can a Quetzal carry a Rex?

Yes, a Quetzal can carry a Rex, but not by its feet. You can transport a Rex on the back of a Quetzal using a platform saddle. This allows the Rex to stand on the platform while the Quetzal flies.

Can a Quetzal carry an Allosaurus?

No, a Quetzal cannot pick up an Allosaurus directly.

Can a Quetzal pick up a Therizinosaurus?

Yes, a Quetzal can pick up a Therizinosaurus. This makes it a useful strategy for moving a tamed Therizino to a safe location.

Can a Quetzal carry a Tek Stryder?

No, a Tek Stryder is too large and will not fit on a Quetzal platform saddle.

Can a Quetzal pick up a Megalosaurus?

Yes, a Quetzal can carry a Megalosaurus, whether it is awake or not.

Can a Quetzal carry a Megatherium?

Yes, a Quetzal can carry a Megatherium. Keep in mind that a Megatherium can attack while being carried if facing the direction of the Quetzal.

Can a Quetzal carry a Stego?

Yes, a Quetzal can pick up a Stegosaurus.

Could a Quetzal carry a human?

Yes, a Quetzal could certainly carry a human.

Can a Quetzal pick up a wild Gallimimus?

Whether a Quetzal can pick up a wild Gallimimus depends on the server settings. Generally, it can only be picked up if the wild dino carry setting is true.

Can a Thylacoleo knock you off a Quetzal?

Yes, a Thylacoleo can knock players off their mounts, including Quetzals, by pouncing on them.

Are Quetzals strong in Ark?

Quetzals are quite strong in Ark: Survival Evolved, known for their health, and capacity to carry weaponry. While their melee damage is not the highest, their carrying capabilities make them formidable.

Can a Quetzal carry a Shadowmane?

Yes, a Quetzal can carry a Shadowmane. This can be useful for taming strategies, such as moving a Shadowmane to a taming pen at night.

Can you put turrets on a Quetzal?

As of update 242.0, Auto Turrets can no longer be built on Quetzal platform saddles. Any existing turrets will also not fire.

Can you hatch a Tek Quetzal egg?

Yes, a Tek Quetzal egg can be hatched if you maintain the appropriate temperature range of 5 to 6°C / 41 to 43°F.

What can Rhyniognatha carry compared to a Quetzal?

The Rhyniognatha can carry all and even larger creatures than a Quetzal can, as long as they do not have a platform saddle equipped.

Conclusion

The Quetzal is an incredibly versatile mount in ARK: Survival Evolved. Its ability to carry various creatures and resources, along with the strategic possibilities of the platform saddle, makes it an essential tame for any serious player. Knowing what a Quetzal can and cannot carry allows players to maximize their efficiency, streamline resource management, and dominate the skies. Use this guide to ensure your Quetzal is always utilized to its fullest potential, and you’ll be well on your way to thriving in the harsh world of ARK.