What is the Easiest Dinosaur to Tame in Ark: Survival Evolved?
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The answer to the question, “What is the easiest dinosaur to tame in Ark: Survival Evolved?” is overwhelmingly the Parasaurolophus, often affectionately called the Parasaurs. These docile herbivores are not just easy to tame, but also incredibly useful for new players venturing into the harsh world of Ark. They are a great stepping stone to more challenging tames and a crucial part of early game survival. Their relatively low health and torpor make them an easy target for even early game tools. Couple that with their preference for berries, which are incredibly easy to gather and you’ve got yourself a quick and easy tame.
Why Parasaurolophus are the Ideal Early Tame
The Parasaurs stand out for several key reasons that make them the easiest dinos to tame for beginners:
1. Passive Taming Method
The most significant factor is their passive taming nature. Unlike many other creatures in Ark that require you to knock them unconscious first, you can tame a Parasaur simply by approaching them and feeding them berries. This eliminates the need for tranquilizer arrows or a club, which can be difficult for new players to acquire. Simply go up to them, open your inventory and feed them berries one by one, until they’re tamed.
2. Low Torpor
Parasaurs have relatively low **torpor**. This means that they don't require a large amount of food to reach full taming effectiveness. You'll need far fewer berries to tame a Parasaur than most other dinos. Their low torpor also means they lose unconsciousness much faster which is a crucial factor when using the knock out method of taming, but since they are tamed passively, this is an added bonus and not a hinderance.
3. Abundance and Docile Nature
These dinosaurs are plentiful on most Ark maps, particularly near starting areas, making them easily accessible. They’re also non-aggressive and will only flee when threatened, giving you ample time to approach and tame them. This also makes them a very safe dino to use when exploring early game.
4. Easy to Find Food
As herbivores, they prefer berries, which are incredibly easy to gather from bushes with your bare hands or using a simple hatchet or pick. This means you can typically find the resources needed to tame them very quickly, without any specialist equipment.
5. Utility
While not combat powerhouses, Parasaurs serve multiple useful purposes early game. They can be used to carry resources, making them excellent for farming, especially berries, wood, and thatch. They also serve as a decent early warning system, alerting you of nearby predators.
Beyond the Parasaurs: Other Easy Starter Tames
While the Parasaurolophus is the easiest tame, there are other good options for early-game tames, depending on your map and preferences. These include the Lystrosaurus, Dodo, and Phiomia. Lystrosaurus can provide an experience buff when patted and are incredibly easy to tame passively. Dodos are passively tamed with berries and provide a good, if small, source of eggs. Finally, Phiomias are also tamed passively with berries, can carry a lot of weight, and are relatively fast on their feet. However, none of these match the overall ease and utility that the Parasaurolophus provides.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is torpor in Ark?
Torpor in Ark represents a creature’s level of unconsciousness. When torpor increases, the creature becomes drowsier and will eventually fall unconscious. Taming is much easier to perform when creatures are unconscious and you’re trying to knock them out, rather than passively tame them.
2. How do I tame a Parasaur?
You tame a Parasaur by approaching it and feeding it berries. Simply place the berries on your hotbar, select the berries, and when it prompts you, feed them to the dino. Repeat until tamed.
3. What berries are best for taming Parasaurs?
Any berry will work for taming a Parasaur, but Mejoberries offer the highest taming effectiveness boost, meaning you need fewer of them.
4. Can I ride a Parasaur?
Yes, once tamed, you can create a Parasaur saddle and ride them. They’re a reliable and safe mount for new players.
5. Are Parasaurs good for combat?
No, Parasaurs are not strong combat creatures. They’re best used for farming and transportation.
6. What are the main uses of Parasaurs?
Parasaurs are best for berry gathering, early game transportation, and as an early warning system. Their ability to carry items early game is invaluable.
7. Can Parasaurs detect dangers?
Yes, Parasaurs have a passive ability that alerts you to the presence of nearby predators. This can be vital when exploring early on.
8. What is the easiest non-passive tame in Ark?
The Trike is generally considered one of the easiest knock-out tame in the early game. They are relatively slow and can be easily knocked out with a club or slingshot and then fed berries to tame.
9. What is the best early game flyer to tame?
The Pteranodon is often considered the first flyer that a player should attempt. However, since they’re not passively tamed, they require slightly more effort than a Parasaur.
10. How do I improve my taming speed in Ark?
Using the correct kibble for a given creature greatly increases taming speed and effectiveness, but kibble often requires a higher level to craft.
11. Is it better to tame a higher-level Parasaur?
Generally, yes. Higher-level dinos start with better stats and can be more useful for the long term.
12. How can I protect my tamed Parasaurs?
Create a simple enclosure or hide them in a safe location, and don’t take them to dangerous areas. As you improve your base and defences, you can venture further out.
13. What tools do I need to tame a Parasaur?
You need no tools to tame a Parasaur. Just your bare hands and some berries.
14. Is the Parasaur good for advanced players?
No. The Parasaur is mostly an early game tame. As you get further into the game you will replace it with better and more useful dinos.
15. Can Parasaurs be bred?
Yes. Once you have a breeding pair, you can breed them to create new dinos with good stats.
Conclusion
For new players in Ark: Survival Evolved, the Parasaurolophus stands as the undisputed champion of easy taming. Its passive taming method, plentiful numbers, and resource gathering abilities make it the perfect companion for your initial steps into this challenging world. While you will eventually move on to stronger and more powerful tames, the Parasaur will always be remembered as the easiest and most reliable first tame in Ark.