Taming the Wild: A Strategic Order for Ark’s Creatures
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
Figuring out the best taming order in Ark: Survival Evolved can be daunting, especially for newcomers. The sheer number of creatures, each with its unique abilities, makes this a crucial aspect of the game. The ideal taming order generally prioritizes utility and safety, starting with basic resource gatherers, then progressing to combat mounts and transportation, before ultimately leading to the more specialized and powerful creatures. A solid early game strategy revolves around getting a reliable berry gatherer, and then moving on to combatants, followed by flying mounts to enhance your mobility and scouting. Aim for creatures that significantly impact your ability to gather resources, survive encounters, and explore the world. Early to mid-game tames should lay the foundation for tackling more challenging aspects of Ark. Then, in the late game, focus on specific creatures based on your goals like boss fights or large-scale resource production.
Early Game Taming: Laying the Foundation
1. The Humble Beginnings: Dilophosaur & Lystrosaurus
Your initial tames should be easy to acquire and require minimal resources. Dilophosaurs, often found near the spawn points, can be quickly tamed using a slingshot and some rocks. While not strong individually, a pack of them can be surprisingly effective at dealing with small threats. They are also easily replaceable. On the other hand, a Lystrosaurus is a passive tame. When petted, it will give a small experience boost to you and nearby tames, making it easier to level up your crew. Their buff and low cost make them an early priority.
2. Resource Collection: Parasaur & Carbonemys
Next, transition to creatures that help with gathering resources. The Parasaur, while not the strongest combatant, is a decent berry gatherer and can be used to detect nearby threats with its alarm ability. This combination of utility makes it a great second tame. The Carbonemys, on the other hand, can be a valuable early tank. It is slow, but sturdy, allowing you to soak up damage while exploring and is a good starter mount. Its slow swimming can get you to offshore resources safely.
3. Early Combat: Raptor & Iguanodon
As you progress, you’ll need mounts that can handle small to medium threats. The Raptor offers mobility and damage, making it an effective hunter. Use bolas and tranq arrows to safely capture them. The Iguanodon is a versatile tame for both combat and exploration. While its damage is lower than a Raptor, its ability to switch between bipedal and quadrupedal movement allows it to run faster and gather berries effectively, making it a very solid tame to get early.
Mid-Game Taming: Expanding Your Horizons
4. The Flying Ace: Pteranodon
Once you’ve established a secure base, it’s time to aim for the skies. The Pteranodon is your first flying mount. It offers unparalleled mobility, enabling you to quickly scout areas, bypass dangerous terrain, and reach otherwise inaccessible resources. Although it is not very strong, its speed and agility are essential for navigating the map, making it a high priority tame in the mid-game.
5. Resource Gathering Powerhouse: Trike
The Triceratops is a powerhouse when it comes to berry gathering. It can collect vast amounts of berries in a short time with its large turning radius. Taming one can dramatically speed up your resource gathering. This allows you to craft higher level gear and prepare for future taming ventures.
6. Utility & Transport: Argentavis
The Argentavis is a powerful flying mount capable of transporting medium-sized creatures and carrying heavy loads. Its ability to pick up most early-game dinos and drop them in a taming pen makes it a vital tame for both moving creatures and assisting in the taming process. The Argy’s ability to reduce the weight of metal makes it key for advanced building and gearing.
Late-Game Taming: Power & Specialization
7. Advanced Resource Gathering: Ankylosaurus
Once you have a flying mount like the Argentavis, the Ankylosaurus becomes a must have. It is essential for harvesting metal, crystal, and obsidian. When transported by an argentavis, you have a very efficient portable mining machine. The Ankylosaurus will be crucial for crafting the most powerful items and weapons.
8. The Apex Predator: Rex
For combat, the Tyrannosaurus Rex (Rex) stands out as a powerful mount, capable of taking on most creatures in the wild. It serves as a solid combatant for boss battles and as a resource guardian. It’s a must-have for late-game progression.
9. The Mobile Base: Quetzal
The Quetzal is a massive flying platform. It is able to carry large amounts of resources and build structures on its back. This unique quality makes the Quetzal the ultimate late-game transport. It is especially useful for setting up portable crafting stations and mobile bases.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is passive taming, and which creatures use it?
Passive taming involves feeding a creature directly from your hotbar, rather than knocking it out first. The Lystrosaurus, Mesopithecus, and Maewing are examples of creatures tamed this way. Always check the specific food required for each passive tame to avoid mistakes.
2. What is the importance of taming effectiveness?
Taming effectiveness determines how many extra levels a creature gains upon being tamed. High effectiveness results in stronger creatures with more stat points. Kibble significantly increases taming effectiveness. Therefore, planning your taming process around the proper kibble is a solid strategy.
3. What are Alpha Creatures, and can they be tamed?
Alpha Creatures are larger, stronger versions of normal creatures with a red aura. They cannot be tamed but offer valuable resources when defeated. Be prepared for a difficult fight when encountering them.
4. What is the best way to get narcotics for taming?
Narcotics are essential for keeping creatures unconscious while taming. The best way to get them is to combine narcotics berries and spoiled meat in a mortar and pestle. Make sure you have a consistent source of spoiled meat, as you will need many.
5. Which berries are best for early game taming?
Mejoberries are generally the best berries for early game taming due to their high taming efficiency. However, other berries like Amarberries can also be used as a stopgap if Mejoberries are unavailable.
6. Why are flying tames so important?
Flying tames provide unparalleled mobility and scouting capabilities. They allow you to bypass dangerous terrain, reach resources in hard-to-reach areas, and scout the environment quickly. The Pteranodon is generally the first flying tame most survivors should seek.
7. Can I tame a DodoRex?
The DodoRex is a special event creature that cannot be tamed traditionally. To acquire a DodoRex, you need to complete specific in-game events or use a boss tribute.
8. What are Kibble, and how do they help in taming?
Kibble are specialized foods that significantly boost taming effectiveness. Each creature has its preferred kibble, made from different dinosaur eggs. Investing in kibble will yield better tamed creatures.
9. What is starve taming?
Starve taming is a technique where you allow a creature’s hunger bar to deplete before feeding it. This allows you to give a larger amount of food at once, minimizing the time it takes to tame and reduce the risk of effectiveness loss.
10. What is the Titanosaur, and how do you tame it?
The Titanosaur is the largest tameable creature in Ark. Its tame requires a unique strategy: you must force a wild Titanosaur to be brought down to a certain health percentage and then hit it with a catapult. Once tamed, it does not need to eat, as it will eventually die of starvation.
11. What should I eat first in Ark?
Initially, focus on gathering berries as a reliable food source. For meat, cook it immediately to prevent it from spoiling. Meat provides more calories but spoils quicker, so its management is important.
12. Which boss should I do first?
The Broodmother Lysrix is generally considered the first boss to tackle in Ark. Her arena is easily accessible, and her difficulty is more manageable for mid-game survivors.
13. What is the strongest weapon in Ark?
The Tek Phase Pistol is considered one of the strongest weapons due to its high damage output and versatility, followed closely by the Longneck Rifle for long range engagement.
14. What is the best starter tame for resource gathering?
For early resource gathering, the Parasaur is a solid start. As you progress, the Trike and then Ankylosaurus, are much more efficient for collecting berries and metal.
15. How do you get metal in the early game?
Early metal is gathered from small rocks and stones scattered throughout the map. As you progress, aim to get a Ankylosaurus and a Argentavis to mine metal from large metal nodes.