ARK: Survival Ascended Taming Guide & Calculators
Learn KO and passive taming fundamentals, choose the right tools and food, and use calculators to plan your tame.
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📱 Recommended Taming Calculators
Dododex ⭐
Most popular taming calculator with mobile apps
- • Taming times & resources
- • Knockout strategies
- • Breeding timers
- • Tips from community
A-Calc
Comprehensive ARK companion with extra tools
- • Detailed taming info
- • Engram planner
- • Admin commands
- • Breeding calculator
ARK Unity
Modern calculators with ASA support
- • KO/torpor math by weapon/quality
- • Taming time & food by rates
- • Breeding and stat tools
Need deep mechanics? See the ARK Community Wiki – Taming.
We'll be developing our own integrated calculator soon!
🦖 Valguero Spotlight Tames (ASA October 2025)
Megaraptor (Apex Duel)
- Claim a Megaraptor Altar on Valguero to trigger the duel.
- Keep a torch equipped; torch hits generate the torpor you need.
- Feed Superior Kibble or Raw Mutton immediately after it collapses.
Elderclaw (Companion Guardian)
- Launch-day addition bundled with the Fantastic Tames: Elderclaw drop.
- Included with the Lost Colony Expansion Pass (and distributed via Fantastic Tames).
Chalk & Ice Golems
- Chalk variants spawn in the White Cliffs while Ice variants roam the Snow Desert.
- Both share Rock Elemental rules-cannon or rocket headshots deliver torpor safely.
- Feed stone, clay, or sulfur to keep them topped up after taming.
Combine these tames with Valguero resource loops (chalk hills metal, oil cave pearls) for fast saddle and ammo ramps.
❄️ Lost Colony Starter Tames
Resource Haulers
- Ankylosaurus for metal, crystal, obsidian.
- Argentavis (or local flyer) to move ore between tundra runs.
- Keep a cryopod ready for city zones where flight is restricted.
Crash Sites & Twilight Zones
- Direbear excels at organic polymer plants.
- Bring hazard gear and light pets for corruptive Edmundium crash-site pockets.
- Meat plants (Plant Proto Species R) are fast early meat, but harvesting can draw trouble.
River & City Runs
- Aquatic mount (Baryonyx/Basilosaurus) for pearls and black pearls.
- Scuba + grapples for city river dives.
- Hostility and patrols punish greedy routes-plan exits.
Lost Colony signature progression
- Veilwyn: An early companion you can claim by sneaking up and interacting.
- Solwyn: Evolve from a Veilwyn using Vulpite mechanics tied to wild Solwyn encounters.
- Thralls: Earn via outpost/defense missions-great for combat and base logistics.
See the Lost Colony resource map for exact farming loops and coordinates.
🎯 Taming Basics - How It Works
The Two Main Taming Methods:
🥕 Passive Taming
Feed creatures without knocking them out
- • Approach carefully
- • Put food in last hotbar slot
- • Feed when prompted
- • Wait between feedings
Examples: Otter, Gigantopithecus, Diplodocus
💤 Knockout Taming
Render unconscious then feed
- • Use tranq arrows/darts (see arrows vs. darts timing below)
- • Monitor torpor levels
- • Place food in inventory
- • Keep unconscious with narcotics
Examples: Rex, Argentavis, Most creatures
Understanding Taming Effectiveness (TE):
Taming Effectiveness Formula: Bonus Levels = Wild Level × TE ÷ 2
Example: A level 150 creature with 99.9% TE gains 74 bonus levels (150 × 0.999 ÷ 2 = 74.9, rounded down)
This makes it level 224 (150 + 74). Maximum TE is 99.9%, not 100%.
Note: Non “eat-to-tame” methods (e.g., Troodon sacrifices) can effectively show 100% because they don’t use food ticks.
👶 Wild Baby Taming (ASA)
Claimable babies show a pacifier icon while parents show a heart. Defeat the parent to orphan the baby, then claim it with E. Feed immediately with the correct food and keep it protected while it matures.
Tip: Not all small dinos are claimable—juveniles can’t be claimed.
🏹 Knockout Weapons & Tools
Different weapons for different situations. Choose wisely!
| Weapon | Base Torpor* | Damage | Best For | Level Req |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slingshot | ~14 | Low | Early game, small creatures | 5 |
| Bow + Tranq Arrow | ~40 instant ~50 over time |
Medium | Most creatures | 21 |
| Crossbow + Tranq Arrow | ~70 instant ~87 over time |
Medium | Tougher creatures | 25 |
| Longneck + Tranq Dart | 130+ | Low | High-level/big creatures | 35 |
| Shocking Tranq Dart | 400+ | Very Low | Gigas, Titans | 96 |
*Values are approximate. Exact torpor depends on weapon quality, headshot multipliers, and recent patches. Use a calculator for ASA‑accurate numbers.
Additional KO Tools
- Harpoon Launcher + Tranq Spear Bolt: Great underwater; high torpor per bolt.
- Electric Prod: Very high single‑hit torpor; short reach and single‑use until recharged.
- Net Projectile: Immobilizes many mid‑size creatures (map/creature limits apply). Use to set up safe headshots.
🍖 Food Preferences & Taming Speed
Using preferred food dramatically reduces taming time and improves effectiveness!
Carnivore Preferences (Best to Worst):
- Kibble (preferred tier): Fastest, best TE
- Raw Mutton: From Ovis, excellent option
- Raw Prime Meat: From larger creatures
- Cooked Lamb Chop: Cooked mutton
- Raw Meat: Basic option
Herbivore Preferences (Best to Worst):
- Kibble (by Tier): Best overall (Basic → Extraordinary)
- Vegetables: Crops grown in plots
- Mejoberries: Purple berries
- Other Berries: Varying effectiveness
🥚 About Kibble:
ASA uses six kibble tiers (Basic, Simple, Regular, Superior, Exceptional, Extraordinary). Creatures prefer a tier rather than species‑specific kibble-check your species’ preferred tier.
- • Basic Kibble: Dilo, Dodo, Lystro eggs
- • Simple Kibble: Gallimimus, Parasaur eggs
- • Regular Kibble: Ankylo, Carno eggs
- • Superior Kibble: Argentavis, Spino eggs
- • Exceptional Kibble: Rex, Theri eggs
- • Extraordinary Kibble: Special eggs
Tip: Some ASA eggs craft kibble that currently has no preferred species-stick to the published preferred tiers.
🎮 Pro Taming Strategies
Essential Taming Tips:
1. Build Taming Pens
Stone or metal structures to trap creatures safely. Use doorframes for shooting through!
2. Use Taming Effectiveness Boosters
ARK Mobile only: Soothing Balm. ASA: watch for official event rate boosts and check our live Official Rates before taming.
3. Starve Taming (Optional)
Let hunger drop before adding food. Same result but safer if something goes wrong.
4. Net and Trap Smart
Net Projectiles immobilize many mid‑size creatures (not all maps/creatures). Build stone/metal traps for large targets and always test line‑of‑sight.
5. Protect Your Tame
Build spike walls or have tribe members guard. One carnivore bite can ruin TE!
6. Prepare Extra Resources
Always bring 50% more narcotics and food than calculated. Better safe than sorry!
⚡ Special Taming Methods
Some creatures require unique approaches. This list includes ASA‑specific tames introduced since launch:
🦈 Shastasaurus (The Center)
Lure to the surface using an Ichthyosaurus (a small “school” helps). Use a Sickle to remove leeches during the mini‑game, then feed kibble; repeat until tamed.
🌿 Oasisaur (Scorched Earth/Bob’s Tall Tales)
Trigger and defend the death‑essence event around the Oasis; complete the phase to enable feeding and tame progression.
🪶 Gigantoraptor
Use egg‑distraction and care interactions with juveniles; complete the “nursery” loop to build taming.
🦂 Fasolasuchus (Scorched Earth)
Use explosives/clever traps to open KO windows safely; very high damage-trap first, then apply torpor.
🪽 Yi Ling
Disorient mid‑dive (e.g., Plant Species Z Fruit), then KO and feed; agile and evasive.
🔥 Pyromane (Fantastic Tames)
Drop its health below half while it is Doused, then finish a kill while riding it to absorb the flames and progress the tame.
🦖 Ceratosaurus
Can only be fed while it is "drunk" from attacking tames affected by a Hemogoblin Cocktail.
🐊 Deinosuchus
Feed only when its jaw is fully open, and keep enough distance to avoid the snap.
🦕 Dreadnoughtus (Extinction)
Multi‑phase tame tied to world events/encounters; heavy prep required and long duration.
🦈 Carcharodontosaurus
Build “friendship” by feeding corpses, then ride to continue kill‑chain taming until completion.
🦅 Quetzal
Use grappling hooks or another Quetz with platform saddle. They never land!
🦖 Giganotosaurus
Metal trap required. Use shocking tranq darts. Prepare for long tame!
🔥 Phoenix
Only during heat waves on Scorched Earth. Feed flame arrows or fire wyvern breath!
🌊 Basilosaurus
Passive tame in deep ocean. Clear mantas first. Feed from safe distance!
🎭 Troodon
Must sacrifice tamed creatures at night. Higher level sacrifices = faster tame!
📋 Quick Taming Checklist
Essential Items:
- ☐ Knockout weapon + ammo
- ☐ Narcotics or Biotoxin
- ☐ Preferred food (lots!)
- ☐ Armor for protection
- ☐ Spike walls or trap
Nice to Have:
- ☐ Taming calculator app or site
- ☐ Check Official Rates
- ☐ Magnifying glass
- ☐ Preserving salts
- ☐ Bed for respawn
- ☐ Friend to help guard
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