One of the biggest appeals of ARK: Survival Evolved is the bevy of dinosaurs that are stomping around the island. Not only can you take these beasts head on in a fight, but you can also tame them so that they work for you. You can ride them, make them carry your materials, set them to protecting your possessions, and more. Aside from that, it’s just bitchin’ to have a pet dinosaur, which is all the motivation I need to tame one. Because…you know…dinosaurs.
Below, we’ve selected a handful of the best dinos you can tame. They run the gamut from beginner-friendly assistants to high-level steeds of doom.
If you’re looking for some help in the taming department, check out our taming guide!
T-Rex
Ah, the t-rex, the quintessential dinosaur. In ARK, these behemoths are at the top of the food chain, towering over most other major predators. By taming one of these, you’re essentially declaring yourself queen or king of ARK Island. Ride one of these babies around and nothing will mess with you.
- Preferred taming food: Exceptional Kibble, raw mutton.
Triceratops
Also known as a trike, this is probably the best choice for your very first tamed dinosaur. The triceratops has good defense against other predators, but it’s also an efficient harvester, meaning that it can gather more resources in one go than other tamable dinos. Use this beast of burden to farm berries and fend off predators. The biggest drawback is the relatively slow movement speed and low stamina compared to some other dinos.
- Preferred taming food: Simple Kibble, vegetables.
Pteranodon
Flying mounts are an understandably attractive target for early-level survivors in ARK, and the pteranodon is one of the earliest flying dinosaur’s you’ll encounter. Being able to fly anywhere you want is an invaluable advantage and makes harvesting specific resources loads easier. The pteranodon’s abundance in the early regions of the island make it the best choice for your first flying mount.
- Preferred taming food: Regular Kibble, raw mutton.
Carbonemys
Water traversal is also a big concern in ARK which is where the carbonemys comes in to play. If you’d like to make aquatic gathering more efficient (and who wouldn’t?!), tame one of these beasts and you’ll be riding the waves in no time. The Carbonemys is one of the earliest aquatic creatures you can tame, and although it moves a bit slowly, it’s still better at getting around under water than your character will ever be on their own.
- Preferred taming food: Regular Kibble, vegetables.
Therizinosaur
One of the most frightening creatures that you’ll encounter early on in ARK is the therizinosaur, an aggressive, powerful beast that roams the island’s beaches. Taming one not only gives you access to a very versatile pet, it also establishes your early dominance of the island. Use the therizinosaur to gather resources very important in the early game, like berries, thatch, hide, and more.
- Preferred taming food: Exceptional Kibble, vegetables.
Raptor
For many survivors, the raptor is the quintessential mount. While they do indeed harvest meat and hide better than herbivores, raptors are also very quick, and can act as a deterrent to other players looking to prey on you. It’s recommended that you tame a raptor early on just so others get the message that you are not a survivor to be trifled with.
- Preferred taming food: Simple Kibble, raw mutton.
And those are our recommendations for dinosaurs to tame in ARK: Survival Evolved. Which tamable creatures are your favorite? Let us know in the comments section!
