ARK has two basic taming systems: passive taming, which feeds an awake creature, and knock-out taming, which uses tranquilizing weapons before food is added to the unconscious animal. For a first tame, start with a low-risk creature such as a Lystrosaurus or Parasaur, bring the food that species prefers plus spares, and confirm whether you are playing ARK: Survival Evolved or ARK: Survival Ascended. Their values and patches are not always the same.
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What taming does in ARK
A tamed creature gives you a companion you can use for carrying, travel, defense, harvesting or other practical jobs. The process is not one universal minigame. Each species has a preferred food and a taming method, and the time and danger can vary substantially.
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Most beginner decisions come down to three questions:
- Is this species fed while conscious, or must it be knocked out first?
- Do you have enough of its preferred food and, for a knockout tame, enough tranquilizer ammunition?
- Can you keep the animal safe while the taming process runs?
Lower-level animals are usually the sensible first targets because they reduce the food, ammunition and waiting time required. A high-level animal may eventually be stronger, but it is a poor teaching target if losing it would consume your entire early stockpile.
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Check your ARK version before collecting supplies
Two editions are commonly played: the original ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended. Guides and creature calculators can show different food requirements, taming times or available creatures depending on the edition. A number copied from a guide for the other game can therefore send you into the field with the wrong amount of food or ammunition.
Also check whether you are on an official server, an unofficial server or a locally configured game. Server settings and mods can change the waiting time and resource requirements even when the underlying taming method is unchanged. Use a creature-specific calculator or database for the exact food quantity in your edition and settings rather than treating a general guide as a universal number.
Passive taming: feed an awake creature
Passive taming is the gentler method. You do not render the animal unconscious. Instead, you approach it with its preferred food and feed it when the interaction prompt is available. Herbivores are commonly associated with this method, but the species entry for the animal you have found is the authority for its actual procedure.
Prepare for a passive tame
- Identify the species. Confirm the exact creature and edition in a current creature database such as Dododex. Similar-looking animals can use different foods.
- Collect the preferred food. Bring extra pieces. A single failed approach, a long walk or another creature eating from the inventory can leave you short.
- Choose the location. Move the animal away from predators and other wild creatures if you can. A flat, visible area is easier to defend than dense terrain beside a spawn point.
- Put the food where you can reach it. Keep it in an accessible inventory or hotbar slot so you are not searching through menus while the creature is moving.
Feed without frightening or killing the target
Approach slowly and use the feed interaction only when the game allows it. After a successful feed, the creature may need time before it accepts another piece. Follow it at a safe distance rather than repeatedly colliding with it or striking it. If it becomes aggressive, stop trying to feed and create space; attacking a passive-tame target can kill it or reset the encounter.
Watch the surroundings throughout the process. A passive tame can fail even when you have enough food if a predator reaches the animal, another player takes it, or the creature wanders into water or an inaccessible gap. The safest early setup is one where you can see the target and the approaches from which danger could arrive.
When passive taming finishes
The taming progress indicator completes after the creature has accepted enough food. Give it a name and move it to a protected location before beginning another project. If the creature is useful for carrying or scouting, make sure you have a saddle or other required equipment for your edition before travelling far with it.
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Knock-out taming has two separate phases. First, you lower the creature’s torpor until it falls unconscious. Second, you place its preferred food in the inventory and keep the animal safe while it eats. A tranquilizer weapon is not itself food; it only creates the unconscious state needed for this type of tame.
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Equipment checklist
- The target’s preferred food, with a reserve supply.
- A tranquilizing weapon and ammunition. Beginner equipment can include a slingshot, tranq arrows or tranq darts, depending on what you have unlocked and what your server allows.
- Enough ordinary weapons and armor to deal with nearby threats without accidentally damaging the target.
- A route to a safer position, or materials for a simple barrier if the location is exposed.
Step-by-step knockout procedure
- Scout before firing. Identify predators, cliffs, water and other hazards. If possible, draw the target to an open area where you can keep sight of it.
- Separate the target from its herd or threats. A second animal can interrupt the knockout attempt, and a group can make it difficult to tell which creature is taking damage.
- Apply tranquilizing ammunition carefully. Use the weapon appropriate to your level and inventory. The goal is to raise torpor without killing the animal, so do not fire blindly or continue attacking after it falls.
- Stop when it becomes unconscious. Switch from the tranquilizer weapon to the food and inventory tools you need. Continuing to attack an unconscious creature can destroy the tame you have already invested in.
- Place the correct food in its inventory. Knock-out species do not all accept the same food. Check the species entry for your edition rather than assuming that meat, berries or another item will work.
- Protect the body while it eats. Keep predators away and remain close enough to respond, but do not block the creature or accidentally damage it.
- Maintain the unconscious state when necessary. If the torpor indicator is falling, use the torpor-maintenance item specified by your game and server settings. Do not rely on an unverified conversion such as “one narcotic equals eight Narcoberries”; that ratio is not established here and can mislead players using different settings.
- Wait for completion. Keep spare food available until the progress bar finishes. Leaving early can allow a predator to kill the animal or the unconscious state to end before the tame is complete.
Why knockout attempts fail
- The animal dies: too much damage was applied, or a predator attacked while you were focused on torpor.
- The food is not consumed: the item is wrong for that species, the animal uses a different method, or the edition’s values differ from the guide you followed.
- The creature wakes up: torpor was not maintained long enough. Recheck the species entry and your server’s settings before trying again.
- The tame is interrupted: the target moved into terrain, water or danger. Clear the area first and use a more controlled location for the next attempt.
Beginner-friendly first tames
Community guides do not agree on one perfect first dinosaur, and that is reasonable: the best choice depends on where you spawned, what food you can gather and which edition you play. The following options are useful because their roles and risks are easy to understand.
| Creature | Method and food reported by the cited guide | Wild danger | Tranq ammunition | Useful reason to choose it | Time information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lystrosaurus | Passive; feed mejoberries | TheGamer describes it as not very dangerous | Not required for the passive method | Simple, low-risk introduction to feeding an awake creature | Not stated |
| Parasaur | Ultahost identifies it as a good choice for a new player; confirm the exact method and food for your edition | Not stated | Not stated | Beginner-oriented early tame | Not stated |
| Trike | Knock it out with repeated sedative doses, then feed it | Approach with cover; dense foliage is suggested | Required; the source does not state a universal amount | Early progression option once you can control a knockout encounter | Not stated |
| Dodo | Use the species’ listed method and food | Generally treated as an early, manageable animal; exact danger is not stated in the cited guide | Check the species entry | TheGamer notes that dodos act as mobile chests and increase carrying capacity | Not stated |
| Pteranodon | EarlyGuides lists Raw Meat and Tranq Arrows | Not stated | Tranq Arrows | Early mobility and access to flight | Not stated |
| Giganotosaurus | EarlyGuides mentions it as a starting build, but the same requirements make it unsuitable for a first tame | Extremely demanding encounter | 50+ Shocking Tranq Darts are reported | Late-game power rather than beginner utility | Hours of unconscious feeding are reported |
The “not stated” cells are deliberate. A source that calls a creature beginner-friendly does not automatically establish its exact taming time, ammunition count or danger on every map and server.
Lystrosaurus: the low-risk passive lesson
TheGamer presents the Lystrosaurus as an easy, non-dangerous target that can be tamed by feeding mejoberries without knocking it out. It is a good way to learn the interaction rhythm: identify the animal, approach without attacking, feed when prompted, wait for the next opportunity and defend it until the bar is full.
Because this is a passive tame, tranquilizer arrows, darts and a slingshot are unnecessary. Spend your preparation time on food and on choosing a location where a predator cannot reach the animal unnoticed. If you are still learning how the prompt and progress display work, this is a safer experiment than beginning with a large knockout species.
Parasaur: a practical early target
Ultahost calls the Parasaur a strong choice for someone new to ARK. Treat that as a recommendation to investigate, not as a promise that every Parasaur encounter will have identical requirements. Before leaving camp, confirm the Parasaur entry for your map, edition and server settings, then collect the listed food and any tranquilizer gear if the entry specifies a knockout tame.
Its value for a beginner is that it can be part of an early progression plan without committing the resources demanded by a late-game carnivore. Keep the first individual close to a protected base, learn its controls and inventory behavior, and only then attempt a more exposed expedition.
Trike: your first controlled knockout
Ultahost recommends approaching a Trike in dense foliage and using repeated sedative doses until it passes out, then feeding it. The cover matters because the encounter can become dangerous if you are exposed while managing distance and ammunition.
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- Prepare the correct food and tranquilizer ammunition before approaching.
- Find foliage or another obstacle that lets you maintain separation while keeping sight of the animal.
- Apply sedative doses in a controlled sequence and stop once the Trike is unconscious.
- Place the correct food in its inventory and watch for predators while the taming bar advances.
- Do not assume that a method learned on one edition has identical numbers on the other; verify the current species entry.
A Trike is a useful milestone because it teaches the full knockout loop without requiring the hours and large ammunition stockpile associated with a Giganotosaurus.
Dodo: carrying help in a small package
TheGamer describes dodos as mobile chests that increase carrying capacity. That makes them useful even when they are not your combat or travel solution. Their small size can make them easy to overlook, but a beginner base benefits from any safe, nearby carrying help while you gather materials.
Use the same discipline as with every other tame: check the species’ current food and method, clear predators from the area, and keep the animal protected after taming. The carrying benefit is only useful if the dodo survives long enough to remain part of your base routine.
Pteranodon: early mobility, with a higher preparation cost
EarlyGuides recommends an early Pteranodon for mobility and lists Raw Meat and Tranq Arrows for the tame. That combination means you should not begin the attempt with berries in your inventory or with no tranquilizer ammunition. Confirm the exact amount for your edition and settings before searching for one.
Flight changes how you explore, but it also adds a recovery problem: a newly tamed flyer can leave your immediate reach if you do not understand its controls or if it lands in a dangerous place. Keep the first flight near a familiar area, and treat the tame as an opportunity to learn takeoff, landing and inventory management before travelling across the map.
Why a Giganotosaurus is not a first tame
EarlyGuides mentions a Giganotosaurus as a starting build, but the requirements make that advice unsuitable for a beginner’s first attempt. The same source reports a need for more than 50 Shocking Tranq Darts and hours of unconscious feeding. That is a major ammunition, food, protection and time commitment, not an introductory exercise.
Save this type of project for a later stage when you can secure the area, replace failed ammunition, maintain the unconscious state and protect a valuable target for hours. If you want to learn knockout taming now, a Trike or another manageable species gives you the same procedural lessons with a much smaller loss if something goes wrong.
Build a safe taming site
You do not need a sophisticated trap for every early creature, but location control is often more important than having one extra stack of food. Before starting, look for:
- A clear view of the target and the paths predators could use.
- Enough room to retreat without falling from a cliff or entering deep water.
- Nearby storage or a bed so a death does not end the attempt permanently.
- Cover for a knockout encounter, especially when using the foliage approach suggested for a Trike.
- A route back to base that does not require abandoning an unconscious animal.
For passive taming, avoid repeatedly pushing the creature into walls or corners. For knockout taming, avoid firing from a position where you cannot see whether another creature is attacking. A simple, observable site makes every stage easier to diagnose.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Food and ammunition planning
Start with the creature’s entry, not a generic list of “dinosaur food.” Dododex’s beginner guidance recommends gathering the preferred food and bringing extra. That advice is especially important when a tame takes longer than expected or when a server’s settings differ from the guide you read.
Knock-out tames add a second inventory calculation: tranquilizer weapon and ammunition. The available options can include tranq arrows, tranq darts or a slingshot, but the right choice depends on what you have unlocked and the target’s requirements. Carry enough to complete the attempt, but do not treat a community estimate as a guaranteed number across versions.
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Common beginner mistakes
Choosing a high-level target too early
Higher level often means a larger investment. Start with a lower-level animal while learning the method, then pursue a stronger specimen after you can reliably protect and finish a tame.
Using the wrong edition’s numbers
Do not copy an ARK: Survival Evolved value into ARK: Survival Ascended, or the reverse, without checking the current creature entry. Patch changes and server settings can make even an otherwise accurate guide unsuitable for your game.
Arriving with no spare food
A tame is not complete merely because the creature is unconscious or has accepted one feed. Bring a reserve so a longer wait, a detour or an interrupted attempt does not end with an empty inventory.
Attacking after the knockout
Once the target is unconscious, stop using the weapon that caused the knockout. Further damage can kill the animal before it consumes enough food.
Leaving the body unattended
Unconscious animals and passive-tame targets remain vulnerable. If you cannot watch the area for the required period, choose a safer target or delay the attempt until you can stay nearby.
Assuming a guide’s recommendation is a universal rule
Community sources disagree on some species and roles. Use the recommendation as a starting point, then verify the creature-specific method, food and current patch behavior for your platform.
Patch changes and unusual creatures
Taming details can change with patches, particularly in Survival Ascended. The following items are version-specific and should not be generalized to every creature:
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- Gloon: MP1ST reports that ASA update 1.078.036 removed the crouch requirement for taming Gloon and added extra HUD text during Wild Gloon taming. If an older walkthrough tells you to crouch, check the current interface and patch notes.
- Osedax: a third-party write-up claims the required creature count fell by about 30%, with a larger reduction at lower levels. That claim is not verified against official notes, so do not plan an expensive attempt around it without checking a current authoritative entry.
- Therizinosaurus: Studio Wildcard community posts describe planned harvesting-role changes for tamed Therizinos. Planned changes are not proof that the behavior is live on your server.
- Survival Evolved on Switch: a wiki snippet lists patch 624.0 with taming-cost changes for Giganotosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus, but the ship date is unverified. Treat that note as a reason to check the current Switch patch history, not as a date or value to repeat as fact.
For live information, consult the ARK Official Community Forums changelog for your platform, the ARK Discord and the ARK Wiki patch notes. Platform-specific threads matter because a PC client number does not automatically describe Xbox, PlayStation, Switch or a dedicated server.
A sensible first-session progression
- Learn passive feeding with a Lystrosaurus. Gather mejoberries, approach without attacking and practice the feed-and-wait rhythm.
- Add a practical early creature. Investigate a Parasaur or Dodo, confirming its current method and food before committing supplies.
- Practice a controlled knockout. Use the Trike procedure when you can bring tranquilizing ammunition, preferred food and enough time to guard the animal.
- Improve mobility. Attempt a Pteranodon after confirming the Raw Meat and Tranq Arrow requirements for your edition and settings.
- Postpone major projects. Leave Giganotosaurus and other long, ammunition-heavy tames for a stage when you can protect an unconscious animal for hours and replace a failed supply run.
This progression teaches both taming methods, adds carrying help and then introduces mobility without making a late-game creature the first test of your preparation.
Quick pre-tame checklist
- Edition confirmed: Survival Evolved or Survival Ascended.
- Map, server settings and mods checked.
- Species-specific method verified.
- Preferred food collected, with spares.
- Tranq weapon and ammunition packed for a knockout tame.
- Predators and escape hazards identified.
- Food and torpor monitored until the taming bar is complete.
- Safe route and shelter prepared for the newly tamed creature.
Final recommendation
For a first attempt, choose a Lystrosaurus for passive taming or a manageable Parasaur-class target after verifying its current requirements. Move to a Trike when you are ready to learn knockout control, and consider a Pteranodon when you can supply Raw Meat and Tranq Arrows. Treat the Giganotosaurus as a later project: the reported 50-plus Shocking Tranq Darts and hours of unconscious feeding make it a poor beginner target. Above all, check the edition and current patch before trusting any number.
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