Short answer: In ARK: Genesis — Part 1, ordinary tamed flyers such as Pteranodons, Argentavis and Wyverns cannot normally be ridden. The map is designed as a no-fly simulation. Astrocetus, Astrodelphis and Gasbags are documented exceptions, while Rock Drakes and Maewings can still glide. Genesis: Part 2 permits flying creatures. On an unofficial server, an administrator can override the Part 1 restriction, but that is different from standard official gameplay.
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First identify which Genesis map you are playing
“Can you fly in Genesis?” has two different answers because the expansion is split into two maps. Genesis: Part 1 is the restricted simulation; Genesis: Part 2 allows flying creatures. Check the map name on the server-selection screen or pause menu before changing saddles, controls or creature settings.
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| Map | Ordinary flying mounts | Named exceptions or alternatives | Default administrator change required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis: Part 1 | Not rideable under the normal simulation rule | Astrocetus, Astrodelphis and Gasbags; Rock Drake and Maewing gliding | No for the documented exceptions; yes to enable ordinary flyers |
| Genesis: Part 2 | Flying creatures are allowed | Normal flight systems apply to the creature and platform | No, unless the server has its own restrictions |
Genesis: Part 1 released for ARK: Survival Evolved on February 25, 2020. Its flight rule is a map-design choice, not a missing saddle, broken tamed creature or universal ARK control change.
Why your Argentavis, Pteranodon or Wyvern will not fly on Part 1
The Genesis: Part 1 documentation states that riding flying creatures is restricted in the Genesis Simulation. That restriction applies even when the creature is properly tamed and has the saddle it normally needs elsewhere in ARK. A flyer can therefore appear healthy and correctly equipped while the game still refuses to let you mount or ride it.
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This is why repeatedly crafting a new saddle, relogging, moving the creature to another biome or remapping the jump key generally does not solve the problem. Those steps address equipment or input faults; they do not remove a map rule. Confirm the map and server settings first.
The restriction is also separate from the Tek Chestpiece. The Part 1 reference says the chestpiece jetpack is disabled in the simulation by default, so owning Tek equipment does not automatically restore ordinary aerial travel.
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Flying and gliding options that work on Genesis: Part 1
Astrocetus
Astrocetus is listed as an exception to the Part 1 flying-creature restriction. It is therefore one of the documented ways to obtain an aerial mount while leaving the standard simulation rule intact. Use the creature’s own requirements and controls for your platform; the exception does not mean every other flyer is enabled.
Astrodelphis
Astrodelphis is also explicitly listed as rideable despite the Part 1 restriction. If your goal is powered aerial movement on the standard map, this is a supported exception rather than an administrator workaround.
Gasbags
Gasbags completes the documented list of Part 1 exceptions. It is easy to confuse “exception” with “all flyers enabled,” but the rule is narrower: these named creatures are allowed while ordinary flying mounts remain restricted.
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Rock Drake and Maewing gliding
Rock Drake and Maewing gliding remains available on Part 1. Gliding is not the same as powered flight. You launch from height, control your descent and use terrain or structures to gain another starting point; you do not remain airborne in the same way as a Pteranodon or Argentavis.
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Genesis: Part 2: the straightforward flying answer
Genesis: Part 2 differs from Part 1 because its documentation explicitly allows flying creatures. On that map, an ordinary flyer that is usable elsewhere is not blocked merely because the map is Genesis. You still need the appropriate tame, saddle and platform-specific controls, and a server owner can impose additional rules, but there is no Part 1-style blanket prohibition in the default map description.
If a flyer fails to work on Part 2, troubleshoot it as a normal mount issue: verify that you are on Part 2, check the creature’s saddle and ownership, confirm that the server has not changed creature rules, and test the mount or dismount input. Do not apply Part 1’s no-fly explanation until the map has been identified.
How to fly when the map and server allow it
The exact button layout can differ by platform, controller profile and personal remapping. The ARK Official Community Wiki lists these PC defaults:
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| Action | PC default | How to use it safely |
|---|---|---|
| Mount or dismount | E |
Mount only when the creature is in a safe position; dismount over a surface rather than open water or hostile terrain. |
| Land or take off | Space |
Use it near a clear landing area. The same key is used for the aerial transition in the documented PC layout. |
| Stop movement | X |
Use it to arrest forward travel while lining up a landing or checking your map. |
These are defaults, not universal commands. Open the in-game controls menu and check the action assigned to your device before a long trip. A controller layout, accessibility remap or console version can place the same actions on different inputs.
A practical flight routine
- Check the map. Part 1 blocks ordinary flyers by default; Part 2 does not.
- Check the creature. On Part 1, use one of the listed exceptions or a gliding creature. On Part 2, confirm the creature is rideable and correctly equipped.
- Clear the takeoff area. Avoid trees, ceilings, narrow cave mouths and aggressive creatures that can interrupt the mount.
- Mount with the assigned key. On the documented PC layout, that is
E. - Take off and establish a route. Press the platform’s takeoff input, then fly toward a known landing location instead of committing to an unscouted distance.
- Watch stamina continuously. Flying consumes the creature’s stamina. Begin descending while a reserve remains; do not wait for the last point of stamina over hostile ground.
- Land and recover. Use a flat or defensible surface, stop movement and allow stamina to recover before the next leg.
- Dismount only when secure. A safe landing protects both rider and creature from falls, predators and accidental water entry.
Stamina planning for long flights
Flight is not unlimited simply because a creature can take off. The documented controls reference notes that flying consumes creature stamina, so every route needs a landing plan. Stamina management matters on Part 2 and on any Part 1 exception that uses powered movement.
- Identify two or more possible landing points before leaving a base.
- Prefer broad ground, rooftops or familiar platforms over a tiny ledge.
- Start descending before stamina is exhausted; an exhausted flyer may leave you unable to reach the intended surface.
- Pause at a safe landing point to recover stamina rather than circling above an unknown area.
- On a gliding creature, plan for the end of the glide separately from powered-flight stamina. A glide still requires a destination.
Stamina use is a travel constraint, not evidence that the mount is malfunctioning. If the creature lands normally and its stamina refills, the basic flight system is working.
Can an unofficial server enable flyers on Part 1?
Yes. The Genesis references document administrator methods for overriding the default rule. The setting bForceCanRideFliers is identified as a way for an unofficial server administrator to enable flyer riding. Because this is a server configuration option, it affects the server’s rules rather than giving an individual player a universal client-side switch.
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- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
What an administrator should clarify
- Whether the server is unofficial and which ARK edition it runs.
- Whether
bForceCanRideFliershas been enabled for the relevant map. - Whether a restart or configuration reload is required by that server’s hosting panel.
- Whether command use is allowed for ordinary players or reserved for administrators.
- Whether the rule is intended to apply to all flyers or only to a controlled test.
Players should ask the administrator for the server’s published configuration rather than changing local files and expecting an official rule to change. A local setting cannot override a remote server’s authoritative map rules.
Official/default play versus admin-enabled play
| Situation | What you should expect | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Official Genesis: Part 1 | Ordinary flyers are restricted; Astrocetus, Astrodelphis and Gasbags are exceptions; Rock Drake and Maewing gliding remains available. | Use an exception or glider and plan stamina and landing points. |
| Unofficial Part 1 with default settings | The same restriction normally applies. | Ask the administrator whether flyer riding is intentionally disabled. |
Unofficial Part 1 with bForceCanRideFliers |
The administrator has overridden the map rule. | Follow the server’s instructions and verify the setting on the current map. |
Cheat/testing context using forcetame |
A command-based exception may permit riding a rideable flyer. | Use only with administrator permission; it is not standard progression. |
| Genesis: Part 2 | Flying creatures are allowed by the map documentation. | Use normal saddle, input and stamina troubleshooting. |
Troubleshooting: a flyer will not mount or fly
1. Confirm the map before touching the saddle
If the map is Part 1, a normal Pteranodon, Argentavis or Wyvern failing to mount is expected behavior under default settings. If the map is Part 2, continue through the normal mount checks.
2. Identify whether the creature is an exception
On Part 1, compare the creature with the documented list: Astrocetus, Astrodelphis and Gasbags. Rock Drake and Maewing provide gliding, not the same powered flight as an ordinary flyer. A creature outside those categories requires an administrator override.
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3. Separate riding from gliding
A Rock Drake or Maewing can glide while ordinary flight is restricted. If you are expecting a sustained hover or powered climb, the creature’s ability may not match that expectation. Re-plan the route around launch height and landing surfaces.
4. Check server rules
On an unofficial server, ask whether bForceCanRideFliers is enabled and whether the server permits command-based exceptions. Do not assume that a single-player setting, a mod description or another player’s claim reflects the current server configuration.
5. Check controls only after the rule is cleared
Once the map and server permit riding, verify your platform’s mount, takeoff, landing and stop inputs. The documented PC defaults are E, Space and X, but remapping can change them. Test on the ground or over a secure base before attempting a long flight.
6. Check stamina and the landing state
If the creature takes off but will not remain airborne, inspect stamina and your landing input. Flying consumes stamina, and an exhausted creature needs a safe place to recover. A low-stamina landing is a planning problem rather than proof that the map has disabled flight.
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| Movement option | Powered flight? | Part 1 status | Stamina and route consideration | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astrocetus | Yes, as a documented exception | Allowed exception | Use the creature’s flight controls and plan landings where applicable | A supported aerial mount on standard Part 1 settings |
| Astrodelphis | Yes, as a documented exception | Allowed exception | Monitor stamina during travel | A supported aerial mount without changing the map rule |
| Gasbags | Yes, as a documented exception | Allowed exception | Plan a landing before stamina is exhausted | Powered aerial movement on the restricted map |
| Rock Drake | No sustained powered flight; gliding | Gliding available | Requires launch height and a reachable landing area | Crossing gaps and descending quickly |
| Maewing | No ordinary flyer flight; gliding | Gliding available | Route around terrain and the end of the glide | Fast traversals where a landing point is available |
| Ordinary Pteranodon, Argentavis or Wyvern | Yes in maps that allow them | Restricted by default on Part 1 | Not relevant until an administrator enables riding | Use on Part 2 or an explicitly modified Part 1 server |
Common misconceptions
“My saddle is correct, so the creature should fly.”
A saddle satisfies a creature requirement; it does not cancel a map restriction. Part 1’s no-fly rule is evaluated before ordinary riding becomes available.
“The jetpack should let me bypass the rule.”
The Tek Chestpiece jetpack is disabled in the Genesis simulation by default according to the Part 1 reference. Tek ownership therefore does not guarantee personal flight on that map.
“Gliding means flyers are enabled.”
Gliding and powered flight are different movement systems. Rock Drake and Maewing gliding can remain available while a Pteranodon or Argentavis is still prohibited.
“A command used by another player is an official feature.”
Commands such as forcetame belong to an administrator or cheat context. They should be labeled as server-authorized exceptions, not presented as the normal way to play an official Genesis simulation.
A quick decision checklist
- Part 1 and ordinary flyer: stop troubleshooting the saddle; the restriction is probably working as designed.
- Part 1 and Astrocetus, Astrodelphis or Gasbags: use the documented exception and verify platform controls.
- Part 1 and Rock Drake or Maewing: plan a glide with a definite landing surface.
- Part 1 unofficial server: ask whether
bForceCanRideFliersis enabled or whether an administrator is using a command-based exception. - Part 2: treat the creature as a normal flyer, then check saddle, controls, server rules and stamina.
- Any map with flight available: land before stamina reaches exhaustion and use platform-specific controls rather than assuming PC defaults.
Source note
The flight restrictions, exceptions, gliding availability and PC control defaults summarized here are documented by the ARK Official Community Wiki. Its flying page describes flying as an important part of ARK, while the Genesis references distinguish Part 1’s restricted simulation from Part 2’s allowed flyers. The Part 1 release date is February 25, 2020.
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