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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The best dinosaurs to tame in ARK: Survival Evolved depend on the job: a Rex is a combat pick, an Ankylosaurus gathers metal, and an Argentavis can carry useful harvesters between resource nodes. This list covers combat, harvesting, transport, travel, and specialist utility so you can choose for your map, progression, and PvE or PvP goals—not assume one creature is best at everything.
How to choose a tame
Match the creature to the task you need done. A boss mount, a resource gatherer, and a fast scout solve different problems; a powerful late-game tame may be a poor first choice. Consider four things before committing:
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- Job: combat, gathering, hauling, travel, or specialist utility.
- Progression: whether the tame is practical for your current stage or an advanced goal.
- Map and game version: creature availability and mechanics can differ between maps and between Survival Evolved and Survival Ascended.
- Taming burden: method, food, protection, time, and your server’s multipliers.
The ARK Official Community Wiki’s general taming guide says level and preferred food affect requirements, and marks its broad taming tables as outdated. Don’t rely on a universal arrow count, food quantity, or tame duration; check the specific creature page for your game version and server settings.
Best combat dinosaurs to tame
1. Rex: a major combat and boss-fight tame
A Rex is a high-health, heavy-hitting choice for PvE and PvP, and a familiar option for boss fights. It is a major combat investment rather than an easy early-game tame. Plan around the creature’s level, the encounter, and the support your group can provide; a strong Rex does not make every fight safe.
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- Use cunning strategy and tactics to tame, train, ride and breed the 100+ dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the dynamic, persistent ecosystems across land, sea, air, and even underground Build your character's strengths and gain items, skills, and pet creatures using in-depth role-playing systems
- Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes...and ultimately discover ARK's true purpose
- Build a fire or shelter, then craft customizable clothing & armors to help protect against damage and extreme temperatures on your way to unlocking advanced technologies and equipment
- Chop down trees and mine metal and other precious resources to build massive multi-leveled structures composed of complex snap-linked parts
2. Giganotosaurus: formidable offense with a serious risk
The Giganotosaurus offers exceptional offensive presence and can serve as a formidable defensive creature. Its rage meter is an important drawback: when it fills, the animal can become dangerous to its owner. Treat it as a high-risk combat power, not a straightforward upgrade to a Rex.
3. Shadowmane: combat with stealth and mobility
Shadowmanes combine combat abilities with stealth, passive buffs, and useful traversal. Their long-range jump and underwater mobility give them roles beyond fighting, making them a flexible choice when you can make use of those abilities.
4. Baryonyx: useful in aquatic and combat situations
Baryonyx is a tameable option in Survival Evolved for players who want a creature useful around water as well as in combat. Its healing is tied to eating fish, so its value depends on access to fish and the relevant game settings. Check the creature’s wiki entry for version-specific mechanics rather than assuming every detail applies on every map or server.
Rank #2
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- 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
Best dinosaurs for gathering resources
5. Ankylosaurus: metal and mineral specialist
The Ankylosaurus is a strong choice for metal and mineral runs because its attacks harvest resources. The ARK Official Community Wiki says metal in its inventory has an 85% weight reduction. Pairing it with a flyer that can carry it turns that focused gathering ability into a practical transport loop.
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6. Doedicurus: stone gathering
For stone, the Doedicurus is a specialist gatherer. It can autonomously gather stone while being carried by an Argentavis, which makes the two a particularly useful resource-run pairing. See the Doedicurus entry for creature details.
7. Therizinosaurus: a flexible harvest option
Different Therizinosaurus attacks gather different kinds of resources, so it can cover a range of needs without being the top choice for every material. Its versatility suits players who value a multi-purpose gatherer and also want combat potential. The creature’s resource mechanics can vary by game version; consult the Therizinosaurus entry for the version you play.
Rank #3
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game. Run too far and not only will you be exhausted, but you will also quickly get hungry and thirsty. Weather effects are based on real-world climates, and so you'll need to hide out from rain and snow, while making the most of sunny days
- 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!)
- Gather Resources, 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 style of everything from the walls of your home, to your character's armor, weapons and more
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout. Make your way to the final boss and figure out why you've been dropped into this Jurassic-era experience
8. Stegosaurus: berries, carrying, and sturdy utility
A Stegosaurus can gather berries and offers health and carrying capacity that make it useful beyond harvesting. Berries also help craft narcotics used in taming, giving this creature an indirect role in building a larger tame roster. GameSpot includes the Stegosaurus among its recommended creatures for these practical uses.
Best dinosaurs for transport and travel
9. Argentavis: a transport partner for resource runs
The Argentavis is valuable not just as a flyer but as a way to move harvesters to resources. The ARK Official Community Wiki lists both the Ankylosaurus and Doedicurus among creatures an Argentavis can carry. That makes it a practical partner for metal and stone gathering, rather than merely a point-to-point travel mount. See the Argentavis entry and check the applicable game version.
10. Pteranodon: early aerial travel and trap setup
A Pteranodon offers speed and maneuverability that are useful for early aerial travel and for leading wild creatures toward taming traps. It is a mobility pick, not a heavy hauler. See the Pteranodon entry for creature-specific information.
Rank #4
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- 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
11. Quetzal: heavy aerial hauling and a platform saddle
The Quetzal’s carrying weight and platform-saddle potential make it useful for heavy aerial transport and mobile-base plans. Those strengths matter most when you can support a large, advanced tame; it is not a convenient substitute for an early flyer.
12. Managarmr: fast traversal across terrain
The Managarmr is a movement-focused choice, with a boost that supports fast travel across land, water, and air. Its combat abilities are secondary to its value as a way to cover ground quickly.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Best specialist utility tames
13. Desmodus: stealthy flight and scouting
Desmodus combines flight and invisibility with a screech that reveals nearby enemies, making it useful for scouting and stealth-oriented play. Its taming can be demanding, so it is not a simple beginner recommendation. GameSpot includes it among its notable tames.
14. Snow Owl: healing and focused support
The Snow Owl’s utility includes healing, a damaging dive, infrared vision, and pellets that support Gacha resource production. It is most valuable when those specific abilities fit your plans rather than as a general-purpose mount.
15. Gacha: PvE resource production
Gachas produce crystals when fed selected resources, and those crystals can yield materials. This makes the Gacha a production tame for PvE resource plans, not a general-purpose travel or combat mount.
Useful combinations and practical takeaways
- Metal run: use an Argentavis to carry an Ankylosaurus to a resource area, then benefit from the Anky’s metal harvesting and inventory weight reduction.
- Stone run: pair an Argentavis with a Doedicurus; the Doedicurus can gather stone while being carried.
- Flexible harvesting: choose a Therizinosaurus when covering several resource types is more useful than specializing in one.
- First tame: prioritize a creature that addresses an immediate need, such as a practical flyer or berry gatherer, rather than a demanding boss or late-game tame.
GameSpot’s July 11, 2022 guide, “Ark: Survival Evolved – Best Dinosaurs To Tame”, is one useful reference for combat, travel, and specialist roles, but its ten-creature list is not a definitive ranking. The list here is a role-based selection, and creature mechanics should be checked against your map and version.
Quick Recap
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