On Genesis: Part 1, you normally cannot ride ordinary flying mounts. A tamed Pteranodon, Argentavis or Wyvern will not provide standard flight in the Genesis Simulation under default settings. The documented Part 1 exceptions are Astrocetus, Astrodelphis and Gasbags; Rock Drake and Maewing gliding also remains available. Genesis: Part 2 is different: flying creatures are allowed there.
Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
If a flyer refuses to mount, identify the Genesis part first, then check whether the server administrator has changed the rules. Do not start by replacing a saddle or assuming the creature is bugged. The map’s flight restriction is usually the explanation.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved (PS4) | $19.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved - Xbox One | $23.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved (Nintendo Switch) | $35.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved - Xbox One (Renewed) | $21.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
ARK Survival Evolved Definitive Complete Guide & Walkthrough (Latest Update 2025) All Strategies,... | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Can you fly on Genesis?
The answer depends on the map.
| Map | Ordinary flying mounts | Named options | Gliding | Administrator change required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis: Part 1 | Restricted by default | Astrocetus, Astrodelphis and Gasbags are documented exceptions | Rock Drake and Maewing gliding remains available | Only if you want to override the default restriction for ordinary flyers |
| Genesis: Part 2 | Allowed | Use the flying creatures available in your game and server configuration | Available where the relevant creature can glide | No map-level override is needed for the basic flying rule |
Genesis: Part 1 launched for ARK: Survival Evolved on February 25, 2020. Its “no-fly” rule is part of the simulation’s intended design, not a general failure of flying mounts. A Part 1 server can still be configured differently, but the default experience deliberately limits powered flight.
Why ordinary flyers are restricted on Genesis: Part 1
Genesis: Part 1 treats riding flying creatures as restricted movement. The restriction covers the normal experience of mounting a flyer and taking off, so bringing a familiar mount from another map does not bypass it. This is why an Argentavis, Pteranodon or Wyvern can be healthy, tamed and correctly equipped yet still refuse to function as a flying mount.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
The rule applies to the map or server environment, not just to one species. If several ordinary flyers all fail in the same way, that pattern points to the Genesis setting rather than to individual creature statistics.
The Tek Chestpiece jetpack is also disabled in the simulation by default. A jetpack therefore is not a normal substitute for a banned flyer on standard Part 1 settings.
Flying and gliding options that work on Part 1
Astrocetus
Astrocetus is listed among the exceptions to the Part 1 flying restriction. It is therefore one of the creatures that can provide an aerial option without an administrator changing the map’s default rule.
Astrodelphis
Astrodelphis is another documented exception. If your goal is powered aerial travel on standard Part 1 settings, this is one of the species to consider instead of trying to force a conventional flyer to mount.
Gasbags
Gasbags is the third named exception in the Genesis: Part 1 documentation. Its inclusion does not make every other flying creature legal; the exception is specific to the listed creature.
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
Rock Drake gliding
Rock Drake movement remains available as gliding rather than ordinary powered flight. Gliding changes how you plan a trip: you launch from height, manage your trajectory and look for a safe place to land instead of hovering indefinitely like a conventional flyer.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Maewing gliding
Maewing gliding is also available on Part 1. Treat it as a separate movement option from unrestricted flight. It can help with traversing vertical terrain and covering distance, but it does not remove the map’s restriction on ordinary powered flyers.
| Movement option | Part 1 default status | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary tamed flyer | Restricted | A normal Pteranodon, Argentavis or Wyvern cannot be used as a standard flying mount unless the server rule is changed |
| Astrocetus | Documented exception | Eligible under the listed Part 1 exception |
| Astrodelphis | Documented exception | Eligible under the listed Part 1 exception |
| Gasbags | Documented exception | Eligible under the listed Part 1 exception |
| Rock Drake | Gliding available | Use glide movement rather than ordinary powered flight |
| Maewing | Gliding available | Use glide movement rather than ordinary powered flight |
| Tek Chestpiece jetpack | Disabled by default | Do not expect the suit to provide a standard Part 1 flight workaround |
How to fly when the map and server allow it
Once you are on Genesis: Part 2, using an allowed creature, or playing on a server where the restriction has been overridden, the basic mount sequence is straightforward. The exact keys can differ by platform and by personal remapping, so treat the following as the default PC layout documented by the ARK Official Community Wiki.
- Confirm that flight is legal. Check the map name and the server’s rules before troubleshooting the creature. Part 1 default settings block ordinary flyers; Part 2 allows them.
- Approach the creature and mount. On the documented PC defaults, press
Eto mount or dismount. A saddle or other ride requirement still has to be satisfied for the particular creature, but a correct saddle cannot override a map-level no-fly rule. - Take off or land. Press
Spacefor the documented land/take-off action. If the creature will not respond, verify that you are using the right platform layout and that flight is permitted in the current server. - Control stopping deliberately. Press
Xfor the documented stop-movement control on PC. Stopping before you run out of stamina gives you more time to choose a landing point. - Watch stamina throughout the trip. Powered flight consumes the creature’s stamina. Begin looking for a landing area before the meter is empty, especially over water, hostile terrain or locations with no safe ledges.
- Land to recover. Touch down periodically instead of treating a long journey as one continuous flight. After stamina has recovered, continue the route in another leg.
Console and other platform layouts may use different buttons, and remapped controls override the defaults above. Check the in-game control screen if Space, E or X does not perform the expected action.
Planning a safe flight
Break long routes into stamina legs
Flight distance is limited by stamina, not just by the map’s size. Before leaving, identify a sequence of places where the creature can land. A visible plateau, beach or other open ground is more useful than a destination that is technically close but surrounded by cliffs or enemies.
Recommended Free Tools
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
Use the stamina bar as a planning tool. If it is falling faster than expected, descend early and land while you still have control. Waiting until the last portion of the meter can turn a routine trip into an emergency landing.
Separate powered flight from gliding
Powered flight lets a creature remain airborne through its own flight movement and consumes stamina. Rock Drake and Maewing travel on Part 1 through gliding, which depends more on launch height and trajectory. Plan a glide around where you can start, where you will lose altitude and where you can safely finish; do not assume gliding behaves like a hovering flyer.
Keep platform controls in mind
A guide that lists PC keys cannot guarantee the same buttons on console or on a customized server. If the creature mounts but will not take off, open the control settings and confirm the current land/take-off binding. Also check whether a server has altered movement behavior before concluding that the creature is broken.
What to check when a flyer will not mount on Part 1
Use this order so you do not spend time fixing the wrong problem.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute- Read the map label. Verify whether you are in Genesis: Part 1 or Part 2. The same creature can behave differently because the map rules differ.
- Identify the creature. If it is an ordinary Pteranodon, Argentavis, Wyvern or another conventional flyer, the Part 1 default restriction is the first explanation. If it is Astrocetus, Astrodelphis or Gasbags, continue checking the server and creature-specific requirements.
- Check server settings. Unofficial servers may deliberately enable flyer riding. Ask the administrator whether the Genesis restriction has been overridden rather than assuming every server uses the official-style default.
- Check the ride requirement. Once map legality and server rules are established, verify the creature’s saddle or other normal mounting requirement. This is the point at which equipment troubleshooting becomes useful.
- Check controls and permissions. Confirm that you are using the correct interaction key, that the creature is accessible, and that you have the permissions expected by the server.
- Test a documented alternative. On unmodified Part 1 settings, try one of the listed exceptions or use Rock Drake or Maewing gliding rather than repeatedly attempting to mount a blocked ordinary flyer.
This sequence distinguishes a rule from a bug. A saddle replacement cannot make an ordinary flyer legal on a default Part 1 server, while an administrator’s setting can change that result for everyone on an unofficial server.
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
How an unofficial server can enable flyers
Server administrators have configuration and command-based ways to override the default Genesis behavior. These options are not part of normal official-server play and should be labeled as administrator or cheat-context changes.
Use the flyer-riding configuration
The Genesis references document the bForceCanRideFliers setting for enabling flyer riding. An administrator can apply that setting through the server’s configuration process. The exact file location, restart procedure and hosting panel depend on the server software and edition, so follow the host’s current configuration instructions rather than copying a path from a different installation.
After an administrator changes a rule, players should verify the result with a creature that normally demonstrates the restriction. If ordinary flyers still cannot be ridden, the administrator should confirm that the setting was loaded by the running server and that no other map or cluster rule is overriding it.
Use the documented command option carefully
The Ascended reference also records forcetame as a way to ride a rideable flying creature despite the restriction. This is an admin or cheat-context command, not a standard progression method. It may require the appropriate console access and permissions, and command availability can vary by edition, platform and server configuration.
Because this approach changes the normal rules, administrators should tell players when it is active. Otherwise a player may mistake an enabled command or configuration for the behavior of an unmodified Genesis map.
Genesis: Part 1 versus Part 2
The part number should appear in any answer to “How do I fly in Genesis?” Part 1 is designed around restricted ordinary flight, with the named exceptions and gliding options described above. Part 2 explicitly allows flying creatures, so a conventional flyer can be part of normal traversal there without the Part 1 override.
This distinction also explains apparently conflicting advice. A control guide that correctly describes taking off may be written for Part 2 or for a server with bForceCanRideFliers enabled. A Part 1 player on default settings can press the same take-off key and still receive no flight because the mount itself is not permitted.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
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 & 11| Question | Part 1 default | Part 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Can an ordinary tamed flyer be ridden? | No; riding is restricted | Flying creatures are allowed |
| Are there named exceptions? | Astrocetus, Astrodelphis and Gasbags | The map’s flying-creature rule allows flight; creature-specific requirements still apply |
| Is gliding available? | Rock Drake and Maewing gliding remains available | Use the movement options supported by the creature and server |
| Is the Tek Chestpiece jetpack enabled by default? | No; it is disabled in the simulation by default | The Part 1 restriction does not define Part 2’s ordinary flyer rule |
| Must an administrator override the map? | Only for ordinary flyers beyond the documented exceptions | No override is needed for the basic flying-creature allowance |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming every Genesis map is identical. Always separate Part 1 from Part 2.
- Bringing an Argentavis from another map and expecting it to work. Transfer history does not remove Part 1’s movement rule.
- Blaming the saddle first. Check map and server legality before changing equipment.
- Calling gliding “flight.” Rock Drake and Maewing provide useful aerial movement, but their gliding behavior is not the same as powered hovering flight.
- Relying on the Tek Chestpiece. Its jetpack is disabled by default in the Part 1 simulation.
- Ignoring stamina. Even where flight is allowed, the creature consumes stamina and must land periodically.
- Treating admin settings as official defaults. A server-enabled flyer rule or
forcetamecommand changes the local experience and should be identified as such. - Using PC keys on another platform without checking. E, Space and X are documented PC defaults, not universal bindings.
Practical answers for common situations
“Why can’t I fly my Argentavis on Genesis?”
If this is Genesis: Part 1 with default settings, the Argentavis is blocked by the map’s ordinary-flyer restriction. Confirm the map and ask whether the unofficial server has enabled bForceCanRideFliers. If neither applies, use a documented exception or a gliding creature instead.
“Can I fly on Genesis Part 1?”
You cannot use an ordinary flyer under the default rule, but Astrocetus, Astrodelphis and Gasbags are documented exceptions. Rock Drake and Maewing gliding also remains available. An administrator can change the rule on an unofficial server.
“How do I enable flyers?”
Only a server administrator can change the server-wide rule. The documented configuration is bForceCanRideFliers; the Ascended reference also records forcetame in an admin or cheat context. These are not player-side settings for standard official gameplay.
“What should I use instead of a flyer?”
For standard Part 1 settings, choose one of the three listed exceptions if available, or plan travel around Rock Drake or Maewing gliding. Whichever option you use, treat powered flight and gliding as different movement systems and plan landings accordingly.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Bottom line for Genesis flyers
Genesis: Part 1 is intentionally a no-fly map for ordinary tamed flying creatures. Use Astrocetus, Astrodelphis or Gasbags, or rely on Rock Drake and Maewing gliding. Genesis: Part 2 allows flying creatures normally. If a Part 1 unofficial server enables bForceCanRideFliers or an administrator uses forcetame, that is a local rule change—not the default Genesis behavior. Whenever flight is available, use the correct platform controls and land before stamina runs out.
