Taming an ark represents one of the most rewarding yet complex systems in the game, requiring strategy and patience to master. Understanding the fundamentals of how to tame is essential for survival, as it allows you to transform wild creatures into loyal allies. This process differs significantly from simply knocking out an enemy, involving specific resources and techniques depending on the species. Without proper knowledge, players often waste time and materials, leading to frustration and lost progress. The following guide breaks down the entire procedure into actionable steps for every type of creature you might encounter.
Understanding Creature Specifics
Before initiating any interaction, you must identify the specific dietary requirements of the target animal, as this is the core of successful imprinting. Herbivores typically require thatch or specific berries, while carnivores favor raw meat or prime cuts of meat. Using the wrong food type results in zero taming progress, which wastes valuable time and resources in your journey to learn how to tame. Furthermore, each creature possesses a base taming effectiveness that determines how much food is converted into progress. Paying attention to the small icons above the creature’s head provides immediate feedback on whether you are feeding the correct item.
Gathering Essential Resources
Securing the necessary food is only part of the challenge; you also need to manage your inventory space and safety. Players should always carry a sufficient stack of the preferred food type to ensure they can finish the process without interruption. Crafting basic narcotics like narcoberries or tranquilizer arrows is also critical, as these items are used to keep the creature sedated during the procedure. Without these supplies, the animal will wake up, potentially attacking you or fleeing the area, forcing you to start the hunt for food all over again.
Luring and Controlling the Target
Engaging the creature requires a tactical approach, especially for aggressive predators that roam in packs. Utilizing a long-range weapon to lower the creature's health to the taming threshold is standard practice, but caution is vital to avoid killing it. Once the health is in the correct range, you must incapacitate it using tranq arrows or a specialized tranquilizer weapon. Learning how to tame effectively involves mastering the balance between dealing enough damage to render it unconscious without dealing fatal damage.
Passive Taming Methods
For the more docile creatures, such as dodos or mammoths, passive taming offers a safer alternative to the aggressive approach. This method involves offering food from a distance while the creature remains stationary, eliminating the risk of retaliation. Players simply need to get close enough to interact with the creature's inventory screen and place the food inside the feeding slot. This process is slower than forced feeding, but it guarantees 100% safety and requires no narcotics to keep the creature calm.
Utilizing Imprinting Mechanics
As the creature's health bar decreases during the feeding process, an imprinting meter will activate, representing the bond between you and the dinosaur. Feeding the creature when this bar is active provides a significant bonus to taming efficiency, reducing the total time required. Using a creature that has high imprinting stats, such as a Rock Drake or a Wyvern, drastically increases the chances of gaining extra levels during this phase. This mechanic rewards players who take the time to understand the timing of the feeding animations.
Advanced Considerations and Trapping
To streamline the process of how to tame, constructing a trapping structure is highly recommended for mid-game players. Building a large foundation with door frames allows you to lure the creature inside and trap it without a fight. Once secured, you can simply open the door, place the food, and close the entrance, ensuring the creature cannot escape or attack. This setup is invaluable for taming high-level creatures that possess immense health and damage output.
