Best Dinosaurs To Tame in Ark: Survival Evolved

Summary

• Taming dinosaurs in Ark: Survival Evolved is challenging but rewarding, with each creature having unique taming methods.
• Key dinosaurs like the Therizinosaurus, Beelzebufo, and Griffin offer valuable skills like wood collection, flight, and combat strength.
• Players should be cautious when trying to tame and utilize powerful creatures like the Giganotosaurus, Troodon, and Snow Owl.

Ark: Survival Evolved immerses players in a terrific world filled with every kind of danger. One needs to turn to the dinosaurs to survive in such an environment. If there is one thing that the fans of this game love, it is the ability to ride and tame these ancient creatures. Each beast has a unique function, different methods of taming, and usefulness to the player.

When tamed, the dinosaurs in the Ark can complete tasks like guarding possessions, fighting, carrying items, and riding on. Since taming these creatures is very challenging, players need to know which dinosaurs to prioritize.

Updated March 20, 2025 by Mati Kent-Nye: With the release date of Ark 2 still a mystery to fans, it’s doubtful that this highly anticipated sequel will hit screens for at least another year. Ravenous fans need not fear though, as Ark: Survival Evolved is still a fantastic dinosaur-filled adventure. Nearly eight years after its release, this game still offers beautiful prehistoric environments to explore, grand bases to build, and monstrous goliaths to tame and kill.

Dinosaur taming is one of, if not the best feature, transforming the game from a simple hunt and be hunted to one of risky taming strategies, careful calculations, and cheer-worthy success. With the right dinosaurs under their command, players can conquer this land.

1

Ankylosaurus

Highly Versatile

• Docile but powerful dinosaur.
• Best fought and tamed from a distance.
• Useful for gathering, transportation, and defense.

Players shouldn’t be fooled by the Ankylosaurus’ calm demeanor and choice to only attack in self-defense. This dinosaur is dangerous, with a wrecking ball-like tail that will quickly dispatch most dinosaurs or players foolish enough to provoke it. These armor-clad giants are best admired from a distance. Players looking to tame or kill them should use long-range weapons only, lest they wish to meet a quick death.

Ankylosauruses make fantastic additions to any tribe. As gatherers, they are incredibly skilled at mining, whether on land or in the sea, and they can collect large amounts of berries thanks to their vegetation-clearing tail sweeps. These tanky dinosaurs also make for great, albeit slow, transporters that can hold their own against most predators.

2

Therizinosaurus

A Powerful Companion

• Powerful predator.
• Easy to find even in lower-level areas.
• Dangerous to tame.

Anyone who has played Ark: Survival Evolved is familiar with this dinosaur. They will come in contact with this creature at the initial stages of the game. Therizinosaurus is not only one of the deadliest dinosaurs in Ark but also one of the best to tame. With it, players can collect wood, pick berries, and thatch.

Therizinosaurus can use its claws to hit several times in a single fight, which makes it an outstanding creature when battling. Since taming this dinosaur can be dangerous, players should ensure that they have enough narcotics and tranquilizers. Also, they shouldn’t come close to it.

3

Beelzebufo

Possesses Many Utility Skills

• Ideal item transporter.
• Fast moving.
• Useful for combating insects.

Beelzebufo is an enormous amphibian found in swamp biomes. When tamed, this creature can be used as a medium of transport due to its quick movement, incredible hopping skills, and swift swimming. Additionally, its tongue is useful in torpor-preying other predators. Beelzebufo’s tongue also produces a cementing paste when consuming insects that can be used to repel insects such as Meganeura.

Taming this Ark creature can be made easier by using an Argentavis to keep out of reach of Beelzebufo’s dangerous tongue attacks that can knock the player unconscious amid battle. Bolas can also be used to lock this dinosaur in place, allowing players to fire tranquilizer darts at it from a safe distance. Its favorite foods include kibble, cooked chops, and raw mutton.

4

Griffin

A Master In The Skies

• Incredibly powerful flying dinosaur.
• Useful for collecting Wyvern Eggs.
• Difficult to tame.

This ancient mythical power boils down to four great attacks. A Griffin can dive through the air to damage any player or enemy. With its strategic position in the sky, this creature can shoot Tranq Arrows with ease. Griffins can be used both on land and in the sky. Its inconceivable speed when diving and amazing combat make this creature one of the most useful taming options in Ark.

Griffin is used to collect Wyvern Eggs and tame other creatures. The only challenge one may experience with Griffin is that it’s not easy to command and tame. Applying skillful taming techniques and Exceptional Kibble is the best approach.

5

Giganotosaurus

A Useful Base Defender

• Relatively easy to tame for a carnivore.
• Powerful fighter.
• Can fly into a deadly berserker rage.

Along with being a great catch in general, Giga is one of the easier dinosaurs to tame (and a tamed Giga loves Exceptional Kibble as its food). By using its Gnash attack, Giga can reduce the health of an enemy by 1% within five seconds.

Depending on the circumstances under which the player is, Giga can be a useful asset. That said, owners should ensure this dinosaur’s rage meter doesn’t overflow as failure to do so will cause it to destroy anything it comes across, including the player. It’s for this reason that Gigas are best suited for secondary base defense, as taking them out into the wilderness runs a high risk of them going berserk and turning on their rider.

6

Gacha

Produces Resources & Easier To Tame

• Reasonably easy to tame.
• Produce player-selected resources.
• Can be tamed with many different foods.

For those taking part in PvE fights, Gacha is a must-have. Thankfully, it is one of the easiest to tame. Gacha is useful in general since it produces resources on its back, and depending on the current needs of the player, they can specify the resource. In the dangerous wilderness of Ark, having access to resources without needing to leave the base is incredibly beneficial. Not only does it make for quicker collection times, but it also helps players, and their accompanying dinos, avoid being torn to pieces by vicious predators.

Gacha is tamed by dropping items, preferably snow owl pellets, close to them so that they feed on them. Other foods that this creature prefers most are greenhouse and tek structures.

7

Brontosaurus

Build Bases On Its Back

• Ideal for carrying supplies to new bases.
• Bases can be built on their backs.
• Relatively simple taming requirements.

This creature can transport heavy luggage, collect berries quickly, and cause more damage than many other Ark creatures. Some players even build a movable base on their backs. With Brontosaurus, one can ride on them as they travel.

A player should be very careful when parking this beast since they shake everything near it. It is advisable to park slightly far from the base. Brontosaurus feeds mostly on mejoberries and kibble. During the taming process, Tapejara, which carries a player above it, is the best option to knock out Bronto.

8

Troodon

An Agile Guard Dog

• Perfect for keeping a base secure.
• Incredibly fast and agile carnivore.
• Tamed by feeding it other tamed animals.

Everyone loves a secured base, which is why players should tame at least one pack of these dinos. Troodon are incredibly fast, small, and hard-to-hit predators, making them perfect base guards whether in PvP or PvE. Where the Troodon shines is in its highly poisonous bite which will quickly knock unconscious any dinosaur or player struck by it, leaving them utterly defenseless.

What makes this creature particularly unique is the way it is tamed, since they feed on tamed animals, meaning taming a Troodon comes with making a sacrifice. Most players prefer taming at night since they feed on roughly 40% fewer animals than during the daytime. Players must be ready to part with some beloved dinosaurs if they are to snag one of these agile hunters.

9

Snow Owl

Strong Fighter With Healing Abilities

• A striking snow-colored bird.
• Skilled aerial fighter.
• Causes an area of effect explosion when diving to the ground.

This is one of the best creatures to tame in Ark. It’s both dazzling and dangerous in equal measure, and its white color can camouflage cold places. Snow Owl has the power to heal players while in the air, specifically in PvP. Their pellets can be also fed to Gatcha.

Snow Owl is a fast dive-bomber since it can dive into the ground creating an explosion that damages the enemy. This skill is crucial for raiding other bases or battling rivals in open areas. Since Snow Owl flies in small groups, taming them can be tricky, although players can use an arrow with tranquilizer darts.

10

Argentavis

A Tanky, Far Flying Bird

• Great health and flying stamina.
• Useful for carrying unconscious dinosaurs for taming.
• Make regular travel much easier and safer.

Argentavis is the best choice for exploring Ark‘s map. They have high health and stamina to facilitate longer flight sessions. Though they have poor speed, their damage output is good. With its ability to carry small animals, this dinosaur can help transport unconscious creatures to taming points. Generally, Argentavis makes back-and-forth traveling easy.

Food such as raw mutton is the best for a tamed Argentavis. To catch it, one needs to erect chain traps. For beginners who find it hard to get them, they should look around Far’s Peak at the farthest corner of the map.

11

Wyvern

High Risk, Even Higher Reward

• One of the most powerful flying dinosaurs.
• Only available on some maps.
• Has a complex and dangerous taming method.

Well renowned for its incredible power and dragon-like appearance, most Ark players will recognize the Wyvern as one of the most highly sought-after dinosaurs in the game. Highly aggressive and possessing great stats, Wyverns come in various tameable elemental variants, including poison, lightning, and ice, depending on the map and location they are encountered in.

When it comes to taming, things don’t get much easier where the Wyvern is concerned. Taming these beasts requires delving into the depths of a Wyvern nest and stealing one of their eggs, an action that is sure to have every adult hunting the player down. That’s if the player can even get into one of these heavily guarded nests.

12

Rex

A Terrifying & Deadly Pet

• An incredibly strong melee fighter.
• Valuable in PvP and PvE.
• Requires some setup to tame.

Rex is, unsurprisingly, one of the strongest dinosaurs in the game. Since it has a high melee attack, it is useful in PvP and PvE fights. Also, this dinosaur doesn’t disappoint when taking over bases during raids, especially if equipped with the Tek Rex Saddle. Their roar threatens enemies whenever they attack as well. Most players use this creature while moving around unsecured areas because of their “quick” nature.

A Rex is usually tamed by luring the dinosaur into a trap, although some people have had success with tranquilizers. Rather than easily-damaged wood, stone should be used for the trap.