ARK Survival Ascended Creatures Guide — Characters, New Dinos & Taming
ARK: Survival Ascended's creatures and characters: what 'character' means in ARK (your survivor + tamed dinos), the new ASA creatures and Fantastic Tames, the taming system, and the best early-game dinos to tame.
ARK Survival Ascended Creatures Guide — Characters, New Dinos & Taming
The short version: In ARK, "character" means two things: your survivor (the customizable human you play) and the tamed dinosaurs that make up your real arsenal. ASA keeps the classic ARK taming loop — knock out, feed, ride — while adding new creatures and Fantastic Tames (premium creatures like the Dreadnoughtus and Pyromane) on top of the 100+ classic species.
This guide explains the character/creature systems and what's new in ASA.
Your Survivor (The Character System)
- Create: Customize appearance (name, look) at character creation; in-game, you can use a mindwipe tonic to respec your stats.
- Stats: Health, Stamina, Oxygen, Food, Water, Weight, Melee Damage, Movement Speed, Fortitude — the classic survival stat spread. You spend points as you level.
- Leveling: Gain XP from gathering, killing, crafting; max level ~105 (with ascension bonuses, higher on official).
- Engrams: The unlock tree — every recipe/blueprint is an engram you learn with engram points.
For PvE: put early points into Weight, Stamina, and Health. For PvP: Movement Speed and Fortitude matter more. Mindwipe anytime to respec — there's no penalty.
Taming: The Core Loop
Taming dinos is ARK's signature mechanic. The two methods:
- Knockout taming (most creatures): Tranq the dino unconscious (tranq arrows/darts), feed it its preferred food (berries for herbivores, meat/prime for carnivores), keep it asleep until the taming bar fills. Better food = faster + higher taming effectiveness.
- Passive taming (some creatures): Some creatures (e.g., the Otter, Equus, Troodon) are tamed by feeding them by hand while they're calm — no knockout.
Taming effectiveness determines final stats: knocking out efficiently (right food, no damage) yields a higher-level tame.
Each tribe/server has a tame cap (official servers limit tamed creatures per tribe). Plan your roster — you can't keep everything.
ASA's New Creatures
ASA remasters the classic roster and adds ASA-exclusive creatures:
- Dreadnoughtus (Fantastic Tame, 2025) — a colossal tank creature with a saddle turret; one of the biggest tames in the game.
- Pyromane (Fantastic Tame) — a fire-elemental fox-like creature with fire attacks.
- Bison — free creature added with Ragnarok Ascended (April 2025).
- Yutyrannus, Deinonychus, and other community-voted remasters — Wildcard runs community votes for free creatures on new maps.
Fantastic Tames (Premium Creatures)
Fantastic Tames are ASA's premium creature line — paid additions (usually ~$5-10 each, sometimes bundled) with unique abilities:
- Usually require a special taming method (often a quest/summoning instead of classic knockout).
- They're PvP-relevant (some are effectively mini-bosses with saddles).
- The line has been criticized for pay-to-win concerns in PvP — worth knowing before buying.
Best Early-Game Dinos (2026 Meta)
| Dino | Why |
|---|---|
| Parasaur | First tame, alerts you to danger, good carry |
| Trike | Strong early combat + berry farming |
| Pteranodon | First flyer — mobility unlocks everything |
| Dodo | Egg farm + easy early food |
| Raptor | Fast early predator for scouting |
| Ankylosaurus | The metal/obsidian harvester — tame one ASAP |
| Doedicurus | Stone/thatch harvester |
By mid-game you'll want a Rex (bosses), a Therizinosaurus (farming), and an Argentavis (the all-purpose flyer/carrier).
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the character system work in ARK?
You create a survivor, spend stat points as you level, and unlock recipes via the engram tree. Mindwipe tonic respecs stats anytime.
What new creatures are in ARK Survival Ascended?
ASA-exclusive additions include the Dreadnoughtus, Pyromane, and Bison, plus remasters of the classic roster and community-voted free creatures on new maps.
How does taming work in ARK Survival Ascended?
Knockout taming (tranq + feed) for most creatures; passive hand-feeding for some. Taming effectiveness (right food, minimal damage) determines final stats.
What is a Fantastic Tame in ASA?
Premium paid creatures with unique abilities (like the Dreadnoughtus and Pyromane) — usually requiring special summoning/quest taming rather than classic knockout.
What are the best early dinos in ASA?
Parasaur, Trike, Pteranodon, Dodo, Raptor — then Ankylosaurus (metal) and Doedicurus (stone) once you're established.
Can I get ASA creatures in ARK Survival Evolved?
No — ASA-exclusive creatures (Dreadnoughtus, Pyromane, Bison) only exist in Survival Ascended.