If you are playing ARK you probably know that everything revolves around dinos. You can’t really get much done without them. Here are top 10 best early game to mid game creatures to get yourself started with:
1. Equus
The magnificient Equus
The Equus is something very close to a horse, only a bit bigger. It is good for two huge reasons:
- It gathers lots of berries ( via its left-click attack ), and you need huge amounts of them for food and tranq arrows.
- It is one of the few creatures which applies torpor with its hind legs ( via its right-click attack ), therefore being able to knock down creatures while riding it. In case you want to use it for this purpose, you should pump up the damage stat.
This is the very first dino that you should get when starting a new game. I advise you to check the spawn zones and start in the same regions ( ex: Highlands NE on Ragnarok )
For more information about this creature, you can check this page out: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Equus
The Equus has a unique taming method, which you can see here:
Fast Equus (Horse) Taming Guide :: ARK : Survival Evolved Tips and Tricks
9. Pteranodon
Pteranodon - Explorer Notes
In case you’ve got tired of walking, it’s time for you to take flight and hover above the wonderful world of ARK. For this, of course, you need a so-called flyer pet. The easiest one to get is the Pteranodon, which you can find almost anywhere, especially around grassy areas.
- This creature is great, as it has one of the fastest speeds amongst any other flyers, decent damage ,and a cute-looking face. You are mainly using it to travel around quickly. Unfortunately, it has very low storage space, so you should not be using it for transportation purposes.
- It has an easy taming method that you can put to practice very early into the game. All you need is a bola, some tranq arrows ,and a crossbow ( or bow ). Trap one using the bola, then shoot some arrows, aiming at the head ( as it takes bonus headshot damage ), until it falls flat. Put some mutton in its inventory and ta-daa… you’ve got your first flyer.
For more information about this creature, you can check this page out: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Pteranodon
The Pteranodon is fairly easy to be tamed. Check this video out for more information:
8. Doedicurus
This is how Doedicurus looks in Explorer Notes
The doedicurus is something like an armadillo. It’s an adorable pet that’s very difficult to kill due to its very tough shell. When his health drops below two-thirds, it will crawl into a ball, taking reduced damage. Anyway, this is a nice add-on to your base because of the following reasons.
- Usually being found around rocky areas of the map, its main use is harvesting obsidian or stone. The Doed is the best stone harvester creature and it is able to hold lots of it, as stone’s weight is reduced in its inventory.
- Something cool that comes with this creature is the way that it can move… by rolling. He makes himself into a ball that spins around quickly, taking less damage while in this form.
For more information about this creature, you can check this page out: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Doedicurus.
The Doedicurus is fairly easy to be tamed. Check this video out for more information:
ARK SURVIVAL - HOW TO TAME A DOEDICURUS
7. Ankylosaurus
Ankylosaurus - in all his splendor
One of the most iconic dinos, the Ankylosaurus ( or Anky for short ) is a spiky and fierce dino, which is great because of many factors:
- Despite it being slow, this creature has incredibly high damage input and lots of health. Because of this, you can use it to kill even bigger dinos!
- Its main use is gathering metal, crystal, and flint. You can not build a bigger base, or expand your current one if you do not have one of these guys.
- Because raw metal’s weight is reduced while being in its inventory, this dino can be a walking metal storage room.
- You do not need much for taming it. Only some tranqs and some food ( preferably Dilophosaurus kibble ). It’s not so hard to be tamed due to its sluggish walk. An Anky will make your life way easier, believe me.
For more information about this creature, you can check this page out: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Ankylosaurus
The Ankylosaurus is fairly easy to be tamed. Check this video out for more information:
Fast Ankylosaurus Taming Guide: Ark : Survival Evolved Tips and Tricks
6. Beelzebufo
Beelzebufo and his description
This creature, as you can see, is a large frog capable of helping with vital stuff for your Ark life. Beelzebufo is native to the swamp biome, a biome which you’ve probably stumbled upon by mistake.
- This animal is useful, just like the Equus ( but a bit stronger ), as a taming mount, due to its ability to apply torpor on hit.
- Another really useful thing is the ability to farm huge amounts of cementing paste and chitin, elements necessary for upgrading to metal. It is very useful to have one of these guys around your base.
- This is a relatively easy animal to tame to. You need to target the beelzebufo from a distance. Always keep some space between you. Just pummel it with tranq arrows until it hits the ground. Use some raw mutton ( or preferably pulmonoscorpius kibble ) and Voila!
For more information about this creature, you can check this page out: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Beelzebufo
Beelzebufo’s taming method can be a bit tricky. Check this video out for more information (even if it’s from 2019, this method still works):
ARK SURVIVAL - HOW TO TAME A BEELZEBUFO - best guide
5. Ichthyosaurus
Ichthyosaurus- the creature of the sea
Let’s swap things to the underwater world. You need a “fish” like the Ichthyosaurus for many useful things.
- Firstly, it’s really dangerous under the water, but do not worry!! The ichthy has a remarkable speed, being able to overrun almost any other predator.
- It’s a very good pearl farmer, as it can take you to the bottom of the ocean and back quickly. Silica pearls are something crucial for the mid-game and you should consider farming them as many times as you have the option.
- If this is not good enough, you can passively tame this. Put some dodo kibble in the last slot of your hotbar and just feed it. This should be easy.
For more information about this creature, you can check this page out: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Ichthyosaurus
The Ichthyosaurus’s taming method is not complicated at all. You just need to get used to the underwater world. Check this video out for more info:
ARK HOW TO TAME A ICHTHYOSAURUS 2020 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAMING AN ICHTHYOSAURUS
4. Carnotaurus
Carnotaurus - the feared one
Let’s talk about meat-eaters! You need at least one carnivore for the following reasons:
- Firstly, this is a very good hide and meat collector, and you will need both of these until the very endgame.
- The Carnotaurus is a nimble and fast creature, being able to overrun bigger predators. The good damage input and great stamina make this an amazing hunter. Pump its health and damage and you should have a nice killer in your family.
- This is one of the easier carnivores to be tamed. Keep some distance, maybe get some height advantage. Climb on a rock or try to juke it. Use the usual tranq arrows, place some mutton or kibble ,and there you should have your almighty destroyer!
For more information about this creature, you can check this page out: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Carnotaurus
In order to tame this, you need to get used to the power of the carnivores and learn how to combat it. Try this method out:
HOW TO TAME CARNO | BEST EARLY CARNIVORE | ARK How To Tame
3. Triceratops
Triceratops - a need in your dinosaur collection
Also known as the Trike, this creature is a must in every beginning tribe because of the following uses:
- This creature is one of the best early to mid game berries collectors. Why would you need berries? Well, you need narcoberries to be more precise, lots of them. If you want to tame any bigger creature, you’ll need huge amounts of tranq arrows, which are made with narcoberries.
- This creature is also a good fighter. Having lots of health and a decent damage input makes this a force to be reckoned with.
- It’s a slow creature, which makes it a particularly easy tame. Just run around shooting arrows at it until it drops. Feed it some crops and there you have your own Trike!
For more information about this creature, you can check this page out: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Triceratops
The Triceratops is fairly easy to be tamed. Check this video out for more information:
2. Dung Beetle
Dung Beetle - little but important
- This creature is a really important early game tame, as it has lots of assets:
- It’s use being that it makes fertilizer and oil out of dino poop, this is an essential animal for starting your own farm. Growing crops and berries on your own is a really useful asset that you should consider getting early before you get stuck on some harder stuff.
- Why is this such an easy tame? Well, all you need to do is to sneak up on them in the crouched position and give them feces. This is the easiest passive tame you can get.
For more information about this creature, you can check this page out: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Dung_Beetle
The Dung Beetle is really easy to tame. Try the following taming method out:
Fast Dung Beetle Taming Guide :: ARK : Survival Evolved Tips and Tricks
1. Argentavis
Argentavis conquering the sky
Undoubtedly the best early – mid game creature, the Argentavis is a must for everyone. This is the best all-rounder there could be.
- A flyer with high damage and health makes this for a great fighter. Its decent speed and high stamina make for an amazing explorer.
- The best thing is the weight. By having huge amounts of storage, you can carry anything from place to place, shortening your painful time of carrying stuff by walking.
- You can find this creature mainly near mountains. It’s easy to be tamed, as it is not incredibly fast. You can outrun them easily, and try shooting for the head, as they take bonus headshot torpor. Put some mutton in their inventory and there you go! There’s the dino that you’re gonna use the most.
For more information about this creature, you can check this page out: https://ark.fandom.com/wiki/Argentavis
Argentavis’s taming method is a bit tricky. Try to follow the next guide:
Fast Argentavis Taming Guide :: Ark : Survival Evolved Tips and Tricks
You May Also Be Interested In:
- [Top 5] Ark Survival Best Character Builds
- [Top 10] Ark Survival Evolved Best Dinos
- [Top 10] Ark Survival Best Base Locations And Why They're So Good
- [Top 15] Ark Survival Evolved Best Mods
- [Top 5] Ark Survival Evolved Best Fishing Baits
- 10 Best Weapons in Ark: Survival Evolved
- Top 5 Best Ark: Survival Evolved Flying Mounts
- 25 Best Ark: Survival Evolved Settings That Give You An Advantage
