If there was ever an argument for biodiversity in video game form, it would be Ark: Survival Evolved. From its far-from-humble origins as the premier dinosaur-based survival game, Ark has expanded through a chain of expansions that can only be described as, well, expansive, to include a whopping 176 distinct creatures. Players can now fight, hunt, and tame animals ranging from the prehistoric to the fantastical. Want to build a base on the back of a turtle? Bring a T. Rex into a fight against a pumped-up ent? Do it all from the comfort of your Switch on a long bus ride? Ark has you covered. There is a veritable (and linguistically apt) boatload of beasts to meet, seat, and eat in Ark, which means an equivalent boatload of decisions and approach changes for players.
The breadth of choice of tameable creatures means that there is a lot to consider before throwing precious meat at a new dino. How will this creature benefit the base? How does it stack up against other creatures in terms of abilities? Will it win in battles or wither in the face of more imposing fangs? What is there even to do with this thing? These are the questions that this guide attempts to answer. Once you've mastered the basics of surviving the wild landscape, check here for a break down of the best monsters for fighting, some of the top choices for explorers, and the utility beasts no fortress should be without (and some that can be a fortress). While this is by no means and exhaustive or definitive list, the following are some solid choices for the creative dino wrangler.
The Best Battle Beasts in Ark: Survival Evolved
Getting into a fight is unavoidable in Ark: Survival Evolved, whether it's against marauding wildlife, menacing bosses, or even fellow players with ill intent. The following dinos are some solid choices for joining the fight on land, sea, and air.
When it comes to battle mounts, it's hard to top the Therizinosaurus. With a lightning-fast attack, some genuinely staggering damage, and claw strikes with armor-piercing capacity, Therizinos are a great choice for combat, faring as well in a hard-hitting raid as they do sprinting around the field in a more head-on battle. For a more durable choice, players can't go amiss with the classic Tyrannosaurus Rex. The Rex boasts a very beefy health pool, making them a great choice for eating up damage that other beasts would wilt from. The fact that they put out some solid damage as well makes them among the top tier tanks, able to deal out damage as handily as they can take it.
For a battle in the sea, the go-to choice for many players is the Mosasaurus. The Mosasaurus has a deadly combination of high health and damage from the jump, making them a solid choice even before applying desired upgrades. This capability is amplified by the ability to strap cannons to the creature, transforming them into something resembling a bio-battleship. Another choice for those with a taste for speed is the Icthyosaur. While lacking the punch and health pool of the Mosasaur, the Ichthyosaur makes up for this in speed. Ignored by most predators and able to outrun most of the rest, the creature makes an ideal combat scout.
Battles in the air are more often than not dominated by the massive Quetzalcoatlus. Though lacking in an inherently high attack, the proto-bird can be bolstered with cannons, which, paired with its fairly high speed and big health bar, make the beast a difficult to humble flying fortress. For more direct and in some cases literal firepower, the Wyvern is an excellent choice. Fairly quick and healthy, the Wyvern is taken to the next level by its environmental breath attacks, able to play to the weakness of airborne opponents. Assembling a fleet of these across their environmental spectrum creates a de facto air force for sky-hungry players.
The Excellent Explorers of Ark: Survival Evolved
There is a lot of world to get around in Ark, meaning having a way to get from point A to a distant point B is critical. These critters are some excellent choices for those looking to map the world and bring home the bits and pieces they want to keep.
For land travel, nothing beats the pure speed of the Gallimimus. Perhaps the fastest land creature in the game, the Galli carves a roadrunner path across the world, their escape ability making up for their fragile constitutions - a go-to choice for first looks and scouting missions. When the player does find something they wish to retrieve, the Mammoth is the easy choice. Relatively fast for its size and boasting some serious physical resilience, the mammoth's excellent carrying capacity makes it ideal for scavenging expeditions, getting collected resources where they need to be quickly and safely.
For literal deep-dives into ocean exploration, the Basilosaurus is a solid choice. Though a little on the sl0w side, the Basilosaurus is uniquely resilient, offering the rider protection from extreme temperatures and immunity from shock, toxin, and grapples. Being night untouchable in most of the sea makes the Basilosaurus effectively a living submarine. For those expecting some variety and choice in their ocean voyages, a great choice is the Sarcosuchus. Fairly strong and speedy in water, the big selling point of the Sarco is its amphibious nature. Able to smoothly transition from sea to land, the Sarco is never not dangerous and allows the easy exploration of both sea and shore.
If getting a grasp of the world from the sky is the goal, the ideal all-arounder is the Argentavis. The great bird has a little bit of all things desirable for an airborne explorer; it is fast and hardy, able to transport needed resources with a fairly high carry capacity, and small enough to maneuver through challenging gaps. Able to defend itself and get around well, the Argentavis is an incredibly versatile flier's choice. The Wyvern, too, is no slouch in the exploration department. As well as the aforementioned combat capabilities, the Wyvern is seriously quick, able to cover ground effectively (most effectively in straight lines - as the Wyvern flies, they say). Safety is guaranteed exploring with a Wyvern.
The Super Support 'Saurs of Ark: Survival Evolved
There are some animals in Ark that fill the roles necessary to move from survivor to master of the land. These animals are key for those interested in building a base, stockpiling supplies, and establishing a solid foothold in the rugged terrain of the game.
No modern base in Ark is complete without the humble Dung Beetle. The inauspicious little bug has the unique ability to transform feces into oil and fertilizer, making them a cornerstone of both basic farm building and advanced equipment crafting. As the proud owner of a dinosaur army, feces will not be in short supply - a nice herd of Beetles will help keep the least pleasant form of clutter down. A similar necessity for aspiring farmers is a good flock of Dodos. A consistent source of raw meat and eggs, having a pen of Dodos to hand can nearly eliminate the need to hunt for basic food resources. Just remember to farm sustainably - that mistake has been made with the Dodo before.
For more industrial resource connection, having a dedicated team of Doedicurus can be extremely handy. The burly armadillos are excellent miners, tearing through rocks to collect vast quantities of stone and sand effectively while remaining safe and sound within their shells - the ability to tuck into their shells when damaged makes for a long-lasting beast. For more organic resource collection, the Brontosaurus is a solid staple. Brontosaurus ordered to attack plants will hoover up loads of organic material, backed up with its excellent carrying capacity. Similarly durable to the Doedicurus, the Brontosaurus is a one-dino forestry installation.
Bases need not be fixed in Ark, especially due to magnificent monsters like the Titanosaur. For those looking to take the show on the road, the Titanosaur can carry a sizable fortress on its large saddle which, laden down with cannons, can act as a roaming fortress. In addition, the creature's unique ability to destroy metal structures in a few strikes makes it the perfect siege beast. The Quetzal, too, can serve this purpose admirably with the desired addition of access to the Y-axis. Loaded down with friends and cannons, the Quetzal can act as an airborne base of operations, allowing for quick settlement of new areas.
Ark: Survival Evolved is available now on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, OS X, and mobile.