The right early tames completely transform your first days in ARK: Survival Ascended — turning a desperate scramble into steady progress. This guide covers the best starter dinos, what each does for you, and how to tame them safely, with a quick-reference table so you know what to prioritise.
Best starter dinos at a glance
| Dino | Role | Tame type | Why tame it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parasaur | Scout / berries | Knockout | Cheap; radar ping warns of threats |
| Trike | Berry/thatch + defence | Knockout | Tanky; fends off raptors |
| Dilophosaur | Base guard | Knockout | Spits & slows attackers |
| Raptor | Hunting / travel | Knockout (use a trap) | First real predator, fast |
| Pteranodon | First flyer | Knockout | Mobility, scouting, escapes |
| Castoroides | Wood + smithy | Knockout | Best early wood; craft metal gear in field |
| Ankylosaurus | Metal/crystal/obsidian | Knockout | Unlocks the entire mid-game |
| Argentavis | Carry / transport | Knockout | Carries the Anky, reduces ore weight |
Your very first tames
- Parasaur — an easy, cheap first tame that harvests berries and gives a radar ping warning of nearby threats. A great early scout.
- Trike — tanky and tameable early; a strong berry and thatch farmer and a capable defender that can fend off raptors.
- Dilophosaur — a cheap guard that spits and slows attackers; useful around a starter base.
- Raptor — fast and agile; your first real predator for hunting and quick travel.
The early game-changers
- Pteranodon — your first flyer. Map mobility, scouting and fast escapes; a massive quality-of-life jump.
- Castoroides (Beaver) — the best early wood farmer and a portable smithy you can craft metal gear at.
- Ankylosaurus — the gateway to metal; it mines metal, crystal and obsidian and unlocks the entire mid-game.
- Argentavis — carries the Anky, reduces ore weight, and doubles as a sturdy travel mount.
How to tame them
Most starter dinos are knockout tames: render them unconscious with tranq arrows (or a wooden club for weak creatures), then feed their preferred food while keeping torpor up with narcotics. A simple taming trap makes the dangerous ones (Raptor, Carno) safe. See our full taming guide, and get exact food and time from the Taming Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best first dino to tame in ASA?
A Trike or Parasaur for safe berry farming and defence, then a Raptor for mobility. The early goal is a Pteranodon for flight, then an Ankylosaurus and Argentavis combo that unlocks metal and the entire mid-game.
What dino should I tame to get metal?
The Ankylosaurus — it harvests metal, crystal and obsidian far faster than a pick. Pair it with an Argentavis that carries the Anky to mountain metal nodes and reduces ore weight on the trip home. That duo is the single biggest early progression jump.
How do I tame dinos safely as a beginner?
Build a simple taming trap (stone walls + a ramp or doorframe) to pen dangerous dinos, knock them out with tranq arrows, then feed their preferred food and top up narcotics so torpor doesn’t drop. Use the taming calculator to bring the right food and amount.
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