Saddle Up, Survivors! Your Guide to ARK’s Finest Rides (and How to Get Them)
You’ve fought through the wild worlds of ARK: Survival Evolved. You dodged dilos and outsmarted raptors. Remember punching a dodo? You’re leveling up, feeling like a real survivor. But walking everywhere is getting old. Why not ride those beautiful beasts? You need saddles.
Saddles allow you to ride and fight with your tamed creatures. They turn your wild friends into companions. Forget leg day. Saddle up and let your dino do the work. Wondering which saddles to aim for as you progress? Buckle up, because we dive into ARK saddles, from basics to the top.
Leveling Up Your Legions: Saddle Unlock Tiers
ARK focuses on progression. Saddles embody that principle. You do not just jump onto a Rex on day one. Start small and work your way to the big mounts. Here’s a breakdown of saddle unlock levels for your taming and crafting:
- Level 5: Phiomia Saddle – Perfect for early game Phiomia fans. It’s a Phiomia. But hey, riding is riding. Get Phiomia info here.
- Level 10: Carbonemys Saddle – Need a mobile tank that moves slowly? The Carbonemys Saddle is great for damage soaks.
- Level 18: Raptor Saddle – Raptors are early-game speedsters. Raptor Saddle makes them quick hunters. Try not to fall off.
- Level 20: Equus Saddle – Want a horse? ARK has them! Equus Saddle lets you trot in style. They’re useful for… other things.
- Level 22: Scorpion Saddle – Who needs a motorbike? Ride a giant scorpion! The Scorpion Saddle is cool.
- Level 31: Mammoth Saddle – Gather resources while riding a Mammoth. They’re moving storage units but watch those Sabertooths.
- Level 32: Deinonychus Saddle – Claws and a saddle? Deinonychus is an agile mount, ideal for stealth attacks.
- Level 34: Beakon Saddle – Finally, level 34 for Beakon. Shocking enemies from above is worth the wait.
- Level 35: Sarco Saddle – Ride prehistoric crocodiles with the Sarco Saddle! Snap at anything in murky waters.
- Level 36: Lymantria Saddle – Fly on a giant moth with the Lymantria Saddle. Useful for scouting and aerial antics.
- Level 37: Sabertooth Saddle – Leap into action with the Sabertooth Saddle. Fast and excellent for traversing ARK.
- Level 38: Pteranodon Saddle – Enjoy flight with the Pteranodon Saddle! It’s perfect for quick escapes. Learn more about Pteranodon.
- Level 40: Thorny Dragon Saddle – Ride these desert lizards with the Thorny Dragon Saddle and spit fire at foes.
- Level 40: Beelzebufo Saddle – Jump into action with the Beelzebufo Saddle. Giant frogs that paralyze with tongues await!
- Level 45: Dire Bear Saddle – Dire Bear Saddle turns fuzzy creatures into powerful mounts for combat.
- Level 46: Carno Saddle – Charge with the Carno Saddle! These beasts are aggressive and ready for action.
- Level 47: Megalodon Saddle – Rule oceans with Megalodon Saddle. Face foes underwater from your shark mount.
- Level 47: Ravager Saddle – Climb caves with Ravager Saddle. These mutants are perfect explorers.
- Level 52: Megatherium Saddle – A bug-killing giant! The Megatherium Saddle helps exterminate cave pests.
- Level 53: Woolly Rhino Saddle – Charge foes with Woolly Rhino Saddle. Build speed and ram hard.
- Level 55: Tapejara Saddle – Unique riding opportunities here! The Tapejara Saddle allows wall-clinging rides.
- Level 57: Megalosaurus Saddle – Unlock night powers with Megalosaurus Saddle. Stronger at night and sleepy during the day.
- Level 59: Daeodon Saddle – Mobile healers with Daeodon Saddle! Use their abilities on the go to support fellow players.
- Level 60: Basilosaurus Saddle – Comfort and combat are yours! Basilosaurus Saddle makes these whales your underwater base.
- Level 61: Snow Owl Saddle – Freeze foes from above! The Snow Owl Saddle grants icy powers for freezing and healing.
- Level 62: Argentavis Saddle – Aerial workhorses! The Argentavis Saddle transforms these eagles into cargo carriers.
- Level 67: Allosaurus Saddle – Pack hunters! The Allosaurus Saddle commands these three-clawed beasts successfully.
- Level 69: Therizinosaurus Saddle – Tickle creatures with Therizinosaurus Saddle. Gather resources with lethal claws.
- Level 71: Spinosaurus Saddle – Amphibious assaults begin! The Spinosaurus Saddle rules land and water alike.
- Level 74: Rex Saddle – Command the ultimate predator! The Rex Saddle lets you lead Tyrannosaurus Rex into battle.
- Level 80: Yutyrannus Saddle – Fear incarnate! The Yutyrannus Saddle boosts allies and terrifies enemies.
- Level 85: Basilisk Saddle – Ride giant snakes! The Basilisk Saddle grants you tunneling and venomous strikes.
- Level 91: Tusoteuthis Saddle – Enjoy underwater control! The Tusoteuthis Saddle commands these colossal squids.
- Level 96: Giganotosaurus Saddle – Unleash Giga! The Giganotosaurus Saddle controls ARK’s most powerful land creature.
Crafting Your Comfort: Saddle Acquisition Methods
You hit the level. Now you need a saddle. How do you get one? Most saddles in ARK require crafting. Collect resources and gear up for action. Here’s how to craft:
- The Smithy is Your Friend: For most saddles, go to the Smithy. This station turns raw materials into saddles.
- Recipe Rundown: Saddle recipes need Hide, Fiber, and metal (like Metal Ingots or Wood for certain saddles).
- Quick Crafting: Crafting usually takes about 10 seconds for standard saddles. Perfect for mass saddles!
- Specific Examples:
- Carno Saddle: Classic combo of Hide, Fiber, and Metal Ingots. Simple and effective.
- Lymantria Saddle: Swap
-
- Gather Metal Ingots for Chitin or Keratin for your buggy friend.
- Thorny Dragon Saddle: Complex recipe includes Hide, Fiber, Metal Ingots, Clay, and Wood. Great for riding a fire-breathing lizard.
- Tusoteuthis Saddle: Dive deep for Cementing Paste, alongside Hide, Fiber, and Metal Ingots for crafting this Kraken saddle.
In ARK, there are always unique ways to get gear. The “Royal Saddle” and “Monster Saddle” seem like references to “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” not ARK! Let’s focus on ARK saddles.
Saddle Up, Ride Out: Using your Saddles
You have your saddle. Now ride! Each saddle is meant for a specific creature, allowing you to ride it. It’s like getting keys to a dino-car (this car may breathe fire or have sharp claws). Here’s a quick look at saddles:
- Rex Saddle: Ride a T-Rex, feel the earth tremble beneath you.
- Sarco Saddle: Cruise swamps on a Sarcosuchus and rule the waterways.
- Woolly Rhino Saddle: Charge into battle on a Woolly Rhino for ramming speed.
- Megalosaurus Saddle: Be a nocturnal terror on a Megalosaurus at night.
- Giganotosaurus Saddle: Use a Giganotosaurus to unleash destruction on enemies (and your base if you’re reckless).
- Basilisk Saddle: Explore Aberration on a Basilisk, tunneling and spitting venom.
- Megalodon Saddle: Rule the ocean on a Megalodon, becoming the shark king of the seas.
- Raptor Saddle: Traverse landscapes quickly on a Raptor, outpacing foes.
- Dire Bear Saddle: Travel on a Dire Bear, good for combat and resource collection.
- Equus Saddle: Gallop across plains on an Equus, enjoying civilized transport.
- Mammoth Saddle: Be a mobile gatherer on a Mammoth, carrying loads with ease.
- Sabertooth Saddle: Hunt and explore on a Sabertooth, a fast feline ally.
- Spino Saddle: Master land and water on a Spinosaurus, a powerful amphibious mount.
- Carno Saddle: Fight aggressively on a Carnotaurus, an intimidating predator.
- Carbonemys Saddle: Tank damage with a Carbonemys, your mobile fortress.
- Beelzebufo Saddle: Leap and stun foes with a Beelzebufo, effective in swamps.
- Allosaurus Saddle: Lead Allosaurus into battle with tactical attacks.
- Ravager Saddle: Explore caves on a Ravager, your agile mount for tricky terrain.
- Megatherium Saddle: Destroy insect swarms with a Megatherium, bane of chitinous foes.
Taming the Titans: Taming Tips
Before you can ride, you must tame these beasts. Taming in ARK can be wildly interesting, with each creature having its quirks. Here are quick taming tips based on our notes:
- Carcharodontosaurus (Carcha): You can tame these apex predators in ARK: Survival Ascended and ARK: Survival Evolved. They are not easy!
- Deinocheirus: Baby steps! Find a young Deinocheirus, raise it safely, then tame it with its favorite food. Patience is vital.
- Giganotosaurus (Giga) Humiliation Taming: For a Giga without fright? A Sinomacrops with high stamina may help while lost on the island!
- Pteranodon Grub: These creatures eat meat. Collect flesh for your Pteranodon squad.
- Wyvern Milk Run: Forget berries for Wyverns. Steal a Wyvern egg, hatch it, then plan for Wyvern Milk from female Wyverns.
- Rhyniognatha – Baby Love Only: Adult Rhyniognathas? Untameable. Raise them from infancy for rides.
- Giga Torpor Barrage: Taming a Giga requires lots of darts. Bring 250+ darts to be safe; they drop torpor fast!
- Carcha Chow Down: Tamed Carchas eat anything. Raw or cooked meat works too.
- Lystrosaurus Love: Easy tames! Lystrosaurus are common and gentle. Use Mejoberries or Rare Flowers for successful taming.
Carcha vs. Giga: Apex Predator Debate
Let’s settle this ARK debate: Carcharodontosaurus vs. Giganotosaurus. Who is truly the best?
- PvE Powerhouses: In Player vs. Environment (PvE), Carcha is often top-rated for long-term fights and area clearing. Think of sustained damage.
- PvP and Boss Battles: Giga excels in Player vs. Player (PvP) and boss fights with burst damage. For high-damage output, Giga is your monster!
- Tek Creature Rarity Boost: Look for Tek variants; they spawn less frequently (5% chance) but are stronger. A Tek Rex can be level 180 where normal ones can’t be!
Your choice of saddle and creature depends on your goals and playstyle. ARK has many saddles and creatures with strengths and weaknesses. Experiment, tame, craft, and saddle up! The ARK adventure awaits!
