Quick answer: To tame a Pteranodon in ARK Survival Ascended, wait for it to land, hold it with a Bola and knock it out with a Slingshot or Tranq Arrows aimed at the head. Its favorite kibble is Regular Kibble: a level 150 Pteranodon needs 7 kibble and about 30 minutes at 1x, while on Tharyon (8x) 1 kibble and about 4 minutes are enough.
Updated October 2026 for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA).
For most players the Pteranodon is the first rideable flyer in ARK. It is fast, agile and lets you scout the map, escape danger and carry small creatures. Its saddle unlocks early, which makes it one of the best early-game tames.
Pteranodon quick facts in ARK Survival Ascended
| Diet | Carnivore |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Skittish (flees when attacked) |
| Taming method | Knockout (knock it out, then feed it) |
| Preferred kibble | Regular Kibble |
| Best food | Raw Mutton and Raw Prime Meat |
| How to immobilize it | Bola, Bear Trap or Net Projectile |
| How to knock it out | Slingshot, Tranq Arrows or the Electric Prod; the head takes 3x damage |
| Saddle | Pteranodon Saddle (level 38) |
| Maps (ASA) | The Island, The Center, Ragnarok, Valguero, Lost Island, Genesis: Part 1 |
How to tame a Pteranodon step by step
- Bring Regular Kibble or Raw Prime Meat, a Bola and a Slingshot or a Bow with Tranq Arrows.
- Wait until it lands. When it does, throw the Bola so it cannot take off.
- Shoot it in the head: it has little health, so at low level use the Slingshot or just a few arrows to avoid killing it by accident.
- Do not knock it out over deep water: if it falls into the sea unconscious, it drowns.
- Put the food in its inventory and watch the torpor bar; if it drops, feed it Narcoberries.
Pteranodon taming food and taming calculator
These numbers come from ARK’s taming formula for a level 150 Pteranodon. The 1x column is the official rate and the 8x column is Tharyon’s rate. They are estimates: hitting the sleeping creature or a game patch can change them slightly.
| Food | Amount 1x | Time 1x | Amount 8x (Tharyon) | Time 8x (Tharyon) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Kibble | 7 | 30 min | 1 | 4 min |
| Raw Mutton | 14 | 35 min | 2 | 5 min |
| Raw Prime Meat | 17 | 43 min | 3 | 8 min |
| Raw Meat | 51 | 2 h 8 min | 7 | 18 min |
Pteranodon taming time by level with Regular Kibble
| Level | Amount 1x | Time 1x | Narcotics 1x | Amount 8x | Time 8x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2 | 9 min | 0 | 1 | 4 min |
| 60 | 3 | 13 min | 0 | 1 | 4 min |
| 100 | 5 | 21 min | 5 | 1 | 4 min |
| 150 | 7 | 30 min | 14 | 1 | 4 min |
A level 150 Pteranodon has about 1193 torpor. With the amounts in the table you usually do not need narcotics on Tharyon, but bring a few in case it takes longer than expected.
Where to find the Pteranodon in ARK Ascended
On The Island you will see it gliding over coasts, beaches and cliffs, especially in the south and east. It often lands in open areas and on top of rocks, which is the best moment to catch it.
Official ARK Survival Ascended maps where it spawns: The Island, The Center, Ragnarok, Valguero, Lost Island, Genesis: Part 1.
Pteranodon abilities and uses
- Fast, agile flight, perfect for scouting and escaping.
- It can grab small creatures in mid-air such as the Dodo, Dilophosaur or Compy.
- It performs a barrel roll that hits everything around it.
- It is cheap to breed and grows fast, so it is easy to keep spares.
Pteranodon breeding
The egg takes 1 h 40 min to hatch and the baby needs 1 d 13 h 2 min to reach adulthood at official rates. The egg needs 29-32 °C. On Tharyon (25x hatching and 35x maturation) that drops to about 4 min and 1 h 4 min.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
- If it runs out of stamina in the air it is forced to land: invest in stamina when you level it up.
- A direct headshot with the Electric Prod can knock it out almost instantly.
- On Extinction you only find Corrupted Pteranodons, which cannot be tamed.
Tame your Pteranodon faster on Tharyon
On Tharyon taming runs at 8x: a level 150 Pteranodon is ready in about 4 min instead of 30 min.
- ARK Survival Ascended with crossplay: PC, PS5 and Xbox.
- 8x taming, 2.5x XP and harvesting, 35x maturation and 25x hatching.
- 11 PvE maps: The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Ragnarok, Valguero, Lost Island, Genesis 1, Astraeos and Forglar.
- Automatic events (a supply crate every 60 minutes and an event creature every 70), quests and an in-game shop.
To join, hop into our Discord and use the /link command. See every rate in the rates section.
Pteranodon taming FAQ
What do Pteranodons eat in ARK?
It is a carnivore. For taming, Regular Kibble is best; otherwise use Raw Mutton, Raw Prime Meat or, as a last resort, Raw Meat or Raw Fish Meat.
What kibble does the Pteranodon eat?
Its favorite is Regular Kibble. Superior, Exceptional or Extraordinary Kibble work just as well.
How long does a Pteranodon take to tame?
A level 150 one takes about 30 minutes with Regular Kibble at 1x. On Tharyon (8x) it takes about 4 minutes.
What level unlocks the Pteranodon Saddle?
At level 38.
Can you tame the Pteranodon on Extinction?
No. Extinction only has the Corrupted version, which cannot be tamed.
Why is my Pteranodon not taming?
It is almost always one of these: it is not hungry yet (it only eats when its food bar drops, so the first bite can take a while), the food in its inventory is not one it accepts, it woke up because torpor ran out, or something is attacking it. Check that the taming bar goes up every time it eats.
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