Quick answer: To tame an Ankylosaurus in ARK Survival Ascended you knock it out with tranquilizer arrows or darts and feed it Regular Kibble (its favorite) or, if you have none, Archelon Algae, vegetables or berries. A level 150 Ankylo needs 16 Regular Kibble and about 41 minutes at official 1x rates; on Tharyon, with 8x taming, 2 kibble and roughly 5 minutes are enough.
Updated October 2026 for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA).
The Ankylosaurus, or Anky, is the go-to metal gatherer. Its tail smashes rocks for large amounts of metal, flint, stone, crystal and obsidian, and metal weighs far less in its inventory. It is slow and not very aggressive, which makes it one of the first key tames for any tribe.
Ankylosaurus quick facts in ARK Survival Ascended
| Diet | Herbivore |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Docile (fights back if attacked) |
| Taming method | Knockout (knock it out, then feed it) |
| Preferred kibble | Regular Kibble |
| Best food | Archelon Algae and Vegetables |
| How to immobilize it | Chain Bola, Large Bear Trap, Plant Species Y Trap and the Harpoon Launcher net |
| How to knock it out | Tranquilizer arrows or darts; a Slingshot works but takes longer. Its armor means headshots deal no extra damage |
| Saddle | Ankylo Saddle (level 36) |
| Maps (ASA) | The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Genesis: Part 1, Lost Island |
How to tame an Ankylosaurus step by step
- Prepare Regular Kibble or, if you have none, Archelon Algae, vegetables or Mejoberries. Bring some Narcotics just in case.
- Shoot it with tranquilizer arrows or darts from a distance. Do not bother aiming for the head: its armor cancels the bonus damage.
- Stay out of reach of its tail swing; it is slow, so backing off while you shoot works well.
- Once it is asleep, put only the food you want it to eat in its inventory.
- Watch the torpor bar and give it Narcotics or Narcoberries if it drops too low.
- Defend it from carnivores while it sleeps so you do not lose taming effectiveness.
Ankylosaurus taming food and taming calculator
These numbers come from ARK’s taming formula for a level 150 Ankylosaurus. 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 | 16 | 41 min | 2 | 5 min |
| Archelon Algae (ASA) | 40 | 48 min | 5 | 6 min |
| Vegetables | 160 | 3 h 12 min | 20 | 24 min |
| Mejoberry | 213 | 3 h 12 min | 27 | 24 min |
| Berries | 319 | 3 h 11 min | 40 | 24 min |
Ankylosaurus taming time by level with Regular Kibble
| Level | Amount 1x | Time 1x | Narcotics 1x | Amount 8x | Time 8x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 5 | 13 min | 0 | 1 | 3 min |
| 60 | 8 | 20 min | 0 | 1 | 3 min |
| 100 | 12 | 31 min | 0 | 2 | 5 min |
| 150 | 16 | 41 min | 0 | 2 | 5 min |
A level 150 Ankylosaurus has about 4175 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 Ankylosaurus in ARK Ascended
It shows up on almost every official map. Look for a low, armored herbivore with a big club on its tail, slowly wandering grasslands and open ground. It rarely attacks first, so you can approach calmly to set up the tame.
Official ARK Survival Ascended maps where it spawns: The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Genesis: Part 1, Lost Island.
Ankylosaurus abilities and uses
- A tail swing that gathers stone, metal, flint, crystal and obsidian and knocks back nearby enemies.
- Metal in its inventory weighs 85% less.
- A bite that harvests berries from bushes.
- It can be set to harvest only metal, stone or flint from the action wheel.
- Without a rider and under half its weight capacity, it automatically harvests metal in front of it.
Ankylosaurus variants
The Aberrant Ankylosaurus lives on Aberration; it is tamed the same way and in ASA it is immune to radiation.
Ankylosaurus breeding
The egg takes 2 h 38 min to hatch and the baby needs 2 d to reach adulthood at official rates. The egg needs 16-20 °C. On Tharyon (25x hatching and 35x maturation) that drops to about 6 min and 1 h 24 min.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
- Carry it to metal areas with an Argentavis or a Quetzal to avoid long trips on foot.
- It soaks up a lot of damage and sits low, so it works well as a tank in caves.
- If you fight one, keep your distance: its tail reaches further than it looks.
Tame your Ankylosaurus faster on Tharyon
On Tharyon taming runs at 8x: a level 150 Ankylosaurus is ready in about 5 min instead of 41 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.
Ankylosaurus taming FAQ
What food does the Ankylosaurus eat for taming?
Regular Kibble first; after that Archelon Algae, vegetables, Mejoberries or regular berries.
How long does it take to tame an Anky?
A level 150 Ankylo takes about 41 minutes with Regular Kibble at 1x. On Tharyon (8x) it takes about 5 minutes.
What is the Ankylosaurus’s favorite kibble?
Regular Kibble.
Do headshots work on an Ankylosaurus?
They deal no extra damage because its armor covers the head, so it does not matter where you hit it.
What level unlocks the Ankylo Saddle?
At level 36.
Why is my Ankylosaurus 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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