Quick answer: To tame a Rex in ARK Survival Ascended you knock it out with tranquilizer darts or arrows and feed it Exceptional Kibble (its favorite) or, if you have none, Raw Mutton or Raw Prime Meat. A level 150 Rex needs 17 Exceptional Kibble and about 58 minutes at official 1x rates; on Tharyon, with 8x taming, 3 kibble and roughly 10 minutes are enough.
Updated October 2026 for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA).
The Rex is the predator every ARK player wants. It has huge health, a heavy bite and it is the backbone of most boss-fighting teams. That is why it pays to prepare properly before you try: a wild Rex can kill a low-level survivor in a few bites and flattens thatch walls with ease.
Rex quick facts in ARK Survival Ascended
| Diet | Carnivore |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Taming method | Knockout (knock it out, then feed it) |
| Preferred kibble | Exceptional Kibble |
| Best food | Raw Mutton and Raw Prime Meat |
| How to immobilize it | Chain Bola and Large Bear Trap |
| How to knock it out | Tranquilizer Darts (Longneck Rifle) or Tranq Arrows with a Crossbow; the head takes 1.5x damage |
| Saddle | Rex Saddle (level 74); a Tek Saddle also exists |
| Maps (ASA) | The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Lost Island |
How to tame a Rex step by step
- Prepare the food before you leave: Exceptional Kibble if you have it; otherwise Raw Mutton or freshly hunted Raw Prime Meat (it spoils fast).
- Build a trap: a stone pen with a large gateway or a Large Bear Trap. That way the Rex cannot chase you while you shoot it.
- Lure it into the trap with a fast mount or carefully on foot, then shoot it in the head with tranquilizer darts or arrows until it falls asleep.
- Put the food in its inventory. Only add the food you want it to eat: if you use kibble, remove the meat so it does not eat that first.
- Watch the torpor bar. If it drops too much, give it Narcotics or Narcoberries so it does not wake up.
- Guard the Rex while it sleeps: nearby carnivores will attack it and every hit lowers taming effectiveness.
Rex taming food and taming calculator
These numbers come from ARK’s taming formula for a level 150 Rex. 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exceptional Kibble | 17 | 58 min | 3 | 10 min |
| Raw Mutton | 35 | 1 h 10 min | 5 | 10 min |
| Raw Prime Meat | 44 | 1 h 28 min | 6 | 12 min |
| Raw Meat | 130 | 4 h 20 min | 17 | 34 min |
Rex taming time by level with Exceptional Kibble
| Level | Amount 1x | Time 1x | Narcotics 1x | Amount 8x | Time 8x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 5 | 17 min | 0 | 1 | 3 min |
| 60 | 8 | 27 min | 0 | 1 | 3 min |
| 100 | 12 | 41 min | 0 | 2 | 7 min |
| 150 | 17 | 58 min | 0 | 3 | 10 min |
A level 150 Rex has about 15407 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 Rex in ARK Ascended
On The Island it roams the more dangerous inland areas: dense jungle, mountain foothills and the snowy north. It usually appears alone or in pairs and patrols large distances, so you will often spot one while flying around looking for something else.
Official ARK Survival Ascended maps where it spawns: The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Lost Island.
Rex abilities and uses
- A powerful bite and huge health pool: ideal for boss fights and large creatures.
- A roar that scares smaller, lower-level creatures and forces flyers to land.
- Deals 15% extra damage to herbivores.
- Highly sought after for breeding and mutations: Rexes with good stats are valuable in tribe trading.
Rex breeding
The egg takes 5 h to hatch and the baby needs 3 d 20 h to reach adulthood at official rates. The egg needs 32-34 °C. On Tharyon (25x hatching and 35x maturation) that drops to about 12 min and 2 h 39 min.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
- If a Rex is chasing you, run toward a group of herbivores: it often switches targets.
- Do not knock it out near deep water or in areas full of raptors or carnotaurs.
- Taming with kibble gives higher effectiveness and therefore more bonus levels at the end.
Tame your Rex faster on Tharyon
On Tharyon taming runs at 8x: a level 150 Rex is ready in about 10 min instead of 58 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.
Rex taming FAQ
What does a Rex (T-Rex) eat for taming?
Exceptional Kibble first. After that, Raw Mutton, Raw Prime Meat and, if nothing else is available, Raw Meat, although Raw Meat takes much longer.
What is the Rex’s favorite kibble in ARK Ascended?
Exceptional Kibble. It is made with an Extra Large Egg, Mejoberries, a Rare Flower, Focal Chili, Fiber and Water.
How long does it take to tame a Rex?
A level 150 Rex takes about 58 minutes with Exceptional Kibble at 1x. On Tharyon (8x) it takes about 10 minutes.
What do you use to knock out a Rex?
Tranquilizer Darts from a Longneck Rifle or Tranq Arrows from a Crossbow, aiming at the head, which takes extra damage.
What level unlocks the Rex Saddle?
The Rex Saddle unlocks at level 74.
Why is my Rex 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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