‘ARK: Survival Evolved’ Guide: Dimetrodon Taming And Use

ARK: Survival Evolved added the Dimetrodon as part of the 232.0 patch for the PC and the upcoming 731.0 update for the Xbox One. The dinosaur continues the trend of Studio Wildcard introducing prehistoric beasts with unique, specialized uses in the open-world survival game.

Where to find the Dimetrodon

The Dimetrodon is commonly found in the swamps of ARK‘s island hunting for fish and small prey. The Writhing Swamp stretches from the east coast to the west most river just north of the southern islets.

While a carnivore, the Dimetrodon is not aggressive, it will only attack humans and creatures larger than a fish if attacked itself. Additionally, it is extremely slow so it is relatively easy to walk backward and shoot with tranq arrows or tranq darts.

While slow, the tricky part with taming the Dimetrodon is dealing with its Torpor. The beast is able to recover Torpor at approximately 50 points per second. This means a fast firing weapon such as the bow and arrow might be preferred over the slow-firing crossbow to allow for continuous Torpor damage.

The high Torpor recovery also means you will need a large amount of narcotics to keep knocked out. For example, a mere level 20 will need more than 400 Narcotics when taming with Kibble, more than 600 when using Raw Prime Meat, and nearly 2,000 when using Raw Meat.

The Dimetrodon’s preferred Kibble is made from a Quetzal Egg. The order of food preference from there follows the expected path of Raw Prime Meat, Cooked Prime Meat, and Raw Meat. Refer to the taming calculators at Survive Ark or Crumplecorn for the exact amount of food and Narcotic needed.

Usage

The Dimetrodon’s lack of movement speed and carry weight eliminate is being a beast of burden. Meanwhile, its melee damage is far too to low be of use in a fight. Indeed, a saddle is not available for it at all. Instead, it serves as a walking air conditioner for ARK Survivors.

The large sail on the back of the dinosaur provides 90 Hypothermal and 90 Hyperthermal insulation when standing nearby. This insulation will stack, so two Dimetrodons provide 180, three provide 270, etc. Increasing distance from the beast will naturally decrease the effectiveness of the insulation.

This makes the Dimetrodon an excellent temperature regulator on top of any of the mountains in ARK, where the temperature can drop to freezing, as well as the snowy region dominated by Whitesky peak. The creature is able to be carried by the Quetzal so it can be picked up and dropped anywhere where warmth is needed.

The ability to provide insulation also makes the Dimetrodon a solid alternative for hatching eggs. This is particularly beneficial for those on ARK Primitive servers or for players who don’t have the setup yet to make an air conditioner on a standard server.

Leveling

Dimetrodons primarily just need to sit around and look pretty while providing insulation for ARK players. Thus, primary attributes to focus on while leveling include Health and Weight with secondary attributes focused on Movement Speed and Stamina.

Dossier

• Wild: Dimetrodon Calorector is a much calmer predator than most on the island. Because it lives off smaller prey than humans, it generally ignores anything much larger than a Coelacanth. Dimetrodon is one of the few carnivores on the island that could be classified as reasonably friendly in the wild.
• Domesticated: If Dimetrodon was a bit larger, or didn’t have that massive sail, it would make a decent mount. However, its main use to survivors is to utilize the sail’s insulating capabilities. Just being near a Dimetrodon gives excellent protection from the heat and the cold, which has saved my life through more than one ice blizzard in the frozen mountains!
• Known Information: The sail on Dimetrodon’sback is a fascinating thing. It can be angled to provide shade from the sun, and allowsDimetrodon to disperse heat more quickly. The inner workings of the sail can also restrict blood flow in the creature to hold in excessive heat. Together, these two traits allow Dimetrodon to comfortably survive in any climate, though they are most commonly found in the swamplands which are rich in prey.

ARK General Guides:

• How to Choose a Server
• How to Fish
• How to Deal with Disease
• Understanding Status Indicators and Effects
• Xbox One Tips and Tricks

ARK Map Guide:

• The Center

ARK Taming Guides:

• Arthropluera
• Dimetrodon
• Direbear
• Dung Beetle
• Dunkleosteus
• Gallimimus
• Giant Beaver
• Lystrosaurus
• Manta
• Terror Bird
• Titanosaur
• Woolly Rhino

[Image via ARK: Survival Evolved]