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

The seas of ARK: Survival Evolved continue to get crowded with new animals. The Manta was added in PC patch 239.0 and will be included in the upcoming 734.0 update for the Xbox One version of the dinosaur survival game. Find out how to tame and use the latest sea creature.

Where to Find the Manta

As expected, the Manta can be found out in the ocean, just not all parts. It is most commonly found off the southern coast of The Island and around Carnivore Island. You are unlikely to find the creature along the east coast or the northwest coast around the Whitesky peak.

The behavior of the wild Manta does not match the “docile” description in its dossier. They are aggressive to players and tamed animals that get within a couple of feet. The good news is their aggro range is relatively small.

ARK survivors should also expect to see Mantas in groups of two or three, and they are deceptively fast underwater. This can make killing or taming them a challenge, not to mention their bites are surprisingly damaging and appear to go straight through armor.

The best way to minimize damage from a Manta is to swim to the side to avoid their bites. Scuba flippers help greatly with this. Just try to avoid taking them head on.

Taming

ARK: Survival Evolved (PC, Xbox One) — [Image via Studio Wildcard]

Mantas present a pair of challenges when taming in ARK: Survival Evolved. First, they must be fed Angler Gel to tame, which is collected from killing Angler fish. That’s the only food option available. Second, Mantas are a passive tame.

The best strategy for taming a wild Manta is to build a water pen next to the shore and lure one into it. There you can get close to feed it and escape without much worry of being attacked by other water animals.

The second best strategy is to simply lure a wild Manta into shallow water. There is the danger of being attacked by another Manta or aggressive wild animal, but it is relatively safe as long as you stick to shallow water. You can possibly feed a Manta from a rock as well, just beware it may knock you off the rock.

If the Manta starts to wander off to deeper waters, attempt to bait it into attacking you again and lead it back to shallow water.

Refer to the taming calculators at Survive Ark , DodoDex, or Crumplecorn for the exact amount of Angler Gel needed for the level of Manta you are attempting to tame.

Usage

The Manta is simply a fun mount to ride in ARK: Survival Evolved . It is effectively the game’s equivalent of a jet ski and really excels as an mount to quickly harvest resources or loot underwater chests.

Unfortunately, their health is far too low to be an effective war mount, but they are good for scouting and harassing roles. Their fast speed and low profile help make fast and high damaging attacks against enemies or wild sea creatures.

Leveling

Focus on the Manta’s health along with movement speed and stamina. You can begin upgrading weight and melee damage once those are at levels you are satisfied with.

Dossier

Wild: Here is another example of a creature that seems to have evolved beyond its historical traits. Everything points to this being a saltwater ray, but Manta Mobula has developed the ability to swim into the island’s rivers and shallows, as well as through the open ocean. Perhaps there were originally two types of ray on the island before, but years of interbreeding combined their lineage.
Domesticated: While not the fastest swimmer around the island, Manta Mobula is the deadliest of small ocean mounts, and can be ridden bare-back. Tribes who value striking power over speed often keep large schools of Manta to ride. Its capability to briefly leap out of water provides it a showy tactic for avoiding combat as well. A quick jab through the heart onto an unsuspecting survivor can easily take them by surprise. Thusly, many tribes use it as an escort for their slower cargo-carrying swimmers.
Known Information: Normally docile, the Manta Mobula is a carnivore only in that it consumes Plankton. Its tail is incredibly sharp, and can pierce through thick hide and armor with ease. Fortunately, Manta Mobula is usually not aggressive, unless encouraged.

ARK General Guides:

ARK Map Guide:

The Center

ARK Taming Guides:

[Image via Studio Wildcard]