Understanding the Equus: The Noble Steed of the Ark
The world of Ark: Survival Evolved is filled with creatures, from the fearsome Tyrannosaurus Rex to the docile Dodo. Among these diverse species, the Equus stands out as a creature of grace and utility. This majestic horse, inspired by real-world equines, is a valuable asset to any survivor, offering speed, carrying capacity, and even a surprising crafting bonus. However, taming this beautiful creature is no easy feat. Unlike many other Ark creatures, the Equus requires a non-violent approach, relying on patience, stealth, and, most importantly, the right food. This guide will provide you with a complete walkthrough on how to tame the Equus, emphasizing its preferred food choices and offering tips and tricks to make the process as smooth as possible.
Before embarking on your taming adventure, it’s crucial to understand the Equus. Physically, the Equus resembles a horse, varying in size and coat color. You might find them in shades of brown, black, white, or even more unique patterns. They possess a strong build, capable of carrying significant weight, and their natural grace is evident in their movements.
In the wild, Equus tend to roam in open areas, often found grazing peacefully. They are generally skittish creatures, easily startled by loud noises or sudden movements. If approached carelessly, they will flee, making taming significantly more challenging.
Why should you bother taming an Equus? The answer is multifaceted. First and foremost, the Equus provides a swift and reliable mode of transportation across the Ark’s vast landscapes. Their speed and agility allow you to navigate challenging terrain with ease. Secondly, the Equus boasts a respectable carrying capacity, enabling you to transport resources, equipment, and even smaller creatures. They become invaluable pack animals, lightening your load during resource gathering expeditions. Perhaps one of the most unique features of the Equus is its ability to function as a mobile mortar and pestle. While mounted, you can access a crafting interface that allows you to create narcotics, gunpowder, and other essential items on the go. Finally, the Equus possess a surprisingly effective kick attack, making them capable of defending themselves and their rider against smaller threats.
The challenge of taming an Equus lies in its non-violent method. Instead of knocking the creature unconscious, you must gain its trust by approaching it stealthily and feeding it its favorite treat. This process requires patience, timing, and a bit of luck.
Equus Taming Food: The Cornerstone of Success
When it comes to taming the Equus, “Ark Equus taming food” is the most vital phrase to remember. While the Equus will reluctantly accept other food items, nothing is as effective as its preferred treat: the Rockarrot.
Rockarrots are a root vegetable with a unique texture and flavor, found primarily in specific regions of the Ark. Their vibrant orange color makes them relatively easy to spot, but their scarcity can make acquiring a large supply a bit of a challenge. Look for them in grasslands or mountainous areas. Once you find one, you can harvest it and also attempt to replant it in a small crop plot to begin your own Rockarrot farm. This is highly recommended, as you’ll need a significant number of Rockarrots to tame even a low-level Equus effectively.
While Rockarrot reigns supreme, you might find yourself in a situation where you need an alternative. In such cases, Mejoberries can be used. However, be aware that Mejoberries are far less effective than Rockarrots, significantly reducing the taming effectiveness and increasing the overall time required. They might be useful as a last resort or for taming very low-level Equus, but Rockarrots should always be your primary goal.
The food you use directly impacts the taming speed and effectiveness. Taming effectiveness determines how much the creature’s stats will increase after taming. Using Rockarrots maximizes the potential stats of your newly tamed Equus, ensuring it is as strong and healthy as possible. Using Mejoberries will lower the potential stats.
No special preparation is needed for the food. Simply harvest the Rockarrots or gather the Mejoberries and have them readily available in your inventory.
The Taming Process: Step-by-Step to Equus Ownership
To successfully tame an Equus, you’ll need to gather the right gear, scout the area for a suitable candidate, and execute the taming process with precision and patience.
First, gather your necessary equipment. While not strictly required, a Ghillie Suit is highly recommended. This camouflage armor significantly reduces your visibility, allowing you to approach the Equus more easily without spooking it. Of course, you’ll also need a generous supply of Rockarrots. Depending on the level of the Equus you’re targeting, you might need dozens or even hundreds of Rockarrots. Consider building a small, enclosed pen near a known Equus spawn location. This will allow you to lure the Equus into a safe space, preventing it from running off or being attacked by other creatures. A flying mount can also be invaluable for scouting potential Equus locations and transporting the creature back to your base after taming.
Next, you need to find an Equus. They are commonly found in open grasslands and mountainous regions on maps like The Island, Scorched Earth, and Ragnarok. Once you’ve located one, observe its behavior and the surrounding environment. Ensure there are no predators nearby that could interfere with the taming process.
Now, the real challenge begins. Approach the Equus slowly and crouched, keeping your distance and minimizing your profile. If you’re wearing a Ghillie Suit, this step will be significantly easier. Once you’re close enough, a prompt will appear, allowing you to mount the Equus. Interact with the prompt to climb onto its back.
Once mounted, the Equus will attempt to buck you off. A prompt will appear, allowing you to feed it a Rockarrot. Immediately feed the Equus the Rockarrot when prompted. This will increase its taming meter. However, the Equus will continue to try to buck you off. Brace yourself and hold on tight. If you get bucked off, quickly remount the Equus and repeat the process of feeding it Rockarrots until the taming meter is full.
Be prepared for a long and potentially frustrating process. The Equus can be stubborn, and it might take many attempts to successfully tame it. Stay patient, remain calm, and keep a close eye on the creature’s torpor level. If the torpor drops too low, the Equus will wake up and run away, requiring you to start the taming process from scratch.
Equus Care and Uses: Life After Taming
Congratulations! You’ve successfully tamed an Equus. Now, it’s time to put it to work. The first thing you’ll need is an Equus Saddle. Craft the saddle using the required resources, which typically includes hide, fiber, and metal ingots. Once crafted, equip the saddle to your Equus, and you’re ready to ride.
The Equus handles similarly to other mounts in Ark. Use the standard movement keys to control its direction and speed. The Equus also has a special kick attack that can be used to defend itself against threats.
When leveling up your Equus, focus on improving its speed, stamina, and weight. Speed will allow you to travel faster across the map, stamina will enable you to run for longer periods, and weight will increase its carrying capacity.
As mentioned earlier, the Equus functions as a mobile mortar and pestle. While mounted, you can access a crafting interface that allows you to create various items, including narcotics and gunpowder. This feature is incredibly useful for survivors who need to craft resources on the go.
The Equus can also be bred, allowing you to create offspring with improved stats and unique color variations.
Troubleshooting Common Taming Issues
Even with the best preparation, you might encounter some challenges during the Equus taming process. Here are a few common issues and their solutions:
The Equus keeps running away
Ensure you’re approaching the Equus slowly and crouched, preferably wearing a Ghillie Suit. Clear the surrounding area of any potential threats that might be spooking the creature.
The Equus won’t accept food
Make sure you have the correct food item in your inventory (Rockarrots are highly recommended). Also, ensure that the Equus is not already at full health or food.
Wild dinos interfering with the taming process
Clear the surrounding area of any aggressive creatures before attempting to tame the Equus. Consider building a small, enclosed pen to protect the Equus from outside threats.
Conclusion: The Rewarding Challenge of Equus Taming
Taming the Equus in Ark: Survival Evolved is a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience. This majestic creature offers a unique combination of speed, carrying capacity, and crafting utility, making it an invaluable asset to any survivor. By understanding the Equus’s behavior, providing it with its preferred food (Rockarrots!), and approaching the taming process with patience and precision, you can add this noble steed to your stable and conquer the Ark’s vast landscapes with style and efficiency. So gather your supplies, scout the land, and embark on your Equus taming adventure today!
