Taming a Trike in Ark: Survival Evolved is often the first major milestone for new players, transforming a fragile survivor into a reliable mount and combat asset. This herbivorous powerhouse provides the essential foundation for exploration and resource gathering, making the early game significantly more manageable. Understanding the specific mechanics required to successfully tame one is the key to avoiding wasted resources and premature death. This guide breaks down the most efficient methods, from basic stone age setups to advanced multi-kibble strategies.
Why the Trike is the Perfect Starting Mount
The usefulness of a Trike extends far beyond simple transportation. Its substantial health pool allows it to survive encounters with aggressive creatures that would instantly kill a human. Additionally, its weight capacity is impressive for a Tier 1 creature, enabling you to collect large quantities of wood, thatch, and fiber without constant backtracking. When equipped with a simple saddle, it becomes your primary workhorse for scouting the surrounding biome and retrieving crucial early-game materials.
Gathering the Necessary Resources
Before you can even think about luring a Trike, you need to secure the resources for its food. The most accessible option is Basic Kibble, which requires eggs from common creatures like Rockarachnids or Pulmonoscorpius. If you are struggling with egg collection, however, Berries are a viable alternative for the initial stages. You will need a significant stack of these items, so preparing a storage structure near your target location is highly recommended to prevent running out mid-tame.
Selecting the Ideal Taming Location
Choosing the right spot can mean the difference between a smooth taming process and a frustrating death. You want an area with enough space for the Trike to move around but with limited avenues of escape. A narrow ravine or a corner of a riverbank works perfectly. The goal is to use the environment to your advantage, ensuring the creature cannot simply run into a forest where you cannot follow it. Additionally, clearing the area of other aggressive wildlife ensures you can focus your attention entirely on the taming process.
Luring and Passive Taming Mechanics
Approach the wild Trike slowly and equip the kibble or berries in your hot bar. Right-click to offer it food, and you will see a taming progress bar appear on its health bar. It is crucial to maintain a safe distance while doing this, as the Trike can become aggressive if you get too close. The creature will lower its head and eat the item, slowly building up its torpor. You must continuously offer food as the torpor bar depletes; if it falls to zero, the taming process will fail, and the creature will flee.
Advanced Kibble Efficiency
Once you advance to the Industrial Tek tier, you can utilize Advanced Kibble to drastically reduce the time required. This specialized food grants a massive taming bonus, meaning the Trike will gain taming progress with every single offering. While the ingredients for this kibble are complex, involving items like Polymer and Silicon, the time saved is immense. Using this method allows you to tame a high-level Trike in a fraction of the time, making it a standard practice for experienced players.
Maintaining Control During the Process
Even though the Trike is a peaceful herbivore, the act of taming can sometimes trigger aggression. If the creature becomes hostile, do not panic. Simply back away and resume feeding from a distance. Rushing the process or attacking it will cause it to flee, forcing you to start over. Patience is the most valuable tool you have. Equip a ranged weapon like a spear or bow as a precaution, but prioritize feeding over fighting to keep the experience smooth and efficient.
