You've probably been there. You just spawned on a beach, you’ve got a handful of narcoberries, a slingshot that feels like it’s held together by spit, and you see that massive three-horned tank stomping around. You want it. You need it. But every time you get close, you end up getting launched twenty feet into the air or, worse, becoming a permanent part of the sand.
Taming a Triceratops—or a "Trike"—is a rite of passage. It's the moment you stop being a snack and start being a survivor. Honestly, though, most players make it way harder than it needs to be because they treat it like a fight rather than a puzzle.
The Headshot Trap
Here is the single most important thing you need to know about ARK Survival Evolved trike taming: stop shooting it in the face.
In almost every other game, the head is the weak spot. In ARK, the Trike's head is a literal shield. It has a massive damage reduction modifier (around $85%$ on the head plate). If you fire your tranq arrows or slingshot stones at that bony crest, you are essentially throwing resources into a black hole. You'll kill the Trike before you knock it out, or you'll run out of ammo while the dinosaur just looks at you, annoyed.
Basically, you want to aim for the soft bits. The body, the legs, the tail—anywhere but the shield.
Preparation: What You Actually Need
Don't just wing it. If you go in under-geared, the Trike will eventually catch up to you when your stamina runs out.
- Weaponry: A Crossbow with Tranq Arrows is the gold standard. If you’re very early game, a Bow works, and a Slingshot is a desperate last resort.
- Narcotics: Bring about 15–20 Narcotics for a mid-level Trike. You might not need them all, but you don’t want to be the person running around picking bushes while the taming bar is at $98%$.
- The Menu: Simple Kibble is the fastest. If you don't have a farm yet, go for Mejoberries. They are significantly better than other berries for effectiveness. Crops like Rockarrots are great too, but Mejos are the reliable workhorse.
Strategic Knockouts: High Ground or Traps?
You have two real options here. You can be a mountain goat or a builder.
The Rock Method
This is the classic "beach bob" strategy. Find a large rock—one that’s steep enough that the Trike’s pathfinding gets confused. Stand on top and rain down arrows. The Trike will try to charge, hit the rock, and just stare at you.
Just watch out for the "flee" mechanic. Once its torpor gets high, the Trike will turn tail and bolt. If it runs into the water, it might drown. If it runs into a pack of Compys, you're in for a headache.
The Simple Trap
If you want to be professional about your ARK Survival Evolved trike taming attempt, build a 2x2 pen.
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- Place four Stone Foundations.
- Put Stone Doorframes around the edges (2-high).
- Use Wooden Ramps on one side leading into the box.
Punch the Trike, lead it up the ramp, and drop inside. You can run out through the doorframes, but the Trike is too big to fit. Now it’s a sitting duck. You can take your time, ensure every shot hits the body, and keep it safe from wandering Dilophosaurs.
Why the Trike is Better Than a Stego (Usually)
People argue about this constantly. "Get a Stego, it has more health!" Sure, but the Trike has something better for the early game: The Knockback.
A well-timed Trike headbutt can keep a Raptor or even a Carno at bay indefinitely. It creates distance. In the early game, distance equals survival. Plus, the Trike is a thatch-gathering machine. One swing through a cluster of trees will give you enough thatch to build a small village.
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Taming Effectiveness and the "Starve" Myth
You might hear people say "starve taming" makes the process faster. That's a total myth. Starve taming doesn't change the clock; it just changes when you put the food in.
The real secret to high taming effectiveness is protection. If a Dilo bites your unconscious Trike even once, your taming effectiveness plummets. This means fewer "bonus levels" when it wakes up. If you're taming a level 150, you want those extra 74 levels. Don't let anything touch it. Build a few wooden spike walls around it if you have to.
The Actionable Game Plan
If you're looking to grab your first Trike today, follow this exact sequence:
- Scout the level: Use a Spyglass. Don't waste time on a level 10 unless you just need a pack mule. Aim for 100+.
- Clear the area: Kill any nearby Raptors or Carnos first. They will ruin your day the second the Trike hits the ground.
- The Knockout: Use the trap method. Aim for the belly or hindquarters. Space your shots by about 5 seconds to let the torpor-over-time effect of the tranq arrows fully kick in.
- The Feed: Drop 200 Mejoberries and 20 Narcotics into the inventory.
- The Wait: Use the time to gather more wood or fiber nearby. Keep the Trike in your line of sight.
Once that "Tamed!" notification pops up, name it something sturdy and get to work. Your berry-gathering struggles are officially over. Now, you’ve got the muscle to actually start exploring the deeper parts of the Island.
Go find a nice patch of bushes and see how much easier life is when you aren't picking them by hand.