The Pteranodon is the first ofmany dinosaurs players will seewhen they begin playingArk: Survival Evolved. The creature is almost always going to be the first flier that gamers attempt to tame as well.Beginners and players on a new servershould craft the necessary items to tame the small flying dinos.
The docile Pteranodon will not attack players unless they are provoked. As a result, it is one of the easiest animals to tame inArk. Gamers can walk right up to a Pteranodon without consequence, unlikemost dinosaurs players try to tame.
Updated on July 24, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:With Fear Ascended creeping into ARK: Survival Evolved with horror-themed goodies like skins and emotes alongside multiplied Harvesting, Taming, Experience, and Breeding, fans of the survival experience who want the game to have more of scare factor should tune in to the event from October 30 to June 06, 2025. However, fans who want to elevate their experience with ARK: Survival Evolved gameplay might want to take some time to study just how certain beasts like the Pteranodon act and behave - both as a creature in the wild and upon acquisition. Understanding the intricacies of their diet, how they are tamed, and their combat functionality can help players maximize their experience with the creature throughout their gameplay.
Skittish: Panics or flees when attacked
Corrupted Pteranodon
Eerie Pteranodon
A game thatfeatures dinosaurs likeARK: Survival Evolvedwon’t be complete without the presence of a pterodactyl, and this is what thePteranodonrepresents in its gameplay. Introduced as the game’sfirst rideable flying Creature, the Pteranodon is both a sight to behold and an interesting pet to domesticate.
As they are generallySkittish, Pteranodon often fly away when they are attacked. There are only two exceptions to this quality:
General Appearance, Location
The Pteranodon is notable for its elongated crest and prominent beak, as well as its bat-like wings. Unlike other creatures in the game, the Pteranodon is a common creature that can be found throughout most locations. In terms of general locales:
Food (Preference)
Raw Mutton
Below is a table of Food that players can feed the Pteranodon tospeed up its Taming process. Take note that the process becomes much faster if players use Narcoberries, Narcotics, and Bio Toxins throughout the feeding process. The numbers below only include the Food itself and the average time it takes to Tame the Pteranodon using these sources:
1 (2m40s)
2 (5m20s)
3 (8m)
5 (13m20s)
6 (16m)
7 (18m39s)
2 (5m01s)
4 (10m01s)
7 (17m31s)
9 (22m31s)
12 (30m01s)
14 (35m01s)
3 (7m31s)
5 (12m31s)
8 (20m01s)
17 (42m28s)
17 (42m31s)
6 (7m31s)
13 (16m16s)
20 (25m01s)
28 (35m01s)
35 (43m46s)
43 (53m46s)
4 (10m)
8 (19m59s)
12 (29m59s)
21 (52m27s)
26 (1h04m)
How To Knockdown A Pteranodon?
Players who want to start Taming the Pteranodon need to understand how best to take it out to start the process. Unfortunately, as aSkittishcreature, the Pteranodon’s first instinct is to run before fighting. On top of its propensity to run, players need to be wary that the Pteranodon falls unconscious rather quicklyand may easily die when unnecessary hit. Here are certain things to take note of:
Jump (in mid-air)
Jump (on the ground)
Barrel Roll (in mid-air)
RMB (over a creature)
Use (while on the ground)
Dismount
As one of the firstflying creatures inARK: Survival Evolved, the Pteranodon is built to have rather straightforward Flight mechanics. Here are some considerations:
Acquiring A Saddle
Players who want to ride a Tamed Pteranodonneed a Saddlewith the following components:
Fighting A Pteranodon
Easy Target With Headshots
Despite being generally much weaker thanother creatures inARK: Survival Evolvedgameplay, the Pteranodon might still be a threat that players have to fight. In these worst-case scenarios where a Pteranodon puts up a fight during taming or while players attempt to gather Eggs, there are certain ways of dealing with this threat:
Making Use Of A Pteranodon
High-Speed Grants Flexibility Despite Frail Nature
When players finally acquire the Pteranodon, they can capitalize on the creature’s accessibility and general speedy nature to be able to accomplish various tasks. Should players need a nifty creature to accompany them in their travels, here are things the Pteranodon can do thatplayers should consider implementing in their playthroughs:
As A Travel Mount
Due to the Pteranodon’s innate high speed, they are best suited for exploration across the dangerous locales ofARK: Survival Evolved. In turn, a Pteranodon can be a reliable mount when traveling in dangerous locations. Its base flying speed can even outrun the Argentavis and Quetzal, two other popular flying creatures in the game. As they are easily Tameable, Pteranodons who don’t make the expedition can easily be replaced.
As A Transporter
As a high-speed flier, the Pteranodon can make for a decent transporter, especially when gathering resources in dangerous areas inARK: Survival Evolved. On the ground, the Pteranodon doesn’t lose stamina when sprinting if they’re following an unmounted player - and this applies even if the player is mounting another creature. In turn, the Pteranodon can carry supplies alongside the player if needed. While the Argentavis can be a more optimal choice due to its carrying capacity, the Pteranodon can still get the job done.
As A Taming Assistant
Taking advantage of the Pteranodon’s high speed means players can bait and even carry other Wild Creatures for players to tame. They also make for efficient baiters to anger other creatures and lead to traps that players have set.
As A Combat Mount
More aggressive players can appreciatea the Pteranodon’s high-speed specialization for combat-oriented stunts. The right usage of the Barrel Roll can destroy Flak armor and deplete their health. Being able to grab opponents and drop them in mid-air can kill them outright without players having to break a sweat. However, grabbed players may still hit the Pteranodon and potentialy kill it. When ridden as a team, a player rider with other AI Pteranodon can use their companions to harass enemies in a base while the player’s own mount rests and recharges stamina. This is best used in bases where turrets were already destroyed, so there are no anti-air threats to the player’s team.
