How do I craft a tek saddle and use it for tamed creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Crafting and using a Tek Saddle in ARK: Survival Evolved is a late-game activity that requires significant preparation and resources. Tek Saddles are advanced saddles that provide unique abilities to certain tamed creatures, such as the Tek Rex Saddle, which allows the Rex to fire a powerful laser. To craft and use a Tek Saddle, you need to progress through the game, unlock the necessary engrams, gather rare resources, and defeat bosses to obtain the required materials. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

First, you need to unlock the Tek Saddle engrams. These engrams are not available through normal leveling. Instead, you must defeat the gameÔÇÖs bosses to unlock them. Each boss drops specific Tekgrams (Tek engrams) when defeated. For example, the Tek Rex Saddle engram is obtained by defeating the Broodmother Lysrix, Megapithecus, or Dragon on Gamma, Beta, or Alpha difficulty. The higher the difficulty, the more Tekgrams you unlock. To access boss fights, you need to gather artifacts from caves and tributes from specific creatures. Artifacts are found in the gameÔÇÖs caves, which are often guarded by dangerous creatures and environmental hazards. Tribute items, such as Tyrannosaurus Arms or Argentavis Talons, are obtained by killing or harvesting specific creatures.

Once you have the necessary Tekgrams, you need to gather the resources to craft the Tek Saddle. The resources required for a Tek Saddle include Element, Metal Ingots, Crystal, Polymer, and Cementing Paste. Element is the most challenging resource to obtain, as it is primarily acquired by defeating bosses or crafting it in a Tek Replicator using Element Shards. Element Shards can be found in certain areas of the map, such as the Extinction map, or by harvesting Tek creatures. Metal Ingots are smelted from Metal Ore in a Forge or Industrial Forge. Crystal is mined from crystal nodes, often found in mountainous regions. Polymer can be obtained by harvesting organic polymer from creatures like Kairuku or by crafting it using Obsidian and Cementing Paste. Cementing Paste is crafted from Chitin or Keratin and Stone in a Mortar and Pestle or Chemistry Bench.

To craft the Tek Saddle, you need access to a Tek Replicator. The Tek Replicator is a high-tier crafting station that requires Element to power. You can unlock the Tek Replicator engram by defeating the Overseer on the Island map or other bosses on different maps. Once you have the Tek Replicator, place it in a secure location, as it requires a significant amount of resources to craft. Power the Tek Replicator with Element, then use it to craft the Tek Saddle. Ensure you have all the required resources in the ReplicatorÔÇÖs inventory before starting the crafting process.

Using the Tek Saddle involves equipping it on the appropriate creature. For example, the Tek Rex Saddle can only be equipped on a Rex. Once equipped, the saddle provides additional armor and unique abilities, such as the RexÔÇÖs laser attack. To use the laser, you need to have Element in the saddleÔÇÖs inventory. The laser consumes Element over time, so ensure you have a steady supply. The laser is highly effective against both creatures and structures, making it a powerful tool in combat and raiding.

When preparing to craft and use a Tek Saddle, consider the following tips. First, prioritize defeating bosses on higher difficulties to unlock more Tekgrams and obtain more Element. Second, establish a secure base with turrets and defenses to protect your Tek Replicator and other valuable resources. Third, use tamed creatures like Ankylosaurus and Doedicurus to efficiently gather Metal and Stone. Fourth, consider breeding high-level Rexes or other creatures to maximize the effectiveness of the Tek Saddle in combat. Fifth, always carry extra Element when using the Tek SaddleÔÇÖs abilities, as running out mid-combat can leave you vulnerable.

Common mistakes to avoid include attempting to craft a Tek Saddle without sufficient resources, neglecting base defenses, and underestimating the difficulty of boss fights. Advanced techniques include using a Quetzal with a platform saddle to transport resources, breeding creatures with high health and damage stats for boss fights, and setting up a network of Tek Teleporters for quick travel between bases.

In summary, crafting and using a Tek Saddle in ARK: Survival Evolved is a complex process that requires defeating bosses, gathering rare resources, and building a Tek Replicator. By following these steps and tips, you can unlock the full potential of Tek Saddles and dominate the gameÔÇÖs challenges. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, careful planning and resource management are key to success.