How do I craft a tek saddle for a Anglerfish in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Crafting a Tek Saddle for an Anglerfish in ARK: Survival Evolved is an advanced task that requires significant preparation, resources, and progression. The Tek Saddle is a high-tier item that provides unique benefits, such as increased protection and special abilities for your tamed creatures. Below is a detailed guide on how to achieve this, covering mechanics, strategies, and considerations.

To craft a Tek Saddle for an Anglerfish, you must first unlock the necessary engram. The Tek Saddle engram is available at level 100 and requires 35 Engram Points to unlock. However, you cannot unlock Tek engrams through normal leveling alone. You must defeat certain bosses to gain access to Tekgrams, which are the blueprints for Tek-tier items. For the Anglerfish Tek Saddle, you need to defeat the Broodmother Lysrix, Megapithecus, or Dragon boss on Gamma difficulty or higher. Each boss drops specific Tekgrams, so ensure you defeat the correct one to unlock the Anglerfish Tek Saddle.

Once you have the Tekgram, you need to gather the required resources to craft the saddle. The Anglerfish Tek Saddle requires the following materials: 350 Metal Ingots, 200 Polymer, 150 Crystal, 100 Cementing Paste, 80 Electronics, and 50 Element. These resources are not easy to obtain, so preparation is key. Metal Ingots are smelted from Metal Ore in a Forge or Industrial Forge. Polymer can be harvested from organic sources like Kairuku or crafted using Obsidian and Cementing Paste. Crystal is found in mountainous regions or caves. Cementing Paste is crafted from Chitin/Keratin and Stone or harvested from Beavers Dams. Electronics are crafted from Metal Ingots, Oil, and Silica Pearls. Element is obtained by defeating bosses or crafting it in a Tek Replicator using Element Shards.

To efficiently gather these resources, you will need a well-prepared base and tamed dinosaurs. An Ankylosaurus is excellent for mining Metal and Crystal, while a Doedicurus is ideal for gathering Stone. A Beaver or Mammoth can help with Wood, and a Megatherium is great for harvesting Chitin from insects. For Oil, you can use an Ankylosaurus or tame a Basilosaurus to harvest Oil nodes in the ocean. Silica Pearls are found in underwater locations, so a strong water mount like a Mosasaur or Tuso is recommended. Element is the most challenging resource, so focus on defeating bosses or farming Element Shards in the Genesis or Extinction maps.

Once you have all the resources, you need a Tek Replicator to craft the Tek Saddle. The Tek Replicator requires Element to power, so ensure you have enough Element to operate it. Place the resources in the Tek Replicator and craft the Anglerfish Tek Saddle. The process is straightforward, but it requires a significant investment of time and effort.

When using the Anglerfish Tek Saddle, keep in mind that it provides enhanced protection and unique abilities. The saddle increases the Anglerfish's durability in combat and underwater exploration. It also allows the Anglerfish to use its bioluminescent light more effectively, which can be useful in dark underwater caves. However, the Tek Saddle does not make the Anglerfish invincible, so avoid engaging in fights with stronger creatures like Mosasaurs or Tusos without proper preparation.

Common mistakes to avoid include underestimating the resource requirements and not preparing adequately for boss fights. Ensure you have a strong team of tamed dinosaurs and high-quality weapons before attempting to defeat bosses. Additionally, always carry backup supplies and avoid venturing into dangerous areas without a plan.

For tribes, coordinating resource gathering and boss fights can make the process easier. Assign roles to tribe members, such as resource gatherers, taming specialists, and combat experts. Solo players will need to focus on efficient resource management and taming strong dinosaurs to handle the challenges alone.

In summary, crafting a Tek Saddle for an Anglerfish in ARK: Survival Evolved is a complex but rewarding task. It requires defeating bosses, gathering rare resources, and using advanced crafting stations. With proper preparation and strategy, you can equip your Anglerfish with a powerful Tek Saddle and enhance your underwater adventures.