Better Moschops
Every seasoned survivor in ARK: Survival Ascended knows the heartbreak all too well. You are deep in the swamp, encumbered, and a pack of raptors closes in. You whistle for your trusty Moschops, the humble workhorse that has carried your fiber and thatch for hours. Instead of charging to your defense, it turns tail and runs, leaving you to fend for yourself. This frustrating behavior is exactly what the Better Moschops mod is designed to eliminate, transforming your passive gatherer into a steadfast guardian that will hold the line right beside you.
Why the Vanilla Moschops Fails You
The standard Moschops is a creature of utility, not combat. While its gathering abilities are unmatched for organic polymer and fiber, its AI is hardwired for self-preservation above all else. When threatened, its default instinct is to flee, often getting itself killed in the process. This leaves players without a mount, without their gathered resources, and in a very vulnerable position. The core problem is that this gentle giant has no "fight" response for a creature of its size and strength.
What Better Moschops Brings to the Table
This essential add-on reworks the creature's behavior profile entirely. As the name suggests, this is a superior version of the familiar herbivore, purpose-built for loyalty. The primary change is simple yet game-changing: it will now fight by your side. Instead of retreating, your Better Moschops will engage threats, using its powerful beak and heavy frame to hold enemies at bay while you manage your inventory or reload your crossbow.
Key Features of the Mod
- Aggressive Loyalty: The creature will no longer flee from combat. It will actively target hostiles that attack you or it.
- New Spawn Blueprint: This is a distinct creature, separate from the base Moschops. You won't lose your old tames.
- Simple Spawn Code: Administrators and single-player users can easily summon one using the code
bettermoschops_character_bp. - Preserved Utility: It retains all the gathering efficiency of the original, so you don't sacrifice farming for protection.
Installation and Compatibility
Getting this mod running is a straightforward process, but there is one critical step you must not skip. The mod developer notes that you need to perform a dino wipe after installation. This ensures that the new Better Moschops spawns naturally in the world. If you skip this step, you will only see the old, cowardly base versions roaming the island, and you'll have to rely solely on the spawn command to get the new variant.
How to Install Better Moschops for ARK: Survival Ascended
For those wondering how to install, the process is identical to any other Steam Workshop mod. Navigate to the ARK: Survival Ascended Workshop, search for the mod, and click subscribe. Once downloaded, you must activate it in your server's mod list or your single-player settings before launching the game. The mod is designed to be lightweight and does not conflict with other creature overhauls, making it a safe addition to most modded stacks.
If you are using the foxygame.net launcher, the process is even smoother. The launcher features a dedicated add-on catalog where you can locate Better Moschops directly and install it with a single click, bypassing the need to manually manage Steam Workshop subscriptions. This is particularly helpful for players who run multiple modded profiles and want to ensure version compatibility without the hassle of manual file management.
Finding the Mod and Server Settings
To download Better Moschops, simply search for it by name in the mod browser. Once installed, you should verify that your server's "Prevent Dino Download" settings do not interfere with the creature's spawn, though this is rarely an issue. The mod is currently updated for the latest major patches of Better Moschops for ARK: Survival Ascended, ensuring it works with the current build of the game, including the Scorched Earth and Aberration maps.
Tips for Using Your New Guardian
- Level Health and Melee: Since it now serves as a combat mount, prioritize these stats over weight if you plan to use it for defense.
- Use the Spawn Code for Testing: If you want to test the behavior before committing to a full wipe, use the admin command
admincheat SpawnDino "Blueprint'/Game/Mods/BetterMoschops/BetterMoschops_Character_BP.BetterMoschops_Character_BP'" 500 0 0 150. - Pair with Gatherer: The AI will still follow you and gather when set to wander, but it will stop to fight when attacked, making it a safer escort for resource runs.
Conclusion
In a game where survival hinges on every decision, having a mount that abandons you at the worst possible moment is a liability. Better Moschops corrects this oversight by giving players a reliable, combat-ready companion that retains all the utility of the original. It is a small quality-of-life change that has a massive impact on your early and mid-game survival. Whether you are gathering fiber in the swamp or defending your beach base from dilophosaurs, this mod ensures your Moschops stands with you, ready to fight until the very end. Stop chasing after a runaway pet and start fighting alongside a true ally.