Gryphons
The skies of the ARK have never felt more alive than they do now with the return of the majestic Gryphons. This comprehensive add-on brings back the fan-favorite flying mounts, completely remade from the ground up to leverage the stunning visual fidelity and enhanced mechanics of ARK: Survival Ascended. Whether you are a veteran survivor looking to reclaim your aerial dominance or a newcomer eager to explore the verticality of these maps, this mod offers a rich experience filled with new challenges, crafting options, and distinct subspecies to master.
A Triad of Aerial Predators
Gone are the days of a one-size-fits-all flying mount. The Gryphons mod introduces three unique subspecies, each tailored to specific biomes and playstyles. Understanding their differences is key to survival.
The Mountain Gryphon
The classic powerhouse returns with high-definition textures and improved stats. Found in mountainous regions and on Carnivore Island, these beasts are speed monsters capable of covering vast distances quickly. They support multiple riders and can equip three distinct saddle types, ranging from a basic two-person seat to heavily armored chitin and metal variants for those expecting heavy combat.
The Arctic Gryphon
New to the roster, the Arctic Gryphon thrives in snowy biomes like those found in Extinction or the northern reaches of The Island. While slightly smaller and limited to a single rider, they boast superior stamina reserves to withstand the cold. Their trade-off involves lower health and weight capacity, but they make up for it with incredible agility, allowing them to dodge and weave through tight canyon passes where larger flyers might struggle.
The Pygmy Gryphon
Do not let their size fool you; the Pygmy Gryphon is a ferocious, cat-sized predator roaming redwoods, jungles, and swamps. These creatures function differently than their giant kin. Instead of riding them, survivors tame them to act as loyal companions that can be carried on your back. Much like Otters, they can retrieve multiple Artifacts for you, making them invaluable for dungeon runs. They spawn in small packs and will attack almost anything on sight, requiring a classic knockout tame strategy.
Crafting and Customization
The depth of this mod extends beyond simple taming. Survivors can construct a specialized Gryphons Workbench, a dedicated crafting station required to create the unique gear associated with these creatures. This includes the aforementioned saddles for Mountain and Arctic variants, as well as the protective backpacks for Pygmy Gryphons.
Customization is a major highlight. All saddles and backpacks support optional goggle skins, adding a touch of personality to your mount, though players should note some minor clipping may occur with the armored versions. Additionally, the mod introduces functional Nests for both Mountain and Pygmy variants. When a Gryphon settles on a nest, it acts similarly to an air conditioner, providing temperature regulation for nearby structures or players.
Configuration and Balance
Server administrators and single-player hosts have significant control over the mod's balance through INI configuration options. You can enable or disable breeding for specific subspecies and adjust global damage multipliers between 0.1 and 1.0. This flexibility ensures that the Gryphons fit seamlessly into any server's difficulty setting without overpowering other dinosaurs.
Installation and Compatibility
Getting these magnificent birds into your game is straightforward. When you search to download Gryphons, you will find it available via the standard in-game mod browser for all supported versions of ARK: Survival Ascended. The mod is designed to be a replacer, ensuring it integrates smoothly with existing spawn regions on maps like Svartalfheim, The Center, Scorched Earth, and Extinction. For those wondering how to install manually or manage multiple mods efficiently, many players utilize the foxygame.net launcher which features a curated add-on catalog allowing for one-click installation of Gryphons while automatically handling version compatibility checks to prevent crashes.
Spawn Codes and Commands
For those running non-dedicated sessions or wanting to test specific variants immediately, the mod includes robust console command support. You can summon tamed or wild versions of any subspecies at specific levels. For example, spawning a level 150 tamed Mountain Gryphon requires the command cheat gmsummon "Gryphon_Character_BP_C" 150, while the Arctic and Pygmy variants have their own unique blueprint paths. These codes also extend to spawning the workbench, nests, and various saddle tiers directly into your inventory for testing purposes.
Conclusion
The Gryphons for ARK: Survival Ascended mod is a testament to community-driven content, breathing new life into the aerial meta of the game. With its diverse subspecies, deep crafting system, and full compatibility with the latest engine updates, it offers hours of additional gameplay. Whether you are diving into the swamps for a Pygmy companion or scaling the highest peaks to tame an armored Mountain lord, these creatures provide an unparalleled sense of freedom. Update your mod list today and take to the skies with renewed glory.