Mantis Addition (Discontinued)
If you spent any serious time farming resources in ARK: Survival Ascended, you know the grind can be relentless. While the base game offers several creatures to help with gathering, few match the sheer efficiency of the mantis. The Mantis Addition (Discontinued) mod was built to bring this incredible creature into the modern ARK experience, and even though it is no longer actively updated, it remains a favorite among players who love optimized farming. This guide covers everything you need to know about this add-on, from its core features to practical taming advice.
Why the Mantis Addition (Discontinued) Stands Out
The core appeal of the Mantis Addition (Discontinued) for ARK: Survival Ascended is simple: it reintroduces the mantis as the premier farming companion. In the vanilla game, the mantis is a powerful but often overlooked creature. This mod enhances its utility by allowing it to equip a wide range of tools, turning it into a walking resource powerhouse. Instead of carrying multiple creatures for different resource types, you can have a single mantis equipped with a hatchet for wood, a pick for stone, or a sickle for fiber, all while maintaining high weight capacity.
Because the mod is discontinued, it is important to check its compatibility with your specific game version. The mod was primarily designed for the early releases of ARK: Survival Ascended. While many players report it works flawlessly on later versions, you should always verify the mod's page for any noted conflicts. For the best experience, ensure your game is updated to a version that was supported during the mod's active lifespan.
Key Features of the Mod
- Natural Spawning: Mantis spawns naturally on all mountain peaks across the map, making them accessible for mid-game players.
- Tool Equipping: The mantis can equip pickaxes, hatchets, and sickles, drastically improving harvest rates.
- Breeding Support: Unlike some utility creatures, mantis can be bred, allowing you to imprint and raise babies with superior stats.
- Simple Saddle: The saddle is crafted in your inventory and unlocks at level 45, removing the need for a dedicated crafting station.
Taming the Mantis in ARK: Survival Ascended
Taming a mantis from this mod requires a bit of preparation. You have two primary methods: passive taming or knockout taming. The passive method is more resource-intensive but preserves the creature's stats. You will need to gather a significant amount of Rhino horns. Alternatively, you can knock it out with spoiled meat, which is easier to mass-produce but carries the risk of accidentally killing the creature if you are not careful with your damage output.
Once tamed, the mantis becomes a loyal farming ally. To get one for yourself, you can use the admin spawn commands. For a tamed version, use Cheat GMSummon "Mantis_Character_BP_AD_C" 120. For a wild one, use the full blueprint path provided by the mod. To give yourself the saddle, use the provided item command.
Optimizing Your Farming Setup
After taming, the real fun begins. Equip your mantis with a high-quality tool to see the resource yields skyrocket. A common strategy is to use a mantis with a metal hatchet for wood and thatch, then switch to a pickaxe for stone and flint. This versatility makes the mantis the single best creature for base construction materials. Because the mod allows breeding, you can work toward a high-level parent pair to produce babies with melee damage mutations, further increasing their gathering efficiency.
If you are looking to streamline your mod management, consider using a launcher that simplifies the process. The foxygame.net launcher offers a one-click install feature that handles the Mantis Addition (Discontinued) mod for you, ensuring that all files are placed in the correct directories without manual hassle. Its add-on catalog also lets you browse other mods while keeping your current setup organized.
How to Install the Mod
Learning how to install the mod is straightforward. First, navigate to the mod's page on the platform you use for ARK: Survival Ascended mods. Click the subscribe or download button to add it to your mod list. After downloading, launch the game and enable the mod in your single-player world or server settings. If you are hosting a dedicated server, you will need to add the mod ID to your server's mod list file. For a more convenient approach, the foxygame.net launcher provides auto-updates and version compatibility checks, so you can always know if the Mantis Addition (Discontinued) is safe to use with your current game build.
Compatibility and Server Considerations
When playing on a server, ensure that all players have the mod installed to avoid connection issues. The mod is lightweight and does not add significant server overhead. However, due to its discontinued status, you might encounter minor bugs on newer game patches. In such cases, the community often creates patches or workarounds. Always back up your save files before installing any mod, especially a discontinued one, to prevent data loss.
Final Thoughts on the Mantis Addition (Discontinued)
Despite being discontinued, the Mantis Addition (Discontinued) for ARK: Survival Ascended remains a testament to what community mods can achieve. It fills a niche that the base game still lacks, providing a dedicated farming creature that is both fun and efficient. While you may need to exercise caution with version updates, the mod's core mechanics are solid. For those willing to manage its minor quirks, it offers a rewarding gameplay loop that cuts down on tedious resource grinding. Whether you are a solo player or a tribe leader, adding this mantis to your roster is a decision you will not regret.