MoreTraits
If you have spent hundreds of hours breeding and taming creatures in ARK: Survival Ascended, you know that the genetic lottery can feel a little limited. The base game offers a handful of traits, but once you have seen them all, the thrill of hatching a new egg starts to fade. That is where MoreTraits steps in. This clever add-on injects six new, vanilla-like traits into your gameplay, giving you fresh reasons to breed, fight, and explore. It does not overhaul the game or add flashy, overpowered abilities. Instead, it feels like a natural extension of the official trait system, which is exactly what many survivors have been asking for.
The mod was designed with balance in mind. Each trait has a clear, situational purpose, and none of them break the core survival loop. Whether you are a solo player or running a dedicated server with friends, these additions can change how you approach combat and resource gathering. Below, we break down every trait included in the current version of the mod, along with practical tips on how to use them effectively.
Understanding the Six New Traits
MoreTraits introduces six distinct traits that can appear on your creatures through the normal breeding and mutation process. They are designed to feel "vanilla like," meaning they blend seamlessly with the existing trait pool. Here is a detailed look at each one:
Energizer: Endless Stamina in Combat
This trait is a direct parallel to the existing Vampiric trait, but instead of restoring health, it focuses on stamina. When your creature lands a hit on an enemy, it will regenerate a portion of its stamina. This is incredibly useful for prolonged fights against high-health targets like Brontos or Giganotosaurus. Instead of pausing to catch your breath, your mount can keep pushing forward, maintaining pressure and avoiding the dangerous lull that often leaves you vulnerable.
Enraged: A Desperate Comeback
The Enraged trait activates when your creature's health drops to a very low threshold. In this state, the creature gains a significant boost to its damage output. This creates a high-risk, high-reward dynamic. You might intentionally let your Rex take a few hits to trigger the buff, but you are also flirting with disaster. It is a fantastic trait for boss fights or for defending your base against a raid, as it can turn the tide when things look bleakest.
RoyalGuard: Fortified Defense
For those who prefer a defensive playstyle, RoyalGuard is a must-have. It works similarly to the Kingslaying trait but focuses on resistance rather than damage. Creatures with this trait take reduced damage from a specific category of enemies, making them excellent tanks. Pairing a RoyalGuard Rex with an Enraged ally can create a formidable frontline, where one absorbs the hits while the other dishes out the pain.
GiantGuard: The Titan Slayer
Just like RoyalGuard, GiantGuard provides increased resistance, but this time specifically against the largest creatures in the game. This includes creatures like Titans, Golems, and other massive threats. If you are planning a raid on a Titan or frequently encounter these behemoths in the wild, having a GiantGuard creature in your lineup is invaluable. It ensures your primary mounts survive longer against the heaviest hitters.
Harvester: More Loot, Less Work
Resource gathering is the backbone of ARK, and the Harvester trait makes it more efficient. Creatures with this trait will yield a higher quantity of resources when harvesting from nodes, corpses, or plants. This is a quality-of-life improvement that adds up over time. Instead of making multiple trips with your Ankylosaurus for metal or your Therizinosaurus for berries, you can gather more in a single pass. This trait is a favorite among players who build large bases or are preparing for massive crafting projects.
Tireless: Ignore the Torpor
In the heat of battle, torpor can be your worst enemy. One wrong move, and your mount starts to slow down, eventually passing out in the middle of a fight. The Tireless trait reduces the torpor your creature gains when hitting an enemy. This keeps your mount alert and active for longer periods, reducing the risk of a sudden knockout during a prolonged engagement. It is a subtle but powerful trait for any combat-focused creature.
Important Installation Note
Before you rush to download MoreTraits, there is a critical piece of information you need to know. The mod creator has noted a current issue: the mod needs to be loaded in the first place to function correctly. This means that in your mod load order, MoreTraits must be placed at the very top, above all other mods. If it is not loaded first, the new traits may not appear or could cause conflicts with other mods that modify the trait system. Always double-check your load order in the mod manager before launching your server or single-player game.
Compatibility and Supported Versions
MoreTraits is designed to work with the current versions of ARK: Survival Ascended. As the game receives updates, the mod author typically patches the mod to ensure compatibility. It is always a good idea to check for updates on the mod page before installing. The mod is lightweight and does not require any additional dependencies, making it easy to slot into an existing mod list. It generally plays well with other quality-of-life mods, but due to the load order requirement, you may need to adjust your setup to ensure everything runs smoothly.
If you are using a dedicated server, you will need to add the mod ID to your server's mod list and ensure it is prioritized. For single-player, simply subscribe to the mod and manually move it to the top of your load order in the game's mod menu. The process is straightforward, and once you have it running, you can start breeding for these new traits immediately.
How to Install MoreTraits
Learning how to install this mod is simple. For most players, the easiest route is to use the Steam Workshop or the in-game mod browser. Search for "MoreTraits," subscribe to it, and then activate it in your world. Remember to set it as the first mod in your load order. If you are managing a server, the process is similar, but you will need to add the mod to your server configuration file. Once installed, you will see the new traits appear on creatures after breeding or taming, just like the vanilla traits.
For those who prefer a more streamlined experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers a one-click install for MoreTraits. This launcher automatically handles the mod subscription and placement, reducing the risk of load order errors. It also provides a curated add-on catalog, making it easy to discover and install other compatible mods alongside MoreTraits without having to manually juggle file paths or load orders.
Strategic Uses for the New Traits
Now that you know what each trait does, let us talk about how to use them strategically. Breeding for specific traits can take time, but the payoff is worth it. Here are a few ideas:
- Boss Fight Squad: Combine Enraged and RoyalGuard on a team of Rexes. The RoyalGuard Rexes tank the boss's attention while the Enraged Rexes wait for their health to drop, then unleash massive damage.
- Resource Gathering Trio: Breed a line of Harvesters for each resource type. A Harvester Ankylosaurus for metal, a Harvester Doedicurus for stone, and a Harvester Therizinosaurus for wood and berries will cut your gathering time in half.
- PvP Defense: Use GiantGuard on your base defense creatures. If a raider brings a Titan or a Golem, your defenders will have the resistance they need to hold the line.
- Endurance Hunters: Give the Energizer trait to your fast mounts like Raptors or Sabertooths. They can chase down prey for longer without tiring, making escapes and ambushes more effective.
Final Thoughts on MoreTraits
MoreTraits is a fantastic addition to ARK: Survival Ascended for players who want more depth in their creature breeding without straying too far from the vanilla experience. The traits are balanced, useful, and add a new layer of strategy to team composition and resource management. The only real caveat is the load order requirement, but once you understand that, the mod works flawlessly. Whether you are a solo survivor or a server admin, these six new traits will breathe new life into your tames. So, go ahead and download MoreTraits for ARK: Survival Ascended today, and start breeding the ultimate army. The foxygame.net launcher also keeps your copy of MoreTraits updated automatically, ensuring you always have the latest version without needing to manually check for patches. Give it a try, and you will wonder how you ever played without it.