Pet Tweaks
If you have ever spent hours taming a perfect Dimorphodon only to watch it get shredded by a stray Raptor, you know the pain. The Pet Tweaks mod for ARK: Survival Ascended is a labor of love born from a private playthrough, designed to smooth over the rough edges that plague shoulder pets and utility creatures. This isn't a massive overhaul; it is a curated set of quality-of-life additions that make your animal companions significantly more durable and versatile, without breaking the game's balance.
What Does Pet Tweaks Add to Your Game?
This mod focuses on specific, impactful changes. It introduces new engrams that are learned automatically and crafted right from your inventory, so there is no need to hunt down special crafting stations. The core philosophy is to give players more options for protecting and enhancing their tames, especially in the chaotic mid-to-late game.
Armor for Your Shoulder Pets
The headline feature is the "Pet's Pet Rock". This equippable costume is crafted using your own blood, adding a layer of protective armor to your shoulder-mounted companions. If you have an "army" of Dimorphodons or other small tames, this is a lifesaver. It significantly reduces the grief of losing a beloved pet to a single area-of-effect attack or a lucky sniper shot. This simple addition makes bringing your feathered friends into dangerous caves or boss arenas a much more viable strategy.
Enforcer and Light Pet Enhancements
For those who love the robotic Enforcer, the mod adds a "High Capacity Battery" saddle. This isn't just a cosmetic change; it provides substantial armor, increases damage output, boosts movement speed, and accelerates health regeneration. This turns your Enforcer into a true frontline juggernaut. To balance the need for light pets in specific encounters, the mod also introduces Reaper Armor, which grants the same powerful effects as the High Capacity Battery. This ensures that your preferred playstyle remains viable, whether you favor the sleek Enforcer or the organic power of a Reaper.
Pack Walkie Talkies and Utility
Ever wished you could buff a dino without riding it? The Pack Walkie Talkies do exactly that. Equipping this item gives a dino slightly increased capabilities—think of it as a passive buff—at the tradeoff of not being able to mount it. This is perfect for setting up guard animals or support creatures that follow you around and provide buffs without needing your direct control.
Flyer Costumes and Maneuverability
Flying mounts get a special treat with the Light Garters. This costume is an homage to the classic wyvern stone from the old days. It increases maneuverability and general capabilities, but the standout feature is the ability to fly "backwards". This directional flight is based on where your tame is looking, allowing for strafing runs and precise aerial positioning that standard flight mechanics simply don't allow. It completely changes how you engage in aerial combat.
Unlocking Hidden Content
Pet Tweaks also enables the Mining Drill, Tek Claws, and Tek Bow through normal level progression. These items have not been officially added to ARK: Survival Ascended yet, so they might glitch out from time to time. However, for players eager to get a head start on these powerful tools, this is a fantastic feature. It adds a new layer of progression and gives you something to work towards.
Mod Compatibility and Installation
This mod is designed to work with the current builds of ARK: Survival Ascended. As the game receives updates, the mod author is committed to keeping it functional, though the unofficial Tek items may require patches. It is generally safe to use with other mods that don't alter the same items or engrams. Since all new items are crafted in the inventory, it integrates seamlessly with most quality-of-life mods.
When you are ready to add this to your server, knowing how to install it is straightforward. You can subscribe to it via the Steam Workshop for your single-player game or add it to your server's mod list. For a hassle-free experience, many players prefer to use the foxygame.net launcher, which offers a one-click install for Pet Tweaks and automatically manages version compatibility, ensuring your mods are always up to date without manual file management.
Getting Started with the Mod
To download Pet Tweaks, simply find it on the mod database for ARK: Survival Ascended and add it to your collection. Once activated, you will see the new engrams appear in your character's crafting menu. The resource costs are modest, but the "Pet's Pet Rock" does require a bit of your own health to craft, so keep some medical brews handy. The mod is a constant work in progress, with the author noting that things are "due to change" as they refine the experience.
If you are running a dedicated server, ensure that Pet Tweaks for ARK: Survival Ascended is loaded on both the client and server side. The mod is lightweight and does not require a map restart to load, making it easy to add to an existing playthrough. For those using a launcher with a mod catalog, you can often find it listed there for quick deployment.
Final Thoughts
Pet Tweaks is a fantastic example of a modder solving a personal problem and sharing the solution with the community. It addresses specific frustrations—flimsy shoulder pets, underpowered Enforcers, and clunky flyer controls—with elegant, lore-friendly solutions. While the inclusion of unreleased Tek items is a bit of a gamble, the core armor and utility additions are rock solid. If you are looking to give your tames a fighting chance and add some unique tools to your arsenal, this mod is well worth a spot in your load order.