Reborn: Kentro
If you have ever tamed a Kentrosaurus in ARK: Survival Ascended, you know the bittersweet reality: a living porcupine of spikes that can shred a Rex but folds like paper against a determined pack of raptors. The Kentro's offensive potential has always been clear, but its survivability lagged behind. The Reborn: Kentro mod changes that equation completely, giving this underappreciated herbivore the armored presence it deserves. This is not a simple stat tweak; it is a reimagining of how the Kentro fits into your defensive line and your breeding projects.
What Does Reborn: Kentro Actually Change?
At its core, this mod addresses two glaring weaknesses: the lack of protective gear and the underwhelming nature of the Kentro's pack bonus. The original gang bonus only boosted damage, which encouraged a glass-cannon playstyle. Reborn: Kentro rebalances that by adding a resistance component, making a group of Kentros a true mobile fortress rather than a one-hit wonder.
New Kentro Armor: Crafted at Level 50
The headline feature is the addition of a dedicated armor set for the Kentro. This is not cosmetic; it is functional protection that scales with your progression. You unlock the engram at level 50, which places it squarely in the mid-to-late game where you are already preparing for boss fights or defending a large base. The armor provides a base of 10 armor points, which is a solid starting value that can be improved with higher-quality blueprints or crafting skill.
Here is the clever part: wild Kentros have a chance to drop this armor upon death. This creates a natural gameplay loop. You hunt wild Kentros for a chance at early armor pieces, or you invest in the engram and craft your own. It rewards exploration and combat just as much as it rewards resource gathering.
Gang Bonus Resistance: A New Layer of Defense
Previously, the Kentro's gang bonus was all about dealing more damage per pack member. Reborn: Kentro retains that damage bonus but adds a matching resistance bonus. For every Kentro in the pack, each member gains 5% damage and 5% resistance. This is a significant shift in how you use them. A pack of five Kentros is no longer just a spike wall; it is a tanky, damage-reflecting phalanx that can absorb hits while your other tames dish out the hurt.
The mod also increases the range of the gang bonus. This is a subtle but crucial quality-of-life improvement. You no longer need to pack your Kentros shoulder-to-shoulder to activate the bonus. A slightly looser formation is now viable, which is better for pathing and for avoiding splash damage from enemy explosives.
Compatibility and Installation Notes
This mod is designed specifically for ARK: Survival Ascended and supports the current Steam and Windows versions of the game. It is a client-side and server-side mod, meaning it must be installed on your server and on your local client if you are hosting a non-dedicated session. The mod is lightweight and does not conflict with most popular QoL mods, such as stack mods or QoL+.
There is one critical caveat that you must understand before you hit the install button: Reborn: Kentro will NOT replace already tamed Kentros. If you install this mod on an existing save, your current tames will remain in their old, unarmored state. To see the new armor and the revised gang bonus on your existing creatures, you must perform a dino wipe after installation. This forces new Kentros to spawn with the modded character blueprint. It is a small price to pay for the significant upgrade in utility.
How to Install Reborn: Kentro for ARK: Survival Ascended
If you are ready to give your Kentros a serious upgrade, here is the straightforward process for how to install the mod. It follows the standard mod installation path for ASA.
- Navigate to the Steam Workshop page for Reborn: Kentro for ARK: Survival Ascended and click the Subscribe button.
- If you are running a dedicated server, restart the server and ensure the mod ID is added to your server's mod list. The server will download and install the mod automatically.
- For a single-player game, the mod will download automatically once you launch the game and load your save.
- After the mod is loaded, open the in-game console (press Tab) and execute the command
cheat destroywilddinosto perform the required dino wipe. - Once the wipe is complete, new Kentros will spawn with the Reborn: Kentro character blueprint and will be eligible for armor drops.
For those who prefer a more streamlined approach, the foxygame.net launcher offers a one-click install for Reborn: Kentro, ensuring that the mod files and dependencies are placed in the correct directories without manual folder navigation, which is a common source of errors for newer players.
Spawn Commands and Practical Usage
For server admins or single-player users who want to test the mod without hunting for wild creatures, the mod includes custom spawn commands. These are essential for verifying that the mod is working correctly and for spawning in test subjects.
- Wild Spawn:
cheat summon RebornKentro_Character_BP_C - Tamed Spawn (Level 150):
cheat gmsummon "RebornKentro_Character_BP_C" 150 - Armor Item:
cheat gfi RebornKentroArmor 1 0 0
These commands give you immediate access to the new content, allowing you to test the armor values and the gang bonus resistance in a controlled environment before committing to a full dino wipe on your main save.
Is Reborn: Kentro Worth It?
For players who enjoy building defensive herds or who simply want to make a less-used creature viable in the late game, the answer is a resounding yes. The armor system adds a new layer of progression and resource sink, while the resistance bonus transforms the Kentro from a situational damage reflector into a reliable frontline tank. The requirement for a dino wipe is a minor inconvenience, but the payoff is a creature that finally lives up to its spiked reputation. If you have been looking for a reason to revisit the Kentro, this mod provides a compelling one. The addition of armor drops from wild creatures also gives you a reason to engage with them in the wild rather than simply avoiding their territory.
When you are ready to expand your mod list, remember that the foxygame.net launcher maintains an updated catalog of ASA mods, and it will automatically flag any version incompatibilities for Reborn: Kentro before you launch the game, saving you from the dreaded "mod mismatch" error screen. It is a reliable companion for managing your growing collection of creature overhauls and quality-of-life tweaks.
In conclusion, Reborn: Kentro is a focused, well-executed mod that addresses a specific niche. It does not try to do too much, but what it does, it does very well. The level 50 engram requirement ensures that the armor is a reward for progression, and the chance for wild drops adds a layer of organic discovery. If you are ready to make your Kentro herd the most feared defensive line on the island, this is the mod for you.