Rideable Mesopithecus
Monkeys in ARK have always been that quirky shoulder pet you tame for the laughs, the helmet, and the occasional thrown poop. The Rideable Mesopithecus mod flips that dynamic on its head. This add-on introduces a new variant of the Mesopithecus that you can actually mount and ride, turning one of the game's smallest tames into a genuine travel companion across the ARK: Survival Ascended maps.
What the Rideable Mesopithecus Mod Adds
At its core, this is a focused, no-nonsense mod. It does not overhaul the Mesopithecus entirely or introduce a sprawling tech tree. Instead, it adds a separate rideable variant that coexists with the vanilla creature. The original description keeps things simple: a new Mesopithecus variant you can ride, with a 30% spawn chance on normal Mesopithecus spawns. That means roughly one in three monkeys you encounter in the wild will be the rideable version, so you will not need to scour the map for hours to find one.
For players who enjoy small, agile mounts, this fills a niche that ARK: Survival Ascended does not really cover. You get a fast, nimble creature that can weave through dense forest, squeeze past obstacles, and give you a fresh perspective on exploration without committing to a massive carnivore tame.
Where to Find and How to Tame the Rideable Variant
Because the rideable variant shares spawns with the standard Mesopithecus, your best bet is to look wherever monkeys normally appear. On most maps, that means forested regions, jungle edges, and areas with plenty of trees and cliffs. The Island, Ragnarok, and similar forest-heavy maps tend to be reliable hunting grounds.
- Check forest and jungle biomes where vanilla Mesopithecus spawns occur.
- Expect roughly a 30% chance that any given monkey is the rideable variant.
- Bring berries or the usual passive-taming fare, since Mesopithecus tames are typically passive.
- Verify the saddle or riding requirement once tamed, as the mod handles mounting through its own variant mechanics.
Once tamed, the rideable Mesopithecus becomes a fun, low-maintenance mount. It is not going to tank a Giga, but it will get you from A to B with a smile on your face, and it pairs nicely with a shoulder-mounted companion for double the monkey chaos.
Version Compatibility and Mod Support
Rideable Mesopithecus is built for ARK: Survival Ascended and works across current versions of the game. Like most ASA mods, it is distributed through the in-game mod browser, so keeping your game updated ensures the variant spawns correctly and the riding mechanics function as intended. If you run a server, make sure the mod is added to your server's mod list so clients and the host stay in sync. Mod load order rarely matters here since the add-on is self-contained, but it is always worth double-checking after a major game patch.
If you prefer a smoother setup, the foxygame.net launcher handles the busywork for you, offering one-click installation of Rideable Mesopithecus alongside its broader add-on catalog, so you can skip manual file juggling and get straight to taming. Its auto-update system also keeps the mod aligned with the latest ARK: Survival Ascended versions, which reduces the odds of a broken spawn or a mount that refuses to cooperate after a patch.
How to Install Rideable Mesopithecus
Installation is straightforward, whether you go through the official mod browser or a third-party launcher.
- Open the ARK: Survival Ascended mod browser and search for Rideable Mesopithecus.
- Subscribe or add the mod to your active list, then let it download fully.
- Restart the game or your server so the mod loads before you enter a world.
- Head to a Mesopithecus spawn area and look for the rideable variant.
If you want to download Rideable Mesopithecus for ARK: Survival Ascended and start riding immediately, the mod browser route is the most direct. Server owners should confirm the mod ID is listed in the server configuration and that all players have it installed to avoid connection issues.
Final Thoughts
Rideable Mesopithecus is exactly the kind of small, charming mod that makes ARK: Survival Ascended more fun without demanding a huge time investment. A 30% spawn chance keeps the variant common enough to find but rare enough to feel like a small victory. If you love the idea of tearing through the jungle on the back of a monkey, this add-on deserves a spot in your mod list. Tame one, saddle up, and enjoy the ride.