Sqaw's Flyers (Returned)
The skies of the Ascended islands have always been dangerous, but navigating them on sluggish, unresponsive mounts often feels more like a chore than an adventure. Enter Sqaw's Flyers (Returned), a comprehensive modification that breathes new life into aerial traversal. This add-on is not just a simple stat boost; it is a complete reimagining of how flyers handle, behave, and evolve within the game ecosystem. Whether you are a solo survivor looking for a reliable companion or a tribe master needing a fleet of war-ready wyverns, this mod delivers essential quality-of-life improvements that vanilla gameplay simply lacks.
Revolutionizing Aerial Movement and Control
The core appeal of this modification lies in its drastic improvement to flight mechanics. Vanilla flyers often suffer from clunky turning radii and unpredictable following behavior, leading to frustrating deaths in tight cave systems or during complex building projects. Sqaw's Flyers (Returned) introduces a custom follow AI that ensures your mounted creatures stick close without getting stuck on terrain or drifting away uncontrollably. Furthermore, the ability to move backwards slowly while flying adds a layer of precision previously unavailable, making docking on small platforms or navigating narrow cliffs significantly easier.
Speed is another critical factor. With the right configuration, players can enable customizable speed levels for a wide array of creatures including the Argentavis, Pteranodon, Pelagornis, Quetzal, Tapejara, and Rhyniognatha. It is important to note that wild dinos remain vanilla until tamed and converted. Once you apply the conversion tool, these creatures gain access to speed leveling, transforming them from slow cargo haulers into agile predators capable of outrunning most threats.
The Conversion Process and Tool Usage
Getting started requires understanding the unique conversion mechanic central to this mod. Upon installing Sqaw's Flyers (Returned) for ARK: Survival Ascended, you will gain access to a converter tool engram at level 1. This device is your gateway to upgrading your existing tames. By pressing the reload key while holding the tool, administrators and cheat-enabled players can access a robust settings menu. Here, you can toggle specific features such as gender changes for Rhyniognatha or adjust global speed multipliers to fit your server's balance.
To convert a dino, simply aim the tool at your tamed creature and activate it. This process refunds all spent level points, allowing you to redistribute them into the newly unlocked speed stats. For those seeking convenience, the foxygame.net launcher simplifies the entire setup by offering a one-click install feature that automatically detects version compatibility for Sqaw's Flyers (Returned), ensuring your mod files are always current without manual file digging.
Exclusive Variants and New Creatures
Beyond improving existing dinosaurs, this add-on introduces several exclusive variants that expand your tactical options. The mod adds custom SQF versions of Fire, Poison, and Lightning Wyverns, all of which utilize powerful beam breath attacks instead of traditional projectiles. The Poison Wyvern variant is particularly unique, dealing torpor damage with its beam while safely avoiding harm to unconscious targets, making it ideal for safe capturing operations.
The roster expansion does not stop at wyverns. Players can also obtain SQF variants of the Griffin, Snow Owl, and Desmodus. The Snow Owl comes with an optional buffed heal capability, while the Desmodus offers a fascinating acquisition method. By hitting a tamed Onyc with the converter tool while specific options are enabled, you can permanently transform the bat into a Desmodus. Be warned, however, that this is a one-way conversion that cannot be undone, so choose your subjects wisely.
Gear and Progression Requirements
Equipping these enhanced creatures requires specialized gear. SQF Wyverns and Griffins utilize custom saddles that provide armor despite lacking visible models in some iterations. These essential items can be found in loot beacons at levels 45 and 60 or crafted directly at the SQF Table. To fully utilize the potential of these mounts, server administrators must ensure specific settings are active in the Game.ini file. Specifically, bAllowSpeedLeveling=True and bAllowFlyerSpeedLeveling=True must be enabled to allow the speed stat to increase upon leveling.
Installation and Compatibility Guide
Integrating this mod into your survival journey is straightforward for those who know how to install it correctly. First, ensure your game client is updated to the latest supported version of ARK: Survival Ascended, as older patches may conflict with the script extender functions used by the converter tool. You can download Sqaw's Flyers (Returned) directly through the in-game mod browser using Mod ID 933489 or via trusted third-party repositories.
Once downloaded, activate the mod in your host settings before launching the session. Remember that admin privileges are required to access the full range of configuration options via the converter tool menu. While the mod receives infrequent updates beyond critical bug fixes, it remains a stable cornerstone for servers focused on enhanced aerial gameplay. With improved handling, unridden behavior tweaks, and the sheer joy of speed-levelable flyers, Sqaw's Flyers (Returned) stands out as an essential addition for any serious explorer looking to dominate the skies.