ZCI's Better Tapejara!
The Tapejara has long been a fan favorite among survivors for its unique six-legged stance and ability to perch on walls. However, many veterans of the islands know that despite its cool factor, the vanilla version often feels underpowered compared to other late-game flyers. It struggles to catch fleeing wild members of its own species and lacks the utility needed for serious resource runs. This is exactly where ZCI's Better Tapejara! steps in to revolutionize your aerial gameplay. By implementing a series of thoughtful tweaks, this modification transforms the creature from a niche tame into a viable powerhouse throughout your entire journey in ARK: Survival Ascended.
Why Your Next Tame Should Be Upgraded
The core philosophy behind this add-on is viability without breaking game balance entirely. The most immediate change players will notice is the substantial boost to flight speed. With a fifty percent increase over the base stats, you can finally outrun or catch up to wild Tapejaras, making breeding projects significantly less frustrating. But speed is only half the equation. The mod also drastically increases carry weight, allowing your mount to lift creatures as large as a Parasaur or Iguanodon. This opens up new strategies for relocating dinos or transporting heavy resources across difficult terrain without needing a massive Quetzal.
Furthermore, the utility of the mount is expanded through new gathering capabilities. Your upgraded flyer can now harvest berries and honey efficiently, serving as a dedicated farmer while you focus on exploration. Perhaps the most welcome quality-of-life improvement is the dietary shift; these Tapejaras are now omnivorous. Once tamed, they can consume berries, sweet vegetable cake, honey, and crops, removing the hassle of maintaining a strict carnivore diet for a creature that feels so herbivore-friendly in design.
New Variants and Combat Readiness
Exploration becomes more rewarding with the introduction of environment-specific variants. The mod adds a Scorched Tapejara that naturally spawns on Scorched Earth maps and a Wasteland variant found within the Extinction biome. These are not mere recolors; they represent the adaptation of the species to harsh climates. Additionally, the ability to stand directly on the back of your mount changes how you interact with the world. Combined with the new rider weaponry feature, you can engage in combat or harvest resources while mounted, turning your Tapejara into a mobile fighting platform rather than just a taxi service.
For those looking to integrate this mod seamlessly into their existing server or single-player setup, compatibility is key. ZCI's Better Tapejara! supports cross-platform play and applies its regular Tapejara changes via a buff system. This smart design ensures there are no conflicts when adding the mod to an existing save, although players should note that removing the mod later will cause the specific Scorched and Wasteland variants to disappear. Currently, the mod functions smoothly across the latest supported versions of ARK: Survival Ascended, ensuring that your experience remains stable whether you are playing on PC or console.
How to Install and Get Started
Getting started with this enhancement is straightforward for any survivor. If you prefer managing your mods through a dedicated interface, the foxygame.net launcher offers a streamlined solution by featuring ZCI's Better Tapejara! in its comprehensive add-on catalog, allowing for one-click installation and automatic version compatibility checks. Alternatively, you can search for the mod directly in the in-game workshop using Project ID 936564. When you decide to download ZCI's Better Tapejara!, simply subscribe to the file and let the engine handle the rest. For those interested in spawning these creatures immediately for testing, you can use the provided spawn codes for the Scorched or Wasteland variants directly in the console.
- Flight Speed: Increased by 50% for better chasing and escaping.
- Carry Weight: Capable of lifting medium-sized dinosaurs like the Iguanodon.
- Diet: Omnivorous eating habits including berries, crops, and honey.
- Gathering: Specialized harvesting of berries and honey from nodes.
- Combat: Riders can now use weapons while mounted on the flyer.
It is worth noting a minor known issue where the buff applied by the mod might affect creatures parented to the Tapejara, such as the Desmodus, potentially causing unexpected behavior. However, for the vast majority of use cases, this mod provides a flawless upgrade path. Whether you are a solo explorer needing a versatile gatherer or a tribe leader requiring a fast transport unit, ZCI's Better Tapejara! for ARK: Survival Ascended delivers the performance boost you have been waiting for. Learn how to install it today and take to the skies with a mount that finally matches its potential.