The Argentavis in ARK: Survival Evolved is more than just a flying mount—it’s a critical asset for any survivor aiming to conquer the game’s toughest challenges. Its combination of flight capability, high weight capacity, and combat prowess makes it one of the most versatile and valuable creatures you can tame. Understanding how to tame an Argentavis, and why you should, can elevate your gameplay significantly. Let me walk you through the process of preparing, finding, and trapping this majestic bird, as well as why it's worth every bit of effort.

The Significance of Taming an Argentavis
Taming an Argentavis isn’t just about having a flying mount. It’s about gaining a reliable companion that can transport heavy resources, fend off mid-sized threats, and travel long distances with ease. It excels at carrying metal, crystal, obsidian, and other resources from remote areas, thanks to its excellent weight reduction on materials like metal. Additionally, its stamina and health stats make it much more durable in combat compared to smaller flying creatures like Pteranodons.

Having an Argentavis also means you get access to one of the game's most useful features: its natural smithy ability. You can craft items directly from the bird’s inventory, giving it even more utility, especially when you’re on long gathering trips or deep in the wilderness.

How to Prepare to Take on an Argentavis
Taking on an Argentavis requires preparation, and I never approach one without the right tools and strategy in place. Here’s what you need to ensure success:

Weapons: A longneck rifle with tranquilizer darts is the most efficient way to knock out an Argentavis. Crossbows with tranq arrows work too, but darts are faster and less risky.
Narcotics or Biotoxin: Like many other tames, the Argentavis has a fast torpor drop rate. Bringing plenty of narcotics or biotoxin will ensure you keep it unconscious long enough to tame it.
Food: The fastest way to tame an Argentavis is with Superior Kibble, but raw mutton or prime meat will work, albeit more slowly. Always have food on hand to minimize the taming time.
Armor: While Argentavis aren’t as immediately deadly as a Therizinosaurus or Rex, they pack a decent punch, especially when swooping down on you. Wearing flak armor is highly recommended to tank a few hits.
Taming Trap: Trapping an Argentavis makes the taming process much easier. A simple stone trap with three or four stone gateways and a large bear trap inside works wonders. These creatures can’t break stone, so once you have one trapped, it's stuck.
Where to Find and Trap an Argentavis
Argentavis are typically found in mountainous or hilly areas. They tend to patrol open areas near mountains or volcanoes, but they also appear in regions like the snow biome or the redwoods.

Some of the best locations to find Argentavis include:

The Red Peak (island map)
The Volcano (island map)
Snowy mountains
The Center map has abundant Argentavis around mountainous cliffs and highlands.
Once located, luring an Argentavis into a trap is straightforward. I typically place a 2x2 stone foundation and surround it with stone dinosaur gateways, leaving one end open. I then place a large bear trap in the center of the trap to immobilize the Argentavis as it enters. When I find one, I shoot it with a tranquilizer to draw its attention, and it’ll chase me right into the trap. Once the Argentavis is trapped, I quickly place a final gate at the open end to seal it in.

How to Trap an Argentavis
Trapping is the safest and most efficient way to tame an Argentavis. Stone gateways are key here, as Argentavis can't break stone. I use four stone gateways, placing three in a U-shape with the fourth ready to close off the trap once the Argentavis enters. Set a large bear trap in the center of the trap area to temporarily immobilize it when it comes after you. After baiting it into the trap using ranged tranquilizers or arrows, I close the last gateway and begin knocking it out.

When it’s trapped, you can safely continue hitting it with tranquilizer darts until it passes out. Once unconscious, it’s all about keeping the Argentavis sedated with narcotics and feeding it the best possible taming food you have on hand.

Using the Argentavis
Once tamed, the Argentavis transforms into one of the most versatile creatures in ARK. Its incredible weight capacity and stamina make it perfect for resource transportation, especially when moving metal or other heavy materials from remote areas back to your base. What truly sets the Argentavis apart is its weight reduction on metal, crystal, and obsidian, allowing it to carry far more than other creatures.

Combat and Defense
The Argentavis isn’t just for hauling resources. Its decent health pool and melee capabilities make it a great companion in mid-tier combat. It can easily fend off predators while flying and deal solid damage when fighting on land. I often find the Argentavis handy when clearing out areas swarming with carnivores before setting up a new base or resource farming route.

Utility in Crafting
One of the most useful features of the Argentavis is its mobile crafting station ability. You can use its saddle as a smithy, meaning you can craft items on the go, no matter where you are on the map. This is invaluable during long resource gathering runs where you may need to repair tools or craft on the fly.

Travel and Exploration
The Argentavis is one of the best options for fast, safe exploration across ARK’s expansive maps. Its impressive stamina and decent speed allow for long-distance flights, and its ability to regain health by consuming corpses makes it one of the few creatures that can heal during combat or travel.

Taming an Argentavis in ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the best decisions you can make, given the immense utility this bird offers. It’s not just a flying mount; it’s a mobile smithy, resource hauler, and combat-ready companion. I’ll guide you through the essential steps on how to tame one, the precautions you should take, and how to fully utilize the Argentavis in your survival journey. I’ll also introduce ARK: Survival Ascended items and explain why they are worth adding to your experience.

How To Tame the Argentavis
Taming an Argentavis requires strategy and preparation. Unlike many other tames, the Argentavis is a large, aggressive predator with high health and decent damage. To tame one efficiently, you need to focus on three key areas: trapping, knocking out, and taming.

1. Preparation
Before heading out to tame an Argentavis, gather these essential items:

Longneck Rifle with tranquilizer darts or a Crossbow with tranquilizer arrows. Darts are more efficient for knocking out larger creatures like the Argentavis.
Narcotics or Biotoxin to keep its torpor up. Argentavis drop torpor relatively quickly, so having plenty of narcotics on hand ensures a smooth taming process.
Superior Kibble or raw mutton for the fastest taming process. Prime meat works well too, but it’s slower.
Stone Dinosaur Gateways and a Large Bear Trap to set up a simple and effective taming trap.
2. Finding and Trapping
Argentavis are typically found in mountainous regions and near cliffs. Some great places to find them include:

The Volcano (The Island map)
The Red Peak
Snow Biomes
To trap an Argentavis, use four Stone Dinosaur Gateways. Place them in a U-shape with one end open. Place a Large Bear Trap in the center of the trap. Shoot the Argentavis to get its attention and lure it into the trap. Once it’s inside, close off the final gateway to lock it in place.

3. Knocking Out and Taming
Once trapped, hit the Argentavis with tranquilizer darts or arrows until it falls unconscious. You’ll want to do this quickly, as the Argentavis can become aggressive and deal significant damage if given too much time. Once it’s down, begin feeding it the best food you have on hand (Superior Kibble is ideal, but raw mutton or prime meat works too).

Keep an eye on its torpor and use narcotics or biotoxin to keep it knocked out. It’s important to stay nearby to prevent wild predators from attacking the Argentavis during the taming process. With the right food and preparation, taming an Argentavis can be a fairly quick process, but patience is key.

Precautions and Tips for Taming the Argentavis
Be cautious of its aerial attack: When luring the Argentavis into the trap, keep moving to avoid its swooping attack. It can deal decent damage and knock you off balance if you’re not careful.
Bring plenty of narcotics: The Argentavis’s torpor drops quickly, and you don’t want it waking up mid-tame. Always bring more narcotics than you think you’ll need.
Watch out for surrounding threats: Mountains and cliffs, where Argentavis spawn, are often swarming with dangerous predators like sabertooths, raptors, or even other Argentavis. Clear the area before attempting to tame, or risk having your tame disrupted.
How To Use the Argentavis
Once you’ve tamed an Argentavis, its utility becomes immediately apparent. It serves multiple purposes that go beyond just flying. Here's how to make the most of your new companion:

1. Transporting Resources
The Argentavis is a resource hauler’s dream. Its weight capacity allows you to carry vast amounts of metal, stone, crystal, and other heavy resources. What makes it even more efficient is its ability to reduce the weight of metal, crystal, and obsidian by 50% in its inventory, making it one of the best options for long-distance resource collection.

2. Mobile Crafting Station
One of the most unique features of the Argentavis is its saddle, which doubles as a portable smithy. This allows you to craft tools, weapons, and other items while out in the field. Whether you’re deep in the wilderness gathering materials or just away from base, having a mobile crafting station at your disposal is a game-changer.

3. Combat Capabilities
With decent health and stamina, the Argentavis can hold its own in mid-tier combat. It can dive bomb enemies and deal solid damage. Its ability to regain health quickly by consuming corpses makes it a durable companion in combat situations. Whether you’re defending your base or clearing out dangerous areas, the Argentavis provides both air support and ground attack versatility.

4. Travel and Exploration
Thanks to its long stamina and decent speed, the Argentavis is ideal for exploration. Whether you’re scouting out new base locations, searching for tames, or mapping out resources, this bird will get you where you need to go quickly and safely. Its ability to pick up smaller creatures also makes it perfect for taming other species, allowing you to transport them back to a safe taming location.

Introduction to ARK Survival Ascended Items
In ARK: Survival Ascended, the right gear and items can make a huge difference in your gameplay experience. Survival Ascended items are upgraded versions of essential tools, weapons, and gear that can provide a significant boost to your performance in the game. These items are designed to give you an edge in crafting, combat, and exploration, making survival a little bit easier.

Key Items:
Upgraded Weapons: Higher durability and damage stats, allowing for more efficient hunting and defense.
Advanced Tools: Better gathering rates and more durability, perfect for resource farming.
Improved Armor: Enhanced protection from both environmental damage and enemy attacks, increasing your survivability in tougher biomes.
Advanced Saddles: Extra defense and added abilities for your mounts, making them more powerful in combat and utility.
Reasons to Buy ARK Survival Ascended Items
Enhanced Gameplay Experience Survival Ascended items drastically improve the overall experience by giving you access to better tools and equipment. Whether you're gathering resources or defending your base, having higher-quality gear speeds up progress and reduces the risk of setbacks.

Higher Efficiency The upgraded stats on Ascended items mean you gather more, deal more damage, and survive longer. This efficiency gives you more time to focus on taming, building, and exploring rather than constantly repairing or replacing lower-tier gear.

Improved Combat and Defense Ascended weapons and armor provide a substantial advantage in combat. With increased damage and protection, you’ll be more prepared for tougher enemies and more dangerous environments. This becomes crucial as you progress further into the game and face more challenging threats.

Competitive Edge in Multiplayer If you’re playing on multiplayer servers, having Ascended items can give you a much-needed advantage over other players. Better gear means more opportunities for success, whether you're engaged in PvP battles or competing for rare resources and tames. Due to its multiple uses in the game, some players will choose to buy ark items at mmowow.

Conclusion
Taming an Argentavis opens up a world of possibilities in ARK: Survival Evolved. This bird excels at resource gathering, combat, and long-distance travel, making it one of the most versatile creatures you can tame. By preparing properly and understanding its immense value, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the wilds of ARK. Pairing your tamed Argentavis with the right Survival Ascended items only adds to the efficiency and effectiveness of your gameplay, ensuring you have the tools to dominate any challenge the game throws at you.