Giganotosaurus Taming, Saddle & Use Guide

This guide explains how to tame a Giganotosaurus in ARK: Survival Evolved, what the saddle requires, and how to use a giga effectively in combat and farming. You’ll learn the knockout method, the resources needed, and the practical limits of this powerful creature.

What Is a Giganotosaurus?

The Giganotosaurus (often called a “giga”) is one of the largest and most dangerous carnivores in ARK. It is not a rex reskin—it has its own stats, abilities, and quirks. A wild giga can exceed 80,000 health and deals massive damage per bite. Tamed gigas have reduced stats compared to wild ones, but they remain the apex land predator for most PvE and PvP scenarios.

Gigas are found on most maps, typically in mountain regions or snow biomes. They are aggressive and will attack anything on sight, including other gigas. Their roar can dismount riders and break stone structures, making them a terror in PvP.

How to Tame a Giganotosaurus

Taming a giga is a high-risk, high-reward process. Unlike most creatures, you cannot simply knock it out with tranquilizer arrows and feed it. The giga has a unique taming mechanic: you must knock it out, then feed it a special food called Giganotosaurus Kibble (or, in some cases, raw meat on certain maps). The taming effectiveness drops quickly, so you need to be prepared.

Here is the standard knockout method:

• Step 1: Gather supplies. You need a flying mount (like a Quetzal or Tapejara), a large amount of tranquilizer darts or arrows, and a trap. A common trap is a metal gate frame with a ramp to lure the giga in.
• Step 2: Lure the giga. Use a fast mount to get its attention and lead it into the trap. Close the gate behind it.
• Step 3: Knock it out. Shoot it with tranquilizer darts from a safe distance (on top of the gate or from a cliff). The giga has high torpor, so you need many darts—typically 50–80 for a level 150.
• Step 4: Feed it. Once unconscious, place the kibble or raw meat in its inventory. It will eat on its own. The taming bar will fill, but it drains quickly, so check often.

Important: Never try to knock out a giga with a simple bow. You will run out of arrows before it goes down. Use a high-damage rifle with darts.

Giganotosaurus Saddle Requirements

The giga saddle is unlocked at level 85 (on most official servers) and requires a significant amount of resources. The saddle engram costs 80 engram points. The saddle itself is crafted in a Smithy or Argentavis Saddle, and it requires:

• Metal Ingots: 4,000
• Hide: 8,000
• Cementing Paste: 1,000
• Fiber: 2,000

These numbers are for the standard saddle. There is also a Tek Saddle for the giga, which is much more expensive and requires element, but it provides a shield and a laser cannon.

If you are on a server with boosted rates, the costs may be reduced, but the engram requirement remains the same. The saddle is heavy—it weighs 50 pounds, so you need a strong mount to carry it.

How to Use a Giganotosaurus Effectively

Once tamed, a giga is a powerful tool, but it has several limitations that you must understand.

• Combat: The giga has the highest base damage of any land creature. It can destroy stone structures and kill most enemies in a few bites. Use it for raiding bases, killing bosses (on some maps), or clearing large groups of wild dinosaurs.
• Farming: Gigas are excellent for gathering meat and hide. Their bite radius is large, so you can kill multiple creatures at once. However, they do not gather wood or thatch.
• Riding: The saddle allows one rider. The giga’s roar can dismount enemy riders, which is useful in PvP.
• Limitations: Gigas cannot be bred (they are sterile), they have a very slow stamina regeneration, and they cannot swim well. They also have a rage mechanic: if they take too much damage, they become uncontrollable and attack everything, including your own tames.

In PvE, gigas are often used for meat runs and base defense. In PvP, they are a primary raiding tool, but they are vulnerable to turrets and flyers.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

Many players make mistakes when taming or using a giga. Here are the most common issues:

• Using the wrong food: On most official maps, gigas only eat Giganotosaurus Kibble (or raw meat on some maps like Extinction). If you try to feed it regular meat, it will not tame.
• Not building a trap: Trying to knock out a giga in the open is nearly impossible. You need a trap to keep it still.
• Rage mechanic: If a tamed giga takes more than 20% of its health in a short time, it will enrage and become uncontrollable for about 30 seconds. This can kill you and your other tames. Avoid fighting strong creatures with it unless you are sure you can win quickly.
• Breeding: Gigas cannot breed. You cannot hatch a giga egg. This is a common misconception from players who assume all creatures can breed.

Giganotosaurus vs. Rex: Which Is Better?

This is a frequent comparison. The rex is easier to tame, can be bred, and is more versatile. The giga is stronger in raw damage but has more drawbacks.

• Damage: Giga wins. A tamed giga has about 2,000 base damage, while a rex has about 400. Even with a good rex, the giga outclasses it.
• Health: Giga has more health (around 20,000 tamed vs. 10,000 for rex), but the rage mechanic makes it risky.
• Taming difficulty: Rex is much easier. You can knock it out with a bow and feed it meat. Giga requires a trap, darts, and special food.
• Breeding: Rex can be bred for better stats. Giga cannot.

If you need a reliable combat mount for everyday use, a rex is better. If you want maximum damage for a raid or boss fight, a giga is the choice—if you can manage its rage.

Safety and Preparation Tips

Before you attempt to tame a giga, make sure you have:

• A flyer with high stamina (Quetzal or Tapejara) to lure and escape.
• At least 100 tranquilizer darts and a rifle with a scope.
• A metal trap (gate frames and a ramp) placed on flat ground.
• Enough kibble or meat to fill the taming bar (about 10–15 pieces for a level 150).
• Medical brews and armor, in case the giga breaks out.

Always have a second player to help if possible. One lures, one shoots. If you are solo, use a trap with a closed gate and shoot from a cliff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you tame a giga with regular meat?

On most official maps, no. You need Giganotosaurus Kibble, which is made from a Yutyrannus egg, or on some maps like Extinction, you can use raw meat. Check your server settings—some unofficial servers allow raw meat.

How many tranq darts for a level 150 giga?

It varies with your rifle damage and the giga’s torpor. A level 150 wild giga has about 20,000 torpor, and each dart does about 200 torpor, so you need roughly 100 darts. Use a longneck rifle with a scope and aim for the head for a 2x torpor multiplier.

Can you breed gigas?

No. Gigas are sterile and cannot breed. You cannot get a giga egg or baby. This is a permanent limitation.

Why does my giga rage and attack me?

The rage mechanic triggers when the giga takes a large amount of damage in a short time (about 20% of its health). It becomes uncontrollable for 30 seconds and attacks anything nearby. To avoid this, don’t take your giga into fights where it will take heavy damage, and keep it away from turrets.

What is the best way to kill a giga?

If you need to kill a wild giga, use a high-level rex or a pack of allosaurus. Alternatively, you can kite it into deep water or off a cliff. Gigas cannot swim well and will drown.

Does a giga gather meat and hide?

Yes, it gathers meat and hide very efficiently. Its bite radius covers a large area, so you can kill and harvest multiple creatures at once. It does not gather wood or thatch.

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