How to Tame Basilosaurus in ARK
A large prehistoric whale immune to stuns. Heals at the surface and produces Oil passively.
Quick Facts
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Temperament
- Passive
- Tame Method
- Passive
- Rideable
- Yes
Basilosaurus Taming Details
Basilosaurus is a passive tame — feed it Kibble (preferred) or Raw Mutton by hand or from its inventory without knocking it out. Its most effective taming food is Kibble (preferred) or Raw Mutton.
Alternative foods: Cooked Lamb Chop, Raw Prime Meat, Cooked Prime Meat, Raw Meat.
Harvest yield: a tamed or killed Basilosaurus drops Raw Meat, Raw Prime Meat, Hide, Oil.
Taming Steps
1. Prepare your gear
Bring Kibble (preferred) or Raw Mutton, bug repellent (if applicable), and a shield for emergencies.
2. Locate the creature
Find a wild Basilosaurus on supported maps. Check the spawn map and bring a fast mount or a flyer for transport.
3. Approach passively
Basilosaurus is a passive tame. Approach slowly with no weapons drawn, drop or hand-feed its preferred food, and avoid sudden movements.
4. Feed the right food
Place Kibble (preferred) or Raw Mutton in its inventory (alternatives: Cooked Lamb Chop, Raw Prime Meat, Cooked Prime Meat, Raw Meat). Higher-tier food gives faster taming and higher level bonuses.
5. Maintain torpor
Keep wild predators away — passive tames are vulnerable while feeding.
6. Claim & saddle
Once tamed, equip a saddle (unlocks via the engram tab) to ride your Basilosaurus.
Basilosaurus base stats
Level 1 wild values, with the gain each point adds in the wild and after taming.
| Stat | Base | Per wild level | Per tamed level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health | 2400 | +20.0% | +24.3% |
| Stamina | 300 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Oxygen | 150 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Food | 8000 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Weight | 700 | +2.0% | +4.0% |
| Melee damage | 1 | +5.0% | +10.0% |
| Movement speed | 1 | +0.0% | +1.0% |
| Torpidity | 2000 | +6.0% | +0.0% |
Taming & saddle figures
Breeding & movement
Where it spawns & other details
Basilosaurus spawns on The Island, The Center, Ragnarok, Valguero, Genesis Part 1, Astraeos.
Basilosaurus variants
- Brute Basilosaurus (Genesis: Part 1)
- Eerie Basilosaurus
- X-Basilosaurus (Genesis: Part 1)
Related tools & resources
Basilosaurus — Background & Lore
The Basilosaurus is a large prehistoric whale and a calm, durable ocean mount. It is immune to the stun of jellyfish and the shock of electric eels, which makes it one of the safest ways to explore the sea.
Where to find it
It is rare in the deep oceans of The Island, The Center, Ragnarok, Valguero and Genesis Part 1 in both games, Astraeos in ASA, and Crystal Isles, Fjordur, Lost Island and Genesis Part 2 in ASE.
Taming
A passive tame: swim close and feed it while it is calm, without being seen as a threat. Its saddle unlocks at level 60. See the taming calculator.
Breeding
- Birth: a live birth, about 7 hours 56 minutes of gestation.
- Growth: a baby matures in about 4.8 days at 1x.
Uses
- Exploring: safe travel near jellyfish and eels.
- Harvest:
Raw Prime Meat and 
Oil from its carcass.
Tips
It is hard to find because it is rare. Search open deep water and watch for its long shape near the surface.