How to Tame Bison in ARK
Bison is an ASA Lost Island / The Center exclusive bovine creature, similar to a docile herbivore mount with high carry weight.
Quick Facts
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Temperament
- Neutral
- Tame Method
- Knockout
- Rideable
- Yes
Bison Taming Details
Bison is a knockout tame. Its most effective taming food is Kibble (preferred) or Crops.
Alternative foods: Mejoberry, Other berries, Fresh Vegetables.
Taming Steps
1. Prepare your gear
Bring Tranq Arrows or Tranq Darts, a Crossbow or Longneck Rifle, Narcotics or Narcoberries, and bug repellent.
2. Locate the creature
Find a wild Bison on supported maps. Check the spawn map and bring a fast mount or a flyer for transport.
3. Knock it out
Bison is a knockout tame. Use a Crossbow, Longneck Rifle with Tranq Darts, or Shocking Tranq Darts. Aim for the head for bonus torpor and keep distance to avoid aggro damage.
4. Feed the right food
Place Kibble (preferred) or Crops in its inventory (alternatives: Mejoberry, Other berries, Fresh Vegetables). Higher-tier food gives faster taming and higher level bonuses.
5. Maintain torpor
Watch the torpor bar. Feed Narcoberries or Narcotics to prevent it from waking up before the tame completes.
6. Claim & saddle
Once tamed, equip a saddle (unlocks via the engram tab) to ride your Bison.
Bison 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 | 800 | +20.0% | +27.0% |
| Stamina | 500 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Oxygen | 150 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Food | 3250 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Weight | 650 | +2.0% | +4.0% |
| Melee damage | 1 | +5.0% | +10.0% |
| Movement speed | 1 | +0.0% | +1.0% |
| Torpidity | 500 | +6.0% | +0.0% |
Taming & saddle figures
Breeding & movement
Where it spawns & other details
Bison spawns on Astraeos, Ragnarok, Genesis Part 1, Valguero, Lost Colony.
Related tools & resources
Bison — Background & Lore
The Bison is a heavy herbivore mount in ASA. It fights well, especially in groups, gathers berries, produces milk and can pull a 
Platform Cart, which makes it a useful all-rounder for a base.
Where to find it
It is most common on Ragnarok, Astraeos and Genesis Part 1. It also lives on Lost Colony and, rarely, on Valguero. Herds are led by their highest-level Bison.
Taming
A knockout tame. It is territorial and turns very aggressive at close range, so start from a distance. Feed it 
Superior Kibble, Mejoberries or crops. The saddle unlocks at level 50.
Breeding
A live-birth creature: gestation takes about 3.6 hours, and the baby matures in about 1.8 days at 1x.
Uses
- Combat: Head Up and Head Down positions change its head attack between a stun and a launch. Pack Boost adds damage and resistance with at least three Bison together.
- Milk: females produce
Bison Milk while a young Bison is nearby, about once an hour. - Work: berry gathering and pulling a Platform Cart.
Tips
Tame or breed at least three so Pack Boost stays active in fights.