How to Tame Lightning Pteranodon in ARK
Lightning Pteranodon is a variant of Pteranodon. The most common early-game flying mount. Fast but fragile. Essential for scouting and quick transport.
Quick Facts
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Tame Method
- Knockout
- Rideable
- Yes
Lightning Pteranodon Taming Details
Lightning Pteranodon is a knockout tame. Its most effective taming food is Kibble (preferred) or Raw Mutton.
Alternative foods: Cooked Lamb Chop, Raw Prime Meat, Cooked Prime Meat, Raw Meat.
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 Lightning Pteranodon on supported maps. Check the spawn map and bring a fast mount or a flyer for transport.
3. Knock it out
Lightning Pteranodon 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 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
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 Lightning Pteranodon.
Lightning Pteranodon 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 | 210 | +20.0% | +15.0% |
| Stamina | 150 | +5.0% | +4.0% |
| Oxygen | 150 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Food | 1200 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Weight | 120 | +2.0% | +3.0% |
| Melee damage | 1 | +5.0% | +7.5% |
| Movement speed | 1 | +0.0% | +2.0% |
| Torpidity | 120 | +6.0% | +0.0% |
Taming & saddle figures
Breeding & movement
Where it spawns & other details
Lightning Pteranodon spawns on Astraeos.
Related tools & resources
Lightning Pteranodon — Background & Lore
The Lightning Pteranodon is the lightning-infused version of the 
Pteranodon, the classic early flyer. As one of the Lightning Creatures of Astraeos in ASA, it is stronger than the normal one and attacks on sight.
Where to find it
Only on Therokis, the fiery region of Astraeos.
How to get one
It cannot be tamed, ridden or bred. A normal Pteranodon is the one to tame for scouting and travel.
Uses
Corrupted Nodules and a chance at a 
Corrupt Heart.
Tips
Flying over Therokis means meeting these in the air. Its yellow glow gives it away early, so turn back or land and fight before it reaches a fragile mount.