Chibi-Baryonyx

A miniature Baryonyx with a level bonus

The Chibi-Baryonyx is a tiny pet for ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended. It is mostly cosmetic, yet it can also lift a survivor's level cap, as its item text explains: "Earn XP from Alpha creature kills when equipped, to increase its level and earn additional max-levels for your Survivor!"

Raising the pet's level

Killing certain predators while the pet is equipped earns it experience. It can level up five times, and each level-up permanently adds 1 to the maximum level of the survivor who has it equipped at that moment, for up to 5 extra levels. The ARK Wiki's list of qualifying kills includes the Alpha Raptor, Alpha T-Rex, Alpha Megalodon, Alpha Deathworm and Enraged Corrupted Rex. Some entries count in one game only: the Abyssal Alpha T-Rex and Alpha Water Wyvern in ASE (Steam only), and creatures such as the Astral Direwolf, Alpha Ossidon and Enraged Lightning Rex in ASA.

How it is worn and how it is lost

In ASE the chibi goes into the off-hand slot, while ASA gives chibis a dedicated slot. Once equipped, it appears at the survivor's front left and follows their movements; it sits in their lap on a mount and stays nearby while they sleep in a bed. It is an ordinary item, not an unlocked skin: on death it drops with the rest of the inventory and is lost if the death cache is not recovered. It weighs 0 and stacks to 1.

Origin and sources

The ARK Wiki says the Chibi-Baryonyx was introduced in ASE's ARK: Winter Wonderland 4 event and has remained available in every event since. Our records list 3 loot sources that can contain it: Fishing Items (Valentine's), Fishing Meat (Valentine's) and the Raptor Claus Gift. They also name the Baryonyx as a creature that drops it and tie the item to The Island, Aberration, Extinction and Lost Colony.