Chibi-Deinonychus

A pet that raises the level cap

The Chibi-Deinonychus is a chibi-pet in ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended. Chibi-pets are miniature companions that serve mostly as cosmetics, with one lasting benefit spelled out in the item text: "Earn XP from Alpha creature kills when equipped, to increase its level and earn additional max-levels for your Survivor!" The ARK Wiki traces this one to the Turkey Trial 5 event of ASE and says it has been available in every event since.

Leveling it up

A chibi-pet can level up five times from kills of certain creatures made while it is equipped. Each level-up permanently adds 1 to the maximum level of the survivor who has it equipped at that moment, up to 5 extra levels. The general list of creatures that give it experience includes the Alpha T-Rex, Alpha Raptor, Alpha Carnotaurus, Alpha Megalodon, Alpha Deathworm and the Enraged Corrupted Rex. ASE has a few of its own, on Steam only, such as the Alpha Water Wyvern and the Abyssal Alpha T-Rex, while ASA adds others like the Alpha Ossidon, the Enraged Lightning Rex and Astral creatures such as the Astral T-Rex and Astral Direwolf.

Equipping it, and losing it

In ASE the pet goes into the off-hand slot, while ASA gives chibis a dedicated slot. Equipped, it stands ahead of the survivor on their left and moves and turns with them. On a mount it rests in the survivor's lap, and while they sleep in a bed it sits nearby. Unlike unlockable skins, a chibi-pet counts as a normal item: it drops with the rest of the inventory on death and is gone for good if the death cache is not recovered.

Where it comes from

It weighs 0 and does not stack. Our loot data has 2 crate types that can contain it: Fishing Items (Valentine's) and Fishing Meat (Valentine's).