Gene Scanner

A tool for traits, embryos and tracking

The Gene Scanner is a tool in ARK: Survival Ascended that unlocks at level 86. In-game it is described as "A tool for finding nearby Creatures of a chosen species, scanning Creatures for Traits, extracting/implanting Traits, and removing embryos from pregnant creatures." Our records file it under Steampunk, and the ARK Wiki connects it with Bob's Tall Tales and the Steampunk Ascent DLC.

Crafting it in a Fabricator

The engram costs 11 engram points. The scanner is built in a Fabricator in 15 seconds, grants 180 XP and needs the following, with the substitutes the wiki accepts:

• 80 Crystal or Primal Crystal
• 60 Polymer, Organic Polymer or Corrupted Nodule
• 40 Metal Ingot or Scrap Metal Ingot
• 10 Electronics
• 10 Black Pearl

It has 700 durability, weighs 20 and does not stack. Loot can supply one too: 14 crate types can contain it, for example the Aberration Purple, Aberration Red and Aberration Surface Purple crates.

Moving traits between creatures

Hit a tamed creature with the scanner and a menu opens for moving traits between that creature and the scanner's own storage. Extracted traits can stay on the scanner, which holds 10 at a time, or go into a Gene Storage; the wiki notes that the scanner is the only way to reach the Gene Storage at all. A creature carries up to 5 traits, and some traits stack 2 or 3 times.

Adults need care. A grown tame accepts a new trait only if it has the Fast Learner trait, and the incoming trait then replaces Fast Learner for good, with no confirmation step. Creatures that have not reached full maturity can receive traits freely.

Embryos and wild creature scans

The same menu offers embryo extraction from a pregnant creature. The embryo lands in your inventory, works similarly to an egg, and can be incubated in an Embryo Incubator.

Holding R opens the scanner menu for tracking wild creatures; arrows on both sides of the scanner then lead the way. The highest level it can find scales with the player's level, and the wiki's example is level 103 creatures for a level 83 player. The scanner also reveals traits on every creature, including tames of other tribes, and it can be used while riding, even on creatures that normally block item use when mounted.