The Bison Charges into ARK: Survival Ascended with Ragnarok

The next few months are looking exciting for ARK: Survival Ascended, as the fan-favorite map Ragnarok is set to return. With it comes a wave of new content, but one creature in particular is stealing the spotlight: the mighty Bison. If you’re curious about this beast and what its arrival means for Survival Ascended, keep reading as we break down everything we know so far.

The Bison Charges into ARK: Survival Ascended with Ragnarok

In a recent community forum post, the developers at Studio Wildcard outlined everything coming with the new Ragnarok expansion, set to launch on June 18. One of the most exciting additions is the Bison—a brand-new creature that players can tame and use to aid in their survival journey. Here’s a quick overview of what we know so far:

Community Crunch 458: Introducing Bison!https://t.co/9RLgiJ7HRTpic.twitter.com/Cb0eRGUKhI

— ARK: Survival Ascended (@survivetheark) May 16, 2025

• Common Name: Bison
• Species: Bison Matrislac
• Time Period: Early Pleistocene
• Diet: Herbivore
• Temperament: Territorial

The Bison looks to be an incredibly useful creature. As the developers described: “These lovable meatballs are worth taming, because they’ll fight for you as fiercely as their own herd. Your bison may not end fights quickly, but it will take a beating and tussle with just about any threat.”

In other words, while it may not pack the strongest punch, the Bison is built to endure. It’s even tough enough to hold its own against a T-Rex. However, its resilience comes at a cost—taming this beast won’t be easy. The Bison is fiercely territorial and aggressive toward larger predators, making the knockout process a real challenge.

Fortunately, being a herbivore means you won’t need meat to tame it. Some kibble, berries, or other plant-based foods should do the trick. While specific taming mechanics haven’t been detailed just yet, it seems that the most difficult part will be knocking it out in the first place.

For now, we’re just excited that Ragnarok isn’t only bringing back a fan-favorite map, but also introducing a powerful new tame to the game. As soon as we learn more about the Bison and its full in-game capabilities, we’ll update you right away, so be sure to check back soon. See you all in Ragnarok!