Table of Contents
The bosses you confront in ARK Survival Ascended serve as the ultimate test of survival and preparation skills on the Island, and among the three primary bosses, none surpasses the might of the Dragon boss. Taking down this formidable opponent proves to be a formidable challenge, given its robust abilities and the demanding arena it occupies.
If you seek a comprehensive guide on conquering the Dragon boss, you're in the right place. In the upcoming sections, we will provide detailed instructions on locating, summoning, and, of course, overcoming the Dragon boss in ARK Survival Ascended. Additionally, we will outline the rewards awaiting those who successfully vanquish this formidable foe.
Dragon Boss Location And Artifact Requirements in ARK Survival Ascended
To access the Dragon Boss fight in ARK: Survival Ascended, players must locate the Red Obelisk situated on the far southwest side of the Island. You've already come across this Obelisk several times, as it is the closest one when spawning in Zone 1, the easiest difficulty area.
Upon reaching the Obelisk, you'll need to present four Artifacts, in contrast to the three required for the Megapithecus and Broodmother bosses. The necessary Artifacts include the Artifact of Cunning, the Artifact of the Immune, the Artifact of the Skylord, and the Artifact of the Strong. Once these are offered, you'll gain the opportunity to face the Gamma variant, which is the easiest level of the Dragon Boss to take on with these base Artifacts.
It's important to note that for more challenging encounters with the Dragon boss in its alternative forms (Beta and Alpha), specific Tributes are required. Detailed information on these Tributes can be found in our Tribute location guide.
How To Beat Dragon Boss in ARK Survival Ascended
The Dragon boss truly embodies its name, resembling a colossal reptilian dinosaur with wings and capturing the essence of a dragon. Confronting this creature demands a specialized strategy compared to the previous two bosses due to its heightened strength.
In the showdown, it's crucial to be vigilant regarding the Dragon's abilities, particularly its percent-based fire breath, which drains 20% of the maximum health of any target, causing direct impact damage. Additionally, the Dragon employs Fireballs that inflict substantial area-of-effect damage, affecting both the tamed creature and its rider. The Dragon also summons minions, specifically the Pteranodon and Dimorphodon, resorting to physical attacks when approached closely.
The hostile Pteranodon and Dimorphodon minions summoned by the Dragon present additional challenges. Notably, Dimorphodons can directly harm mounted survivors, underscoring the importance of bringing extra sets of armor and ample Medical Brews for increased resilience.
In this battle, relying solely on ambushing the Dragon with your tames proves less effective. Therefore, as a priority, we recommend equipping Mastercraft or Ascendant quality firearms for optimal damage output, as primitive weapons are ineffective. The Dragon's fireballs are formidable, causing significant damage (though less to herbivores) with a substantial explosion radius. Using tames such as the Therizinosaurus, ideally in abundance, is a solid strategy due to its herbivorous nature and high stats similar to the T-Rex's.
While a Yutyrannus can be beneficial when mounted and kept away from the Dragon, providing support by buffing the Therizinos or other damage-dealing tames, a very tanky Megaloceros could aid in kiting the Dragon and drawing its attention. However, using a Rex is less recommended due to its vulnerability to fireballs, requiring more upkeep during the battle.
Finally, the Dragon deploys its Fire Breath attack on a cooldown basis, executing it immediately upon landing after the minion phase. To minimize damage from this attack, a recommended strategy is to approach with only one dinosaur after the Dragon lands, allowing it to absorb the attack. This focused approach significantly reduces damage dispersion across your team, leading to a more manageable and successful encounter.
Tips For Defeating The Dragon Boss
In terms of the boss fight itself, several considerations should be taken into account. Initially, the boss primarily targets your dinos, aggroing towards them, while the Dragon's spawns target you and not your dinos. In this phase, prioritize healing your dinos and lead the summoned minions away, dealing with them using a shotgun and your mount.
Once the minions are cleared, you can focus on the Dragon by waiting for it to land. A useful tip is to stand underneath the Dragon to damage its underbelly with a shotgun or any accessible weapons. While the Dragon may get stuck on the arena ruins, allowing for shots from a distance, it's essential not to rely on this lasting throughout the entire fight, as the Dragon will eventually fly away.
As mentioned previously, the Dragon may aggro toward the player, providing an opportunity for your army to safely damage it. Keep an eye on the Dragon's aggro direction. If players spread their creatures around, surrounding and pinning the Dragon, it would be distracted and focus its fire attack on one side, allowing your unaffected creatures to endure longer during the fight.
To summarize, maintain your attacks against the Dragon, ensuring to move your dinos strategically to avoid getting bottlenecked by its attacks. Simultaneously, deal damage with your weapons, clearing out the summons to allow both you and your dinos to concentrate on the Dragon until it eventually falls.
Dragon Boss Rewards
Successfully defeating the Dragon boss at all three difficulty levels (Gamma, Beta, and Alpha) brings forth a variety of rewards. These rewards include a collection of Tek items, Elements, trophies, and structures, all of which play a crucial role in advancing through the game. Moreover, these acquired items become pivotal in preparing for the ultimate challenge, the Overseer, which is likely the next goal to pursue after conquering the Dragon.
Here's a detailed breakdown of the rewards for each difficulty level of the Dragon boss in Ark Survival Ascended:
Dragon Gamma Rewards
- Behemoth Tek Gate
- Behemoth Tek Gateway
- Megalodon Tek Saddle
- Tapejara Tek Saddle
- Tek Leggings
- Tek Replicator
- Tek Small Teleporter
Dragon Beta Rewards
- Behemoth Tek Gate
- Behemoth Tek Gateway
- Megalodon Tek Saddle
- Tapejara Tek Saddle
- Tek Dedicated Storage
- Tek Double Door
- Tek Double Doorframe
- Tek Fence Support
- Tek Forcefield
- Tek Leggings
- Tek Replicator
- Tek Stairs
- Tek Transmitter
- Vacuum Compartment
Dragon Alpha Rewards
- Behemoth Tek Gate
- Behemoth Tek Gateway
- Cloning Chamber
- Megalodon Tek Saddle
- Tapejara Tek Saddle
- Tek Chestpiece
- Tek Dedicated Storage
- Tek Double Door
- Tek Double Doorframe
- Tek Fence Support
- Tek Forcefield
- Tek Leggings
- Tek Replicator
- Tek Stairs
- Tek Teleporter
- Tek Transmitter
- Vacuum Compartment
- Vacuum Compartment Moonpool
