Ark Survival Ascended turns to mods to make one of nature's best sharks official

Divisive survival game remaster Ark Survival Ascended is once again turning to its top modders to expand the core game's creature roster, and Studio Wildcard's new update adds one of my favorite extinct animals. Often known colloquially as the "buzzsaw killer," the Ark Helicoprion might actually be one of the less terrifying inhabitants of the oceans once you get past its intimidating appearance. Manage to befriend one and it could even make for a fantastic companion, whether you're crafting or looking to explore the deep water.

UE5 remake Ark: Survival Ascended still maintains a 'mixed' rating as we near two years of the grand-scale overhaul of one of the best survival games on Steam, with continued performance problems and displeasure with the monetization model among players' chief complaints. As it looks to continue expanding its offering, Studio Wildcard has once again returned to one of the best Ark mods, transforming another of the creatures from the Ark Additions collection built by modder 'Garuga123' into an official inclusion. You can see the Helicorpion's original incarnation in action below, courtesy of 'ClickTockClock.'

Boasting 3.8 million downloads, it's safe to say the Helicoprion is one of the most-wanted creatures in ASA, and now it's going to be available as part of the core game for everyone. It's immediately easy to see why it's so popular; at roughly the same size as a Megalodon and featuring an iconic buzzsaw of teeth in its mouth, Helicoprion is one of the most striking sea creatures in history, up there with the likes of the Hammerhead Shark.

The good news is that its Ark incarnation is nowhere near as scary as it might look. Indeed, this giant beast is much more focused on seeking out Ammonite, and the version seen in Ark Additions won't attack you unless provoked. Studio Wildcard says we can "expect a little fine tuning as the Helicoprion settles into its new home," so it might not be implemented in exactly the same way, but the developer does hint that "survivors report they're mostly unbothered," which sounds reassuring.

Studio Wildcard also mentions that "there's more to this prehistoric predator than brute force," explaining, "that strange, whorled jaw has a curious utility that crafters may find indispensable." Garuga123's modded iteration, when tamed, has the ability to turn items into blueprints without resetting their rarity, a valuable trait with a success rate based on the creature in question's stats. It can also act as a grinder for crafting. If both of those skills make it to the official version, Helicoprion will certainly be a must-have.

Beyond those benefits, however, the oceanborne titan is likely to be a valuable mount for exploring deep water. Not only is it immune to the rage-inducing effects of Ammonite, but Garuga123's Helicoprion is also one of the only creatures that the giant squid Tusoteuthis can't grab hold of. Be careful when trying to tame one, however, as doing so will cause hostility in nearby wildlife, and will likely spawn in several Megalodon.

The Helicoprion arrives for free in Ark Survival Ascended on Wednesday August 20, meaning it'll be available to all base-game players regardless of mods. You can check in on the latest updates courtesy of Studio Wildcard's regular Community Crunch, which also reminds that official Ragnarok transfers are opening on Friday August 15.

Alternatively, we've rounded up the best dinosaur games for plenty more prehistoric pleasures. If you're trying to squeeze the most performance possible out of Survival Ascended, it might be time to consider an upgrade to the best graphics card for your budget in 2025.

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