ARK's Taxidermy Tool: Your Ultimate Guide

In the vast and perilous worlds of ARK: Survival Evolved, survivors are constantly battling formidable creatures, building grand bases, and taming magnificent beasts. Amidst the struggle for survival, there’s a unique desire to commemorate epic triumphs and cherished companions. This is where the Taxidermy Tool steps in, an invaluable item that allows you to capture the essence of your favourite creatures, preserving their likeness for display. Far more than just a decorative piece, the Taxidermy Tool offers a fascinating layer of collection and remembrance to your ARK adventures, allowing you to immortalise your journey through the creatures you encounter and conquer.

What Exactly is the Taxidermy Tool?

Introduced in the expansive Extinction DLC, and subsequently available across other maps such as Genesis: Part 2, Lost Island, and Fjordur, the Taxidermy Tool is a distinct utility item in ARK: Survival Evolved. Unlike standard harvesting tools, its primary purpose isn't to gather raw materials like wood or stone, but rather to extract a "Dermis" from creatures. This Dermis is essentially a digital skin or mould of a creature, designed to be placed upon a Taxidermy Base – small, medium, or large – to create a lifelike (though static) replica of the creature. It's a testament to your triumphs, a cherished memory of a beloved tame, or even a morbid trophy from a powerful foe.

Collecting Dermis: The Core Function

The process of collecting a Dermis is remarkably straightforward. To obtain a Dermis, you simply need to strike a creature with the Taxidermy Tool. This works whether the creature is a wild, untamed beast, a fallen enemy, or even one of your own cherished tamed dinosaurs. The key requirement is that the creature must have a "harvestable corpse" if it's deceased. For living, tamed creatures, a gentle tap is all it takes; there's no need to harm them. A crucial detail for collectors is that the name of the Dermis collected will directly reflect the name of the creature from which it was taken. If you have a beloved Rex named "Stompy", its Dermis will proudly bear the name "Stompy Dermis", adding a personal touch to your display.

Advanced Dermis Collection Techniques for the Avid Collector

While collecting a Dermis might seem simple, there are nuances and specific mechanics that seasoned ARK players will appreciate, especially those keen on building comprehensive collections.

One Dermis Per Creature, With a Twist

Generally, a creature can only yield one Dermis. Once you've extracted its likeness, that particular creature will not provide another Dermis, regardless of how many times you strike it with the tool. However, ARK offers a fascinating exception that caters to the dedicated breeder and collector: the growth stages of baby creatures.

For creatures that go through various growth stages – from a tiny "Baby" to a "Juvenile", then an "Adolescent", and finally an "Adult" – you can collect a separate Dermis at each distinct stage. This means that a single creature, if bred and raised by a survivor, can potentially provide up to four unique Dermis displays, each capturing a different moment in its life cycle. Imagine showcasing the entire growth journey of your prize Giga, from its adorable hatchling phase to its formidable adult form! This mechanic adds significant depth for players who enjoy the breeding aspect of ARK, allowing them to truly keep a comprehensive record of their most successful lines.

The Cryopod Conundrum: Infinite Dermis?

The game states that "Cryopods can be used to gain infinite Dermis." This particular mechanic can be a source of confusion, but its implications are significant for collectors. While the exact method isn't explicitly detailed, the most common interpretation and player experience suggest that cryopodding a creature and then uncryopodding it effectively 'resets' its Dermis collection status. This means that if you've already collected a Dermis from a creature, cryopodding it and then redeploying it allows you to collect another Dermis from the same creature. This provides a method for players to obtain multiple Dermis specimens from a single prized tame, perhaps to decorate multiple bases or to share with tribemates. It's a powerful trick for expanding your collection without needing to constantly tame or breed new creatures.

Beyond the Trophy: The Taxidermy Tool as a Harvester

While its primary role is artistic, the Taxidermy Tool isn't entirely useless for more practical purposes. In a pinch, or perhaps by design, it serves as a surprisingly effective harvesting tool for certain resources, particularly meat.

Meat Harvesting Efficiency

When used on a corpse for harvesting resources, the Taxidermy Tool proves to be more efficient at yielding Meat than a basic Stone Hatchet. This might seem counter-intuitive for a tool designed for aesthetic collection, but it's a useful detail to remember if you find yourself needing extra protein and have the Taxidermy Tool equipped. While it won't replace dedicated harvesting dinosaurs or more advanced tools for large-scale operations, it's a handy bonus.

Reach and Range

In terms of its physical reach when swung, the Taxidermy Tool possesses a range identical to that of a Spear or a Pike. This extended reach can be surprisingly useful, whether you're trying to collect a Dermis from a tricky angle or simply using it for its secondary harvesting function on a distant corpse. It gives you a bit more leeway than shorter-ranged tools, which can be advantageous in various in-game scenarios.

Peculiarities and Special Cases of Dermis Display

The Taxidermy Tool and the resulting Dermis displays have a few interesting quirks that players have discovered. These unique behaviours add character to your collection.

• Your Own Dermis (Singleplayer Only): In Singleplayer mode, survivors have the unique ability to collect a Dermis from their own character's corpse upon death. This allows for a truly personal display. However, it's worth noting that when displayed on a Taxidermy Base, your character's hair and any applied dyes will not render. So, while you can immortalise your avatar, it might appear a little less vibrant than its living counterpart.
• Crystal Wyvern Eyes: For those who collect Dermis from Crystal Wyverns, a specific visual characteristic has been observed. Regardless of the Crystal Wyvern's original eye colour, when its Dermis is placed on a Taxidermy Base, its eyes will consistently appear orange. This is a minor visual detail but one that dedicated collectors might notice and appreciate.
• Reaper Newborn Appearance: When a Dermis is collected from a newborn Reaper (which typically has a "facehugger" appearance upon birth), and then displayed on a Taxidermy Base, the resulting replica surprisingly looks like a very tiny adult Reaper. This has been confirmed on official servers using both small and medium display bases. It's an intriguing transformation that gives these unique Dermis displays a distinct and unexpected look.

Integrating the Taxidermy Tool with Your Base Design

The true joy of the Taxidermy Tool comes from its integration with Taxidermy Bases. These bases come in various sizes (Small, Medium, Large) to accommodate different creature sizes. By placing a collected Dermis onto an appropriate base, you transform it into a static, highly detailed replica of the creature. This allows players to create impressive trophy rooms, memorial halls for fallen companions, or even unique biological displays within their bases. The ability to name the Dermis after the creature adds a layer of personalisation that makes each display truly unique.

Technical Insights and Game Updates

For those interested in the backend and evolution of the Taxidermy Tool within ARK, here are some command details and its patch history.

Spawn Command for Blueprints

Should you wish to quickly acquire the Taxidermy Tool and its associated bases in a single-player or admin-enabled server environment, you can use the following console command to grant yourself the full set of blueprints:

GFI TaxidermyTool 1 0 1|GFI TaxidermyBase_Small 1 0 1|GFI TaxidermyBase_Medium 1 0 1|GFI TaxidermyBase_Large 1 0 1

Changelog: Evolution of the Taxidermy Feature

The Taxidermy system has seen several updates since its introduction, ensuring its stability and functionality within the game.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Taxidermy Tool

Q: Can I collect a Dermis from any creature?

A: You can collect Dermis from any creature that leaves a harvestable corpse if it's wild or a defeated foe. For your tamed creatures, simply hitting them with the tool is enough, regardless of whether they are alive or dead.

Q: Does collecting Dermis harm my tame?

A: No, striking a living, tamed creature with the Taxidermy Tool to collect its Dermis does not inflict any damage or negative effects on it. It's a purely non-destructive process for your allies.

Q: Can I collect multiple Dermis from the same adult creature?

A: Normally, an adult creature only yields one Dermis. However, using Cryopods to cryo and uncryo the creature can reset its Dermis collection status, allowing you to collect multiple from the same individual.

Q: How do I display the Dermis after collecting it?

A: Once collected, the Dermis item needs to be placed onto a suitable Taxidermy Base (Small, Medium, or Large, depending on the creature's size). These bases are crafted items that serve as the platform for your Dermis display.

Q: Is the Taxidermy Tool good for farming resources?

A: While its primary use is Dermis collection, it is surprisingly efficient at harvesting Meat from corpses, yielding more than a Stone Hatchet. However, it's not a primary farming tool for other resources like hide or chitin.

Q: Do the displayed Dermis models have animations?

A: No, the Dermis displays on Taxidermy Bases are static models. They do not have animations or interact with the environment like living creatures.

Conclusion: A Collector's Dream

The Taxidermy Tool is more than just a novelty item in ARK: Survival Evolved; it's a testament to your journey, your triumphs, and the unique creatures that populate your world. From commemorating the growth of your most cherished tames to displaying the formidable beasts you've vanquished, this tool adds an incredibly rich layer of personal storytelling and collection to the game. Its subtle utility as a meat-harvesting tool and its unique behaviours with specific creatures only add to its charm. So, next time you're venturing across the ARK, remember to bring your Taxidermy Tool and start building your very own museum of prehistoric wonders. Happy collecting, survivor!

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