With the latest patch v256, there was a major flier nerf in ARK Survival Evolved. A “re-balancing” patch is coming soon. Studio Wildcard explains why the nerf was necessary.
“Tame a flying dinosaur, conquer the world!” This is how the senior game designer of Ark Survival Evolved describes the problems surrounding the flying creatures. In the last patch v256, the flying dinosaurs received a significant nerf.
This brought many complaints from the community to the developers. Studio Wildcard even received photos where someone defecated on the names of the developers. And not just metaphorically.
A “re-balancing” patch is planned for tomorrow to give the flying dinosaurs a slight buff.
Flier Nerf: “Re-Balancing” patch adjusts flight speed
The “re-balancing” patch is scheduled for tomorrow. The values of the flying dinosaurs have been adjusted. The main focus of the patch is on the value “Rider Extra Max Speed Multiplier”. This gives the flying dinosaur a new speed once a rider is on it. This value will be increased with the patch.
You can see the values (Values) on a Google spreadsheet in the following link. This is from Studio Wildcard itself: Link to the values sheet of the flying dinosaurs
Senior game designer “The Right Hand” explained Wildcard’s reasons for the nerf and “re-balancing” patch.
ARK’s flier nerf had to happen, 80% of the game was ignored
The studio hears the cries of the community and encourages players to express their anger. The flier nerf still remains: flying dinosaurs will gradually be adjusted upwards again.
The studio wants all dinosaurs to take on an individual role in Ark. Before their nerf, the flying dinosaurs had no clearly distinguishable roles. Speed was the most important attribute for every flying creature. This started with the first tamed Pteranodon.
Flying dinosaurs caused problems in PvE and PvP
In PvP, the flying dinosaurs were gigantic killing machines, floating high above all dangers. Attacks from the air, C4 bombardments, and Quetz grenades were the order of the day thanks to the flight speed. Land dinosaurs were originally supposed to be the combat dinosaurs. However, they fell short in comparison to their flying relatives.
In PvP, the game was ignored on the ground for about 80%. On the back of a Quetzal, it was possible to remain airborne almost all the time.
The flier nerf should hit hard
It was intended by the studio to make the nerf hit hard. Wildcard wants to re-balance and adjust the flying dinosaurs piece by piece from here on. They would prefer for the community to briefly and fiercely hate them for it. The alternative would be to gradually adjust the flying dinosaurs downwards.
This would, in Wildcard’s eyes, give players a bad feeling every time. Players would become angry anew each time. Thus, there is one heavy nerf, and from here on it can only get better.
“Re-Balancing” is also planned for ground dinos
In the future, the ground dinos are also set to receive a revision. The studio wishes for clearly separate roles for these creatures as well. There are far fewer flying dinosaurs than land dwellers. Therefore, the studio started with the flier nerf.
In summary, the desired roles of the flying dinosaurs are as follows:
- Ptero: Fast scout, with low health/low stamina. Fastest flying creature in the game
- Argent: Robust fighter, with high stamina and weight capacity. Still retains good mobility
- Moth: Beginner mount. Low stats, but powerful special abilities
- Pelagornis: Flexible flying creature with low stats. Other special abilities
- Quetzal: Sky Bronto. Slow, extreme stamina, extreme carrying capabilities, high health
- Tapejara: Tactical flying creature, somewhere between the Argent and Ptero with its stats. Can carry multiple people and is therefore suitable for combat
- Wyvern: King of the skies.
What do you think about the flier nerf? Were the flying dinosaurs too strong?
Studio Wildcard does not always pay attention to the community when it comes to balancing in the game. You can learn more about this here:
ARK: Surprise! The success formula of the dino MMO is actually a formula
