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Spawn Command
cheat summon Mantis_Character_BP_C
or
cheat SpawnDino "Blueprint'/Game/ScorchedEarth/Dinos/Mantis/Mantis_Character_BP.Mantis_Character_BP'" 500 0 0 35
Variant Mantis (Gauntlet)
cheat summon Mantis_Character_BP_Gauntlet_C
or
cheat SpawnDino "Blueprint'/Game/Genesis/Dinos/MissionVariants/Gauntlet/Bog/Mantis_Character_BP_Gauntlet.Mantis_Character_BP_Gauntlet'" 500 0 0 35
Variant Mantis (SummonedD)
cheat summon Mantis_Character_BP_Summoned_C
or
cheat SpawnDino "Blueprint'/Game/Genesis2/Dinos/Summoner/SummonedDinos/Mantis_Character_BP_Summoned.Mantis_Character_BP_Summoned'" 500 0 0 35
Variant Mantis (Gauntlet2)
cheat summon Mantis_Character_BP_STA_C
or
cheat SpawnDino "Blueprint'/Game/Genesis2/Missions/ModularMission/Gauntlet2/STA/Dinos/Mantis_Character_BP_STA.Mantis_Character_BP_STA'" 500 0 0 35
Variant VR Mantis (Gauntlet2)
cheat summon Mantis_Character_BP_TameSTA_C
or
cheat SpawnDino "Blueprint'/Game/Genesis2/Missions/ModularMission/Gauntlet2/STA/Endless/Tames/Mantis_Character_BP_TameSTA.Mantis_Character_BP_TameSTA'" 500 0 0 35
Variant VR Mantis (Maze)
cheat summon Mantis_Character_BP_CorrMaze_C
or
cheat SpawnDino "Blueprint'/Game/Genesis2/Missions/ModularMission/Maze/CorruptedZone/Dinos/Mantis_Character_BP_CorrMaze.Mantis_Character_BP_CorrMaze'" 500 0 0 35
Taming Method
Level Requirement
Preferred Food
Equipment
Mantis Saddle (Scorched Earth) Mantis Saddle (Scorched Earth) (Level ?)
Torch Torch (Level ?)
Stone Pick Stone Pick (Level ?)
Stone Hatchet Stone Hatchet (Level ?)
Wooden Club Wooden Club (Level ?)
Whip (Scorched Earth) Whip (Scorched Earth) (Level ?)
Scissors Scissors (Level ?)
Pike Pike (Level ?)
Metal Pick Metal Pick (Level ?)
Metal Hatchet Metal Hatchet (Level ?)
Metal Sickle Metal Sickle (Level ?)
Sword Sword (Level ?)
Taxidermy Tool (Extinction) Taxidermy Tool (Extinction) (Level ?)
35 - 38 °C / 95 - 100 °F
Egg Incubator (Genesis Part 2) Egg Incubator: 37 °C / 99 °F
Incubation Time
2h 46m 39.2s
Baby Time
5h 26m 47.843s
Juvenile Time
21h 47m 11.372s
Adolescent Time
1d 3h 13m 59.216s
Total Maturation Time
2d 6h 27m 58.431s
Breeding Interval
18h - 2d

The Mantis is one of the Creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved. It was added in the Scorched Earth DLC on September 1, 2016, and included with the Ragnarok expansion on June 12, 2017, also included in Genesis Part 2 on June 3rd, 2021.

Basic Info[]

Dossier[]

This section is intended to be an exact copy of what the survivor Helena Walker, the author of the dossiers, has written. There may be some discrepancies between this text and the in-game creature.

NoteHelena
Species

Empusa discipulus

Time

Holocene

Diet

Carnivore

Temperament

Aggressive

Wild

The existence of a creature such as Empusa discipulus is both fascinating and frightening. Not only is Empusa the only recorded insect to have developed an opposable digit, allowing it to grip objects and use tools, but it possesses a level of intelligence that is unrivalled among non-human species. I have even found clear patterns in the sounds Empusa makes when communicating with its own kind, as though it is actually using some kind of dialect. I would love to study these interactions in depth, but observing Empusa up close is extremely dangerous. Its size, intelligence and ability to pounce on its prey from a great distance mean that one could be quickly swarmed and killed upon detection. Caution is recommended.

Domesticated

Though a dangerous task, successfully taming Empusa can prove highly beneficial. Its unique claws allow it to wield melee weapons like spears or pikes in battle, and use tools while harvesting resources. This makes it deadly as a mount or footsoldier and highly efficient as a gatherer.

Behavior[]

Highly aggressive, it attacks any medium-size or smaller creature that enters its range.

Appearance[]

It looks just like an average Mantis but much larger and deadlier. It usually comes from a light green to a brown or a yellowish color.

Color Scheme and Regions[]

This section displays the Mantis's natural colors and regions. For demonstration, the regions below are colored red over an albino Mantis. The colored squares shown underneath each region's description are the colors that the Mantis will randomly spawn with to provide an overall range of its natural color scheme. Hover your cursor over a color to display its name and ID.

This information can be used to alter the Mantis's regions by entering cheat SetTargetDinoColor <ColorRegion> <ColorID> in the cheat console. For instance, cheat SetTargetDinoColor 0 6 would color the Mantis's "body" magenta.

Mantis PaintRegion0
Region 0:
Body
9
10
11
15
16
17
26
27
33
X mark

Region 1 is not used
for this Creature.

X mark

Region 2 is not used
for this Creature.

X mark

Region 3 is not used
for this Creature.

Mantis PaintRegion4
Region 4:
Top
9
10
11
15
16
17
26
27
33
Mantis PaintRegion5
Region 5:
Underside
9
10
11
15
16
17
26
27
33

Drops[]

Base Stats and Growth[]

Attribute Base Value Level Increase Taming Bonus
Wild Tamed Additive Multiplicative
Health Health 275 +55 +2.7% 0.07
Stamina Stamina 150 +15 +10%
Oxygen Oxygen 150 +15 +10%
Food Food 900 +90 +10%
Weight Weight 220 +4.4 +8%
Melee Damage Melee Damage 34 / 120 +0.85 / +3 +1.7% 7% 17.6%
Movement Speed Movement Speed 100% N/A +1% 67%
Torpidity Torpidity 350 +21 N/A 0.5
Movement
[u/s]
Base Speed Sprinting Speed Stamina
Wild Tamed1 Tamed2 Wild Tamed1 Tamed2
Walking 200 ? ? 650 500 835 5
Swimming 175 ? ? ? ? ? ?
  • 1These are the base speeds of the creature at 100% Movement Speed.
  • 2These are the speeds of the creature tamed and non-imprinted.
  • For a comparison of the speeds of all creatures, see Base Creature Speeds.
Attack Values
Melee Stamina Cost Attack Range Description
Base Minimum Activation Using the Left Mousebutton (PC), R2 Button (PS), RT Button (Xbox One), the Mantis slashes at the target.
0 300 0 0
Attack Type Damage Projectile Values Torpor Values Status Effect: Stamina Status Effect: Torpidity
Life Impulse Radius Base Mult Duration Damage Mult Amount Duration Damage Mult Amount
Melee 34
Leap Attack Stamina Cost Attack Range Description
Base Minimum Activation Using the Right Mousebutton (PC), L2 Button (PS), LT Button (Xbox One), the Mantis leaps a great distance at the target for considerable damage.
40 3200 800 7000
Attack Type Damage Projectile Values Torpor Values Status Effect: Stamina Status Effect: Torpidity
Life Impulse Radius Base Mult Duration Damage Mult Amount Duration Damage Mult Amount
Melee 120

Wild Stats Level-up

Type in values of a wild creature to see on which stats it's emphasized. Green values on a high-level creature are very good for breeding. If you have already tamed your creature you can try to recover the breeding stats with an external tool.[1]

Mantis

The stat-calculator does not work in the mobile-view, see here for alternatives: Apps

Note that after the creature is tamed it gets bonuses on some stats depending on the taming effectiveness. This makes it hard to retrieve the levels on a tamed creature, so this tool is only for wild ones, but gives a first impression, how well the stats are distributed.

Combat[]

General[]

Mantis spawn in packs of around 2-3 individuals within caves and desert dunes. Due to their pounce attack they have a fairly large aggression range. Once one Mantis spots prey, the others usually follow. They will attempt to rapidly close the distance with an initial pounce before delivering an onslaught of rapid slashing attacks.

Strategy[]

Avoid close combat unless you have a strong enough mount, or good gear. Due to the fact they spawn in packs they may often be mate-boosted, increasing the power of their fast and deadly attacks. If you don't think you can stand a close-up fight, range attacks with fire arrows or other powerful projectiles should do the trick easily.

Weaponry[]

One might consider using a Bow or a Boomerang to keep the mantises at bay and possibly knock it out for running away, or even building a trap around it to tame later. A Rock Elemental would be a great bodyguard in case there are too many to fight.

Dangers[]

BEWARE of Pounce at Mid Range: with Mantis often spawning in groups of 2-3, taking three hits of this powerful attack can deal tremendous damage. Mantis are powerful melee attackers when wild, avoid close-quarters combat unless with good gear or a sufficient mount.

Weakness[]

Its main weakness is bug repellant because it will enable you to attack the Mantis without being noticed if you're careful. Fire Arrows from a crossbow deal massive damage sometimes killing high levels (100+) with a single arrow from a primitive crossbow. However it is not an instant kill. It will take a few seconds but when attacking from a range there is very little to fear when using fire arrows.

Taming[]

Taming Strategy[]

The Mantis is a passive tame, so avoid knockout methods.

To feed it, place a Deathworm Horn Deathworm Horn or Woolly Rhino Horn Woolly Rhino Horn in the last slot of your hotbar, then when approached press "use" (default E) to feed it. You cannot feed them all the horns required for taming at one time, you must wait a few minutes after each feeding to give it the next one, and repeat until the taming meter is filled.

The Mantis is normally aggressive, so Bug Repellant Bug Repellant is needed in order to get close enough to feed it. A set of Ghillie Armor Ghillie Armor is also useful, but not required. The Mantis becomes aggressive if you are too close. The taming progress will become halted until it loses interest in whatever it was fighting, or even decrease if it's aggressive for too long.

A good trap to tame the Mantis is a single foundation (Stone, Adobe, or Metal) with 4 walls on the first level, and 3 walls on the second level.[2] Lastly add two ramps to the last opening on the second level. Part of the Mantis will stick outside of the trap and you can feed it. You will not need any Bug Repellant Bug Repellant or Ghillie Armor Ghillie Armor with this method.

Note: On the Ragnarok map, you can get the horns from the Deathworm Deathworms in the desert or from the Iceworm Male Iceworm Males in the Frozen Dungeon, where they provide a plentiful supply. However, given the high level of this dungeon, it might be safer to go to the desert.

Preferred Food[]

Deathworm Horn (Scorched Earth) Deathworm Horn Note that the values are for optimal cases, always bring extra supplies!
For a level-dependent count of resources needed, try an external taming calculator.

Utility[]

Roles[]

  • Utility Gatherer: The Mantis can equip a pick or hatchet, or even a sickle, allowing it to gather resources using these tools rather effectively when one does not have specialized mounts for such. Due to its ability to equip tools the Mantis can be used as a mobile light source by equipping it with a torch.
  • Soldier/Shock Trooper: The ability for the Mantis to wield melee weapons, including the sword, allows it to be a fearsome combatant, but this also allows them to change up their tactics entirely by using a club, inflicting torpor damage against opponents as needed. Better weapons from better blueprints can massively increase the effectiveness of the mount's attacks, making this one of the only mounts where the quality of items other than the saddle is of great consequence.
  • Taming Mount: Using simply primitive clubs, a high-level Mantis with average melee damage can knock out a mid-level scorpion (or even another Mantis) with a pounce and a few standard bash attacks. With higher end clubs and higher melee, the increased torpor could allow for Mantis to be used on more difficult tames.

With high quality clubs and mutation stacking it can tame even high level rexes and brontos. A decent saddle is not necessary but strongly recommended.

  • Turkey Killer: While wielding a Sword, Pike or similar weapon, The Mantis ignores the damage reduction of the Super Turkey Super Turkey, making them perfect for mass turkey slaughter during the Turkey Trial event.
  • Boss DPS: A highly mutated mantis can be (mainly on boosted unofficial servers) a great DPS in boss fights, possibly outperforming any other dino that can enter boss arenas in terms of both DPH and DPS. Spamming the jump (right click) attack can do massive damage to anything in its path. It can be particularly useful against the Dragon Dragon as it is so small that when below it, the Dragon Dragon will not be able to do damage to it (beware of its minions). You have to, however, pay close attention to positioning of the boss and other tames/players not to get killed. You can also use a Karkinos Karkinos for its grab ability and use two mate-boosted Mantis Mantis either whistling them to attack or having someone ride them, sadly, this disables the jump (right click) attack, which can seriously throttle the damage output. Mutate mainly for melee, level melee. Use a high quality Sword Sword or Pike Pike (Sword Sword is recommended).

Collectibles[]

Resource Efficiency
Mutagel (Genesis Part 2) Mutagel (Genesis: Part 2) ★★★★★
Thatch Thatch ★★★★★
Flint Flint ★★★★★
Silicate (Extinction) Silicate (Extinction) ★★★★
Crystal Crystal ★★★★☆
Raw Meat Raw Meat ★★★★☆
Sand (Scorched Earth) Sand (Scorched Earth) ★★★★☆
Hide Hide ★★★★☆
Wood Wood ★★★★☆
Stone Stone ★★★★☆
Sulfur (Scorched Earth) Sulfur (Scorched Earth) ★★★★☆
Raw Salt (Scorched Earth) Raw Salt (Scorched Earth) ★★★★☆
Cactus Sap (Scorched Earth) Cactus Sap (Scorched Earth) ★★★☆☆
Chitin Chitin ★★★☆☆
Element Ore Element Ore ★★★☆☆
Obsidian Obsidian ★★★☆☆
Fiber Fiber ★★★☆☆
Metal Metal ★★★☆☆
Silk (Scorched Earth) Silk (Scorched Earth) ★★☆☆☆
Keratin Keratin ★★☆☆☆
Raw Prime Meat Raw Prime Meat ★★☆☆☆
Organic Polymer Organic Polymer ★★☆☆☆

Even though it looks like the Mantis is holding two tools/weapons, only a single one may be equipped at any time (the doubling is only visual).

Spotlight[]

Bugs[]

  • When you leap with a tamed Mantis then move far enough away to unload the Mantis, it will constantly generate a wind effect that is triggered from leaping; the audio will endlessly loop until you make the Mantis leap again, which will stop the looping sound effect. This doesn’t fix it permanently, however, as it reoccurs every time the mantis gets unloaded and loaded again. To fix this, either log out and back in, or put the mantis into a cryopod. This bug seems to only occur in single player.
  • When the saddle absorbs damage, the tool/weapon the mantis is holding will have its durability consumed, as if it were a piece of armor.

Notes/Trivia[]

For information pertaining specifically to the real-world Mantis, see the relevant Wikipedia article.

  • The Mantis are one of if not the most intelligent creature in Ark even to the point of creating strategies that's only rivaled by Troodon Troodon and the King Titan King Titan and is only for certain outmatched by Human Human, Overseer Overseer, Rockwell Rockwell and Noglin Noglin.
    • This is shown as according to the Mysterious Mystery Dossier, it's very intelligent, with four tick-marks for intelligence. The only other creature with four ticks is Troodon.
    • Also similar to Troodon, the taming icon has a tick and an x, implying that it must be tamed in a unique way, as Troodon and Titanosaur are.
    • This is also backed up as Dahkeya, in one of his explorer notes, reports that a group of Mantis destroyed a water pipe outside of town; knowing it would draw humans to come out to fix it, so the Mantis could hunt and feed. This shows extreme intelligence on the behalf of Ark's Mantis that perhaps even the Troodon doesn't have.
    • Finally It also has a picture of the Crafting icon with two ticks, meaning that it can hold tools in its hands and the only other creatures shown to have enough intelligence to use tools is Humans.
  • Like Karkinos and to a lesser extent Pulminoscorpius, a tamed Mantis prefers spoiled meat over raw and gains more Food and Health from it.
  • You need to be at least level 40 to feed a Mantis.
  • It's confirmed that the creature's alternate attack has increased harvesting capabilities.
  • The dossier states that the Mantis may have their own language. Although this may seem far-fetched, many animals seem to have their own system of "language". Prairie Dogs have distinctly different warning calls for different predators; and Orcas from different parts of the world seem to have different "dialects", even "accents" in their calls and songs.
  • There exist fossils of multiple giant species of praying mantis of the order "Titanoptera" (the most well-known member being the Gigatitan), living in the Triassic period. However, this insect was much smaller than ARK's Mantis.
  • Another species of praying mantis, "Santanmantis", was thought to have lived in the Jurassic period. However, much like the Titanoptera, the Santanmantis was smaller than ARK's Mantis.
    • Despite both the Titanoptera and Santanmantis being smaller than the Mantis found in Ark both were giant insects when compared to the modern Praying Mantis.
    • Another thing both Titanoptera and Santanmantis pre date the Holocene period where the Ark's Mantis comes from according to Helena's notes.
  • Mantis do not produce Feces Feces.
  • Despite having wings it is not capable of flight.
  • Even if you one shot kill a Mantis with your large creatures(such as Giganotosaurus or Wyvern), the nearby Mantis will still becoming aggressive and attack your mount.
  • Prior to 316.18, Mantis couldn't be bred and would lay unfertilized eggs.
  • While in the Dossier it is shown to have small hands at the second joint in their arm, and this is supposed to be how it holds items, it does not match the in game model.
  • While a Mantis can wield a Lance, it does lower damage than without wielding one.
  • While Helena's notes say that the Mantis in ARK are from the Holocene however fossil records show many difference species of mantis dating back much farther than that.
    • Even some species of mantis pre-date the Holocene period because Helena's notes say the mantis Ark is from the Holocene period. This could possibly imply that in the Ark universe a fossil of a large species mantis from Holocene could have been discovered in the Ark universe.
  • The Mantis can be knocked out however if they can't be tamed if they are knocked out.

Changelog[]

Patch Changes
246.0 Scorched Earth Expansion Release Mantis is added to the game.
246.6 Can no longer equip invalid saddles.
256.2 Fixed inability to drag and equip weapons onto Mantis with the newly introduced inventory UI.
261.0 Mantis now receive the Oviraptor Oviraptor egg-laying buff.
295.106 Fix for weapons not equipping properly.
316.18 TLC 3 Mantis are now breedable.
318.9 Fixed a bug which caused Mantis that was grown from the baby stage to be larger than tamed ones.
319.14 Fixed an issue where the baby mantis could float in the air.
329.5 Genesis: Part 2 Expansion Release Mantis is added to Genesis: Part 2.
330.8 Mantis will now accept Woolly Rhino Horn Rhino Horns for taming, at a lower affinity than Deathworm Horn (Scorched Earth) Deathworm horns.
331.7 Adjusted Mantis Feeding to prevent it from starving when fed Woolly Rhino Horn Rhino Horns.
678.20 Fixed a bug where Mantis was not able to harvest with tools.

Gallery[]

References[]

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