Survival Ascended Just Got More Dangerous Thanks To This Scary Fish

Summary Brace yourselves, survivors! The oceans of Ark are about to get even scarier with the introduction of the toothy Xiphactinus fish.

Studio Wildcard warns players not to underestimate the Xiphactinus, whose fangs and vicious attacks make it a deadly hunter in the waters.

Taming the Xiphactinus can give players a powerful ally with bleeding attacks and the ability to trigger a Blood Frenzy buff in combat.

Ark: Survival Ascended may already have plenty of scaly beasts roaming the lands but a forthcoming update is about to make the deep even scarier thanks to the introduction of a toothy new fish. It's common knowledge amongst the Ark community that venturing into the ocean with the necessary tools and supplies is asking for trouble given the number of gigantic prehistoric creatures swimming around in the darkness. While this next addition may not have size on its side, it certainly makes up for its diminutive stature with a terrifying set of fangs.

Per Ark Ascended News on X (formerly Twitter), the Xiphactinus will join the revamped survival game in May, and developer Studio Wildcard is already warning players not to underestimate the critters.

The team cautions survivors from straying into ocean water, or else they'll need to contend with shoals of Xiphactinus that all boast "appetites bigger than their bodies," serving as a prehistoric take on the piranha. What makes the fish's introduction even more exciting for longtime players is that the Xiphactinus is based upon the popular "ARK Additions" mod by Garuga123, who is also involved in the official version.

Related Ark: Survival Ascended Gets Its Most Dangerous Additions Yet A new mod for Ark: Survival Ascended has just been released, and it significantly increases the game’s dangers by augmenting its verticality.

The Xiphactinus Is A Special Hunter

It's a Quick And Deadly Killer

Studio Wildcard has stated that while it's enlisted the help of Garuga123 to bring the Xiphactinus into Ark: Survival Ascended, fans of the original mod may want to adjust their expectations. Several of its mechanics have been adjusted to better suit the current state of the survival game but these tweaks will likely be minor changes that will keep the creature's gameplay relatively intact. That's great news for players who like to spend their time out upon the ocean because the Xiphactinus can be an excellent ally when it comes to toppling water alphas.

Aside from the Xiphactinus' impressive speed and maneuverability, its bite and lunge attacks also come with a bleeding status effect that is perfect for whittling away the health bar of particularly tough enemies. Survivors who manage to tame and use this ancient piranha should adopt guerilla tactics, darting in and out of combat with large alphas to ensure they're constantly taking passive damage. Smaller targets can swallowed whole thanks to the Xiphactinus' Thrasher ability which also creates a cloud of blood that can trigger its powerful Blood Frenzy buff.

The introduction of Xiphactinus in Ark: Survival Ascended feels like a decent addition to the game as Studio Wildcard makes some of the community's most popular mods officially part of the game. Whether that will be enough to win back lapsed players remains to be seen but constantly expanding the experience is a decent step in the right direction. Players have been slow to warm to the remade version of the game after the developer initially promised that it would be a free update before going back on this and selling it as a completely separate product.

Source: Ark Ascended News/X