The Elderclaw Prepares to Make its Way to ARK: Survival Ascended

A new dinosaur is preparing to make its presence felt in ARK: Survival Ascended. The Osto silvanimus, commonly called the Elderclaw, is a carnivore and has a passive temperament.

In the wild, when crossing with the Elderclaw, players can feel as if they are communing with a forest’s soul. As much flora as fauna, this ursine avatar seems like it's been attuned to local plant life. While it rarely attacks unprovoked, this creature is one who won't shy away from a fight. What it does is instinctively control nearby vegetation to wrap itself in a thick tangle of protective vines. Then it sends out roots to entangle any aggressor.

A nettled Elderclaw is one that conjures up a Spirit Echo to help ward off threats. This ethereal talisman then emanates vibrations that weaken threats while invigorating those in its protection. A Spirit Echo collects the energies of nearby violence and imbues its Elderclaw master with enough fury and power to trigger explosive growth.

While Spirit Echoes generally stay immaterial, they can also become tangible long enough to explode. The resulting cloud of charged spores will affect friend and foe differently, burning aggressors but closing wounds on allies.

While there has yet to be evidence that an adult Elderclaw has been tamed, it seems that their cubs can be much more impressionable. However, this has led Survivors to hunt and kill these lumbering giants for their seeds. Propagating an Elderclaw is a long and difficult process. Though once a sproutling has grown enough to leave its garden, players gain a protective forest warden that can use its roots to sustainably harvest nearby trees.

What are your thoughts on the Elderclaw? Is it one you’re excited about? Read more about what’s being planned here.

ARK: Survival Ascended offers the ultimate survival experience as it invites players to design their own Survivor, tame dinosaurs, and unravel the true nature of The Island and worlds beyond. There are also quality of life enhancements that include a refreshed user interface, intelligent creature pathfinding, wild babies, new map system, updated tracking system, new structures, creatures, and much more. Get ARK: Survival Ascended on Steam now.