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Studio Wildcard has confirmed that Valguero Ascended launches on September 30, 2025 as a free map for ARK: Survival Ascended. Alongside the remaster, players will meet two major additions: the Elderclaw, a mystical forest guardian raised from seedlings, and the Megaraptor, winner of Valguero’s community creature vote. Elderclaw will be included for Lost Colony Expansion Pass owners at launch, while Megaraptor will be available free for all players.
What’s Confirmed
- Release date: September 30, 2025.
- Price: Valguero Ascended is free for all ASA players.
- Elderclaw – New Fantastic Tame, raised from seedlings instead of KO-tamed
- Megaraptor – Community vote winner, launching with Valguero Ascended as a free addition.
- Map Size: Valguero covers about 63 km², making it one of the largest free maps in ARK.
We’ll update this article as Studio Wildcard publishes additional specifics.
New Fantastic Tame - Elderclaw
Identity
- Type: Mystical forest guardian, part beast and part spirit
- Theme: Protector that defends allies with vines, roots, and spiritual energy
Abilities
- Vines and Roots: It can wrap itself in vines for protection and send roots to hold enemies in place.
- Spirit Echo: Creates glowing spirits thatmake enemies weaker ormake allies stronger. These spirits can also burst into spores, which hurt enemies and heal friends.
- In Battle: The Elderclaw is usually calm, but if attacked it becomes a strong defender that controls enemies and slowly wears them down.
Domestication (no knockout taming)
You can’t tame an Elderclaw by knocking it out. Instead, survivors must find its young shrubs (seedlings) and raise them into adults. It takes more time and resources than normal taming, but in the end you’ll have a strong creature that can also gather wood and help protect the environment.
New Community Voted Creature - Megaraptor
Identity
- Type: Large theropod carnivore, designed as a solo assassin rather than a pack leader.
- Theme: Stalker that isolates targets and thrives on fear and disruption.
Wild Behavior & Combat Notes
- Stalking & scatter: Described as picking off victims one-by-one, using a menacing presence that can spook nearby allies and break up groups.
- Ambush Attack: The Megaraptor is fast and can jump on prey to pin it down, causing panic in groups.
- Best Used Solo: It fights strongest on its own, hunting targets one by one instead of battling in big groups.
Taming Method (non-traditional)
To tame a Megaraptor, survivors must find its carcass altar and claim it. This will anger the Megaraptor, and it will attack. Use fire to drive it back and survive the fight. If you succeed, the Megaraptor will accept you.
Once tamed, it becomes a deadly hunter that focuses on single targets, using fear and speed to scatter groups and finish off enemies.
Quick Reference
| What we know | |
|---|---|
| Map | Valguero Ascended (ASA, free) |
| Launch | Sept 30, 2025 |
| New Fantastic Tame | Elderclaw - included with Lost Colony Expansion Pass at launch; standalone later |
| Other creature | Megaraptor (community vote winner) - arriving with Valguero as a free creature |
| Returning standout | Deinonychus |
Valguero Ascended isn’t just a map update, it’s a chance to experience ARK in a new way. The familiar landscapes return sharper and bigger than before, while the arrival of the Elderclaw and Megaraptor adds fresh layers of survival and strategy. September 30 is set to mark a turning point for ASA, giving both old and new players a reason to dive back in.
