DMG
After hatching or birth, the baby Mek matures over an extremely long period, one of the longest in the game, reaching adulthood in about 3 days and 20 hours at 1x maturation. Hand-feeding is required until 10% maturation. After that, a Feeding Trough handles the rest.
Mutations can add +2 levels to any stat and change colors. Stacking mutations across generations is the key to min-maxed breeding lines. Use the breeding calculator to plan food requirements, incubation timers, and maturation phases.
Maturation has three phases: Baby (0–10%) lasts ~556 min and requires constant hand-feeding. Juvenile (10–50%) spans ~37h - it can eat from a Trough now. Adolescent (50–100%) takes ~46h - continues eating from troughs, nearly fully grown.
Imprint bonuses are significant: a fully imprinted Mek gains 30% extra damage and damage resistance with its imprinter mounted. You'll be asked to cuddle, walk, or feed specific kibble at regular intervals during maturation.
Incubation Time
8h 0m 0s
Elapsed Time
4h 37m 47s
Maturation Time Left
87h 57m 46s
Time to Juvenile
4h 37m 47s
Total Food Items
0
items
Food to Adult
N/A
Food Per Hour
0
Food Capacity
625
items
Baby Hand Feed For
N/A
0.0% maturation
Cuddle Interval
0s
Imprint Per Cuddle
0%
Max Imprint
0.0%
Planning a mass raise? The Mek raising calculator breaks down food needs per phase so nothing goes to waste. The Baby phase (0–10%) takes ~556 minutes and is the most hands-on, requiring direct feeding or a Maewing.
Raising multiple Mek simultaneously? Set the dino count and the calculator scales food requirements automatically. Match your food choice to your play schedule - longer spoil timers mean less babysitting.
Food per item
30
Stack size
100
Eats at 5%
0 food/min
Maturation
92h 35m 33s
| Phase | Duration | |
|---|---|---|
| 4h 37m 46s | 0 | |
| 37h 2m 13s | 0 | |
| 46h 17m 46s | 0 | |
| 87h 57m 46s | 0 |
Feeding Trough
6,000 items(60 slots)
Tek Trough
10,000 items(100 slots)
Maewing / Maeguana
300 slots
50% weight reduction on meat & berries
During the Baby phase (0-10%), you must hand-feed or use a Maewing to nurse. From Juvenile (10%+), dinos can eat from a Feeding Trough on their own. Use Preserving Salt in troughs to double spoil times.
Found throughout the ARKs, the Mek is a tamable, carnivore creature in ARK: Survival Ascended. Classified under the DMG group.
Stamina sits at 1000 base, providing exceptional endurance. With 100% base Melee Damage, the Mek has respectable melee power. At 5,500 base HP, the Mek is one of the toughest creatures in the game. Weight capacity starts at 1250, giving it massive inventory space.
As a tame, the Mek pulls double duty as both a capable resource harvester and pack animal. It can be cloned at a Cloning Chamber for 0 Element plus 0 Element per level.