I dropped anchor on a server that smelled of salt and burnt gunpowder, and the ship’s crew argued over cannon loadouts. You feel that tight jolt when a new DLC arrives and the meta shifts around your head. I’ve played long enough to know which Engrams force you to change plans overnight.
Two paid DLC packs—Tides of Fortune and Dragontopia—have added a handful of Engrams that alter travel, combat, and creature play. You’ll need to own the DLCs on Steam, Xbox Store, or PlayStation Store to access these recipes; Studio Wildcard built them into the paid content and the perks land where the themes promise them.
How do I learn new Engrams in ARK Survival Ascended?
You must have the DLC installed, gather the required resources, and craft the engram once you meet the level or tech requirements. Some items—like ship components and saddles—also require crafting stations or specific tames. Use the in-game tech tree and your Cargo Ledger to track parts, and consult Steam guides or the ARK subreddit when a recipe’s cost feels off.
Do the DLC Engrams change gameplay for small tribes or solo players?
Yes. Tides of Fortune introduces ships and ship-related ammo that shift base defense and raiding rhythms; a solo player with a Sloop can move faster but won’t outgun a well-armed Briganite. Dragontopia’s additions center on a single creature and its tools—small groups get more mileage from saddles and unique weapons than lone players, usually.
I watched a trader tack through a storm to reach a crowded pier. All new Engrams in ARK Survival Ascended Tides of Fortune DLC
Tides of Fortune gives you a little maritime toolbox: ships, shipyards, ammo types, utility buildings, and a market-driven loop with Hexagons. Below is the official list shipped in the DLC; I’ve kept the table intact so you can scan names and functions quickly.
| Engram | How it Works |
|---|---|
| Aquarium | You can display your best catches after transferring them using the Fishing Basket. |
| Aquatic Compartment | Enclosed area with an aquatic theme. |
| Briganite | Large ship, perfect for faster travel. Reasonably customizable and has good firepower. |
| Bounty Board | Generate missions to gain Hexagons and then spend them at the exchange. |
| Corrosive Ship Cannonball | Does direct damage upon impact and also corrodes the surface of the object with Acid damage. |
| Cargo Ledger | Helps to record how you’re storing items and also allows you to withdraw objects easily. |
| Incendiary Ship Cannonball | Exploding projectile that pours flaming sludge and does fire damage on impacted enemies. |
| Market | You can buy from other survivors and sell them our items. |
| Grapeshot | Bullets used with Hand Cannons. |
| Reinforced Ship Cannonball | Better version of the standard Cannonball. It deals more damage to the target on impact, and you can also use it against destructible structure. |
| Shovel | Use this tool to find treasure chests and underground water. You can also use it to till the soil for improving the plots. |
| Tidepup Saddle | Allows you to ride a Tidepup. |
| TOF Lights | Activate the light source with electricity. |
| Sloop | Medium-sized ship that travels fast and moderately customizable. |
| Shipyard | Allows you to construct and manage your ships after you place it in water. |
Standouts you should test right away:
- Briganite — The Briganite is a battering ram on water; it changes how you approach long-distance fights and sieges. Its heavy guns and modular layout let clans turn a sea skirmish into a coordinated raid.
- Sloop — Faster and cheaper to run. Ideal for scouting runs, trade, and hit-and-run tactics.
- Bounty Board & Market — They create an economy loop: complete missions, earn Hexagons, spend them. If you enjoy player-driven markets or use tools like Discord trading channels and Steam community listings, this adds a predictable grind-reward path.
- Ship Cannonballs — Corrosive, Incendiary, Reinforced, and Grapeshot all reshape naval combat. Learn which ammo to carry where; Grapeshot is lethal against crew, Reinforced tears through structures.
- Cargo Ledger & Shipyard — If you manage fleets, these are quality-of-life changes that reduce micromanagement and train you to run logistics like a small company.
My advice: test cannonball types against structures in a controlled bay and coordinate a single raid run with friends to feel the difference. Community content creators and streamers on Twitch have already started showing ammo combos and ship loadouts—watch a few clips before you spend rare resources.
I saw a daylight shadow cross a mountain ridge and a player sprinted to the nearest taming pen. All new Engrams in ARK Survival Ascended Dragontopia
Dragontopia is lean: two Engrams, both focused on a single creature and its combat toolset.
- Drake Claw: Fires a claw that dashes toward a target creature or location. Use it for disruptive plays and crowd control.
- Umbra Saddle: Allows you to ride an Umbra after taming. An Umbra is a shadowed stallion and it changes how you cover ground and approach vertical fights.
The Umbra is exclusive to the Dragontopia DLC and currently represents the DLC’s main mechanical novelty. Expect creators on YouTube and streamers on Twitch to refine playstyles quickly; if you follow figures in the ARK community like Studio Wildcard dev posts or Moyens I/O coverage, you’ll see early meta builds appear within days.
If you’re choosing between the two DLCs: Tides of Fortune expands logistics and naval power; Dragontopia gives you a focused creature plus a unique toolset. Which change will force you to rethink your next raid or tame roster?