Encountering the Cyclops in Ark: Survival Ascended’s Astraeos DLC
In the Astraeos DLC for Ark: Survival Ascended, you’ll face a fascinating array of new creatures, including the formidable Cyclops. This mythic behemoth—known for its single eye—poses a thrilling challenge that requires players to meet certain criteria to initiate a battle. To confront the Cyclops, you’ll first need to collect specific materials to access its boss arena.
Unveiling Greek Mythology in the DLC
The Astraeos DLC heavily draws on Greek mythology, particularly through its trio of bosses. Alongside the Cyclops, players can also take on Medusa and the Minotaur, each offering unique and valuable rewards upon defeat. However, you must possess the appropriate items to unlock each boss encounter, and some of these resources can only be found on the new map introduced in the DLC.
Requirements for Fighting the Cyclops
Gather Relics to Unlock the Battle
To engage the Cyclops, your primary goal is to construct the Thodes the Widowmaker Portal, allowing access to the boss’s arena. You can trigger this portal at any Green Obelisk Terminal on the Astraeos map, which will transport you directly to the Cyclops encounter. Upon stepping through, you’ll enter a vast arena alongside any tamed dinosaurs you bring along.
To craft the Portal, you need several rare Artifacts that are located throughout the DLC map. Three specific Artifacts are essential for challenging the Cyclops, and you’ll find them hidden in ruins or guarded by lethal creatures in treacherous caves. The three Artifacts needed are:
- 1x Artifact of the Brute
- 1x Artifact of the Pack
- 1x Artifact of the Devourer
Each of these items can be discovered in various challenging locations—either within dark caves, underwater near certain islands, or among structures found on land.
Additional Materials Required
Once you’ve gathered all the Artifacts, you’ll still need to collect further materials to create the Portal. Here’s the complete list of what you’ll need:
- 10x Megalania Toxin
- 10x Megalodon Tooth
- 10x Therizino Claws
- 10x Spinosaurus Sail
- 10x Thylacoleo Hook Claw
While taming the creatures needed for these components can make your task easier, you can also acquire them by defeating certain animals. Make sure your Survivor Level is at least 85 to have the ability to craft the Portal before facing the Cyclops.
Strategies for Defeating the Cyclops
Avoiding Powerful Attacks
Once you finally confront the Cyclops, you’ll realize that it can attack with surprising speed despite its bulky appearance. The battle takes place in a spacious temple-like arena, giving you ample room to maneuver. The Cyclops moves slowly but wields a massive club that delivers devastating melee strikes.
Consider bringing a strong flying dinosaur to keep a safe distance from the Cyclops. Although it can attack you, maintaining vertical space allows you to better adapt your strategy mid-fight. For instance, if the Cyclops swings at you, soaring above its reach grants you the chance to dodge or counterattack effectively.
A solid tactic is to trick the Cyclops into swinging its club, then retaliate while it recovers from the force of its strikes. With enough restorative items and a high-level mount on your side, you should be able to defeat this mythic foe.
Rewards for Conquering the Cyclops
After defeating the Cyclops, also known as Thodes the Widowmaker, you’ll earn significant rewards, including 750 Element, a crucial resource for crafting advanced Tek Tier weapons and armor. The gear you create with Element can greatly enhance your ability to tame powerful creatures in Ark: Survival Ascended.
Remember, a glowing green Supply Crate will appear in the arena after your victory. You only have 25 minutes to claim your rewards, so it’s important to gather your items quickly before being sent back to the Astraeos map. Facing the Cyclops is a notable challenge worth pursuing, as the rewards will empower you for encounters with other legendary creatures in this new DLC.
