BOB'S BETTER DINO LEVELS — BETA
*** 8/30/2026 New version has been cooked and released. Double check to make sure your ini has updated to the typo-free one***
Bob's Better Dino Levels changes how often different wild-dino levels appear without replacing the original creatures. This mod is based on the mod named Custom Dino Levels by kitzykatty.
The mod preserves each dino's original actor, class, components, inventory, and mod-provided data. It works with eligible vanilla and modded wild dinos.
This beta is for testing only. Back up your test save and do not use this build on a production server.
WHAT THE MOD DOES
- Changes the level distribution of newly spawned eligible wild dinos
- Provides Equal, Ragnarok, High, and Custom modes
- Provides separate controls for different creature groups
- Preserves original vanilla and modded creature classes
- Does not affect tamed dinos
- Does not replace or remap creatures
- Does not change the server difficulty
Existing wild dinos are not changed. After installing the mod or changing its settings, a manual wild-dino wipe is recommended if you want to see the new distribution immediately.
Creatures created through unusual scripted spawning systems may retain levels controlled by the game or the mod that spawned them.
CONFIGURATION
With the server stopped, add this section to the server's GameUserSettings.ini, then start the server:
"`ini [BobsBetterDinoLevels] WantsRagLevels=False WantsEqualLevels=True WantsHighLevels=False WantsCustom=False
ModifyBeeLevels=False ModifyTitanLevels=False ModifyOrdinaryLevels=True ModifyCaveLevels=False ModifyBossLevels=False ModifyAlphaLevels=False ModifyMiscLevelOnes=False ModifyNestLevels=True ModifyTekLevels=False ModifyOceanLevels=False ModifyZoneLevels=False ModifyEventLevels=False ModifyMissionLevels=False ModifyCorruptedLevels=False
VeryLowRangePercent=54 LowRangePercent=27 MediumRangePercent=14 HighRangePercent=5
Any setting not present in your INI uses the mod's default value shown above.
## CHOOSE ONE MODE
Only one distribution mode can be set to `True`.
### Equal
"`ini
WantsEqualLevels=True
Gives every available level approximately the same opportunity to appear.
Ragnarok
"`ini WantsRagLevels=True
Uses ARK's Ragnarok-style level distribution. This improves the chances of reaching higher levels while still allowing many low-level dinos.
### High
```ini
WantsHighLevels=True
Strongly favors higher-level wild dinos.
Custom
"`ini WantsCustom=True
Let's you choose how often each of the four fixed-level groups appears. Works with "RangePercent" settings explained below.
If no mode is enabled, or more than one mode is enabled, the mod will not change dino levels.
## CREATURE GROUP CONTROLS
Each `Modify...Levels` option determines whether the selected distribution mode applies to that creature group.
- `True` applies the selected distribution.
- `False` preserves the creature's original ARK or mod-provided level behavior.
### Ordinary wild dinos
"`ini
ModifyOrdinaryLevels=True
Controls eligible ordinary wild creatures. This is enabled by default.
Giant Queen Bees
"`ini ModifyBeeLevels=False
Giant Queen Bees keep their original level behavior by default.
### Titanosaurs
"`ini
ModifyTitanLevels=False
Titanosaurs keep their original level behavior by default.
Bosses
"`ini ModifyBossLevels=False
Boss creatures keep their original levels by default. Use at your own risk.
### Alpha creatures
"`ini
ModifyAlphaLevels=False
Alpha creatures keep their original level distribution by default.
Miscellaneous fixed-level creatures
"`ini ModifyMiscLevelOnes=False
Controls eligible miscellaneous creatures that normally use a fixed or unusual level, including certain level-one creatures.
### Nest creatures
```ini
ModifyNestLevels=True
Controls eligible creatures that use nest or egg-based level ranges, including:
- Wyverns
- Rock Drakes
- Deinonychus
- Magmasaurs
This option is enabled by default. Their special extended level ranges are preserved. For example, Wyverns and Rock Drakes can still reach level 190 at difficulty 5.
Tek creatures
"`ini ModifyTekLevels=False
Tek creatures retain their original higher-level behavior by default.
### Ocean creatures
"`ini
ModifyOceanLevels=False
Ocean-classified creatures keep their original distribution by default.
Zone creatures
"`ini ModifyZoneLevels=False
Creatures controlled by special zone spawning behavior keep their original distribution by default.
### Event creatures
"`ini
ModifyEventLevels=False
Event creatures keep their original distribution by default.
Mission creatures
"`ini ModifyMissionLevels=False
Mission-spawned creatures keep their original behavior by default. Creatures created by a mission's own scripted spawning system may remain entirely controlled by that mission.
### Corrupted creatures
"`ini
ModifyCorruptedLevels=False
Corrupted creatures keep their original distribution by default.
CAVE DINOS — NOT YET SUPPORTED
This beta does not modify cave dinos.
Keep this option set to False:
"`ini ModifyCaveLevels=False
The option is reserved for future cave support, but enabling it currently will not apply the selected distribution to cave dinos.
Cave creatures will continue using ARK's original cave-spawner levels. They may therefore appear far above the normal wild-dino maximum.
## CUSTOM MODE
The four Custom percentages must:
- Be whole numbers
- Be zero or greater
- Total exactly 100
The mod uses four fixed-level groups. Displayed dino levels scale with your server difficulty. At difficulty 5, the groups are:
| Setting | Wild-dino levels |
| --- | ---: |
| `VeryLowRangePercent` | 5–25 |
| `LowRangePercent` | 30–60 |
| `MediumRangePercent` | 65–100 |
| `HighRangePercent` | 105–150 |
The default percentages are:
"`ini
VeryLowRangePercent=54
LowRangePercent=27
MediumRangePercent=14
HighRangePercent=5
These defaults produce mostly lower-level dinos.
To favor higher levels, try:
"`ini VeryLowRangePercent=5 LowRangePercent=15 MediumRangePercent=30 HighRangePercent=50
This gives the highest-level group a 50% chance of selection.
If the four percentages do not total exactly 100, Custom mode remains inactive and does not change dino levels.
## APPLYING CHANGES
The mod affects only newly spawned eligible wild dinos. Existing wild dinos and tamed dinos are unchanged.
On a disposable test server, administrators may manually refresh wild spawns with:
"`text
cheat DestroyWildDinos
The mod never performs a wild-dino wipe automatically or changes the server difficulty.
BETA SUPPORT
Please report beta test results and problems through the official Discord: