Dododex
ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Utility Tips

What is a mantis used for? mantis battling strategies in ARK: Survival Evolved.
The most versatile of Scorched Earths creatures. A Mantis can hold the roles of multiple different creatures depending on the tools or weapons it has equipped. Picks and Hatchets make them ultimate harvesters, Pikes and Swords can turn them into deadly combat mounts and Clubs can allow them to quickly down creatures for taming, they have no need for Sickles since they can harvest fiber by default. However you'll need to level it's stats depending on the role you plan to assign it to. For example, if you want too make a Mantis a harvester weight and Melee are what you'll want to go for, if you want it to be a expert at combat health and Melee with some stamina in case things go wrong and you have to flee are the way to go since there pounce attack is enough to quickly cover ground and escape a aggressor, and KO'ers really need nothing more then health in case the target is something strong that fights back and some Melee to increase the amount of torpor inflicted by the clubs
The mantis is one of my favorite creatures, so I will do a guide for it. #1. The mantis is aggressive, and will attack you. They usually are found in the Desert, in packs of three. They have 2 attacks: the first is a standard melee swipe, and the other is kinda like a pounce. #2. It is tameable, but the way is hard. First, you will need Bug Repellent, then you will need Rhino horns ( kill woolly rhinos). The Ghillie is optional, but you definitely need bug repellent: just stay behind the Mantis. If you find a pack, kill the ones you don’t want, and tame. #3. It has a saddle, and you can give it weapons and tools. All known items I know it can give it are Picks, Hatchets, Sickles, Swords, and I think Pikes. The tools behave the same way when you use them. This is my guide to the Mantis, and I hope it is useful! Signed, Pickle844Luvr
If you are taming these for their Eggs, make sure to place them in an area that's "Unknown" (changed to "Wilderness" in recent patch). It'll quadruple your Egg harvest. Just leave render range for 5-10 minuted, come back and collect your eggs. They can also be egg-boosted by a Oviraptor now so make sure one is in range.