Dinosaur Review: Carnotaurus

[reedkage]

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Information
Carnotaurus, more commonly known as the "Carno." This medium/large dinosaur is a fast, bi-pedal carnivore that traverse the game's beaches and open areas. While similar in shape to a Tyranasaurus Rex, it is smaller and possesses two small horns on the top of its head.

Review
The Carno is, in a sense, a mini-me version of the T-Rex. It's less powerful than it's much larger cousin, but in return it's got a speed comparable to a raptor, making it almost impossible to lose once it spots you. In my opinion, a Carno is a stepping stone creature to get people introduced to the world of the big bad predators of the island.

Hunting
From what I've seen, the Carnos roam places somewhere between beaches and the inlands, or in areas with wide open ranges like plains and fields with little to no trees. The Carno can be treated as a kind of mini-mini boss, so to speak (the Alpha Dinosaurs are now the true Mini-Bosses of the game, though the T-Rex is probably much more OP than Broodmother.)

I highly recommend against fighting melee agaisnt this dinosaur, as it can kill you in about 3-5 hits depending on it's level. If you wish to fight close range, I suggest doing it on top of a tanky mount like a Stego, with another 1-2 dinosaurs as a support. The best way to hunt it, however, is to find an elevated position and shoot it with arrows. The Carno will continue trying to attack you so it won't leave, so you can easily kill it. Once dead, you'll be rewarded with a lot of meat and hide, and a chance of obtaining Prime Meat.

Alpha Carnotaurus
I personally have yet to encounter an Alpha Carno, but from what I hear it is a vicious and hard hitting dinosaur. Like all Alphas, they will boost the stats of nearby carnivores, and is easily distinguished by their glowing red/orange aura and their red colorations. Killing an Alpha Carno will reward players with a lot of EXP, a great harvest of Prime Meat and a special Helmet Skin.

Taming
Taming a Carno can be as easy as Hunting it. Find a decent elevated area it won't be able to climb and proceed to shoot a few tranq arrows into it. The Carno will be the first big carnivore a player can tame. It's easier to tranq than a T-Rex and Spino, and requires less time and resources for the process. It's small enough to fit through regular Dinosaur Gates, and with it's fast speed it can be used as both a traveling mount as well as a hunting companion.

Final Thoughts
If you're looking to start testing yourself to see how you fare against the big leagues of the island, the Carno is the best choice. Carnos are good dinosaurs to hunt and tame before you consider going for T-Rexes and Spinos. Just beware of Alpha Carnosm though.