Survivors, buckle up – the beloved Ragnarok map is finally coming to ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA)! Wildcard Games recently updated the roadmap: after originally targeting an April 2025 release, the UE5.5 upgrade has pushed Ragnarok Ascended back to June 18, 2025. The developers promise this fan-favorite Norse-themed map (described in Community Crunch as “the fan-favorite ancient battleground of beasts and myth”) will be fully remastered for ASA on the new engine. In practice, this means much sharper graphics and smoother performance – Wildcard touts “enhanced rendering and faster load times” with the UE5.5 update – so exploring Ragnarok’s dramatic vistas will look better than ever. Although fans must wait a little longer, this delay means we’ll get a polished, next-gen version of Ragnarok, complete with all-new ASA features.

What Is the Ragnarok Map (and Why It’s Legendary)

Ragnarok first debuted in ARK: Survival Evolved as an expansive DLC map inspired by Norse mythology. It’s roughly 144 square kilometers – about 2.5× the landmass of the original Island map – and has remained one of the community’s all-time favorites. Why? Because Ragnarok is wildly diverse and cinematic. It spans massive volcanoes, snowy mountain peaks, dense redwood forests, sweeping meadows, desert badlands, and coastal beaches. The official ARK wiki describes many unique environmental features: “an active volcano that will erupt creating lava flows”, “massive beaver dams”, and even “sunken Viking boats” scattered across the map. Imagine rafting past a ruinous Viking longboat, or defending your base from lava flows when the volcano erupts – these dramatic elements make Ragnarok stand out.

In community lore, Ragnarok is even nicknamed “the Norse Map” for its Viking theme and varied terrain. It introduced new biomes like an icy glacier zone and high-altitude redwood forests (complete with Basilosaurus whale skeletons on the beaches!), alongside its own mini-bosses and creatures (Ice Wyverns, Hydra, and Spirit Dire creatures, to name a few). All of that scale and spectacle will carry over into the Ascended version – only now it’s built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5.5. In short, Ragnarok Ascended will let us experience the map’s towering ridges, lush valleys, and erupting volcano with modern graphics and performance. This is a big deal for the ARK franchise, as it brings one of its most beloved worlds into the next generation of ARK.

What’s New on Ragnarok Ascended

While Ragnarok’s core geography is familiar, the Ascended re-release adds some exciting new content. The biggest new creature on Ragnarok will be the Giant Bison – a massive horned herbivore voted in by the community. Wildcard calls the bison a “horned heavyweight champion of headbutts and highland havoc”. In other words, this beast is built for smackdowns: expect a tall, shaggy bison designed to ram and trample foes. (Community Crunch even hints at male and female variants with huge horns.) The bison will be free for all players on Ragnarok, and it’s clearly the star of the DLC. In fact, community updates repeatedly mention “Bison (Free Creature)” landing with Ragnarok – so every tribe will want to tame one. Here’s how it will likely play out on Small Tribes servers: a fully-bred, mutation-stacked Giant Bison could become a huge advantage for a 1–3 player tribe. Imagine charging into enemy bases with a colossal, head-butting bovine on your team – talk about a raid tactic! Small tribes will need to adapt their PvP strategies around this new tank.

Aside from the Giant Bison, much of Ragnarok’s creature roster is a familiar “super-set” of ARK’s wildlife. (As one community video notes, “the only ‘new’ creature is the Bison – everything else was already on the map”.) So dinosaurs like Rexes, Spinos, and Basilosauruses will all be there, but now facing off against the new Bison and rendered in UE5.5 fidelity. Wildcard also mentioned that the Rhino, Sabertooth, and other existing RAgn creatures have been fully re-imagined for the new engine. Expect thicker fur on wolves, glossier scales on T-Rexes, and more dynamic lighting on the iconic redwoods, for example. All of these visual upgrades mean the wildlife and biomes will feel fresh even if you’ve spent hundreds of hours on the original map.

Additionally, the roadmap mentions a huge Anniversary Update coming with Ragnarök’s release: players will see new birthday event content and a “big cross-platform Battle Pass” to celebrate ASA’s first year. While not strictly Ragnarök-specific, this means all servers will enjoy cosmetics and bonus XP, so small tribes players should keep an eye out for free skins and drops. (On past releases, ASA’s event passes often gave away extra eggs, XP boosts, and unique chibi pets – things no tribe wants to miss.)

Key New Features, Biomes, and Environments

Ragnarok Ascended will preserve the original map’s striking biomes. You can expect:

• Active Volcano (Mount Gunners) – At the map’s center lies a towering volcano that periodically erupts, spewing lava flows and even meteor showers. This dynamic hazard means rivers of lava will chase down your tribe and drop molten rock from the sky. Build carefully – a careless base near the volcano’s flank could be toast!
• Towering Redwood Forests – Vast stands of redwood-like trees dominate parts of the island. These massive tree-cluster biomes include both sunny coastal groves and lush inland forests. They provide cover and wood resources, but also opportunities for high-base designs.
• Frozen Peaks and Snowfields – High-altitude zones with snow and ice shelters. These areas host white-out storms and rare creatures (like Ice Golems in the old map). They test your cold-weather survival skills and offer metal deposits.
• Sunny Meadows and Deserts – Warm grasslands and desert stretches lie to the south and east. Think rolling plains dotted with rock formations, and desert canyons with Redwoods. These open fields are excellent for grazing dinos (and will likely be the bison’s stomping grounds).
• Rivers and Coasts with Lava Beach – Tropical beaches line Ragnarok’s coasts, with Basilosaurus whale skeletons and supply crates washed ashore. Underwater dropoff points hide oceanic resources, though neither Ragnarok nor Ascended will let you bring wild sea creatures onto land (except Carnivores from the water).
• Ancient Ruins and Hidden Caverns – As the official guide notes, Ragnarok features “sunken Viking boats”, hidden castles, and other Norse-themed ruins. Plus, unique subterranean caves (like the Fafnir’s Cavern and ice caves) add lore and challenge for explorers.

These biomes won’t just be eye candy – they directly affect gameplay. On Small Tribes servers, terrain is at a premium. For example, cliffside bases above a lava flow can be near-impregnable, while Redwood groves can hide sneaky ambush points. High snowy peaks could be natural chokepoints in PvP warfare. Small tribes often fight over ideal build spots, so the new map’s variety will spark intense competition. And remember, hostile weather can suddenly blind you in tundra or scorch you in volcano zones, so gear up with climate-appropriate armor and (if we may shamelessly plug ourselves) consider grabbing pre-built base kits and flak PVP kits to survive these extreme environments.

One additional gameplay upgrade coming with the UE5.5 launch is a host of quality-of-life features. The June 2 patch (UE5.5) will include an egg incubator, new building pieces, and the long-awaited cross-platform Mod Browser. While not exclusive to Ragnarok, these improvements will enhance life on any map. Faster load times and better memory management mean massive Ragnarok battles (hundreds of dinos and players) should lag less. Small tribes players – who often squeeze onto crowded official servers – will especially benefit from smoother performance. And the new Mod Browser will finally let Xbox and PlayStation users access community-made mods on any map (including future Ragnarok mods).

New Creatures and Dinos on Ragnarok

The only brand-new creature on Ragnarok Ascended is the Giant Bison. Community Crunch 457 confirms “Bison (Free Creature)” for Ragnarok, and describes it as a “horned heavyweight champion of headbutts and highland havoc”. In simpler terms, the bison is a massive horned grazer built for ramming and trampling – think of it as ARK’s own bull-like warbeast. This creature was chosen via community vote, so it’s free for everyone and considered official content. Expect to see both male and female variants (with notably large horns on the males, per concept art) roaming the map. Taming a bison will require knocking it out like other big dinos, but once tamed it should excel at carrying heavy loads (probably more stamina than a mammoth) and dealing melee damage.

No other creatures are brand-new to Ragnarok. All of the other wildlife – Rexes, Stegos, Trilobites, etc. – were already part of the original map. What’s changed is how they’re presented: all creatures have been re-designed for the new engine, with shinier scales, richer fur, and more complex animations. For example, early screenshots of other Ascended maps showed wolves with fluffier fur and glowing eyes. Expect a similar overhaul for Ragnarok’s roster: an Ice Wyvern will look glacially detailed, a Sabertooth’s coat will swish realistically, etc. Small Tribes players who remember the older Jurassic-era textures will be amazed by the new visuals.

Aside from dinosaurs, Ragnarok’s map also features many unique environmental creatures from the original (like the Basilosaur and Ice Wyverns) that come “for free” with the map. These will all be in Ascended, but again with remastered models. The bottom line: the only reason to head to Ragnarok is for the scenery and the Bison. No new drakes or wyverns are being added specifically – just treat Ragnarok as a best-of ARK maps (including all Genesis/Hoth creatures if you have those expansions) plus one new giant cow.

Impact on Small Tribes Gameplay

How will all these changes shake up your Small Tribes server? In Small Tribes mode (3-player PvP on each map), every advantage counts. Here are a few ways Ragnarok’s arrival could tilt the scales:

• New Territories to Conquer: Small tribes often fight over chokepoint geography. On the Island or Extinction, it might be a narrow canyon; on Ragnarok, it could be a frozen glacier pass or the mouth of the volcano. Tribes will rush to secure the high ground in the Redwood forests or the defensible rock formations near the lava. Expect epic 3v3 standoffs on islands of solid ground surrounded by lava flows – the terrain itself can become a weapon.
• Bison Warfare: The Giant Bison could become the new rock of war. Just as tribes have used mammoths or argentavis for raiding or transport, the Bison offers a fresh playstyle. In PvP, picture squads charging at enemy bases with herds of bison thundering behind – they might knock down barricades or pin fleeing foes. Bison will also be a powerful pack mount for base defense: a trio of bison on guard duty could bully enemy light flyers or raiders. Because Small Tribes servers limit players, every dino is more precious. Having pre-bred, mutation-stacked bison could let a tiny tribe punch above its weight. That’s why our Dino Lines and fertilized Bison eggs will be hot items when the map launches – skip the breeding grind and get fight-ready, fast.
• Resource and Base Dynamics: Ragnarok adds new environments (ice, desert, volcanic ash). Some materials (like volcanic glass or crystals) might become critical for high-end gear. Small Tribes players should note that roof tiles must be placed carefully on volcano zones or high altitude. The map’s active volcano will also influence where you can build safely. On the other hand, Redwood forests will provide abundant wood and cover for hidden bases. We expect smart tribes to mine their Base Kits efficiently, building hidden forts in snowy valleys or hillside caverns. (Speaking of kits, remember – at Small Tribes Shop our Base Kits come with everything needed for a starter to high-tech base. You can prep your fortress materials now, then simply place them on Ragnarok day.)
• Fast-Paced Raids: Small tribes matches tend to be fast. With a new map, the meta resets – old familiarity is gone. In PvP, expect hit-and-run tactics across new terrain. The addition of bison may prompt blitzkrieg-style raids (charge hard, retreat, regroup). We’ll likely see new hot spots for fights – maybe a rich metal node contested under the volcano, or a high-value cave guarded by waves of bison. PvE on a Small Tribes server will also change: tribes aiming for element drops might farm on Ragnarok or use it as a training ground for their war dinos.
• New Content Economy: Ragnarok’s release will also bring a fresh Battle Pass and anniversary event. Small Tribes servers often trade rare cosmetics and items. Expect exclusive Ragnarok hats or flags to become trading commodities. Plus, when a new boss fight is introduced on ASA (for example, if a Ragnarok-themed boss cave appears), having a boss-fight run service (like ours) will help small tribes snag tek quickly.

In all, Ragnarok will shake up the Small Tribes meta. Your tribe will need to adapt to new biomes and a powerful herbivore addition. But fear not – Small Tribes Shop is preparing to help. We’ll have all the gear to give you an early edge: stocked Base Kits and PvP Kits adapted for Ragnarok’s environments, plus Dino Lines and fertilized eggs so you can buy top-tier Bison and other creatures immediately.

Small Tribes Shop: New Ragnarok Kits, Dinos & Bundles

Ready to dominate Ragnarok from day one? Small Tribes Shop has you covered. We’re gearing up to launch new Ragnarok-themed content in our store the moment the map goes live. Here’s what to watch for on smalltribesshop.com:

• Ragnarok Dino Lines & Eggs: We’ll be adding mutation-optimized breeding pairs for all the must-have creatures on Ragnarok. Of course this includes the brand-new Giant Bison. Don’t waste time taming – buy ARK dinos pre-built. As our site boasts, “We offer elite Dino Lines with mutation-stacked breeding pairs as well as fertilized Dino Eggs from our premium bloodlines.” That means you can pick up a fertilized bison egg or a pair of bison parents that already have the perfect stats. We’ll also stock lines for top PVE PvP dinosaurs (rexes, wyverns, etc.) so you’re always breeding winners.
• New Base Kits: Building on rugged terrain? Grab our Ragnarok Base Kits, loaded with enough wood, stone, metal, and even Tek-tier components to raise your stronghold quickly. As described on our site, “Base Kits contain a full set of resources and materials needed to construct anything from a basic starter compound to an advanced high-tech fortress”. We’ll update these kits specifically for the new map – imagine having a volcano-proof brick and metal kit, or spiky wooden barricades ready for your valley base. Save yourself hours of farming and focus on commanding your tribe.
• Ragnarok PvP Kits and Bundles: For the bloodthirsty raider, we’ll carry PvP Kits tailor-made for Ragnarok combat. These kits come “loaded with the best flak armor, fabricated weapons, and essential consumables to give you the edge in combat.” Think stacks of primitive or upgraded rifles, grenades, longnecks, and flak gear all pre-stocked. We’ll also bundle things like Tek Cave passes (Ascension prep) if needed. New structures (like half-height walls or environmental pieces) may roll out, and we’ll include any new blueprint packs or Tekgrams in our bundles as they drop.
• Special Ragnarok Bundles: We plan custom bundles pairing Base Kits + PvP Kits + Eggs. For example, a “Ragnarok Conqueror Bundle” might include a PVP Kit + 3 mutated Bison eggs + building materials at a discount. Keep an eye on our shop and Discord for bundle announcements as launch day approaches. All our products come with 24/7 delivery to any official Small Tribes server, so gear up instantly without leaving your game.

Whether you want to buy ARK dinos outright or grab a full pre-made kit, Small Tribes Shop will be your one-stop resource. As our homepage proclaims: “Small Tribes Shop is your one-stop shop to dominate the competition on the Small Tribes servers.” We take pride in fast delivery and low prices, so by the time Ragnarok releases you could have a top-tier tribe ready for war.