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My Original Submission for this creature was based in Aberration. I designed it to be influential in the countering of Reaper Kings and Queens. However, as this is not Aberration, I now have to focus my design on something more suitable to counter something Extinction based. And what creature will it counter you ask? This time, my idea stems from a counter to the Velonasaur. Both in a PVP, and PVE scenario. Appearance: I imagine it having a hunched stature in it's default stance, much like real Pangolins, with the saddle being underneath it's neck, just like a Gacha. It has several stances like a Stegosaurus, and the rider will be able to control how exposed and vulnerable they are due to this stance changing ability. There will be three stances. It will change from a slouched / crouched posture in it's first stance, to the hunched posture of the middle stance, and finally the final stance, which will have the Pangolin fully upright, displaying their claws and fully revealing their element infused scales in a threatening and intimidating display. The saddle is also underneath it's neck due to the stances changing how vulnerable the rider is from firearms and elements. Such as Velonasaurs, Wyverns, Basilisks, Magmasaurs, and Managarmrs. While also influencing how effective said elements are to the Pangolin itself. Saddle Design: Underneath the neck like a Gacha. As I hope it can have two saddle designs. A normal cheaper one, and one that can transform it into a Smithy, much like the Thorny Dragon. Mind you, this would be way harder to make. Use in game: I want them to be accessible at all stages in the game. Make them a good early game tame, using basic materials to tame, while making a late game tame viable in PVP, and PVE use. As using better materials will yield better stats, and higher taming effectiveness. While also providing (Hopefully) a bunch of utility. Preferred SIze: About the size of an Carno. Or a bit bigger to make it more in size to the Allosaurus, or even the Rex if desired. As the size will be directly influential to an idea I have for it. Habitat: Mostly the Desert Biome, the Forest Biome, and occasionally spawning in the Wastleands. As Pangolins in real life can inhabit a few distinct locations. Temperament: In real life, they are quite passive creatures, as they are very prone to curling up into balls to stave off predators and threats using their sharp scales, but in Extinction, due to the influence of Element's corruption, this results in a peculiar enhancement to the Pangolin's otherwise passive nature. In Extinction, Pangolins are passive to any creature smaller than itself (Unless Provoked.) They are cautious around anything the same size as them. (Things like Allosaurus, Sarcosuchus, Stegosaurus.) And they become territorial and aggressive if in the vicinity of a larger creature than itself. (Things like Rexes, Spinos, Gigas, Carchas.) Making using a bigger creature unwise for taming purposes. Seen below. Diet: They can consume berries, meat, keratin, and chitin. While favoring chitin, keratin, and the eggs of Insect and Bug creatures. With Arthropleura eggs being their absolute favorite. (The eggs are extremely delicious and nutritious to all Pangolins at any stage in their life, and they are essential to the growth of baby Pangolins in game.) Base Stats: Health: 700 - 750 Stamina: 200 Oxygen: 400 Food: 300 Weight: 500 Melee: 100% = 74-82 damage per hit. Torpor: 2,000 Dossier: Wild: "When my friends and I were scavenging for supplies, we happened upon this gentle giant. A benevolent creature that didn't seem all that dangerous. But looks can be decieving, as the sight of a large carnivore sent this beast into a rampage! It started mercilessly fighting everything in sight. A pack of Velonasaur's spines being shot didn't stagger the creature even one bit! And it dispatched the pack with not a wound on it's body. We evacuated before it found us again, but now we know what makes it tick..." "Smutsia Titanus is a sight to behold in battle. They seem to have gained unique adaptations from the element that resides here. Giving them increased immunites, increased resilience, and making every single part of their body lethal to almost anything it comes into contact with. While they not only have bastion-like defenses, they are also highly intelligent, utilizing their strengths in different ways. Such as being more defensive against small nimble creatures, and being highly aggressive to anything it knows it can use it's sharp scales against!" Domesticated: "Smutsia when tamed, is an invaluable enhancement to any tribe's defenses. As they can curl up into balls to protect important locations, items, or creatures, they can lend your tribe it's scales to create special armor and weapons, and they are also incredible battle mounts. A Survivor can draw out their true potential, utilizing their scales in several ways to fit the situation at hand!" Pangolins in the Wild: Pangolins in the wild have different temperament levels depending on what is near them at the given time. If you are not riding a creature, they will be passive to you. Same if you are riding a creature smaller than itself. Riding anything about the size of an Allosaurus, makes the Pangolin a bit Aggressive. Just stay far enough away, and they will leave you alone. Getting too close will instigate them to attack. And riding anything the size of a Rex or larger, will make the Pangolin aggressive on sight. Meaning you cannot tame them. They also become agitated for a little while. Making them aggressive to all creatures in an attempt to either protect themselves, or to ward off any immediate threats in the area. Pangolins will also have very resistant scales both wild, and tamed. Making survivor made weaponry ineffective. Velonsaurs both wild and tamed will also be ineffective even more so, as the scales are highly enhanced by element in order to deflect the Velonasaur's spine fire. How to Domesticate a Smutsia Titanus: Taming a Smutsia will require something that no survivor has had in their lives...COMPASSION AND LOVE!... In all seriousness, taming a Smutsia will require you to be friendly to it. As they are quite passive in real life. To form a bond, you must show that you will help protect the Pangolin from threats. This will prove to the Pangolin that you are a reliable friend and ally, and they will protect you like one of their own. There will be a couple of different ways to tame a Smutsia, as they have different food preferences. In general, to tame Smutsia, simply walk up to it, without a creature the same size or bigger, and give them a food item they desire. Make sure to clear out any big threats in the area, as they will become aggressive and lose taming effectiveness if they become threatened by a big creature. (THIS INCLUDES HERBIVORES) The process will begin once fed, and you have to protect the Smutsia as it starts to warm up to you. They will wander around surveying the area, and once content and feeling safe, they will start searching for food again. Repeat the process, and Smutsia will be yours. However, using different resources will yield different taming results. The table for which is down below: Using berries and meat of any type will be the least effective way to tame a Smutsia. They will lose taming effectiveness fast, and will take longer to tame. BUT, it is possible. Making a low level a useful and reliable early game tame. Using Chitin and Keratin will tame it at a medium rate, while not losing as much taming effectiveness. The process will take about half the time as using berries and meat. (Using this strategy will require you to passive feed it. Like feeding a diplodocus, or an Arthropleura. Having the desired taming food in your last item slot.) Using Tamed Araneos, Achatina, Dung Beetles, Giant Bees, Lymantrias, Scorpions, Arthropleuras, Mantis, and Bloodstalkers will be highly effective at taming Pangolins. The rarity / strength of the creature influencing the specific taming effeciveness. While not the perfect taming method, this will tame them fast, and lose little taming effectiveness. (Using this method will have you drag the corpse of the creature used to feed it. Much like how you feed the Carcha and the Otter. Using Eggs of the previously listed creatures, and birthed Rhyniognathas (Either fully grown, or babies.) Will provide the best taming method to get a Pangolin. The eggs are highly nutritious to the Pangolins, and they are quite frankly perfect tasting to the liking of Pangolins. Both young and old. The rarity of the eggs will influence the taming effectiveness. With Bloodstalker and Mantis eggs being near perfect tames. And with Rhyniognathas being a guaranteed perfect tame. Domesticated Pangolins: Tamed Pangolins can be used in a variety of different ways. Firstly there are different stances the Pangolin can utilize, increasing the gathering of certain resources, while giving the Pangolin enhanced abilities for which stance it is in. There are three stances. Defensive, Cautious, and Offensive. The Pangolin will also have special resources it can make inside it's inventory, called "Sharpened scales". These scales can be transferred from the Pangolins inventory to the survivor and back to the Pangolin, and they have different uses and properties depending on who holds them. The Pangolin is also very good at swimming, as in real life, they make great use of their tails to swim. The Pangolin will have special options in it's radial wheel, and these will have different types of curls. You will be able to coil the Pangolin up in a sort of turret mode, where they can protect things that are within their protective embrace. Finally, the Pangolin will have a passive that is influenced by the amount of "Sharpened scales" it has in it's inventory. These scales can also be used to create special armor and weapons. These will be discussed later down, but just know, they will be made for countering corrupted creatures, and Velonasaur fire. Below, all these abilities are discussed in further detail. Stance Change: Like the Stegosaurus, using this ability will cycle through the stances of the Pangolin. The stance will be remembered for the next ride, or when unmounted. So you can have one in a Defensive stance following you, while also having one in the Offensive stance following you as well. You can also change the stance through the Radial menu when riding it if desired. Different stances will vastly alter how fast and agile the Pangolin is when running, and turning. As well as having different uses for Sharpened scales". Defensive Stance: In Defensive stance, the Pangolin will hunch over, and the rider will be completely concealed within the protective scales of the Pangolin. Preventing them from being stunned, dismounted, effected by radiation, and even preventing the elemental breaths of Wyverns, Magmasaurs, Managarmrs, and Basilisks from hurting the rider, but they will hurt the Pangolin marginally, with Poison being the best to deal with one. However, turrets will be able to hurt them a fair bit if repeated fire is sustained on them. They will be slowest in this stance. And their melee attacks will be their weakest, as they are not focused on battle per say in this state. This stance also has a secondary passive called "Hardened Scales" in which when in possession of "Sharpened Scales" they will have a passive damage reduction of up to 10% from all sources. This will also grant the Pangolin reflect damage, like a Kentro or Arthropleura. Taking enough damage will consume a "Sharpened Scale" and remove it from the Pangolin's inventory. When all scales have been used or taken from the inventory, the Pangolin will no longer recieve the "Sharpened Scales" passive, as well as the "Hardened Scales" passive. (To make it fair, the Pangolin will be UNABLE to make "Sharpened Scales" in it's inventory when in battle. And it will have a cooldown time until the Pangolin is out of battle for a time, and "Sharpened Scales" will be produced again.) This stance also has a tail attack with large knockback. Cautious Stance: In this stance, the Pangolin is in a hunched position, but the rider is more visible and vulnerable to outside sources. Including well aimed Survivor weaponry, and being able to be hit by Wyverns, Magmasaurs, Managarmrs, and Basilisks. The rider can be hit, but they will take reduced damage from Creature attacks. Survivor weaponry will not be effected if it hits the survivor right on. Meaning with the right aim, you can snipe someone out from their walking bastion. Their melee attacks will have average damage, as this is a stance both suited to defense, and offense in the same stance. The "Hardened scales passive will only be half applied in this stance. Meaning a max of 5% damage reduction will be applied with "Sharpened Scales" in it's inventory. But, this is balanced by "Sharpened Scales" now gaining a new passive, for this stance and the Offensive Stance. "Sharpened Scales" in the inventory while in Cautious and Offensive stance will provide the Pangolin with increased penetration, and increased damage by 10%. Making them good counters to both armored creatures, and saddles. Offensive stance will enhance this further. The Pangolin will be semi-fast in this stance. (A bit slower than a running Rex.) And they will be able to turn pretty easily, having quite a short turning radius. This stance also has a tail attack with medium knockback. Offensive Stance: In this stance, the Pangolin will be fully upright, exposing it's rider fully. The spikes on it's back will be on full display, and they will fully unfurl to become a threatening and intimidating display of strength. It's claws will be fully unfurled in this state too. The Pangolin will be fast enough to keep up with Rexs in this stance, and they will be able to turn in place like a Bipedal stance Spino. The "Sharpened Scales" in it's inventory will purely be used for Offense here. While losing the damage reduction from other stances, the new passive to "Hardened Scales" will be giving the Pangolin a debuff to the enemy much like the Shadowmane. The debuff will be called "Serrated!" this debuff will make it so that the creature will not be able to heal as much overtime, and they will very very slowly lose HP. Pretty much a less powerful version of the bleed effect from Gigas and Allosaurus. It will drain 1% HP every 5 seconds. (This effect will NOT work on bosses. It WILL work on tamed creatures, and wild ones however.) The "Sharpened Scales" buff will also enhance the Pangolin's attack and penetration by an additional 10%, giving it a total of 20% damage increase and penetration. This will make it quite the powerhouse if used right. But be careful. As "Sharpened Scales" are used faster in this stance, meaning you'll need more than the other two stances to keep the buffs up. This stance also has a tail attack with small knockback. The "Sharpened Scales" as items: "Sharpened Scales" are essential to the Pangolin I have created. And you can get them one of three ways. You can find them as item drops from dead Pangolins, you can knock one out to steal them from it's inventory, or you can tame a Pangolin, and have it passively create scales for you. (The higher the level, the faster they produce these scales) These scales can be used for different buffs in the Pangolin's inventory. However, they have two other uses aside from buffing our friend here. They can be placed in a survivor's inventory to reduce damage taken from all sources by 3% just the same as the Pangolin, but much weaker. Or, you can use them in a regular Smithy, or the Pangolin's Smithy saddle .(If they decide to add that.) Using "Sharpened Scales" will allow the creation of new weapons and armor, known as "Scale" items. The "Scale" armor will reduce the damage of Survivor weapons by 5%, "Scale" weapons will have increased penetration against armored foes by 5%. This cannot be buffed in any way, and there will be no blueprints for the armor / weapons. (Unless Wildcard decides to do that.) While "Scale" shields will also have the added benefit of not only being about as good as metal shields, but their durability will not go down if hit by Velonasaur spines. The same applies for Reaper Queen Spines. (Mind you, excessive amounts of "Sharpened Scales" will be needed in the construction of these items on a regular basis.) The Pangolin's "Bastion" forms: When not being ridden, the Pangolin will have a special ability in it's radial wheel. This will be called, "Bastion formation". There will be three distinct Bastion Forms. These forms will make the Pangolin enter it's "Bastion formation" of the desired type, making their body a wall, and a shield to protect whatever is within it's clutches, or whatever is behind it. This includes any and all structures that can fit within it's protective formations. (Having many Pangolins work together can act as a very formidable replacement for spike walls. And they can be used as a taming assist, keeping the creature you are taming safe from harm.) "Bastion formation: Circle": The Pangolin curls up into a ball, keeping whatever is within it's center safe from anything but aerial threats. The rider is able to mount, and dismount into the inside of the formation, incase they need to be protected from wild creatures. This can also be used to fully encircle OSDs, giving you more protection to work with. "Bastion formation: Arch": The Pangolin lays down on it's side. It's back scales will be facing whatever is trying to get through, while the Pangolins Saddle, and claws will be pointing towards what it is protecting. And it's head and tail will be bent back, forming an Arch, or triangle shape. Hence the name of the formation. This is best used in small corridors, or when you want to keep something like waves of corrupted creatures from getting to an OSD. "Bastion formation: Line": The Pangolin lays down on it's side. It's back scales will be facing whatever is trying to get through, while the Pangolins Saddle, and claws will be pointing towards what it is protecting. It's head and tail will be perfectly straight, acting as a living spike wall. It can fling it's tail back and forth to knock attackers back and damage them. This can be easily linked up with Spike Walls and other Pangolins in other Formations. This can once again be used as base defense, taming assists, or OSD defense. (If you think of any other formations, let me know! I think it's a really neat idea.) Conclusion: I worked really hard on this, and I tried being as creative as I could with it. If I have any ideas I accidentally stole, know it was on accident. I tried my best to be original in my design, and I truly hope others can see that I really believe this could be it for the Pangolin to be added. Also here are some other ideas I came up with while designing it.) Scrapped Idea 1: Feeding it Element dust would increase the production speed of "Sharpened Scales." Scrapped Idea 2: Giving it a roll attack in it's Defensive stance like the Doedicerus. Scrapped Idea 3: Having it eat sand / rocks in order to strengthen it's digestive tract, thus allowing for more powerful scales to be produced using element. Scrapped Idea 4: Having the tail attack in the Attack stance be able to reflect certain projectiles. Such as Poison Breaths from the Basilisk and the Poison Wyvern, and deflecting Velonasaur and Reaper Queen spines. Hoping to see Smutsia Titanus in the top 10! Good Luck to all participating submissions! Sincerely: Jade