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Just a lil' note: This is not the Giant Cheetah "Acinonyx" from previous votings (that's from a different person. Check theirs out nonetheless!) Ragnarok is a huge map, and it boasts a ton of various biomes. From mountainous forests to yawning canyons, its terrain is truly diverse. And so in order to overcome the challenges in traversing such rugged landscapes, we travel on fast mounts - but have you noticed all these mid/late-game options happen to be airborne travelers? Pteranodons, Wyverns, Griffins; even the Shadowmane and Managarmr leap into the air as if they flew! So, imagine this: A fast grounded mount... A SUPER fast grounded mount... A mount that provided strong (and fun) mid and late game utility, but also enough weakness so it stayed well away from the power-creep border... Well, the Miracinonyx is sure to satisfy that niche, and alongside it, all that a speed demon could ask for! Whether it be a race or an escape, you'd be leaving all your adversaries behind in clouds of dirt - or if you were feeling sinister enough - leave them burning behind your fiery trails. Perhaps even set up a nice little minefield for them... Diet: Carnivore Temperament: Aggressive Rideable: Yes (saddle optional) What does it do? SPEED. The blitzer of the Ice Age. The Miracinonyx is a lightly-built predator that can gather meat and hide in a pinch - but that's not its selling point. What makes this creature truly special is its fantastic stamina, impeccable turning radius, and phenomenal agility. Even as a grounded traveler, it easily matches up against the fastest fliers. But such rapid sprinting speed comes with a concern: how can you even control where you are going without constantly bumping into objects? When mounted, a toggleable mobility mode allows the Miracinonyx to autonomously swerve around any collision-causing object, such as rocks, deep water, trees, and even other creatures! Think of it like a more complex version of the TEK Skiff's Autonomous Hover mode (yes, there are examples of smart pathing that already exist in the game). This would allow survivors to move at ridiculous speeds through the densest forests floors without bumping into a single tree or rock. The Miracinonyx will do the dodging for you, so your focus is free to do other things, like checking your GPS or map, or other kinds of "tools" (we'll get to that later...) - but of course, you can always toggle the pathing off if you do not desire it. Running towards a cliff? Barely an obstacle! For the Miracinonyx, a wall is merely a sideways path. Obviously, this is a mount made for travel. But it also has a combative side (apart from its bites, that is). When equipped with an oil-loaded saddle, the Miracinonyx is capable of spewing a trail of fire wherever it runs, coating the battlefield into a flame-licked maze. Disrupt your enemies position and deny area from them! Additionally, any deployable traps or weapons that the survivor may have in their inventory (bear traps, grenades, plant species Z fruit, etc) can be thrown on the run, Mario Kart-style. Zip by your foes and and throw a ̶b̶a̶n̶a̶n̶a̶ ̶p̶e̶e̶l̶ Plant Y Species beneath their feet! ... But there's also nothing stopping you from using your more "accurate" tools either. Even the late game holds a surprise. The TEK Miracinonyx saddle is a direct upgrade from the primitive fire-spewing saddle. Not only does it provide the Miracinonyx with some nice extra armor, but now you'll be able to lay down a trail of physical barriers behind you, just like a TRON bike! Circle around your foes and quite literally trap them in. The TEK saddle will also allow the Miracinonyx to run across the surface of water. And don't worry - you'll still be able to throw your deployable hazards and use your guns. Last but not least... Cuddles! This is an accessible part of the Miracinonyx's option wheel. Use this loveable interaction to cuddle up with your fluffy companion and gain a very large insulation buff. Enters cooldown upon use. What is it weak to? - Base Turrets. Their lock-on accuracy will whittle down the Miracinonyx's frail health pool in a flash. - Bear Traps/Plant Species Y. Despite being a trap setter itself, the Miracinonyx's smart pathing won't detect hostile traps, so it might run directly into one. - Low weight. Try not to encumber your trusty ride. How do you tame it? The Miracinonyx is not tamed by conventional methods. Baby Miracinonyx are often found hiding in bushes or tight corners in the wild, shy of everything that wanders by. Survivors must approach carefully, and repeatedly feed it meat to gain its trust. But beware, for if it were to be startled, its nearby parents will immediately attack anything responsible for startling it. If you do manage tame it, the baby will be imprinted to you, and must be raised from there on. But alas, even when in the safety of human care, the baby Miracinonyx remains an incredibly nervous creature. You won't be able to complete the imprinting process by yourself. In order to give your Miracinonyx the full enrichment it deserves, pair it with a companion dog; a Direwolf in this case! Much like how real cheetahs are raised in captivity, your Direwolf partner will help you get the full imprint potential out of your baby. Open to suggestions! Feel free to comment your own ideas. And of course, thanks for reading. I truly believe that travel is an often-overlooked aspect of ARK gameplay, especially during the late game when all forms of travel really just whittle down to either using airborne mounts of TEK. I also think a good PVP mount doesn't need to be the typical DPS-dealing "get-up-in-your-face" archetype that we already have so many giant creatures for. I hope that this suggestion avoids those generic ideas and instead feels like a fresh take on a fun creature. Special thanks to: - droidcommander for suggesting the companion dog - AmanaTishala for recommending a TEK saddle - LittleSpicyOreas for bringing up an insulation buff - Abaddon23 for the cuddle interaction idea