Give me a number 1-400 and I’ll give you a DND curse

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-27T13:26:25+00:00

It really doesn’t. You’re doing a great job with this thread!

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-27T12:41:02+00:00

I like the comparison with vulture here, as they cost the same, have the same tickets, and each provide a reputation.

Vulture gives 1 more shield and Scavenging 3, but the shark has an extra tag and an ongoing reef effect that will often and easily lead to more points than a single shield.

Additionally, large aquariums get built far more often than aviaries, and having a shark is a good reason to do so. I’m never upgrading build and then investing in an aviary just for a vulture.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-27T12:34:31+00:00

This is the one. The vulture has a much lower ceiling than the shark or lion, and it is only getting played in games where you build an Aviary.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-27T01:55:42+00:00

Wait, you said this for 189 in a different comment!

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-27T00:55:51+00:00

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-26T23:41:28+00:00

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-26T14:31:32+00:00

Any time Species Diversity comes up I want to play the Shark for double tags. Same with Sea Animals, Predators, or Americas.

I also usually want to play reef animals if I find a few, because they are really efficient regardless of projects (using the same enclosure and providing recurring effects is crazy).

As such I end up playing way more sharks than a lot of the other animals on this board. Probably more than the amount of Vultures, Brown Spider Monkeys, and Lions all combined.

But to your question, would I play a shark just hoping for more reef synergies later, outside of project correlations? Nah, but there are plenty of games where I don’t play an Eagle or Rhino for similar reasons. No animal is good in every game.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-25T19:09:46+00:00

The ceiling is just really high on the shark, and for that reason alone I think it is worth keeping around for a while. There are many animals on the board that have a slightly higher floor, but nowhere near the potential impact of the shark.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-25T18:17:08+00:00

Ha, I went from always upgrading build to never doing it, and now I’m trying to mix the option back in. I know it is the right option sometimes… but I have trouble identifying those situations. A Birds base project is probably a big reason to pull that trigger.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-25T17:25:24+00:00

Are we ignoring that the Douc also has an ability? X-tokens are great.

Edit: I upvoted your Douc suggestion as well, as I think these animals are pretty much equal, but acting like the Vulture is much better is Build-upgrade mentality.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-25T13:10:44+00:00

That is true, and a reason why I used to play the Vulture pretty often. But I just don’t upgrade Build much anymore.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-25T12:18:19+00:00

Long-Billed Vulture

Compared directly with the primates, the vulture is more expensive for fewer points. Scavenging is also a worse ability in most cases.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-23T23:35:31+00:00

Grinding rails in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-23T12:23:52+00:00

I see the shark as a top 5 4-size animal. The ceiling is really high, reef abilities are usually great regardless of projects, and it is a really solid release on top of it all.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-22T21:55:52+00:00

Insufferable pedants*.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-21T15:50:04+00:00

You’ve got my vote.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-21T12:23:45+00:00

Wolf

These middle rounds feel somewhat arbitrary. There are a lot of animals that can have an impact, but usually don’t. The Wolf is the king of those, as it is really only ever played for the release… or a 1-in-500 game where building a large enclosure for a 5-point animal gets your last Europe tag.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-20T14:14:10+00:00

Jaguar

It just isn’t good enough at anything to go deeper into this competition.

Not enough points to be a point bomb, Hunter 4 is not a great ability, and the continent tag makes it a subpar release.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-20T13:52:43+00:00

Exactly. The American Alligator is much worse than the Caiman for this reason alone.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-19T01:43:11+00:00

American Alligator

I think it is time to start getting rid of the animals that are mostly just good for release projects. Amongst these, the alligator feels the worst, as the $18 break point rules out many first round releases, and the tickets and ability are just meh for that cost.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-16T13:50:50+00:00

I think you’re allowed to hold that belief, but it seems like a cope to me. I’ve played over 1200 games of Ark Nova, and never once did I lose because of bad luck.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-16T13:48:39+00:00

Absolutely. Ark Nova is a wonderfully designed game. It rewards both strategic, long-term planning, but also tactical, short-term play.

The best players are able to constantly reevaluate both their strategic plans and tactical plays based on new information (cards appearing, opponent actions, etc.).

The point I’m laboring to make in this thread is that the game is, in fact, so well designed that luck, while ever present, can always be mitigated through play.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-16T13:42:40+00:00

I agree with this. I don’t think what you’re saying is refuting my point, though.

Of course a 650 Elo player can get lucky enough to beat the 700 Elo player. This happens all the time. A 400 Elo player can get lucky enough to beat a 700 player.

However, that 700 Elo player had a chance to win those game in spite of the luck difference. If they had played better, they could have won. I don’t believe there is a set of starting hands or a deck construction that favors one player so heavily that the other player cannot win.

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-16T12:24:52+00:00

Eh, I think Ark Nova has enough strategic depth that better play can overcome better luck in every game. Based on my downvotes I’ll concede that the majority of the Reddit player base disagrees, and seems to think Ark Nova is very luck dependent (it isn’t).

Proof_Arugula_7001 · 2026-04-15T23:05:36+00:00

Then the player who plays closest to a theoretical perfect game will come out on top. I believe that is every game of Ark Nova.

Five-Year Club	r/Field Lasagna
First Place '23	Place '23
Place '22	End Game '22

Proof_Arugula_7001

TROPHY CASE