- What to know
- Animal taming in Hytale explained
- Specific foods required for each animal
- Riding horses after taming
- Behavior of tamed animals
- Where to find animals in the current build
- Farming implications and long-term progression
- Current limitations in the pre-release build
- Why this update changes survival gameplay
What to know
- Animal taming is now available in the latest Hytale pre-release build.
- Each animal requires a specific food item to tame successfully.
- Taming works only in Adventure mode.
- Tamed animals follow you and some, like horses, can be ridden.
The latest pre-release update for Hytale introduces one of the most anticipated survival features: fully functional animal taming. If you have been waiting to build proper farms, stables, or mobile caravans, this update changes how you interact with the world. Instead of simply herding animals with fences, you now gain direct control through food-based bonding mechanics that feel natural and intuitive.
Animal taming currently works exclusively in Adventure mode, meaning you must be playing in that mode to access the feature. Creative mode does not support taming mechanics in the same way.
Animal taming in Hytale explained
The taming mechanic is built around food affinity. Each animal species responds only to a particular food item. When you approach the correct animal while holding its preferred food, you can initiate the taming interaction. Once successful, the animal becomes bonded to you and begins to follow.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Availability | Pre-release Update 3 build |
| Game Mode Required | Adventure Mode only |
| Taming Method | Offer specific food items |
| Animal Behavior After Taming | Follows player |
| Rideable Animals | Horses |
| Farming Utility | Easy relocation to farms/stables |
| Future Potential | Saddles and upgraded movement systems teased |
This system encourages exploration and farming preparation. You cannot simply tame everything with a universal item. You need the right crop or produce in your inventory, reinforcing the survival and agriculture loops of the game.
The mechanic is currently available in the most recent pre-release build, with the full public release expected shortly after the preview period concludes.
Specific foods required for each animal
Taming in Hytale is precise and species-based. The following table reflects the current known food requirements in Update 3.
| Animal | Required Food | Post-Taming Functionality |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | Corn | Follows player |
| Sheep | Lettuce | Follows player |
| Cow | Lettuce | Follows player |
| Horse | Carrot | Follows and can be ridden |
| Rabbit | Carrot | Follows player |
| Camel | Tomato | Follows player |
This food specificity creates clear farming priorities. If you want livestock, you will need to invest in crop cultivation. If you want mobility, carrots become essential because they allow you to tame horses.
Riding horses after taming
One of the biggest highlights of the update is horse riding. Once a horse is successfully tamed using carrots, you can mount it and travel across terrain much faster than on foot. The horse will also follow you when not mounted, which makes relocating it simple.
Currently, movement speed appears consistent across tamed horses, though future updates may introduce saddle mechanics or graded equipment systems to improve speed or stamina. The developers have hinted at expanded mobility features, potentially including better riding gear or tier-based enhancements.
This is especially useful if you are exploring large procedural zones in Hytale. Traveling long distances becomes far more efficient once you establish a stable of trained horses.
Behavior of tamed animals
After taming, animals exhibit consistent follow behavior. They will trail behind you, allowing easy transportation from wilderness zones back to your farm. This drastically reduces the need for complicated fencing traps or pushing mechanics.
The follow system works smoothly across terrain changes, though steep vertical landscapes may require careful pathing. Animals do not become hostile or flee once bonded. Instead, they maintain proximity unless obstructed.
This mechanic supports large-scale farming operations. You can gather multiple animals from different biomes and lead them back to a centralized settlement.
Where to find animals in the current build
Animals spawn naturally across the procedural zones of Hytale’s overworld. Chickens, sheep, and cows are commonly found in grassy plains regions. Horses tend to appear in open field biomes where there is ample flat terrain. Camels are more likely to spawn in arid or desert-like zones. Rabbits are scattered throughout temperate environments.
Biome diversity matters because it influences which animals you can realistically access early in your world. If you spawn in a desert-heavy region, camels may become your first viable transport option before horses.
Farming implications and long-term progression
The taming update significantly expands farming depth. Since specific crops are required for specific animals, you are encouraged to diversify agriculture. Corn cultivation enables chicken farming. Lettuce farming supports sheep and cows. Carrot production unlocks mounted travel.
This creates a layered progression system. First, you gather seeds. Then you establish crop fields. Then you tame animals. Finally, you scale up production for food, materials, and transport efficiency.
The system also opens doors for future updates. With taming mechanics now functional, additional systems such as breeding, animal stat variation, equipment upgrades, and mounted combat could logically follow.
Current limitations in the pre-release build
Animal taming is limited to Adventure mode. Creative testing does not currently replicate the same bonding behavior. Additionally, there are no visible stat differences between animals of the same species yet. Saddles are not required at this stage, though future builds may introduce equipment layers.
The feature is stable in the preview build and expected to remain core functionality in the full release version scheduled shortly after the pre-release window.
Why this update changes survival gameplay
Animal taming transforms Hytale from simple sandbox exploration into a more structured survival experience. You now plan crop growth around livestock goals. You scout biomes with transport in mind. You create stables instead of temporary holding pens.
If you enjoy building settlements, the update gives you practical reasons to expand infrastructure. If you prefer exploration, horses dramatically improve mobility. If you enjoy farming, food specialization becomes strategically meaningful.
The system feels foundational rather than experimental. It fits naturally into Hytale’s broader RPG-survival framework.
