Dino Hunters features a variety of dinosaur species with different behaviors, habitats, and difficulty levels. This FAQ covers the full roster, behavior patterns, and the species planned for future updates. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
For detailed hunting guides, see our Dino Hunters dinosaur guide. For the broader game overview, see our Dino Hunters beginner guide. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
What Dinosaurs Are in Dino Hunters?
Dino Hunters features 12+ dinosaur species across the various biomes. The full roster is listed below. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
| Species | Type | Tier | Biome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velociraptor | Pack predator | 2 | All biomes |
| Gallimimus | Herbivore | 2 | Desert, Plateau |
| Dilophosaurus | Predator | 2 | Forest |
| Allosaurus | Predator | 3 | All biomes |
| Ceratosaurus | Predator | 3 | Plateau, Forest |
| Carnotaurus | Apex predator | 5 | Mountain |
| Spinosaurus | Apex predator | 5 | Coastal |
| Triceratops | Herbivore | 4 | Plateau, Forest |
| Stegosaurus | Herbivore | 4 | Mountain, Plateau |
| Ankylosaurus | Herbivore | 4 | Forest |
| Parasaurolophus | Herbivore | 3 | Coastal |
| T-Rex | Apex predator | 5 | Mountain |
| Juvenile T-Rex | Apex predator | 4 | Forest (rare) |
This roster may not be exhaustive. RaptorClaws has hinted at additional species in future updates. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
Which Dinosaur Is the Easiest to Hunt?
The easiest dinosaur to hunt is the Gallimimus, which is a small, docile herbivore that rarely fights back. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Species | Difficulty | Why It's Easy |
|---|---|---|
| Gallimimus | Easy | Docile, small, low health |
| Velociraptor | Easy | Small, but travel in packs |
| Juvenile Allosaurus | Medium | Easy but rare |
| Parasaurolophus | Medium | Docile but larger |
New hunters should start with Gallimimus and Velociraptor contracts before moving to more challenging species. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
Which Dinosaur Is the Hardest to Hunt?
The hardest dinosaur to hunt is the T-Rex, which has the most health and the most damaging attacks. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Species | Difficulty | Why It's Hard |
|---|---|---|
| T-Rex | Very hard | Most health, one-shot charges |
| Spinosaurus | Very hard | Water retreat, aggressive |
| Carnotaurus | Very hard | High aggression |
| Triceratops | Hard | One-shot charges |
| Stegosaurus | Hard | High health |
Apex predator contracts (T-Rex, Spinosaurus, Carnotaurus) are the most challenging content in the game. For specific tactics, see our Dino Hunters T-Rex boss fight guide. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
Are There Flying Dinosaurs?
Yes, there are flying dinosaurs in Dino Hunters, but they are not commonly hunted. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
| Species | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Hatzegopteryx | Flying | Huntable (rare) |
Hatzegopteryx is a rare flying dinosaur found in the Coastal biome. Most players encounter it incidentally rather than as a contract target. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
Are There Aquatic Dinosaurs?
Yes, the Spinosaurus is the primary aquatic dinosaur. It is equally comfortable on land and in water. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Species | Habitat | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spinosaurus | Land and water | Retreats to water when wounded |
| Marine reptiles | Water | Less common |
The Spinosaurus is unique because it retreats into the water when wounded. This is the main challenge of Coastal biome hunting. For more, see our Dino Hunters Spinosaurus aquatic hunting guide. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
Can I Hunt Baby Dinosaurs?
Juvenile dinosaurs can be hunted, but they yield lower payouts than adult dinosaurs. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
| Juvenile Status | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Juvenile T-Rex | Huntable (rare) | |
| Juvenile Allosaurus | Huntable (common) | |
| Adult counterparts | Higher payouts |
Juvenile contracts are typically lower tier and have lower payouts. Most experienced hunters prefer to hunt adult dinosaurs for better rewards. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
What Dinosaurs Are Coming in Future Updates?
The following dinosaur species are planned for future updates. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
| Version | Expected | Species |
|---|---|---|
| v1.1.0 | Q4 2026 | Majungasaurus, Therizinosaurus |
| v1.2.0 | Q4 2026 | Deinocheirus |
| v1.3.0 | Q1 2027 | Utahraptor |
The Utahraptor is the most anticipated new species. It is significantly larger than the Velociraptor and travels in larger packs. For more on the roadmap, see our Dino Hunters roadmap 2026 guide. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
Are There Any Hybrids or Fantasy Dinosaurs?
Currently, Dino Hunters focuses on realistic dinosaur species. Fantasy or hybrid dinosaurs are not in the game. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Dinosaur Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|
| Realistic species | Yes | |
| Hybrid species | No (currently) | |
| Fantasy creatures | No | |
| Mod-added hybrids | Possible via mods |
The community has requested hybrid dinosaurs (like Indominus Rex) but RaptorClaws has not announced plans to add them. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
Do Dinosaurs Have Different Behaviors?
Yes, each dinosaur species has unique behaviors that affect how they hunt and react to players. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
| Behavior | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Grazing | Dinosaur eats peacefully | |
| Walking | Dinosaur moves around territory | |
| Alert | Dinosaur detects threat | |
| Hunting | Dinosaur actively pursues threat | |
| Charging | Dinosaur attacks threat | |
| Fleeing | Dinosaur runs from threat |
Some dinosaurs (like Velociraptors) coordinate in packs, while others (like T-Rex) act as solo hunters. The behavior affects hunting tactics. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
Can Dinosaurs Attack Each Other?
Yes, dinosaurs can attack each other in certain situations. This is rare but creates interesting hunting scenarios. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Scenario | Behavior | |----|----|---- | Apex predator near prey | Apex predator attacks smaller dinosaurs | | Carnivore vs herbivore | Carnivores may attack herbivores | | Territory dispute | Same species may fight over territory |
Using dinosaur-on-dinosaur combat to your advantage is a tactic that experienced hunters use. See our Dino Hunters Velociraptor pack tactics guide for more on pack dynamics. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
How Do I Track Dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs can be tracked through footprints, dung, and broken vegetation. For detailed tracking techniques, see our Dino Hunters tracking dinosaur trails guide. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Trail Type | What It Tells You | |
|---|---|---|
| Footprints | Direction, size, freshness | |
| Dung | Species, approximate age | |
| Broken vegetation | Size class, sometimes species |
What's the Most Dangerous Dinosaur in Co-op?
In co-op, the T-Rex is generally considered the most dangerous because its charge can hit multiple hunters at once. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session.
| Species | Co-op Threat Level | |
|---|---|---|
| T-Rex | Very high (one-shot area charge) | |
| Spinosaurus | High (water ambush) | |
| Carnotaurus | High (aggressive) | |
| Triceratops | Medium (single charge target) |
For co-op tactics against apex predators, see our Dino Hunters team compositions guide. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
Are Dinosaurs Scaled Realistically?
Yes, the dinosaurs are scaled based on the best available paleontological data. Most species match the size estimates from fossil records. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
| Species | In-Game Size | Real-World Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Velociraptor | ~2 meters | ~2 meters (corrected up from 0.5m) |
| T-Rex | ~12 meters | ~12 meters |
| Spinosaurus | ~15 meters | ~15 meters |
| Triceratops | ~9 meters | ~9 meters |
| Stegosaurus | ~9 meters | ~9 meters |
The realistic scaling is one of the features that Dino Hunters players appreciate. RaptorClaws has stated that they consulted paleontological sources for the sizing. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
Common Player Questions Answered
Dino Hunters raises many questions for new players because the game touches multiple disciplines at once: hunting simulation, contract economy, weapon ballistics, and open-world survival. Players who come from pure hunting games such as theHunter: Call of the Wild expect contracts to behave like mission boards, but the Dino Hunters contract system is closer to an MMO quest log than a static menu. Each contract slot in your hunter journal represents an offer from one of several in-game factions, and the slot's tier ranking fluctuates with your hunter level, your completed contracts, and your average payout multiplier across the last 10 contracts. This means that the same Outfitter will offer you Tier 3 contracts this week and Tier 1 contracts next week if your streak of poor payouts drags your average down.
The most common puzzle for first-time hunters is contract grading. After every kill the game rates your performance on four axes: clean kill, time, distance, and bonus objectives. Each axis contributes a weighted score that maps to the S/A/B/C/D letter grade you see at contract completion. A B grade is the minimum viable payout for Tier 3 contracts, while an S grade unlocks bonus rewards and shifts your hunter toward harder contract offers. Players who chase S grades on every contract will earn more money per hour but will also fail more often, so balance the chasing of S grades against the steadier B-grade strategy when you are early in your hunter career.
Another frequent question concerns save behavior. Dino Hunters uses an auto-save system that writes a checkpoint whenever your hunter reaches a rest point, completes a contract, or finishes extracting a Trophy Sample. There is no manual save button in the menu, and there is no save-on-quit feature because the game assumes an internet connection. If you are playing on flaky Wi-Fi, enable the offline-mode backup so your progress still flushes locally every 5 minutes. This is critical for hardcore mode hunters, where a corrupted save means a lost character.
Hardcore mode questions dominate the late-game portion of the FAQ because hardcore fundamentally changes how you approach every system. Hardcore hunters cannot revive teammates, cannot fast-travel, and reset to zero on death. They are also gated from most contracts until level 25, which makes the early grind even more painful than in normal mode. If you are debating hardcore vs normal, the answer depends entirely on how much risk you enjoy. Most competitive hunters run both: normal mode for steady progression and revenue, hardcore mode for bragging rights and unique trophy rewards. The trophy rewards are visible in the hunter journal and include cosmetic skins that are unobtainable through normal play.
Patch timing is another common worry. RaptorClaws deploys patches roughly every 6-8 weeks, and major patches reset the temporary leaderboards, which causes some confusion in the community. If a patch drops while your squad is mid-contract, the contract still completes, but you lose the leaderboard rank for that run. Save your best runs for off-peak patch windows to avoid this loss. Roadmap updates, public beta branches, and community wishlist items all live on the official channels listed in our Dino Hunters Early Access roadmap page.
Finally, players often ask about cross-progression. There is no cross-save between Steam, itch.io, and any future console version, so choose your platform carefully if you have a long-running hunter. The Steam version is the canonical one and receives patches first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rarest dinosaur in the game?
The Carnotaurus is the rarest apex predator. Juvenile T-Rex is the rarest non-apex dinosaur. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
Dino Hunters features 12+ dinosaur species across 5 biomes, with each species having a behavioral signature that veteran hunters learn to read. Apex predators (T-Rex, Spinosaurus, Allosaurus) require squad coordination; herbivores (Triceratops, Stegosaurus) require careful approach to avoid charges; pack hunters (Velociraptor) require isolation tactics. The dinosaur behavior window for each species is published in the hunter journal.
Dino Hunters features 12+ dinosaur species across 5 biomes, with each species having a behavioral signature that veteran hunters learn to read. Apex predators (T-Rex, Spinosaurus, Allosaurus) require squad coordination; herbivores (Triceratops, Stegosaurus) require careful approach to avoid charges; pack hunters (Velociraptor) require isolation tactics. The dinosaur behavior window for each species is published in the hunter journal once you have encountered that species at least once. Veteran hunters recommend pairing this with the appropriate scanner perk or weapon attachment for maximum efficiency in the specific biome you are hunting. Most contracts that touch on this topic are solvable in 5-15 minutes once you have the right loadout selected before you accept the offer. The expected payout for contracts that exercise this mechanic scales with hunter level and contract tier, making Tier 3+ contracts the most profitable way to practice. Squads that specialize in this mechanic earn 20-30% more per contract than solo hunters because they split the loadout cost and coordinate target prioritization. The community wiki tracks these mechanics with weekly updates based on the latest patch, and the Steam Discussions forum is the fastest place to ask follow-up questions.
Are there dinosaur variants like albinos?
Not currently in the base game, but albino variants are available as a Steam Workshop mod. See our Dino Hunters best mods list guide. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. RaptorClaws has confirmed that core mechanics like bullet drop, the Spinal Shot bonus, and the contract payout formula will not change before full release, so any strategy you develop during Early Access should remain valid through v1.0.0.
Dino Hunters features 12+ dinosaur species across 5 biomes, with each species having a behavioral signature that veteran hunters learn to read. Apex predators (T-Rex, Spinosaurus, Allosaurus) require squad coordination; herbivores (Triceratops, Stegosaurus) require careful approach to avoid charges; pack hunters (Velociraptor) require isolation tactics. The dinosaur behavior window for each species is published in the hunter journal.
Can I hunt dinosaurs at night?
Yes, but night hunting is more challenging due to reduced visibility. Some dinosaurs are also more active at night, particularly apex predators. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level. RaptorClaws has confirmed that core mechanics like bullet drop, the Spinal Shot bonus, and the contract payout formula will not change before full release, so any strategy you develop during Early Access should remain valid through v1.0.0.
Dino Hunters features 12+ dinosaur species across 5 biomes, with each species having a behavioral signature that veteran hunters learn to read. Apex predators (T-Rex, Spinosaurus, Allosaurus) require squad coordination; herbivores (Triceratops, Stegosaurus) require careful approach to avoid charges; pack hunters (Velociraptor) require isolation tactics. The dinosaur behavior window for each species is published in the hunter journal.
Do dinosaurs respawn after being killed?
Yes, dinosaurs respawn after a cooldown period (typically 48 in-game hours). The cooldown prevents immediate respawning in the same area. This question touches on a system that veteran hunters refine over many contracts. The practical approach is to test the relevant mechanic in a low-stakes Tier 1 contract first, then apply what you learned to higher-tier contracts once the behavior is predictable. Most mechanics become second nature after 20-30 contracts, so patience and repetition are the most reliable learning path. This question touches on a system that veteran hunters refine over many contracts. The practical approach is to test the relevant mechanic in a low-stakes Tier 1 contract first, then apply what you learned to higher-tier contracts once the behavior is predictable. Most mechanics become second nature after 20-30 contracts, so patience and repetition are the most reliable learning path. This question touches on a system that veteran hunters refine over many contracts. The practical approach is to test the relevant mechanic in a low-stakes Tier 1 contract first, then apply what you learned to higher-tier contracts once the behavior is predictable. Most mechanics become second nature after 20-30 contracts, so patience and repetition are the most reliable learning path. This question touches on a system that veteran hunters refine over many contracts. The practical approach is to test the relevant mechanic in a low-stakes Tier 1 contract first, then apply what you learned to higher-tier contracts once the behavior is predictable. Most mechanics become second nature after 20-30 contracts, so patience and repetition are the most reliable learning path.