The Jerboa is the first tame most players should get on Scorched Earth, and it costs almost nothing. Thirty torpor and no ability to fight back make it a two-minute knockout, and in return you get a live weather forecast for the whole map.
The conclusion up front: tame a Jerboa before your first desert trip. It is the cheapest early-warning system in the game, and its low torpor is the only thing that can go wrong.
The stats
| Stat | Base value |
|---|---|
| Health | 55 |
| Stamina | 100 |
| Oxygen | 150 |
| Food | 450 |
| Weight | 120 |
| Melee damage | 3 |
| Torpor | 30 |
How to tame it
- Knock it out fast. A boomerang, a club, or a few fists will do it. It runs, but it is slow enough to chase down.
- Watch the torpor. At 30 torpor it wakes quickly. Have Narcotics or Narcoberries ready before you start.
- Feed it berries. It is a herbivore, so Mejoberries and other berries finish the tame.
Why it is worth the slot
- Weather prediction. The Jerboa reacts before a sandstorm, storm, or cold front — the warning gives you time to shelter your tames.
- A cheap shoulder mount. It weighs nothing on your shoulder and carries a little loot.
- A guaranteed early win. On a fresh desert spawn, it is the safest first tame you can make.
The mistakes that lose the tame
- Starting without Narcotics. A 30-torpor creature can wake mid-feed; keep the knockout topped up.
- Chasing it into a pack. It bolts toward danger; knock it out away from predators.
- Expecting it to fight. It cannot; treat it as a sensor, not a guard.
For the broader early-game order, see the best dinos for beginners. For the desert map itself, see the Scorched Earth guide.