ARK: Survival Evolved offers a unique blend of survival gameplay, prehistoric exploration, and base-building mechanics. Set on a mysterious island filled with dinosaurs, mythical creatures, and natural hazards, the game pushes players to adapt and survive in a hostile environment. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, thriving in this dangerous world requires a blend of strategy, skill, and patience. This article will guide you through essential survival tips to help you dominate the prehistoric wilderness of ARK: Survival Evolved.
1. Understanding the Basics of Survival
Surviving in ARK: Survival Evolved starts with mastering the fundamentals—food, shelter, and resources. These basic needs are essential for staying alive, and ignoring any of them can quickly lead to disaster.
Gathering Resources
Your first step upon waking up on the island is to gather resources. Start by collecting stone, wood, and fiber. Use these materials to craft basic tools like a stone pick and a hatchet, which will make gathering more efficient. As you progress, you’ll want to upgrade to better tools and weapons, which will require you to learn crafting engrams.
Managing Food and Water
Staying fed and hydrated is crucial in ARK. You can find water by lakes, rivers, or simply filling waterskins from the sea. For food, early on you’ll rely on berries and meat. Berries can be harvested from plants, while meat requires you to hunt small creatures like dodos or lystrosaurus. Be careful not to eat the narcoberries (which cause you to fall asleep), or you’ll become an easy target for predators.
Building Shelter
Shelter offers protection from the environment and predators. Your first base should be simple—a small thatch hut that keeps you safe during the night and protects you from harsh weather. As you progress, you can build more advanced structures with wood, stone, or even metal, increasing your security and storage capabilities.
2. The Importance of Taming Dinosaurs
One of the unique features of ARK is the ability to tame prehistoric creatures. These tamed creatures can assist you in many aspects of survival, from carrying heavy loads to defending your base against hostile animals or even other players.
Choosing the Right Dinosaur to Tame
Not all creatures are created equal in ARK. Some are great for gathering resources, while others excel in combat or transportation. For beginners, taming a parasaur can be incredibly helpful since it’s one of the first rideable dinosaurs and can carry a decent load. As you progress, stronger creatures like the triceratops (great for resource gathering) or the raptor (an excellent hunting companion) will become available.
How to Tame Creatures
The taming process in ARK usually involves knocking out a dinosaur using tranquilizing arrows or a club and then feeding it its preferred food. The type of food depends on the dinosaur—some prefer meat, while others enjoy berries. Higher-level creatures take longer to tame, but the reward is usually a more powerful and useful ally.
Taming more dangerous dinosaurs, like the T-Rex, requires advanced preparation, including higher-tier tranquilizers and large amounts of food. But once tamed, these creatures can greatly increase your survival odds.
3. Building a Strong Base
Your base is your sanctuary in ARK. Whether you’re playing on a PvE or PvP server, building a well-defended base is crucial to thriving in the game’s world. Your base will act as a central hub for crafting, storage, and protection.
Location, Location, Location
Choosing the right spot for your base is essential. Avoid building too close to water sources or spawn points, where many players and predators often appear. High ground is usually advantageous, as it offers a good defensive position and clear sightlines for spotting threats.
Strengthening Your Defenses
Start with basic materials like thatch or wood for your first base, but quickly upgrade to stone and metal as you gather more resources. Use walls, gates, and even turrets to protect against both wild creatures and hostile players. In PvP, base raiding is common, so it’s essential to build strong defenses and fortifications to safeguard your resources and tamed dinosaurs.
Establishing Resource Outposts
As you explore the island, you’ll notice that some resources are scattered far from your main base. Establishing small outposts near resource-rich areas can reduce the time it takes to gather essential materials like metal, crystal, or oil. Just make sure to protect these outposts, as they can be prime targets for predators or rival players.
4. Surviving Hostile Environments
The island in ARK is not only filled with dangerous creatures but also different biomes that pose unique survival challenges. Understanding how to adapt to each environment is key to thriving.
Surviving the Heat and Cold
The island’s diverse biomes, from scorching deserts to freezing mountains, require different survival strategies. In hot environments, wearing lighter armor and staying hydrated is crucial. Building your base near water sources and crafting water jars or canteens will help keep you cool.
In cold environments, you’ll need to craft fur armor to avoid freezing to death. Make sure to stockpile extra food, as the cold will make your character burn calories faster, leading to a higher need for sustenance.
Handling Predators and Aggressive Creatures
The world of ARK is teeming with predators, from small yet deadly raptors to colossal beasts like the Giganotosaurus. Always be on guard and keep weapons ready. When faced with aggressive creatures, fleeing is often the best strategy, especially when you’re low on health or supplies.
For more dangerous creatures, setting traps or building defensive structures can help mitigate the threat. If you have tamed dinosaurs, keeping them close for protection is vital.
5. Mastering the Art of Exploration
ARK’s island is vast, filled with caves, underwater expanses, and even mysterious obelisks. Exploring is essential for progression, as it leads you to valuable resources and advanced materials.
Navigating the Island
While exploring on foot is necessary early in the game, taming a flying creature like a Pteranodon or Argentavis significantly speeds up travel. Flying allows you to scout for resources, new base locations, or even enemy bases if you’re playing on a PvP server.
Exploring Caves and Dungeons
Caves are home to rare resources, artifacts, and dangerous creatures. Prepare thoroughly before entering, as these areas are often filled with threats like giant spiders or bats. Equipping yourself with weapons, armor, and plenty of food is essential for survival in these dangerous dungeons.
Conclusion
ARK: Survival Evolved is a game of adaptation, patience, and strategy. By mastering resource gathering, taming dinosaurs, and building strong defenses, you can transform from a mere survivor to a thriving ruler of the prehistoric wilderness. Whether you play solo or as part of a tribe, these tips will help you navigate the challenges and triumph in the harsh world of ARK.
