These are the top 25 useful tips for Ark Survival Evolved, from Early-Game to End-Game:
25. Start by killing smaller dinosaurs
If you just started playing Ark Survival Evolved, the temptation to explore and go for powerful, impressive creatures will surely be high. However, it’s best to be patient, you’ll get there soon if you follow these tips. Start by hunting small creatures that are close to the beach, such as the Dodo or Lystrosaurus. They will provide enough resources to start crafting advanced weapons and build your first base. Try to stay far from the woods on your first day, as they are filled with hungry carnivores.
24. Stay safe
The main enemies on your first days of Ark are Dilos. You’ll soon be strong enough to kill them with no effort, but in the beginning, they can be annoying. They can spit acid and take you by surprise at any random moment, and if you are not in a constant alert state, you don’t really stand a chance. To make it even worse, the acid will probably blind you, so it’s not even clear where you should hit.
23. Don’t go swimming around
The water seems peaceful at first, doesn’t it? Any Ark player has experienced the terror of underwater creatures. If you go for a swim in the middle of the day without a boat, chances are you’ll end up dead. It’s a good idea to stay close to a water source, as thirst will hit you early in the game, but don’t try to travel by swimming in the water. A wooden raft will become available soon after you start the game. Use it to reach your destination. Even better, when the time comes, tame a Pteranodon and forget about all your worries.
22. Build a base from the beginning
You won’t be able to build a complex or resistant base. Your first base will probably be attacked and easily damaged or even destroyed by predators, but it will still keep you a lot safer, especially at night. Damaged structures can be easily repaired if you have the right material. Moreover, the walls, doors, floor, and even roof of your little shack can be replaced with stronger ones as you advance through the game. Start with thatch and wood and enforce your base in time.
21. Keep an eye on your Engrams
Another crucial aspect of the Early-Game is to always unlock new Engrams. They bring better options of weapons and all sorts of exciting inventions. It’s important to choose the Engrams wisely, as won’t have enough points to unlock all of them. Start with tools and weapons, followed by structures that will help you build a base. Last but not least, pay attention to available clothes and armors, as the temperature will not be constantly on your side.
20. When you die, respawn in safe zones
You will definitely die at some point in the game. Even if you do everything right, if you want to advance in the game you’ll need to take risks, and they will often get you killed. Throughout the game, you’ll learn to place sleeping bags and beds in strategic positions, as they can be used for respawning or even smart travel. However, in the beginning, if you don’t have a bed yet and you need to respawn somewhere, choose a safe zone, far from high-level dinosaurs and carnivores.
19. Reach Drops
In Ark, drops are a blessing. Even in the Late-Game, they are essential if you want to get some of the best blueprints. These are colored lights that will appear in the sky at night. Some will be easy and some will be difficult to reach. Analyze the surrounding, look out for Dilos and other carnivores and choose the Drops that are closer and safer to access.
White drops can be opened as early as level 3, while Red ones are available starting with level 60, so keep that in mind when you go exploring. As you advance, taming a flying dinosaur is the best idea, as all areas will become easy to access and your traveling time will be considerably shortened.
18. Cryopods
We are already advancing and talking about advanced tips. Cryopods are amazing inventions that many players forget about. As your level becomes higher, you’ll tame many dinosaurs, each one becoming more and more interesting. There is a point in the game when traveling with all these tames, or accessing narrow spaces, like caves, becomes a problem. This is where cryopods become incredibly useful. They can be used to transport any tame in a small device. Even more, all dinosaurs gather experience points while they are in a cryopod.
17. Create a farm
Creating a farm includes both taking care of crops and learning to breed animals. As you advance, you’ll need more and more resources, and gathering them will take a lot of time and effort. Planting crops and developing an irrigation system will basically do the work for you. You’ll invest some effort in building the farm, but the results are worth it. As you go exploring, the farm will produce all the necessary resources, and your life will become much easier. Moreover, who doesn’t love building a cozy base, full of tames and crops?
16. Breeding is incredible
Continuing on the same note, here is an important tip: breeding is an amazing part of Ark. It is time-consuming and it requires a lot of care and attention, but giving life to adorable baby dinosaurs can be heartwarming and useful. Breeding two powerful creatures can result in a dinosaur that takes all their superior stats. This way, your tames will enhance their abilities through genetic selection. On the other hand, breeding creates dinosaurs that are easier to kill and harvest than wild ones. If you don’t have the heart to kill them, these creatures can be used as important sources of rare materials, such as an organic polymer.
15. Always have a backup set of gear
We have already talked about how death is inevitable in Ark. While respawning in a safe zone is one important tip to keep in mind, you should always remember to keep a backup set of gear at your base, especially when you reach Mid-Game. Finding your dead body and getting back your items is always the best outcome, but sometimes the odds aren’t in your favor. That’s why when crafting any equipment, it’s best to hit the button twice.
14. Build beds
Beds are necessary for respawning at your base after you die. It may be surprising, but in the classic Ark, beds are not made for sleeping. You are doomed to stay awake and explore the map. Usually, the most useful thing to do is to gather drops. However, beds can be also used as fast travel points. Jump from place to place on the map as you please, in no time. The only disadvantage is that you’ll leave all your loot at the starting point of your travel.
13. Use Tame Groups
A higher level comes with more tames and the more they are, the harder they are to organize and control. This is why tame groups are amazing. They offer the chance to sort out all of your tames and command them in groups, using specific whistles. Create groups for defending your base or attacking powerful dinosaurs. Even more, use the groups to gather specific resources based on the qualities of each dinosaur. Assign your tames to particular tame groups and enjoy!
12. Join a Tribe
You can be of the best players of Ark Survival, but your power won’t compare to the power of a tribe. The best way to survive and evolve in an Open World game is to join a tribe and build a strong base together. You can also start your own tribe, but things will be way easier if you join one that’s already formed. Advance your level faster and enjoy the protection of others.
11. Use the wooden club to harvest organic polymer
The organic polymer is an important resource that you’ll surely find out you need throughout the game. It can be obtained by killing Kairukus, Mantis, or Hesperornis. However, Kairukus are usually the targeted creatures for this resource. The trick stands in the tools you need to use to harvest the best amount of Organic Polymer. To everyone’s surprise, the best way to harvest it is by using a simple Wooden Club. This tool is as effective as a Thylacoleo, a sword, or a Direbear. For transport, keep in mind that the Pelagornis has an 80% weight reduction.
10. The Yuteranus & The Gatcha are amazing for Mid-Game
When reaching Mid-Game, everyone starts to wonder what are the next creatures in line for taming. Well, the Yuteranus and The Gatcha are two incredible choices for different reasons. The Yuteranus, although it’s not that famous, is one of the scariest dinosaurs around in Mid-Game. It can be used as an attacking dinosaur, especially when grouped with others, as it has a considerable buff with allied creatures. The Gatcha, on the other hand, is perfect for producing various rare resources and it functions best on a farm.
9. Build a Greenhouse
The Greenhouse is the cozy structure that makes a base look like home. Apart from its looks, you probably heard about the Greenhouse effect that improves the growth of crops and plants up to 300%. That means producing an impressive amount of important berries, as well as other plants in no time. Out of narcotics? A visit to the Greenhouse will solve the problem quickly.
8. Use specific dinosaurs when gathering resources
Certain dinosaurs are made to gather specific resources. There are even creatures specializing in transporting those resources, as they have something called a “weight reduction” for one or more materials. For example, the Doedicurus and Anky excel at gathering stone, while the Direbear is incredibly efficient at harvesting organic polymer. All these characteristics can be found on official websites and will help you harvest resources faster and easier.
7. Kill & Breed Tek Dinosaurs
These creatures are a relatively new addition to the amazing world of Ark. As soon as you spot one, either tame it for breeding or kill it. Tek Parasaurus, for example, are found in large numbers on The Island, and harvesting them can get you metal, element dust, and oil. Even more, Tek creatures offer electro
6. Discover recipes
Custom recipes are the best way to keep your food % water bar full for as long as possible. Not only they are truly useful, but they are also fun to make. Improve your cooking skills and discover everything that Ark has to offer! First of all, you have to buy a cooking pot or industrial cooker, then you can get to work. As a bonus, some recipes can even help you create poisonous food for your enemies. Isn’t that incredible?
5. Place Turrets strategically
Players are often confused when it comes to discovering electricity, turrets, and proper base defense. However, these aspects are crucial for survival, especially in a PvP game. Turrets are an efficient and easy way to protect a base if they are placed properly. These machines run on electricity, so the first thing to keep in mind is that you have to protect those electric circuits just as much as you protect the rest of the equipment. The second thing is to craft the right type of turrets: the heavy ones. Auto turrets are 4 times less effective and easier to destroy. Last but not least, turrets fire in all directions, so you must provide enough space for proper functioning when placing them.
4. Make use of Electricity
Effectively using electricity makes the difference between Early and Mid-Game when it comes to Ark. Even though it may seem scary and complicated at first, all those components are not that hard to place and use. For example, refrigerators are an incredibly useful invention, and they automatically connect to power outlets, so your job is way easier. As a basic notion, generators run on gas, the main resource in Mid-Game, required for all electronic and industrial machines.
3. Gather Artifacts & Obelisks
This is the point where we are approaching the discussion about the End-Game. While it differs on every map, there are some common aspects to follow as you prepare for battle. Artifacts are a must if you want to reach the boss arena. They are used as a sacrifice in an Obelisk in order to trigger the teleportation to the fighting ground. The bad news is that these Artifacts are truly hard to get, as they are often placed in extremely dangerous caves. Consider it training for the last battle and start searching!
2. Research the Boss you want to fight
This one is self-explanatory. Each map comes with a different Boss that approaches different fighting styles. That being said, you’ll need to apply different battle strategies and choose specific dinosaurs and equipment for each Boss you’re about to encounter. Do your homework and search for the characteristics of the Boss from your current map. It may seem like cheating, but any advantage is useful in this terrifying battle.
1. Create a group of high-level carnivores for the Boss fight
Preparing for a Boss fight involves creating a fighting group. Choose your allies wisely. It’s a no-brainer that you’ll need powerful carnivores, but make sure to choose them considering the strengths and weaknesses of the Boss you’re about to meet. As a general tip, a group of 15-20 Tyrannosaurus Rex combined with some Daedons and Yutirannus should do the job just fine. Apart from that, keep in mind that equipment, weapons, and finally, courage are essential for winning the battle!
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