How to Play ARK: Survival Ascended
“ARK: Survival Ascended” is the latest iteration of the beloved “ARK: Survival Evolved,” bringing enhanced graphics, new gameplay mechanics, and a richer experience to both new and veteran players. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of how to get started with “ARK: Survival Ascended,” covering everything from basic survival tips to advanced strategies for thriving in this prehistoric world.
Getting Started
Understanding the Basics
Before diving into the game, it’s essential to understand the core mechanics of “ARK: Survival Ascended.” The game is set on a mysterious island filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. Your primary objective is to survive by gathering resources, crafting tools, building shelters, and taming creatures.
Choosing Your Server
The first step is to choose the right server. You can opt for:
- Single Player: Ideal for beginners who want to learn the game at their own pace without the pressure of other players.
- Official Servers: Managed by the game developers, these servers offer a standard experience but can be crowded.
- Unofficial Servers: Hosted by players or third-party providers, these servers offer more customization options and often have unique rules and mods.
- Dedicated Servers: If you want complete control over your gaming environment, setting up a dedicated server is the best option.
For new players, starting with a single-player game or joining an official server is recommended to get a feel for the game mechanics.
Creating Your Character
Customization
“ARK: Survival Ascended” offers a robust character customization system. You can adjust various physical attributes such as height, build, and facial features. While these changes are mostly cosmetic, they allow you to personalize your in-game avatar.
Choosing a Spawn Location
After customizing your character, you need to choose a spawn location. The island is divided into several zones, each with varying levels of difficulty. For beginners, it’s advisable to start in a relatively safe area like the “South Zone” on “The Island” map. These areas typically have fewer aggressive creatures and more abundant resources, making them ideal for new players.
Early Game Survival Tips
Gathering Resources
Upon spawning, your first priority should be gathering basic resources. Punching trees will yield thatch and wood, while picking up stones from the ground will provide you with the materials needed to craft your first tools. The initial tools you’ll want to craft are a pickaxe and a hatchet. The pickaxe is useful for gathering flint from rocks and thatch from trees, while the hatchet is better for collecting wood and stone.
Crafting Essential Items
With your basic tools in hand, you can start crafting essential items to aid in your survival. Some of the first items you’ll want to craft include:
- Campfire: This allows you to cook raw meat, which is essential for maintaining your health and stamina.
- Spear: A basic weapon for defending yourself against smaller predators and hunting for food.
- Clothing: Simple cloth armor provides basic protection from the elements and minor injuries.
As you gather more resources and gain experience, you’ll unlock additional crafting recipes (known as engrams) that will expand your capabilities.
Building Your First Shelter
Finding a Suitable Location
Building a shelter is crucial for protecting yourself from the elements and dangerous creatures. Look for a flat area near water and abundant resources. Avoid building too close to large predators or aggressive creatures that could destroy your shelter.
Constructing the Shelter
Start with a simple thatch hut, which requires basic materials like thatch, wood, and fiber. Once you have the necessary resources, follow these steps:
- Craft Thatch Foundations: These form the base of your shelter.
- Add Walls and a Doorframe: These provide the structure and entry point.
- Place a Roof: This completes your basic hut.
As you progress, you can upgrade your shelter to wood or stone, offering better protection and durability.
Taming Your First Dinosaur
Choosing the Right Dinosaur
Taming dinosaurs is a core mechanic in “ARK: Survival Ascended” and provides numerous benefits, including transportation, resource gathering, and defense. For beginners, it’s best to start with a relatively easy-to-tame herbivore, such as a Triceratops or a Parasaur.
Taming Process
The taming process involves knocking out the dinosaur and feeding it its preferred food until it becomes your ally. Here’s a basic outline of the taming process:
- Knock Out the Dinosaur: Use a club or tranquilizer arrows to render the dinosaur unconscious.
- Feed the Dinosaur: Place the preferred food (berries for herbivores, meat for carnivores) in its inventory.
- Protect the Dinosaur: Ensure no predators attack the unconscious dinosaur during the taming process.
Once tamed, you can equip your dinosaur with a saddle and use it for various tasks, significantly enhancing your survival capabilities.
Exploring and Expanding
Venturing Further
As you become more comfortable with the game mechanics, start exploring beyond your initial spawn area. Discover new biomes, gather rare resources, and encounter different creatures. Each biome offers unique challenges and rewards, encouraging you to adapt your strategies.
Expanding Your Base
As you gather more resources and tame additional dinosaurs, consider expanding your base. Build larger structures, create storage solutions, and establish defenses to protect against more significant threats. A well-fortified base serves as a safe haven and a hub for your operations.
Advanced Strategies
Using Technology and Engrams
As you progress, you’ll unlock advanced technologies and engrams that can significantly enhance your gameplay. Some key advancements include:
- Metal Tools: Superior to stone tools, metal tools increase efficiency in gathering resources.
- Electricity: Powering your base with electricity allows you to use advanced appliances and defenses.
- Greenhouse Structures: These enable you to grow crops more efficiently, ensuring a steady food supply.
Forming Alliances
In multiplayer mode, forming alliances with other players can provide mutual benefits. Alliances can help with resource sharing, defense, and coordinated attacks on common enemies. Establishing trust and clear communication is key to maintaining a successful alliance.
Boss Battles
“ARK: Survival Ascended” features challenging boss battles that require strategic planning and teamwork. To prepare for these encounters, you’ll need to gather powerful tamed creatures, craft advanced weapons and armor, and coordinate with your allies. Defeating bosses can yield valuable rewards and unlock new areas for exploration.
Enhancing Your Experience
Using Mods
Mods can significantly enhance your gameplay experience by adding new content, improving mechanics, and introducing quality-of-life features. Some popular mods include:
- Structures Plus (S+): Adds advanced building features and structures.
- Dino Storage v2: Improves dinosaur management and storage.
- Classic Flyers: Restores the original flying mechanics for dinosaurs.
To install mods, subscribe to them on the Steam Workshop and ensure that all players in your group have the same mods installed.
Hosting Events
Hosting in-game events can add excitement and variety to your sessions. Some ideas include:
- Dino Races: Set up a track and race your tamed dinosaurs for fun and prizes.
- PvP Battles: Organize friendly
