You Wish You Knew Before Start Playing ARK

Are you new to Ark: Survival Evolved or looking to refine your survival strategy? Whether you’re dodging dinosaurs on foot or building the ultimate base, mastering these 10 expert tips can be the difference between life and extinction. In this comprehensive survival guide, we dive deep into the ins and outs of Ark’s mechanics, providing detailed strategies to help you thrive in this challenging world. Read on to discover how to optimize your movement speed, secure your base, tame creatures like a pro, and much more!

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This blog post is inspired by the video “10 things I WISH I knew before playing Ark: Survival Evolved” by “pterafier“.

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1. Maximize Movement Speed for Survival

Why Movement Speed Matters

In Ark: Survival Evolved, your ability to outrun predators can be just as critical as your offensive capabilities. Early on, every second counts when you’re trying to escape a rampaging carnivore or outrun a chasing dino.

Tips to Boost Movement Speed

• Prioritize Stat Allocation: Invest heavily in movement speed early in the game. This will help you escape dangerous encounters and explore new territories quickly.
• Know Your Cap: Aim to increase your movement speed until you hit approximately 160 speed points. This is usually enough to give you an edge in outrunning most creatures.
• Stealth & Agility: Use your enhanced speed not just for escapes—leverage it in exploration and gathering, ensuring you cover more ground efficiently.

Advanced Strategies

• Combine with Lightweight Gear: As you level up, choose gear that doesn’t weigh you down. Pair your movement speed with moderate weight management to maintain agility.
• Team Coordination: In multiplayer scenarios, a fast character can serve as the scout, alerting teammates to threats and leading the group away from danger.

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2. Defending Your Base: Handling Aggressive Creatures

Base Defense Challenges

When you’re venturing far from your base for resources, aggressive creatures can slowly encroach, leading to a full-blown siege on your hard work. Protecting your base is as important as exploring the wilds.

Strategies to Keep Your Base Safe

1. Direct Elimination:
   • Pros: Permanently removes the threat.
   • Cons: Can be extremely challenging with limited early-game resources.
2. Lead Them Away:
   • Technique: Lure predators away by running past them. Listen for auditory cues and watch for visual signs of aggression.
   • Pros: Avoids confrontation.
   • Cons: Risky if the creature is too fast or persistent.
3. Redirect Aggression:
   • Tactic: Use the environment to your advantage. Lead the predator towards a non-aggressive creature (like a parasaur or trike) so that it diverts its attention.
   • Pros: Creates a temporary buffer.
   • Cons: The situation might repeat if not managed carefully.

Pro Tips

• Early Base Fortification: Even if you’re in the early stages of the game, consider building a temporary stone or wood barrier around your base.
• Stay Alert: Always be aware of your surroundings when returning to your base. Keeping an eye on potential threats can save you from costly damage.

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3. Checkpoints & Sleeping Bags: Your Lifesaver in Ark

The Importance of Quick Respawns

Venturing into uncharted territories like dark, dangerous caves or snowy biomes can be a gamble. With the risk of sudden death, having a quick and reliable respawn point is essential.

How to Set Up Effective Checkpoints

• Outside the Cave: Place a bed right outside the entrance to any high-risk area. This ensures that if you die inside, you can quickly return to safety without retracing the entire route.
• Inside the Cave: Install several sleeping bags along your path. This minimizes the distance you need to travel when you respawn, keeping you safe from repeat encounters with hostile creatures.
• Use in Other Areas: Checkpoints are not just for caves—apply them on resource runs in snowy areas or while scouting new base locations.

Advanced Checkpoint Strategies

• Networked Respawn Points: Create a series of connected checkpoints that cover your frequently traveled routes. This network can be invaluable during long treks or during emergencies.
• Team Coordination: In multiplayer sessions, coordinate checkpoint locations with your team to maximize efficiency and safety for everyone.

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4. Taming with Traps: Your Ticket to Taming Success

The Challenge of Taming in the Wild

Taming creatures in Ark can be a daunting task, especially when they attack as soon as you start your taming process. For many beginners, this can be the difference between a successful tame and a frustrating failure.

Why Use Traps for Taming?

• Safety First: Traps such as the pitfall trap provide a controlled environment where the creature is immobilized, making it much easier to tame without interruptions.
• Improved Success Rates: With the creature trapped, you can administer torpor-inducing weapons or tranquilizers without the risk of the creature attacking you.

How to Build an Effective Pitfall Trap

• Materials Needed: Foundations, door frames, and ramps are usually sufficient to set up a basic pitfall trap.
• Execution: Position the trap in such a way that the creature chases you into it. Use your movement speed to lead it directly into the trap.
• Variety of Traps: Look up specific trap designs online for different creature types—be it flyers, jumpers, or burrowers—to ensure you have the right tool for every tame.

Pro Taming Tips

• Practice Makes Perfect: Experiment with trap setups in less risky environments to build your confidence before taking on larger, more dangerous creatures.
• Stay Prepared: Always carry the necessary tools and materials to quickly set up a trap when you encounter a target creature.

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5. Net Guns: Immobilize Creatures Like a Pro

The Need for Speed in Taming

Some creatures in Ark, like the nimble maywings, are exceptionally fast and difficult to tame using conventional methods. Enter the net gun—a game-changer for immobilizing even the swiftest of beasts.

How Net Guns Work

• Net Projectiles: When fired, these projectiles immobilize the target for a full 60 seconds, providing a critical window to administer torpor or other taming items.
• High-Level Equipment: Net guns and net projectiles unlock at level 43, making them a mid-to-late game asset that significantly boosts your taming efficiency.

Tips for Using Net Guns

• Targeting: Aim for the creature’s center mass to maximize the net’s effectiveness.
• Combine With Speed: Pairing a net gun with a fast mount or even your own movement speed ensures you can chase down the creature until it’s within range.
• Practice Your Aim: Spend some time practicing with the net gun in safer areas to get a feel for its trajectory and timing.

Advanced Taming with Net Guns

• Immobilizing Large Creatures: Net guns aren’t just for small, nimble prey. With proper aim and timing, you can use them on larger creatures like Allosaurus, making them indispensable in your taming arsenal.
• Resource Management: Since net projectiles are valuable, plan your taming sessions to ensure you’re not caught short during a crucial moment.

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6. Taming Tracker: Always Know Your Tame Status

Keeping Track of Your Progress

When taming creatures, keeping a close eye on their progress is essential. The taming tracker in Ark’s inventory system is a powerful tool that allows you to monitor the status of every creature you’re taming.

How to Use the Taming Tracker

• Accessing the Tracker: Simply open your inventory and click the taming tracker button to view all creatures currently being tamed.
• Real-Time Monitoring: The tracker provides a live update on the taming progress, allowing you to see exactly when a creature will be fully tamed.
• Map Integration: Click on a specific tame in the tracker to place a marker on your map. This is especially useful for tracking elusive creatures or when working with a team.

Pro Tips for Using the Tracker

• Multi-Tasking: While you’re engaged in other survival tasks, the tracker helps you keep tabs on multiple tames simultaneously.
• Efficient Taming: Use the tracker to plan your taming sessions. For example, if a tame is nearing completion, you can prepare your next steps without leaving the creature unattended.
• Team Coordination: In multiplayer, the tracker allows everyone to see which creatures are being tamed and how close they are to completion, improving overall team efficiency.

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7. Mastering Whistles and Creature Commands

The Power of the Whistle Wheel

Controlling your tames goes beyond simply riding them. Whistles in Ark provide you with the ability to command your creatures to perform various tasks, such as attacking, following, or moving to a specific location.

How to Use the Whistle Wheel

• Platform-Specific Controls:
  • Xbox: Hold B to bring up the wheel.
  • PlayStation: Press Circle.
  • PC: Tap T.
• Command Options: Once the wheel is open, you can issue commands like:
  • Attack: Direct your creature to target a specific enemy.
  • Move Here: Order your tame to move to a designated location.
  • Stop/Follow: Prevent unwanted behavior (e.g., stopping a creature from following another).

Common Whistle Issues and Fixes

• Unexpected Movement: If your creature flies off after dismounting, it might be following another creature. Look under its name to see if it’s following someone and use the “stop” command.
• Group Commands: Learn group commands for scenarios where you need your entire herd or team of tames to move or attack simultaneously. For Xbox, use left bumper + up for “move here” and left bumper + down for “attack”; similar combinations exist for PlayStation and PC.

Advanced Whistling Strategies

• Practice Makes Perfect: Spend time mastering the whistle wheel in safe areas before using it in high-stress combat or taming scenarios.
• Customizing Commands: Some experienced players even set up custom control schemes to better manage large groups of tames, so experiment to find what works best for you.

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8. Engram Filters & Search Tips: Optimize Your Crafting Experience

What Are Engrams?

Engrams are essentially the blueprints for all the items and structures you can craft in Ark. With hundreds of engrams available, navigating this list can be overwhelming.

Overcoming Engram Filtering Issues

• Deselect the Filter: If you’re unable to see certain engrams, such as those from newer maps (e.g., Moss Island), make sure to deselect the “available on current map” filter.
• Use the Search Bar: Instead of scrolling endlessly through the list, type the name of the engram you’re looking for. This quick search feature saves time and reduces frustration.

Pro Tips for Managing Engrams

• Bookmark Favorites: Some players maintain a mental (or physical) list of key engrams they need for survival. Keep these at the top of your mind!
• Stay Updated: New maps and updates in Ark often introduce new engrams. Regularly check for updates to ensure you’re not missing any critical blueprints.
• Team Coordination: In multiplayer sessions, share engram tips and coordinate your crafting strategies to build a comprehensive and efficient base.

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9. Chainsaws & Resource Gathering: Efficiency is Key

The Role of Resource Gathering in Ark

Wood, thatch, and other resources are the backbone of any base in Ark. Efficient resource gathering allows you to build, upgrade, and fortify your structures quickly.

Why Chainsaws Are a Game-Changer

• Speed and Efficiency: Chainsaws drastically reduce the time needed to harvest large amounts of wood compared to traditional methods.
• Versatility: In addition to wood, chainsaws can also help with gathering other resources, making them an indispensable tool for early and mid-game survival.

How to Maximize Chainsaw Use

• Early Investment: Once you unlock the ability to craft a chainsaw, add it to your resource gathering toolkit immediately.
• Combine with Upgraded Tools: While chainsaws are excellent for wood, consider pairing them with mining drills (available at level 80) for resources like thatch and flint.
• Maintain Your Tools: Keep your chainsaw in good condition to avoid downtime during critical resource collection sessions.

Advanced Resource Gathering Strategies

• Strategic Base Placement: Set up your base near abundant resource zones to minimize travel time and maximize efficiency.
• Resource Rotation: Use different tools for different resources to ensure you’re always gathering at optimal speeds without over-relying on a single method.

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10. Mastering the UI & Bonus Tip: Setting Up Your Refining Forge and Smithy

Navigating Ark’s User Interface

For many beginners, Ark’s UI can feel clunky and overwhelming. However, mastering it is crucial for efficient gameplay.

Essential UI Tips

• Accessing a Tame’s Inventory:
  • Xbox: Tap X while mounted.
  • PlayStation: Press Square.
  • PC: Hit F.
• Transferring Items:
  • Xbox: Hold A to move an entire stack.
  • PlayStation: Press Square.
  • PC: Tap T.
• Customizing Your UI:
  Adjust the UI layout in the settings to better suit your play style. A cleaner UI can dramatically improve your gameplay experience.

Bonus Tip: Accelerate Your Progress with a Refining Forge & Smithy

• Why This Matters:
  Gaining access to a refining forge and smithy early on can dramatically enhance your ability to craft advanced weapons, armor, and structures.
• What You Gain:
  With these tools, you can create high-quality items such as pistols, shotguns, pikes, sickles, and even metal armor. This opens up entirely new strategies for both defense and offense.
• How to Set Up Quickly:
  Focus your early gameplay on gathering the resources needed for these structures. Plan your resource runs, and coordinate with your team (if playing multiplayer) to build and upgrade your base quickly.

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Conclusion

Surviving and thriving in Ark: Survival Evolved is all about strategy, resourcefulness, and understanding the game’s mechanics. From optimizing your movement speed and securing your base against aggressive creatures, to mastering advanced taming techniques and resource gathering, these 10 tips offer a comprehensive blueprint for success.

By investing time in learning these strategies, you’ll be better prepared for the challenges of Ark’s wild and unpredictable world. Whether you’re a solo survivor or part of a dedicated tribe, these tips are designed to elevate your gameplay and help you dominate every aspect of Ark.

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Final Thoughts

Remember, Ark is a game of continuous learning and adaptation. Use this guide as your starting point, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different tactics and strategies. The more you explore and practice, the more you’ll discover the hidden nuances that can turn a beginner into a master survivor.

If you found these tips helpful, feel free to share the guide, leave a comment, or check out more in-depth tutorials on specific topics like creature taming or base defense. Let’s conquer Ark together!

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