Can You Transfer Element Dust in Ark? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, element dust is transferable between maps and servers in Ark: Survival Evolved, unlike its more potent form, Element, which cannot be directly transferred across official servers or clusters. This crucial distinction makes element dust an invaluable resource for players who frequently move between servers or wish to consolidate their resources on a specific map. Understanding how to obtain, convert, and utilize element dust can dramatically improve your progression in the game. This article dives deep into the details of element dust, how it differs from element, and how to maximize its utility.
Understanding the Difference Between Element and Element Dust
In Ark, Element is a powerful resource primarily used to craft Tek Tier items – the most advanced technology in the game. Element itself cannot be transferred between servers or clusters on official networks, presenting a logistical challenge for players wanting to leverage Tek technology on multiple servers. This limitation prompted the introduction of element dust.
Element Dust serves as a portable and transferable version of Element. This fine powder is derived from breaking down Element and Element Shards, making it possible to move the essence of element from one server to another. However, this conversion comes at a cost.
Element Dust Conversion
Element Dust can be created at a City Terminal by breaking down Element or Element Shards. Here’s the crucial conversion rate to keep in mind:
- One Element breaks down into 200 Element Dust. This conversion represents an 80% loss, making element dust less efficient than direct element but offering invaluable transferability.
- One Element Shard breaks down into 2 Element Dust.
Transferring Element Dust
The ability to transfer element dust is vital for Ark players who frequently move between servers or who have built large networks of bases across multiple maps. Here’s how it works:
- Obtain Element or Element Shards: Acquire Element through various means, such as defeating bosses, or obtain Element Shards by crafting them or collecting them.
- Convert to Element Dust: Head to a City Terminal and convert the Element or Element Shards into element dust. This process does incur a loss as noted above.
- Transfer via Ark Data: Access the Ark Data tab on the left-hand side of your inventory screen.
- Upload Element Dust: Place the element dust into the Ark Data inventory. You are allowed to upload up to 50 items at a time.
- Transfer to a New Server: Change to the desired server, then download the element dust from the Ark Data inventory on the new server.
This method allows you to move element dust to any server within your official network or to another server in a cluster. While this process mitigates the limitation of directly transferring element, it’s still vital to consider the conversion loss when strategizing for your in-game progress.
Maximizing Element Dust Gathering
Gathering element dust efficiently is key to ensuring a steady supply for your Tek needs. Various methods are available, and some are more effective than others.
Best Element Dust Gatherers
- Chainsaw: Ranked as one of the best, chainsaws are excellent for harvesting element dust from creatures and structures.
- Gacha: Gachas can rarely produce element dust, which provides an additional passive source.
- Doedicurus, Ferox, Voidwyrm, Wyvern, Mantis, Enforcer, and Tek Stryder: These are also strong choices for harvesting or generating element dust depending on the situation. The Tek Stryder is especially potent in zero-gravity zones.
- Tek Creatures: Using a chainsaw on Tek creatures, especially Tek Parasaur and Tek Raptors that are bred for this purpose, can yield significant amounts of element dust.
Strategies for Efficient Farming
- Tek Creatures: Breeding Tek Parasaur and Tek Raptors can provide a reliable supply of element dust.
- Extinction City Terminals: Take advantage of the city terminals found throughout the Extinction DLC to convert Element into element dust.
- Space Biome (Genesis 2): Harvest resources from Element Crystals in the Space Biome of Genesis 2 to obtain large quantities of element dust.
- Zero-G Zones: Employ the Tek Stryder in zero-gravity zones to maximize element dust yields.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you transfer Element itself?
No, Element cannot be directly transferred between official servers or clusters. You must convert it to element dust for transfer.
2. How much Element Dust does one Element produce?
One Element can be broken down into 200 Element Dust at a City Terminal, representing an 80% loss of its initial value.
3. Can you craft Element Dust?
No, element dust cannot be crafted directly. It can only be obtained by breaking down Element or Element Shards at a City Terminal.
4. Can you transfer Element Shards?
Yes, Element Shards can be transferred through the Ark Data system, and subsequently converted into element dust at a city terminal on a new server.
5. How many Element Shards does it take to make one Element?
One Element yields 100 Element Shards.
6. How many Element Shards does it take to make Element Dust?
One Element Shard yields 2 Element Dust at a City Terminal.
7. Can you craft Element from Element Shards?
Yes, Element Shards can be converted into Element in a Tek Replicator, requiring one Element to turn the replicator on.
8. What is the best way to farm Element Shards?
The best ways to farm Element Shards are by defeating bosses, completing orbital supply drops, and harvesting element nodes and crystals across various maps.
9. Can Gachas produce Element Dust?
Yes, though it is rare, Gachas can produce element dust as a drop.
10. Can you use a Tek Replicator to make Element Dust?
No, element dust can only be created at a City Terminal by breaking down Element or Element Shards.
11. What items cannot be transferred between servers?
Certain items like boss heads, certain tributes, and Element cannot be transferred directly. However, these items might be able to be converted into resources that can be transferred.
12. What is the best creature for farming element dust?
The Chainsaw is often seen as the best tool for harvesting element dust. Tek creatures like Tek Raptors and Tek Parasaur, when harvested with a chainsaw, are some of the most efficient for generating element dust. In addition, Tek Stryders are excellent for element dust harvesting in zero-G environments.
13. Can you transfer creatures like Fenrir?
Fenrir can only be transferred whilst inside a Cryopod. Some creatures, like the Chalk Golem, are limited to specific maps and cannot be transferred.
14. What is the best Ark map for element farming?
The Space Biome in Genesis Part 2, Extinction through defense of element nodes, and Crystal Isles are considered to be among the best for element and element dust acquisition.
15. What is the GFI code for Element Shards?
The GFI code for Element Shard is ElementShard. This code can be used in admin commands to spawn shards.
Conclusion
Element dust is a vital resource for players in Ark: Survival Evolved, offering a workaround for the inability to directly transfer Element across servers. Understanding how to convert, transfer, and efficiently farm element dust can greatly enhance your gaming experience. By mastering the techniques and information outlined above, you will be well-equipped to conquer the challenges and reap the rewards of the Tek Tier and beyond. Remember to always strategize your resource gathering and make the most of the available conversion methods.