How Big Are Vaults in Ark: Survival Evolved? A Comprehensive Guide
The Vault in Ark: Survival Evolved is a large, durable storage structure designed to hold a significant amount of items. Understanding its dimensions, placement requirements, and storage capacity is crucial for any serious Ark player. In short, a single Vault in Ark holds 150 stacks of items, and requires a minimum of a 2-wall high, 1 foundation wide and 1 foundation long space to be placed. However, the game’s physics can sometimes lead to unusual situations, like ceilings clipping through the vault. This article explores the intricacies of the Ark vault, answering all of your questions about this vital storage structure, and addressing some commonly asked questions.
Understanding the Ark Vault
The Vault is a key structure for players needing secure and ample storage space within Ark. It isn’t just its storage capacity that makes it important; it’s also how it compares to other storage options in the game.
Physical Dimensions and Placement
- Height: The Vault is designed to be roughly equivalent to 3 walls high. Despite needing a minimum of two walls height for placement, this height can still lead to clipping issues when ceilings are placed after the vault.
- Base: The Vault occupies a space of 1 foundation wide and 1 foundation long. This makes planning its placement relatively straightforward.
- Placement Requirements: A key requirement for placing the Vault is that the room needs to be at least 2 walls high. It is also essential that the space is at least 1 foundation wide and 1 foundation long.
- Clipping Issues: Due to the game’s building mechanics, you may notice ceilings or other structures clipping through the Vault if placed subsequently. This does not affect functionality but is something to be aware of aesthetically.
Storage Capacity
- Stack Limit: The Vault can hold 150 stacks of items. This is a significant amount of storage, and one of the largest single-structure capacities in the game.
- Comparison with Other Storage: This storage capacity is greater than what you get with a Large Storage Box which holds 30 stacks, or a Refrigerator that can hold 80 stacks. This places the vault as a mid to high tier storage option.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ark Vaults
Here are 15 commonly asked questions regarding Ark vaults, with detailed and clear answers to enhance your gameplay experience.
How many storage spaces does a vault have in Ark?
A Vault in Ark: Survival Evolved provides 150 storage spaces, each capable of holding a single stack of an item. This is one of the highest stack capacities for single storage structures in the game.
Is a vault better than a large storage box in Ark?
Yes, for storage capacity, a Vault is significantly better than a Large Storage Box. A Vault holds 150 stacks, while a Large Storage Box only holds 30. Therefore, a vault holds the equivalent of five large storage boxes worth of items. Additionally, a Vault counts as one structure toward your build limit, whereas you’d need five large boxes to store the same amount.
How big is a vault compared to a refrigerator in Ark?
A Vault is much larger in terms of storage capacity. A Refrigerator holds 80 stacks of items, whereas a Vault holds 150 stacks. The Refrigerator has the unique function of increasing the spoil timer on perishables, making its functionality distinct from the Vault’s primary storage.
How many walls high does a vault need to be in Ark?
A Vault requires a minimum of 2 walls high in order to be placed, even though it is itself about 3 walls high. Although the Vault is three walls high, any subsequent building will often clip through, especially ceilings.
Why does the ceiling clip through my Ark vault?
Clipping occurs because of how the building mechanics in Ark are handled. Structures placed after the Vault may not always account for the Vault’s entire 3 wall height correctly, leading to them visibly passing through it. While visually unappealing, this does not affect functionality.
How much space does Ark: Survival Evolved take up on my PC?
Ark: Survival Evolved can take up a substantial amount of storage. The base game can be upwards of 400 GB with all expansions installed. This can be reduced by using compression techniques, or selecting to install only the maps you intend to play.
Why is Ark’s file size so big?
The large file size of Ark is due to the many large expansion maps, detailed textures, and the way the game handles versioning. Some past versions of the game and associated assets are often retained in the game files.
Is there a way to make Ark take up less space?
Yes, one way to reduce the file size is by compressing the game folder through your file explorer. To do this right-click the Ark install folder, open properties, click “Advanced”, and check “Compress contents to save disk space” and then apply the changes. This can save a considerable amount of space. You can also select to uninstall map packs you do not intend to use.
What is the largest storage structure in Ark?
Although the Vault is one of the largest single structure storage options at 150 stacks, there are other options that can store more. These typically involve storing other items such as blueprints in a bookshelf. Therefore, the Vault is generally considered the largest for generic item storage.
How big is the map in Ark: Survival Evolved?
The size of maps in Ark vary. For example the Lost Island map is one of the largest, with over 150 square kilometers of explorable area. The size of the maps are key to the scale of the gameplay.
How big is the Ragnarok map in Ark?
The Ragnarok map in Ark is expansive, spanning 144 square kilometers. This combines elements from other maps, providing a unique playing environment.
How does character size affect gameplay in Ark?
The size of your character does not affect the hitbox, even if your character is very large or very small. However, a huge or tiny character can make it difficult for enemies to guess where the actual hitboxes are, especially when trying to land headshots, giving the character an advantage.
What are the system requirements for Ark: Survival Evolved?
The minimum system requirements for Ark: Survival Evolved include 8 GB of RAM, NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better graphics card, DirectX 10, and 60 GB of available storage space. It is recommended that players have a significantly better system setup to enjoy the game to its fullest.
Can I build my own vault in any game?
While Ark allows players to craft vaults, other games like Fallout 4 allow players to build entire vaults in the workshop dlc. The mechanics and features of these can vary greatly.
What are vaults typically used for in real life?
In architecture, a vault is a self-supporting arched structure, typically made of stone or brick, used as a ceiling or roof. In modern life they are typically used as heavily reinforced storage spaces.
Conclusion
Understanding the dimensions, capacity, and placement of Vaults in Ark: Survival Evolved is essential for effective gameplay. Their substantial storage capacity, although not the single largest in the game, makes them a critical part of any base. Being mindful of placement issues and other relevant information ensures that your storage solutions are both functional and efficient. Hopefully, this comprehensive guide has answered all of your questions about Ark vaults. Happy surviving!