How Long is the Bed Timer in Ark?
The short answer is: 5 minutes. In Ark: Survival Evolved, both Simple Beds and Hide Sleeping Bags have a 5-minute cooldown period after being used to respawn. This means that once you’ve used a bed or sleeping bag to respawn at a location, you’ll have to wait five minutes before you can use it again, whether for respawning or fast traveling. This timer applies to all players, regardless of whether they are on the same tribe or not. Understanding this timer is crucial for efficient gameplay, base management, and strategic planning.
Understanding the Respawn Mechanic in Ark
The respawn mechanics in Ark are central to the survival experience. Dying is a frequent occurrence, and having a reliable respawn point is vital. Both Sleeping Bags and Beds serve as spawn points; however, they function differently.
Sleeping Bags vs. Beds
Sleeping Bags are basic, early-game respawn points. They are crafted using simple resources and can be deployed quickly. They also offer the flexibility of being placed almost anywhere. However, they are single-use items. Once you respawn at a sleeping bag, it disappears, and you must craft a new one. This makes them suitable for temporary spawn points during exploration or raiding. They are also solely for the user. Others in your tribe cannot use your bag as a respawn point.
Simple Beds, on the other hand, are a step up. They are permanent structures that remain until destroyed by a player or a wild dinosaur. Unlike sleeping bags, Simple Beds can be reused infinitely and can be used by any member of the tribe but with that 5-minute cooldown period between uses. They serve as reliable and consistent respawn and fast travel points, and thus, are generally placed at permanent bases.
The Importance of the 5-Minute Timer
The 5-minute cooldown is implemented for a few reasons:
- Balancing: It prevents players from instantly respawning and returning to battle or farming areas repeatedly without consequences.
- Strategic Respawning: The cooldown forces players to consider their respawn point carefully rather than just making a mad dash back to a dangerous area. This also introduces an element of risk and planning to the survival.
- Fast Travel Limitation: The timer prevents bed-hopping as a method of constant fast-travel to and from different bases, introducing a strategic element to base location and resource transportation.
- Tribal Cooperation: Because Beds can be used by others, tribes must plan for this cooldown with other members. It prevents multiple individuals from needing to relocate constantly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about bed timers and related mechanics in Ark: Survival Evolved:
1. Are sleeping bags one-time use only?
Yes, Hide Sleeping Bags are consumed upon use. Once you respawn at a sleeping bag, it will disappear, and you will need to craft a new one.
2. Can tribe members use my sleeping bag?
No, unlike Simple Beds, Hide Sleeping Bags can only be used by the player who placed it. They cannot be used by others in your tribe.
3. Is the bed timer the same for both beds and sleeping bags?
Yes, the 5-minute cooldown applies to both Simple Beds and Hide Sleeping Bags.
4. Can I fast-travel with sleeping bags and beds?
Yes, both sleeping bags and beds can be used for fast travel. You can travel between a bed and a sleeping bag or vice versa, making them interchangeable for fast travel purposes.
5. Do I lose items when fast-traveling with beds?
Yes, if you use a Simple Bed to fast travel, you will drop all items in your inventory at the location from where you fast traveled. Be sure to clear your inventory before utilizing this mechanic.
6. How do I speed up the night cycle in Ark?
You can adjust the night cycle length by going to the advance settings tab and increasing the night slider to the max value of 3.0. This will make nights go by faster. Conversely, you can also make the days longer by moving the day time scale below one.
7. Can I skip the bed cooldown timer?
No, there is no in-game method to bypass the 5-minute cooldown timer for respawning or fast-traveling with beds or sleeping bags.
8. What is the default duration of day and night in Ark?
By default, a day in Ark lasts approximately 40 minutes in real-time, while a night lasts for 20 minutes in real-time.
9. What time does night typically start in Ark?
Nighttime typically begins around 17:30 and lasts until 5:30 in the game.
10. How long do sleeping bags typically last in real life?
In real life, the lifespan of a sleeping bag depends on its quality and care, with synthetic options lasting 3-5 years and high-quality down bags potentially lasting up to 15 years. This is not pertinent to the lifespan of a sleeping bag in Ark.
11. What are some reasons the “Timeout” error may occur on an Ark server?
The “Timeout” error can occur for several reasons including issues with a corrupted save file, mod conflicts or an overloaded inventory on your character. Be sure to check your mod folder and attempt to load from a prior save state to resolve.
12. How can I keep dinos asleep during taming?
You can use Narcoberries or Narcotics to increase a dino’s torpor to keep them unconscious during the taming process. Move these items from your inventory to the dinosaur’s inventory.
13. What provides the most insulation in Ark?
A Tent offers the most insulation, providing approximately 500 points of both heat and cold insulation.
14. Can I pick up sleeping players in Ark?
Yes, sleeping players can be grabbed and carried by other human players, but not by most wild creatures, like the Argentavis.
15. How do I instantly put my character to sleep?
You can use the command ” Exec Set Sleeping true” to put your player to sleep. And ” Exec Set Sleeping false” to wake them up.
Conclusion
Understanding the 5-minute bed timer in Ark: Survival Evolved is essential for effective gameplay. It impacts your strategy for respawning, base placement, and fast travel. Knowing the differences between sleeping bags and beds and managing their cooldowns is key to surviving and thriving in the dangerous world of Ark. By understanding these mechanics, players can maximize their efficiency, improve their survival rate, and ultimately enjoy a more rewarding gaming experience.