The Ultimate Obsidian Harvesting Guide: Which Dino Reigns Supreme in Ark?

So, you’re looking to arm yourself with the tools of the trade in Ark: Survival Evolved and obsidian is calling your name? You’ve come to the right place! Obsidian is a crucial resource for crafting high-tier tools and weapons, and knowing the best dinosaur to use for harvesting it can save you hours of grinding.

The hands-down, king of obsidian collection is the Ankylosaurus. Not only does it efficiently break down obsidian nodes, but it also boasts a significant weight reduction for the resource, allowing you to carry far more back to base. While other dinos have their merits, the Ankylo’s combination of harvesting efficiency and weight reduction makes it the undisputed champion.

Why the Ankylosaurus Dominates Obsidian Harvesting

It’s not just about brute force; it’s about efficiency. The Ankylosaurus has a unique ability: its attacks are specifically designed to extract the most obsidian from each node. Here’s a breakdown of why it’s the best:

• Harvesting Efficiency: The Ankylo’s tail swipe is optimized for resource gathering. It hits multiple times per swing, yielding more obsidian than most other dinos.
• Weight Reduction: This is HUGE. The Ankylo has a substantial weight reduction for obsidian in its inventory. This allows you to carry much more before becoming encumbered, meaning fewer trips back to base and more time spent farming.
• Accessibility: Unlike some specialized resource gatherers, the Ankylosaurus isn’t locked behind difficult taming requirements or specific DLCs. It’s relatively easy to find and tame on most maps.
• Damage Reduction: When ridden, you can take a fair amount of hits from wild creatures, which is a life safer around the Volcano.

While the Magmasaur and Phoenix are also decent choices, they often require specific environmental conditions to tame or operate efficiently. The Ankylo is a reliable workhorse in virtually any environment where obsidian can be found.

Other Obsidian Harvesting Contenders

While the Ankylosaurus is king, other creatures deserve an honorable mention:

• Magmasaur: Excellent for harvesting obsidian in volcanic regions. They have great weight and decent collection, but require you to have the Genesis: Part 1 DLC and are harder to obtain than an Ankylo.
• Phoenix: A solid choice, especially if you need to fly your haul back to base. However, taming a Phoenix is challenging, and their gathering efficiency isn’t quite as high as the Ankylo. Plus, they only exist on the Scorched Earth Map.
• Dunkleosteus: Best for underwater nodes. If you’re near water where obsidian is present, it can be useful. However, it cannot leave the water so is limited.
• Ravager: While not an amazing obsidian gatherer, the Ravager can carry a decent amount and is excellent at traversing difficult terrain to reach those out-of-the-way obsidian deposits. They also reduce the weight of obsidian.

Location, Location, Location: Where to Find Obsidian

No matter how good your dino is, you need to know where to find the goods! Here are some prime locations for obsidian farming:

• Volcanoes: The most obvious choice! Look around lava flows and volcanic rock formations. Be careful of the heat and aggressive creatures.
• Mountains: Many mountain peaks and cliffs have obsidian deposits.
• Caves: Some caves contain obsidian, but be prepared for a fight!
• Fjordur: As mentioned in the article, The volcanic island of Balheimr is the best place on the ARK Fjordur map to get obsidian.

Tips and Tricks for Efficient Obsidian Harvesting

• Level Up: Focus on leveling up your dino’s melee damage stat to increase harvesting efficiency and weight.
• Carry a Pickaxe: Sometimes, you’ll need to manually harvest nodes to clear a path or reach those hard-to-get spots.
• Bring a Buddy: Having a friend to provide support and carry extra weight can significantly speed up the process.
• Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Obsidian hotspots are often dangerous. Keep an eye out for predators and environmental hazards.
• Taming Effectiveness: Taming effectiveness on your Ankylo is crucial for its stats. The higher the effectiveness, the better stats your dino has.
• Mutations: Mutate your Ankylo for better melee damage and weight capacity for the ultimate obsidian gathering machine!
• Mindwipe Tonic: This is a great way to change your survivor level up stats to maximizing weight capacity.

The Importance of Games in Learning Resource Management

Mastering resource gathering in Ark: Survival Evolved isn’t just about collecting pixels. It’s about developing crucial skills in resource management, strategic planning, and collaborative problem-solving. These skills are highly valuable in real-world scenarios, highlighting the power of gaming as a learning tool. For more information on how games are changing education, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Obsidian: The Key to End-Game Domination

Obsidian is a vital component in crafting powerful tools, weapons, and structures that will help you survive and thrive in the harsh world of Ark. Mastering obsidian gathering is essential for progressing to the end-game content and dominating your server. Choose your dino wisely, plan your expeditions carefully, and get ready to reap the rewards!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Doedicurus any good for harvesting obsidian?

   No. The Doedicurus is primarily a stone gatherer. While it can harvest obsidian from specific types of rocks on certain maps, the Ankylosaurus is far superior for general obsidian gathering.

2. Does the Argentavis reduce the weight of obsidian?

   No, the Argentavis does not inherently reduce the weight of obsidian. However, it’s a fantastic transport dino for moving your Ankylo (or other resource gatherers) to obsidian hotspots.

3. What’s better for obsidian, the Ankylo or the Phoenix?

   The Ankylosaurus is generally better for harvesting efficiency and weight reduction. The Phoenix is faster for travel, but the Ankylo will yield significantly more obsidian per node and carry more overall.

4. Can I use a Metal Pick to harvest obsidian effectively?

   While you can use a Metal Pick, it’s not efficient. Dinos like the Ankylosaurus harvest significantly more obsidian per swing.

5. What’s the best map to farm obsidian?

   As the article states, the volcanic island of Balheimr on the Fjordur map is great. However, Ragnarok, The Island, Scorched Earth, and Extinction all offer plentiful obsidian deposits. Your choice will depend on your personal preferences and server settings.

6. Does melee damage affect obsidian harvesting?

   Yes! Increasing your dino’s melee damage stat will directly increase the amount of obsidian you harvest per swing.

7. How do I tame an Ankylosaurus?

   Ankylos are knocked out using tranquilizer darts, arrows, or clubs. They are relatively slow, making them easy to kite and trap. Prime Meat or Kibble are the preferred taming foods.

8. Is there a way to increase the weight capacity of my Ankylosaurus?

   Yes. Leveling up the weight stat on your Ankylo will increase its carry capacity. Also, certain saddles provide extra weight reduction.

9. Can I transfer my Ankylosaurus to other maps?

   Yes, if your server allows it, you can transfer your Ankylosaurus to other maps using Obelisks or Tek Transmitters.

10. What are some dangers I should watch out for when farming obsidian?

    Volcanoes and mountain areas, where obsidian is often found, are home to dangerous creatures like Raptors, Carnos, and even Giganotosaurus. Be aware of your surroundings and bring appropriate defenses.

11. Does the Tek Stryder harvest Obsidian well?

    While the Tek Stryder is a great resource harvester, it is not the best for Obsidian as it is not optimized specifically for Obsidian harvesting. It’s more of an all-around powerhouse.

12. How do I prevent my Ankylosaurus from getting encumbered?

    Focus on leveling up its weight capacity and consider using a saddle that provides a weight reduction bonus.

13. Are there any specific buffs that affect obsidian gathering?

    Yes, the Excavation Rig buff increases harvesting efficiency by 100% but is a limited time buff.

14. Can I build a base near an obsidian deposit?

    Yes! Building a small outpost near a rich obsidian deposit can streamline your harvesting operations. Just be sure to defend it!

15. What’s the best strategy for solo obsidian farming?

    Taming a high-level Ankylosaurus with good melee damage and weight capacity is crucial. Bring a flyer to transport your Ankylo to the location and clear the surrounding area of threats.