What is the Best DLC for ARK: Survival Evolved? A Comprehensive Guide
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Determining the “best” DLC for ARK: Survival Evolved is subjective and depends heavily on individual player preferences. However, based on community consensus, gameplay depth, unique features, and overall enjoyment, ARK: Aberration consistently emerges as the top contender. While other DLCs like Genesis Part II and Extinction offer unique experiences, Aberration’s challenging environment, distinct creatures, and immersive gameplay make it the standout choice for many players seeking a truly different and rewarding survival experience. It completely alters the core ARK experience, forcing players to adapt to a hazardous subterranean world teeming with dangers and unparalleled rewards.
Why Aberration is Often Considered the Best
Aberration is a complete departure from the standard ARK experience. Instead of vast open spaces, players are plunged into a multi-tiered, irradiated underground world. This new environment brings several unique challenges and features:
- Verticality and Platforming: The map’s design emphasizes vertical traversal, making grappling hooks and climbing picks essential for exploration.
- Hazards and Environmental Threats: The map is filled with hazards like radiation, earthquakes, and dangerous, deep chasms, requiring careful navigation and planning.
- Unique Creatures: Aberration introduces a variety of new creatures with unique abilities, like the Rock Drake, Basilisk, and the nameless, offering new taming and combat experiences.
- Tek Tier Integration: The DLC’s storyline and environment are deeply intertwined with Tek Tier technology, enriching the lore and offering new gameplay opportunities.
- Challenging Gameplay: The environment is inherently more difficult, forcing players to strategize and rely heavily on their skills, making it a very rewarding experience.
While Aberration is generally well-regarded, it’s also important to note that its difficulty may be a barrier for some players. It’s not a map for the faint of heart, but for those seeking a challenging and unique survival experience, it stands out as the best.
The Top Paid DLC Alternatives
Although Aberration often takes the crown, several other paid DLCs provide excellent experiences that cater to different preferences:
Genesis Part II
This DLC offers an enormous map filled with unique biomes, new creatures, and story-driven missions. The transition between the vast space area and the biome filled ship make this a great experience. It is highly recommended for players who enjoy a more streamlined and less grindy experience than what Aberration offers. It features HLNA as a guide to go through the story, introducing many new and exciting elements into the game.
Extinction
Extinction returns players to a ruined Earth, bringing the story of ARK to a close. With a focus on titans and heavily corrupted creatures, this DLC introduces siege-style mechanics, making it a unique gameplay experience. It does not change the core mechanics, making it easy to pick up, but the difficulty of some of the bosses is incredibly high.
Scorched Earth
This DLC introduces a harsh desert environment, forcing players to adapt to heat and scarce resources. Scorched Earth is generally considered the easiest of the paid DLCs and provides a unique setting, but might be somewhat lacking compared to other content in the game. It adds new items and creatures specifically for desert survival, which provide an interesting challenge for new and old players.
Why Genesis Part I is Not Mentioned
Genesis Part I is not included in this top list because while it introduces some interesting concepts such as the hexagonal missions, these are often considered tedious, difficult, and tedious. The DLC also did not introduce enough new creatures to balance out the difficulty making the experience less enjoyable. While it has some interesting zones, most players do not regard it as highly as the other paid DLCs
Free DLC and Their Value
ARK: Survival Evolved also boasts a number of excellent free DLCs that provide significant value:
- Lost Island: This massive map offers a wide variety of biomes, a vast explorable area, and several unique creatures. It’s one of the largest maps in the game. It was originally a community map that was then added as an official DLC.
- Ragnarok: Known for its diverse environments and challenging encounters, Ragnarok is a popular map among players, featuring unique structures and an incredible array of locations to explore.
- Fjordur: This map incorporates elements of Norse mythology, offering players unique creatures, diverse biomes, and a distinct atmosphere. This makes it a very popular free DLC to play.
- Crystal Isles: This map provides an easier, less stressful gameplay experience, with gorgeous crystal biomes, accessible resources, and easy to tame Crystal Wyverns. It’s also a great map to learn on as it does not feature any artifact caves.
- Valguero: A community made map that was added as an official DLC, this map provides very diverse environments with beautiful locations to build bases. The boss encounter is also not as difficult as other maps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I need all the DLCs to play ARK?
No, you do not need all the DLCs to play ARK: Survival Evolved. The base game includes a main map, The Island, and while DLCs provide additional maps, creatures, and items, the base game is fully playable without them. All DLC creatures are part of the core game files, allowing everyone that does not own the DLC to still interact with the DLC creatures
2. Which ARK DLC are free?
The free DLCs include Fjordur, Lost Island, Ragnarok, Crystal Isles, Valguero, and The Center.
3. What is the hardest DLC map in ARK?
Aberration is generally considered the hardest DLC map due to its hazardous environment, verticality, and reliance on skills to survive.
4. What is the easiest map to play on in ARK?
Out of the non story maps, Crystal Isles is often considered the easiest due to its simple starting area, easy to tame Crystal Wyverns, no artifact caves, and an easier boss fight.
5. How large is ARK with all DLC?
A complete install of ARK: Survival Evolved with all DLCs takes approximately 275GB of storage.
6. Will ARK 1 be shut down when ARK 2 comes out?
Yes, the original Survival Evolved servers will be switched off when ARK: Survival Ascended launches.
7. How many paid DLCs are there in ARK?
There are five expansion packs (Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Genesis Part I, and Genesis Part II), and several free expansion maps.
8. Is Scorched Earth free?
The map Scorched Earth is a paid DLC, but all the creatures and items can be spawned into your server or game using console commands, even if you do not own it.
9. What do ARK DLCs add?
DLCs add new maps, creatures, equipment, story content, and gameplay mechanics to the base game.
10. What is the best weapon in ARK?
The longneck rifle is often considered the best weapon due to its range, damage, and ease of obtainability.
11. What is “God mode” in ARK?
God mode is a cheat command that protects you from all damage except drowning. It can be enabled using the command “God”.
12. Is ARK based on a real Dino?
In early versions of the game, nearly all creatures were based on real dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures, however, later DLCs included mythical creatures.
13. What is the strongest boss in Ark?
The King Titan is widely regarded as the strongest boss in ARK, followed by the Overseer and Dragon.
14. What is ARK: Survival Ascended?
ARK: Survival Ascended is a remaster of the original game with upgraded visuals and is being sold separately.
15. How much does ARK: Survival Ascended cost?
ARK: Survival Ascended costs $59.99 (around Rs. 4,198) across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X, and will come bundled with the sequel, ARK 2.
Conclusion
While preferences vary, Aberration frequently stands out as the most compelling paid DLC for ARK: Survival Evolved, with its uniquely challenging environment and rewarding gameplay experience. However, DLCs like Genesis Part II and Extinction offer fantastic experiences for those seeking something different. Exploring the free DLCs, including Fjordur, Lost Island, Ragnarok, Crystal Isles, and Valguero, adds vast amounts of content without extra cost. Ultimately, the “best” DLC for you will depend on your preferred style of play and what you’re looking for in your ARK experience.