What is the Best Early Weapon in Ark: Survival Evolved?
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The best early weapon in Ark: Survival Evolved is arguably the Pike. While it might not be the most glamorous option, the pike offers a crucial balance of range, damage, and ease of acquisition for survivors just starting their journey. It’s an upgrade from the basic spear, providing a significant combat advantage when you’re vulnerable and resource-limited. This simple weapon allows you to engage enemies from a safer distance, deal surprisingly good damage for its tier, and gain crucial experience without taking unnecessary risks. Though it’s eventually outclassed, mastering the pike is vital for early-game success in Ark.
The Pike: Your Early Game Savior
Why the Pike?
The Pike is an early-game gem because of its reliable performance. It’s crafted with relatively common resources, making it accessible early on. It boasts a significant reach, enabling you to keep dangerous creatures at bay. This longer reach is especially important when facing aggressive creatures that might try to overwhelm you with close-range attacks. While not as powerful as later weapons, the pike deals more damage than a spear, which makes those early fights easier. The pike will help you take down those smaller creatures for valuable experience and essential resources like hide and meat.
Strategic Use
The key to effectively using a pike lies in understanding its reach and rhythm. Avoid getting too close to your target, especially with stronger dinos. Instead, employ a hit-and-run approach, utilizing the pike’s range to strike while minimizing your risk. Early-game combat in Ark can be tense, so using the pike allows you to maintain an advantageous position without getting cornered. Learning to control your character movement during combat with the pike will also improve your combat skills overall.
Progression
While the pike is an excellent early-game weapon, it is crucial to understand that it’s meant to be a stepping stone, not an end-all be-all solution. Your focus should be on quickly progressing to more advanced weapons that offer higher damage and versatility. While the pike will always have a place in your heart (and maybe your storage boxes), once you unlock better weapons you should focus your efforts on upgrading your kit.
Alternatives to the Pike (And Why They Fall Short)
Though the pike is effective early on, let’s look at other weapon choices and why they might not be as suitable:
- Spear: The spear is your basic starting weapon. It lacks the range of the pike and deals less damage, making it less effective for taking on early-game threats.
- Bow: While ranged, crafting arrows and maintaining a bow requires more resources than a pike initially. Furthermore, bows may be ineffective in early encounters if not charged properly.
- Simple Pistol: This is a powerful weapon but it’s only unlockable at level 34, making it completely unsuitable for the early game.
The pike, therefore, sits in a sweet spot – accessible, effective, and easy to manage when you are starting the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions regarding early-game weaponry in Ark: Survival Evolved, to help you on your survival journey:
What is the first gun I can get in Ark?
The first gun you can acquire in Ark is the Simple Pistol, unlockable at level 34. It’s a powerful option once you reach that milestone, firing 6 shots before needing a reload.
What are the best starting weapons besides the Pike?
Aside from the Pike, the Wooden Club and Stone Pick can also be considered basic tools. While not effective for combat, they will help gather resources and gain the engrams for better items.
What is the most important early game skill to level?
Leveling up your character can be confusing in the beginning. A good starting stat for new players is Weight; this will allow you to carry more resources back to your base. After this, upgrade Stamina and Health.
How do I get better weapons in Ark?
You can find improved weapons in beacons, loot crates, and by killing predators. Higher-quality blueprints, which allow you to craft enhanced items, are available from beacons and loot crates.
What is the strongest weapon in Ark?
The Longneck Rifle is considered the strongest weapon in Ark due to its high damage, long range, and relatively easy acquisition.
What is the best weapon for knocking out dinos?
To knock out a dinosaur, use a torpor-inflicting weapon. Tranq arrows, tranq darts, and even a Pulmonoscorpius are effective. Each dino has a specific amount of torpor required before it gets knocked out.
What is the best armor to get early in Ark?
For early-game armor, Hide Armor is your best bet. It’s relatively easy to craft and provides decent protection. Aim for Chitin Armor when you can acquire the resources to craft it.
Where should I build my first base in Ark?
Start with a small, functional base in an area with easy access to resources. A simple structure including a bed, a storage box, a campfire, and a crafting station is a great beginning.
What is the first boss I should fight in Ark?
The first boss you should aim to fight is the Broodmother Lysrix. This giant spider is challenging, so prepare your strongest tames and gear to face her.
What is the strongest dino in Ark?
While there are many powerful creatures, the Rex is considered one of the most potent due to its high health and melee attack. Taming a Rex is a significant step in the game.
What is the best map in Ark for beginners?
For new players, The Island is often recommended as it introduces the basic game mechanics. Ragnarok is another beginner-friendly map that is quite popular.
What is the fastest dino in Ark?
The DodoRex is considered the fastest dino in Ark, although this is a special creature and not your everyday dino. For regular tames, the Gallimimus is one of the quickest.
Which dinos should I tame early in Ark?
Early on, focus on taming Dodos and Dilos due to their abundance and ease of taming. These are good starting tames that will help you gather resources and start your dino army.
What is the hardest boss in Ark?
The King Titan is widely considered the hardest boss in Ark. It presents a significant challenge and requires a well-prepared team.
What is the best material to harvest hide in Ark?
The most effective tools for harvesting hide are the Metal Hatchet or Chainsaw. You can also utilize certain dinos such as Direwolves, Sabertooths, or Therizinosaurus.
Conclusion
The Pike is the best early weapon in Ark: Survival Evolved, providing the range and damage needed to get a foothold in the harsh wilderness. It’s not meant to be a long-term solution, but an essential tool for your first steps. Use it effectively, learn its strengths, and work towards more powerful weaponry as you explore the world. Ark is a challenging game and getting the early game down is the most essential part.