The Ultimate Guide to Stone Harvesting in ARK: Survival Evolved
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The best way to harvest stone in ARK: Survival Evolved is undoubtedly by using a Doedicurus. This creature is specifically designed for stone gathering, offering unparalleled efficiency and autonomy. Unlike using basic tools or other creatures, the Doedicurus can gather massive amounts of stone quickly and also reduces the weight of the stone it carries by 75%, which significantly increases its overall carrying capacity. Furthermore, its ability to roll up into a ball and “automatically” harvest stone by being near rocks, without direct player control while mounted, makes it the most efficient and hassle-free method. While other methods can be effective under specific circumstances, none can match the sheer speed, capacity, and weight reduction benefits of a tamed Doedicurus.
Understanding Stone Harvesting Basics in ARK
Before diving into the best methods, let’s quickly cover the basic ways to gather stone in ARK. Initially, players can collect loose stones from the ground by pressing the “use” button when a hand icon appears. However, this method is extremely slow and inefficient for anything beyond the very early game. Soon, you’ll move onto using tools like the Stone Hatchet or Stone Pickaxe. The Stone Hatchet is better for stone, and the Stone Pickaxe is better for flint. Both of these will allow players to extract stone by hitting rocks, but this is time-consuming and yields comparatively low results.
The Doedicurus: Your Stone Gathering Powerhouse
As mentioned above, the Doedicurus is the star of stone harvesting in ARK. Here’s why it’s so effective:
- Autonomous Harvesting: The most significant advantage of the Doedicurus is its ability to gather stone by simply rolling into a ball and bumping against rocks. This is especially useful when paired with a tame like an Argentavis; you can pick up the Doedicurus with the Argentavis and move it around rock-heavy areas, allowing it to gather stone quickly without any need for continuous input from the player.
- High Gathering Rate: A Doedicurus with a high melee damage stat will yield a massive amount of stone each time it hits a rock. Unlike tools that are limited by their stats, the Doedicurus benefits directly from the player’s investment into melee damage.
- Weight Reduction: Doedicurus naturally reduces the weight of stone in its inventory by 75%, making it possible to carry much larger amounts of this heavy resource without being encumbered. This benefit is unique and extremely beneficial for farming.
- Versatility: While the Doedicurus is primarily known for gathering stone from regular rocks, it can also gather significant amounts of stone from metal rocks and crystal.
Optimizing Your Doedicurus for Maximum Efficiency
To truly maximize your stone-gathering potential with a Doedicurus, keep these tips in mind:
- Level Melee Damage: Focus your level-up points on melee damage. This is the single most important factor for increasing its stone gathering rate.
- Utilize a Transport Animal: Use an Argentavis to pick up your Doedicurus and move it efficiently between resource nodes. This combination is exceptionally potent and can significantly reduce travel time.
- Farm in High-Density Areas: Concentrate your harvesting efforts in areas rich in stone outcrops. The more rocks there are, the faster you will gather the resource.
Other Stone Gathering Options
While the Doedicurus is the best option, other methods can be useful for specific situations or when you don’t yet have access to a Doedicurus.
- Ankylosaurus: The Ankylosaurus is also a solid choice for harvesting stone, especially in the early to mid-game. It’s less autonomous than a Doedicurus, requiring direct hits, but it harvests a good amount of stone and is also good for other resource types. Its gathering ability is also affected by melee damage.
- Tek Stryder: As an end-game option, the Tek Stryder offers excellent gathering capabilities, but it requires much more time and resource investment to obtain.
- Rock Elemental: The Rock Elemental is another creature that can be used for gathering stone, although it is less efficient than the Doedicurus. It has good survivability and is particularly good for areas with difficult terrain.
- Manual Mining: Using a Metal Pick or Metal Hatchet to harvest from rocks can be useful in certain situations, but it is less efficient than creature-based methods. Leveling up your own melee can make a small impact on the amount gathered using tools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some additional questions and answers to further aid you in mastering stone gathering in ARK.
1. What is the primary function of a Doedicurus?
The Doedicurus’s primary function is stone gathering. It excels at this task due to its autonomous harvesting capability, high gathering rate, and stone weight reduction ability.
2. How does melee damage affect a Doedicurus’ stone gathering?
The melee damage stat directly affects how much stone a Doedicurus gathers per hit or bump, making it essential to invest in this stat.
3. Can a Doedicurus gather metal and crystal?
Yes, while its primary function is stone, a Doedicurus can also gather stone from metal rocks and crystal, making it a versatile resource gatherer.
4. What is the fastest way to mine stone in ARK?
The fastest way is using a Doedicurus with max melee damage and an Argentavis to move it between locations.
5. How do you get stone in ARK without a pickaxe or hatchet?
Initially, you can collect small stones from the ground. Once you have a tool, using a pickaxe or hatchet on rocks will yield stone.
6. What is the difference between a Stone Pickaxe and Stone Hatchet for gathering stone?
The Stone Hatchet yields more stone when harvesting rocks, while the Stone Pickaxe is better for collecting flint.
7. Is the Ankylosaurus a good stone gatherer?
Yes, the Ankylosaurus is a good secondary option for stone gathering, especially in the early to mid-game. It harvests large quantities of stone and can also gather other resources effectively.
8. What is the best creature to tame first in ARK?
Many would recommend starting with the Parasaur, but it depends on your needs. Consider something like a Triceratops or Carbonemys for early game protection and resource gathering. A Pteranodon is great for scouting and early transportation.
9. What is the fastest way to harvest stone in ARK: Aberration?
On Aberration, using a Doedicurus with a Karkinos (Crab) is very effective. The Karkinos can carry the Doedicurus to various locations and the Doedicurus is able to harvest autonomously.
10. Do better tools harvest more resources in ARK?
Yes, metal tools like the Metal Pick and Metal Hatchet harvest more resources and have a faster gathering speed compared to stone tools.
11. Do resources respawn in ARK?
Yes, renewable resources will respawn after a few hours if all conditions are met, including the absence of nearby players and their tames.
12. What is the best carry animal in ARK?
The Argentavis is considered one of the best carry animals due to its high health, stamina, and ability to carry small creatures.
13. What is the strongest boss in ARK?
The King Titan is generally considered the strongest boss in ARK: Survival Evolved.
14. What is the best armor in ARK?
Tek Armor is widely regarded as the best armor set due to its superior protection and special abilities.
15. Does a Doedicurus reduce the weight of stone?
Yes, a Doedicurus reduces the weight of stone in its inventory by 75%, making it easier to carry large quantities of it.
In conclusion, while multiple methods can yield stone, utilizing a Doedicurus combined with an Argentavis remains the most efficient, fast, and rewarding way to gather stone in ARK: Survival Evolved. Optimizing your Doedicurus’s stats, utilizing effective transport, and focusing on high-density stone areas will make you a master of this essential task.