Building Your Ark: A Comprehensive Guide to Base Essentials
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So, you’ve crash-landed (or meticulously chosen) your starting point in the harsh, beautiful world of ARK: Survival Evolved. You’ve punched a few trees, dodged a Dilophosaur or two, and are ready to build a base. But what should you have in your Ark base? The answer is multifaceted, evolving as you progress, but here’s a solid foundation to start with:
Essential Items:
- Secure Shelter: A sturdy structure made of appropriate materials (Thatch early game, progressing to Wood, Stone, then Metal and Tek) that protects you from the elements, predators, and other players.
- Simple Bed: A respawn point is crucial. Place it inside your shelter.
- Campfire: For cooking basic meat, providing warmth, and creating charcoal.
- Mortar and Pestle: For crafting narcotics, sparkpowder, and other essential ingredients.
- Cooking Pot: Allows for the creation of more complex recipes, like soups and stews, providing buffs and healing.
- Preserving Bin: Extends the spoil time of food, reducing waste and making resource management easier.
- Storage Box(es): Organization is key. Separate resources, weapons, armor, and more. Multiple storage boxes are essential.
- Smithy: For crafting weapons, armor, and tools.
- Refining Forge: Processes raw metal into metal ingots, a vital resource for advanced crafting.
- Dedicated Taming Pen: A small, enclosed area to safely tame low-to-mid level dinos.
- Water Source: Whether it’s placed inside your base, a waterskin or canteen filling station, having access to water is imperative for survival.
- Crop Plots (Small, Medium, Large): Allows you to grow essential crops for cooking recipes and taming.
- Defensive Measures: Walls, spikes, and simple turrets to deter attackers.
- Dino Storage: Adequate space to house your tamed creatures safely.
This list provides a solid base (pun intended) for early to mid-game survival. As you progress, you’ll add more advanced structures and amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ark Bases
What is the strongest building material in Ark?
The strongest building material in ARK is Tek. Next in line is Metal. Tek structures offer superior durability and protection compared to other materials. A simple Thatch wall provides minimal protection with only 1,600 damage resistance, while Wood, Stone, and Metal walls significantly increase protection up to 10,000.
How do I make a safe base in Ark?
Building a safe base requires careful planning and execution. Here’s a checklist:
- Location, Location, Location: Choose a defensible location that isn’t easily accessible.
- Foundations First: Always start with foundations to ensure stability and an even building surface.
- Layers of Defense: Implement multiple layers of walls, spikes, and turrets.
- Lighting: Torches or electrical lighting can deter nighttime attackers.
- Dino Protection: Build enclosed pens for your tamed creatures, using reinforced walls and gates.
- Regular Maintenance: Repair damaged structures promptly to maintain their integrity.
- Consider Tribe Logs: Being able to see if anyone has tampered with your base is extremely important to defense.
What is a good size for a starting base in Ark?
For a solo player or small tribe starting out, a base with an 8×8 main house and a 15×15 dino pen provides adequate space. Expand as your needs grow. Remember to keep it efficient early on!
How long do buildings last in Ark?
Building decay timers vary based on material. As noted, higher-tier structures decay slower than lower-tier ones:
- Greenhouse: 15 days
- Metal: 16 days
- Vault: 16 days
- Tek: 20 days
These timers apply only if nobody in your tribe logs into the game and renders those bases.
How long is one day in Ark in real time?
By default, a day in ARK lasts approximately 40 minutes in real time, and a night lasts 20 minutes. Nights are more dangerous due to increased creature spawns.
Do bases decay in Ark?
Yes, all structures and tamed dinosaurs on official servers (and most private servers) are subject to auto-decay. If no one in your tribe logs into the game within the decay timer, your structures and dinos will disappear. Actively maintaining your presence is key!
Where is the best place to start in Ark?
The beach is generally the safest starting location, providing easy access to resources like stone, wood, and fiber. It also allows you to easily see incoming threats.
Does body size matter in Ark?
While your character’s appearance changes, the hitbox remains constant. However, making a very large or small character can make it harder for enemies to accurately target headshots. Additionally, your character height affects your entry/exit ability with structures.
What is a FOB base in Ark?
A Forward Operating Base (FOB) is a temporary base typically built near a strategic location, such as a resource-rich area or a potential enemy base. It usually includes a radio that allows a team to place spawn bunkers, ammo crates, repair stations, defensive structures, weapon emplacements, and other deployables.
How do I keep tames safe in Ark?
Protecting your tames involves:
- Enclosed Pens: Use strong walls and gates to prevent predators or other players from reaching your dinos.
- Roof Access: Place flying dinos on rooftops to keep them out of reach.
- Turrets: Install turrets to defend against attackers.
- Creature Positioning: Place larger, stronger dinos near the perimeter to act as a first line of defense.
What is the strongest tameable in Ark?
The Rex is often considered one of the strongest and most versatile dinos for combat and general use. Other top contenders include the Giganotosaurus (high damage but difficult to control), Argentavis (excellent for transport), and Snow Owl (healing and scouting).
What is the strongest gun in Ark?
The Longneck Rifle is a good choice for its range and damage. The Tek Phase Pistol is also very powerful. Keep in mind that the best gun depends on the situation and your playstyle.
What is the strongest armor in Ark?
Tek Armor offers the highest armor rating, heat protection, and cold protection. It requires Element to craft and use, making it a late-game goal.
Why is weight important in ARK?
Weight determines how much your character can carry. Exceeding your weight limit results in encumbrance, slowing your movement and preventing you from running. This is important to consider when farming resources, transporting items, and raiding.
Does the difficulty matter in ARK?
Yes, difficulty affects creature levels and the quality of loot drops. Higher difficulty settings result in stronger creatures and better gear, but also increase the challenge.
What should I build first in ARK?
Start with the basics:
- Thatch Hut: A simple shelter for protection.
- Bed: To set a respawn point.
- Pickaxe and Hatchet: To gather resources efficiently.
- Campfire: For cooking and warmth.
Where should I build my first base in ARK?
Consider these picturesque spots:
- On A Raft: For mobility and a unique challenge.
- Herbivore Island: Relatively safe from carnivores.
- The Southern Islets: Offers varied resources and scenic views.
What should I do first in ARK?
- Stay near the beach.
- Build a bed.
- Craft a Pickaxe.
- Tame a Dodo.
- Avoid glowing dinos.
- Build a modest base.
What Dinos can break stone walls in Ark?
Stone structures can be damaged by:
- Alpha Predators
- Giganotosaurus
- Dunkleosteus
- Bosses
- Explosives
What can damage Tek?
Tek structures can be damaged by:
- Magmasaur
- Arthropluera
- Titans
- Titanosaur
- Tek weapons
- Explosives
What does sulfur do on Ark?
Sulfur is a resource used to craft the Flame Thrower, Preserving Salt, and Propellant in the Scorched Earth DLC and other maps that contain sulfur nodes.
As you master these fundamentals, you’ll be well on your way to dominating the Ark!
Remember: Learning is a continual process, and resources like those found at the Games Learning Society can provide invaluable insights into game mechanics and strategies. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more! Good luck, survivor!