Which Ark Map is Best for Beginners? A Comprehensive Guide
For new players diving into the vast and often unforgiving world of ARK: Survival Evolved, choosing the right map to start with can be crucial for an enjoyable and successful early game experience. While ARK offers a plethora of diverse and fascinating maps, each with its own set of challenges and unique features, one map consistently rises to the top as the ideal starting point: The Island.
The Island, the original map of ARK, stands out as the best map for beginners for several compelling reasons. Its relatively balanced ecosystem, a wealth of easy-to-tame creatures, and a clear progression path, make it the perfect place to learn the core mechanics of the game without being overwhelmed. The map provides a good mix of biomes, ranging from serene beaches and lush forests to imposing mountains and treacherous swamps, offering a comprehensive introduction to the world of ARK. The resource distribution is also generous, allowing new players to gather what they need for survival and crafting. The progression curve on The Island is gradual, allowing players to learn without being overwhelmed.
Why The Island is Ideal for New Players
Balanced Biomes and Resources
The Island provides a wide variety of biomes, allowing players to experience different environments and their associated challenges. However, unlike some of the more difficult maps, the starting areas on The Island are relatively safe and abundant in resources, making early game survival much more accessible. From the beaches teeming with easy-to-tame creatures like the Parasaur and Iguanadon, to the forests full of berries, wood, and stone, The Island offers a gentle introduction to the game’s resource gathering and taming systems.
Gradual Progression
The Island also features a well-defined progression path, allowing new players to gradually learn the game’s mechanics without feeling overwhelmed. It introduces players to early-game taming with the Dodo, then progresses through creatures like the Triceratops and Stego, eventually opening up to more advanced tames. The progression of creatures on The Island also teaches players about different creatures and their uses in the game.
Introduction to Core Mechanics
The Island is also the perfect place for beginners to learn core mechanics like crafting, base building, and taming. It doesn’t throw the player into the deep end immediately, but instead, guides them through the essential skills needed to survive. The map’s layout and the availability of resources allow players to experiment and learn without constant fear of being wiped out.
Sense of Nostalgia
For many long-time ARK players, The Island holds a special place in their hearts as it was the first map they played. This sense of nostalgia can add to the experience, allowing new players to connect with the game’s roots. The sense of nostalgia can motivate new players to learn the game and keep playing.
Story Foundation
The Island is also the first map in the game’s overarching narrative. It contains the first ascension fight and introduces the player to the Overseer. New players should start with this map for the proper lore and gameplay experience.
Beyond The Island: Other Beginner-Friendly Options
While The Island is the quintessential starting map, some players may be curious about other relatively accessible options. While not as ideal as The Island for first-time players, Lost Island and Crystal Isles can also be considered for players who have a grasp of the game’s basic mechanics.
Lost Island
Lost Island provides a somewhat easier experience than some of the more challenging maps, thanks to its temperate climate, generous resource distribution, and relatively docile creature population in the starting areas. This makes it a viable option for those looking for a slightly different experience after becoming familiar with the basic mechanics on The Island. The map also boasts a good variety of biomes and some unique creatures. The map has many large, open areas for building, and a lot of resources available.
Crystal Isles
Crystal Isles is another map with a reputation for being relatively easier for beginners once they understand the basic concepts of the game. The map has an easy starting zone, and easy to tame Crystal Wyverns. This provides powerful early game tames that can help traverse and complete the map. There are few caves and not many ruins to explore, but the map provides a variety of unique biomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is The Island really the easiest map in ARK?
Yes, The Island is widely considered the easiest map for beginners due to its balanced ecosystem, resource abundance, and the gentle learning curve it provides. It offers a well-rounded experience, teaching the core mechanics without being overwhelmingly difficult.
What map should I avoid as a beginner?
Maps like Scorched Earth and Aberration are generally regarded as some of the hardest maps and should be avoided by beginners. They feature harsh environments, unique challenges, and complex resource management that can quickly overwhelm new players.
Is Ragnarok good for beginners?
While Ragnarok is a popular and large map, it’s not the best choice for absolute beginners. Its size can be daunting, and it introduces a higher level of difficulty with more aggressive creatures and challenging environments. It’s better suited for those who have some experience with the game.
Is Fjordur good for beginners?
Fjordur, with its many caves, dungeons, and unique areas, is generally not recommended for beginners. The cold environment and challenging areas can be overwhelming for newcomers to the game.
Is Lost Island good for beginners?
Yes, Lost Island is a decent option for beginners who have mastered the basic mechanics on The Island. It’s relatively easier than some of the other maps and has an open and welcoming starting area. It also includes several unique creatures that cannot be found on other maps.
Which is bigger, Ragnarok or Lost Island?
Ragnarok is larger than Lost Island. It is approximately 2.5x the size of The Island in terms of landmass and roughly 4x in total size, whereas Lost Island is slightly smaller.
Is Fjordur bigger than Lost Island?
Fjordur is slightly smaller than Ragnarok. The Fjordur map officially spans an area over 140 square kilometers, while Lost Island is a bit smaller.
Are there any free DLC maps in Ark?
Yes, several ARK DLC maps are free, including Ragnarok, Lost Island, Fjordur, Crystal Isles, Valguero, and The Center. These offer a variety of gameplay experiences without needing to purchase a season pass.
What makes Scorched Earth so difficult?
Scorched Earth is notorious for its harsh environment, constant overheating, limited water sources, and lack of readily available base locations. These challenges make it very difficult for beginners to survive.
Which map has almost all the dinos?
Ragnarok has the most comprehensive creature roster, containing almost all the dinos found in the game, including ones found on The Island and Scorched Earth. It is missing the Phoenix and Deathworms from Scorched Earth.
What is the easiest DLC map in Ark?
The easiest DLC map is subjective, but Lost Island is generally considered the easiest of the official DLCs for beginners after they have a good understanding of the game’s mechanics.
Is it better to start with Ragnarok or the Island?
It’s highly recommended to start with The Island before venturing into Ragnarok. The Island provides a fundamental understanding of the game, making the transition to a more complex map like Ragnarok much easier.
What are good first tames for new Ark players?
Some excellent beginner tames include the Parasaur, Iguanadon, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus. These are relatively easy to tame, provide practical benefits, and can be found in many of the starting areas of The Island.
How big is The Island map?
The Island is approximately 40 square kilometers in size.
Is the Lost Island DLC free?
Yes, the Lost Island DLC is free and can be downloaded from various platforms such as the Epic Games Store.
Conclusion
Starting your ARK: Survival Evolved journey on the right map is essential for a positive experience. The Island remains the most beginner-friendly option, offering a balanced ecosystem, gradual progression, and a solid foundation for learning the game’s mechanics. While other maps, like Lost Island and Crystal Isles, may be viable for those with some experience, The Island provides the best platform for new players to grow, thrive, and eventually conquer the challenges that the ARK universe throws their way.