ARK Survival Ascended: A Beginner's Guide To Playing

by Jhon Lennon 53 views

So, you're diving into the wild world of ARK Survival Ascended, huh? Awesome! This game is a blast, but let's be real, it can be a bit overwhelming at first. Don't worry, guys; I'm here to walk you through the basics so you can start surviving (and thriving!) in this crazy dinosaur-filled landscape. Get ready to explore, build, and maybe even tame a T-Rex (eventually!).

Getting Started: Your First Steps in ARK

Okay, so you've just spawned on the beach – naked and confused. Classic ARK experience! Your immediate priority is not becoming dino-chow. Here's what you need to do, pronto:

  • Gather Resources: Start punching trees and picking up rocks. Seriously! You'll get Thatch, Wood, and Stone. These are your best friends right now. You need these to craft basic tools.
  • Craft Tools: Open your inventory (usually the 'I' key) and look for the crafting menu. Make a Stone Pickaxe and a Stone Hatchet. These tools will let you gather resources much faster and unlock new crafting recipes.
  • Find Food and Water: You'll quickly notice your hunger and thirst meters dropping. Berries are your initial food source (avoid the black ones – they're poisonous!). Look for berry bushes scattered around. For water, head to the ocean or a nearby river and crouch down to drink. Staying fed and hydrated is key to survival, especially early on.
  • Build a Basic Shelter: Once you have enough resources, craft some Thatch Foundations, Walls, and a Door. Place them to create a small shelter. This will protect you from the elements (rain, heat) and provide a safe place to log off. Trust me; you don't want to log back in to find a Raptor munching on your face.
  • Level Up and Learn Engrams: As you perform actions like gathering and crafting, you'll gain experience points and level up. Each level gives you points to spend on Engrams, which are crafting recipes. Prioritize Engrams like the Campfire (for cooking meat and staying warm), the Spear (for basic defense), and better building materials.

These initial steps are crucial for establishing a foothold in ARK. Don't get discouraged if you die a few times (or a lot of times!). Everyone does. Just learn from your mistakes and keep pushing forward. Remember, observation is important, so take note of your surroundings.

Taming Your First Dinosaur: A Beginner's Guide

Okay, so you have the basics down. Now it's time for the real fun: taming dinosaurs! Taming is a core mechanic in ARK, and having a dino companion can make your life so much easier. But it can be daunting at first. You can't just walk up to a T-Rex and offer it a head scratch. (Well, you can, but it won't end well.) Instead, you need to learn the art of knocking out and feeding your desired dino.

  • Choosing Your First Tame: Start small! Don't go after a Rex right away. Look for docile herbivores like Dodos, Lystrosaurus, or Parasaurolophus. These are relatively easy to tame and can provide useful resources or early-game transportation.
  • Knocking Out a Dino: You'll need a weapon to knock out the dino without killing it. A Wooden Club or Slingshot are good early-game options. Aim for the head for maximum effectiveness. Be careful not to kill the dino! Keep an eye on its health bar.
  • Keeping it Unconscious: Once the dino is unconscious, its Torpor (sleepiness) will start to decrease. You need to keep it unconscious by feeding it Narcoberries or Narcotics (crafted from Narcoberries and Spoiled Meat). Keep an eye on the Torpor meter and feed it as needed.
  • Feeding Your Tame: While the dino is unconscious, open its inventory and place food it likes to eat. Herbivores usually eat berries, while carnivores eat meat. The taming effectiveness will be influenced by how quickly and what items you use to tame them. The higher the taming effectiveness, the better the stats the dino will have when it's tamed. Be patient; taming can take a while, especially for larger dinos.
  • Protecting Your Tame: While your dino is unconscious and taming, it's vulnerable to attack from other creatures. Keep an eye out for predators and defend your new friend!

Once the taming process is complete, the dino will wake up as your loyal companion! You can then ride it (if it's big enough) and use it to gather resources, defend yourself, or even fight other players.

Essential Engrams to Unlock Early On

As you level up, you'll earn Engram Points to unlock new crafting recipes. Some Engrams are more important than others, especially in the early game. Here are some essential Engrams you should prioritize:

  • Campfire: For cooking meat (which provides more food than berries) and staying warm at night.
  • Spear: A basic melee weapon for defense against early-game predators.
  • Stone Tools: Upgrades from the initial tools, allowing you to gather resources faster.
  • Thatch/Wood/Stone Building Structures: For creating more durable and complex shelters.
  • Storage Box: For storing extra resources and items safely.
  • Mortar and Pestle: For crafting more advanced items like Narcotics.
  • Bow and Arrows: A ranged weapon for hunting and defense.
  • Simple Bed: A respawn point that allows you to choose where you respawn after death.

Unlocking these Engrams will greatly improve your chances of survival and allow you to progress further in the game.

Understanding the ARK Map and Biomes

The ARK map is a diverse and dangerous place, filled with different biomes, each with its own unique resources, creatures, and challenges. Understanding the map and its biomes is crucial for survival. Each area contains different challenges and resources. Getting a handle on what each area contains will help you plan resource gathering and base building.

  • Beaches: The starting point for most players. Relatively safe, with easy access to water and basic resources.
  • Forests: Filled with trees, berries, and smaller creatures. Good for gathering wood and thatch, but also home to predators like Raptors.
  • Grasslands: Open areas with scattered trees and herbivores. Good for taming early-game dinos.
  • Mountains: Rich in metal ore and other valuable resources, but also home to dangerous predators like Argentavis and Sabertooth.
  • Swamps: Dangerous areas filled with poisonous plants, insects, and creatures like Titanoboas and Kaprosuchus. However, they also contain valuable resources like cementing paste.
  • Snow Biome: Extremely cold and harsh, with limited resources and dangerous creatures like Dire Wolves and Mammoths. Requires special clothing and shelter to survive.
  • Ocean: Filled with aquatic creatures like sharks, dolphins, and Plesiosaurs. Requires specialized gear like scuba gear or a raft to explore safely.

Exploring the map and learning the locations of different resources and creatures is essential for long-term survival.

Tips and Tricks for New ARK Players

Alright, here are some extra tips and tricks to help you on your ARK adventure:

  • Always be aware of your surroundings: Scan the horizon for predators, and listen for the sounds of danger.
  • Carry a weapon at all times: Even a simple Spear can save your life.
  • Don't be afraid to run away: Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor.
  • Learn from your mistakes: Dying is part of the learning process. Figure out what went wrong and try to avoid making the same mistake again.
  • Join a tribe: Playing with others can make the game much easier and more enjoyable.
  • Watch videos and read guides: There are tons of resources available online to help you learn the game.
  • Experiment and have fun: ARK is a vast and complex game, so don't be afraid to try new things and see what happens.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the ARK Experience

ARK Survival Ascended is a challenging but rewarding game. It takes time and effort to learn the ropes, but once you do, you'll be hooked. Don't be afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them. And most importantly, have fun exploring this amazing and dangerous world! So go forth, survivors, and conquer the ARK!