How do I build a base that is easy to expand in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Building a base that is easy to expand in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and understanding of the game's building mechanics. The key is to create a foundation that allows for flexibility and growth while maintaining security and functionality. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you achieve this.
First, choose a location that offers ample space and resources. Flat areas near water, metal nodes, and forests are ideal because they provide easy access to essential materials like wood, stone, and metal. Avoid building too close to dangerous creatures or high-traffic PvP zones if youÔÇÖre playing on a PvP server. Once youÔÇÖve selected a location, start by laying down a foundation. Foundations are the base of your structure and determine the size and shape of your base. Use thatch or wood initially, as they are easier to gather, but upgrade to stone or metal as soon as possible for better durability.
When placing foundations, leave extra space around your initial structure. This allows room for future expansions like additional rooms, storage areas, or crafting stations. A common mistake is building too compactly, which limits your ability to expand later. Instead, plan for a larger base than you currently need. For example, if youÔÇÖre building a 4x4 foundation base, consider leaving space for a 6x6 or 8x8 expansion.
Walls, ceilings, and doors should be placed strategically. Use doorways instead of solid walls in areas where you might want to expand later. This makes it easier to add new sections without tearing down existing structures. Similarly, avoid placing permanent structures like storage boxes or crafting stations in areas that could block future expansion. Instead, keep these items in the center of your base or in designated areas that wonÔÇÖt interfere with growth.
Resource management is critical for expanding your base. Gather materials like wood, stone, and fiber in bulk, and store them in organized storage boxes. As you progress, prioritize gathering metal and cementing paste, as these are essential for upgrading to stronger materials like stone and metal. Tamed dinosaurs like the Ankylosaurus for metal and the Doedicurus for stone can significantly speed up resource gathering. Additionally, use preserving bins or refrigerators to store perishable resources like meat and berries, ensuring you have a steady supply of food while you focus on building.
Defense is another important consideration. Even if youÔÇÖre focusing on expansion, your base must be secure. Start with a perimeter wall made of wood or stone, and upgrade to metal as you progress. Place turrets or plant species X around your base to deter hostile creatures and players. Tamed dinosaurs like the Rex or Spino can also serve as guards, but make sure they are set to neutral or aggressive to defend your base effectively.
For solo players, focus on building a compact but expandable base. Use smaller structures initially and expand as you gather more resources. Solo players should also prioritize taming dinosaurs that can help with resource gathering and defense, as you wonÔÇÖt have tribe members to assist. For tribes, divide tasks among members to speed up construction and resource gathering. Assign roles like gatherer, builder, and defender to ensure efficiency.
Advanced techniques include using pillars and ceilings to create multi-level bases. This maximizes vertical space and allows for more complex designs. Additionally, consider using snap points to align structures perfectly, reducing gaps and improving the overall look of your base. Snap points also make it easier to expand without misaligned walls or foundations.
In terms of resource requirements, expect to gather large amounts of wood, stone, and fiber in the early game. As you progress, metal, cementing paste, and polymer become essential for advanced structures. Prepare by taming resource-gathering dinosaurs and setting up resource outposts near metal nodes or beaver dams for cementing paste.
A specific example of an expandable base is a central hub with multiple wings. Start with a 4x4 foundation as your main room, and add 2x2 or 3x3 wings on each side for storage, crafting, or taming. This design allows you to add new wings as needed without disrupting the core structure. Another example is a circular base with a central courtyard, which provides open space for future expansions while keeping the core secure.
In conclusion, building an expandable base in ARK requires careful planning, resource management, and strategic placement of structures. By choosing a good location, leaving room for growth, and prioritizing defense and resource gathering, you can create a base that grows with your needs. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or in a tribe, these strategies will help you build a functional and expandable home in the dangerous world of ARK.
First, choose a location that offers ample space and resources. Flat areas near water, metal nodes, and forests are ideal because they provide easy access to essential materials like wood, stone, and metal. Avoid building too close to dangerous creatures or high-traffic PvP zones if youÔÇÖre playing on a PvP server. Once youÔÇÖve selected a location, start by laying down a foundation. Foundations are the base of your structure and determine the size and shape of your base. Use thatch or wood initially, as they are easier to gather, but upgrade to stone or metal as soon as possible for better durability.
When placing foundations, leave extra space around your initial structure. This allows room for future expansions like additional rooms, storage areas, or crafting stations. A common mistake is building too compactly, which limits your ability to expand later. Instead, plan for a larger base than you currently need. For example, if youÔÇÖre building a 4x4 foundation base, consider leaving space for a 6x6 or 8x8 expansion.
Walls, ceilings, and doors should be placed strategically. Use doorways instead of solid walls in areas where you might want to expand later. This makes it easier to add new sections without tearing down existing structures. Similarly, avoid placing permanent structures like storage boxes or crafting stations in areas that could block future expansion. Instead, keep these items in the center of your base or in designated areas that wonÔÇÖt interfere with growth.
Resource management is critical for expanding your base. Gather materials like wood, stone, and fiber in bulk, and store them in organized storage boxes. As you progress, prioritize gathering metal and cementing paste, as these are essential for upgrading to stronger materials like stone and metal. Tamed dinosaurs like the Ankylosaurus for metal and the Doedicurus for stone can significantly speed up resource gathering. Additionally, use preserving bins or refrigerators to store perishable resources like meat and berries, ensuring you have a steady supply of food while you focus on building.
Defense is another important consideration. Even if youÔÇÖre focusing on expansion, your base must be secure. Start with a perimeter wall made of wood or stone, and upgrade to metal as you progress. Place turrets or plant species X around your base to deter hostile creatures and players. Tamed dinosaurs like the Rex or Spino can also serve as guards, but make sure they are set to neutral or aggressive to defend your base effectively.
For solo players, focus on building a compact but expandable base. Use smaller structures initially and expand as you gather more resources. Solo players should also prioritize taming dinosaurs that can help with resource gathering and defense, as you wonÔÇÖt have tribe members to assist. For tribes, divide tasks among members to speed up construction and resource gathering. Assign roles like gatherer, builder, and defender to ensure efficiency.
Advanced techniques include using pillars and ceilings to create multi-level bases. This maximizes vertical space and allows for more complex designs. Additionally, consider using snap points to align structures perfectly, reducing gaps and improving the overall look of your base. Snap points also make it easier to expand without misaligned walls or foundations.
In terms of resource requirements, expect to gather large amounts of wood, stone, and fiber in the early game. As you progress, metal, cementing paste, and polymer become essential for advanced structures. Prepare by taming resource-gathering dinosaurs and setting up resource outposts near metal nodes or beaver dams for cementing paste.
A specific example of an expandable base is a central hub with multiple wings. Start with a 4x4 foundation as your main room, and add 2x2 or 3x3 wings on each side for storage, crafting, or taming. This design allows you to add new wings as needed without disrupting the core structure. Another example is a circular base with a central courtyard, which provides open space for future expansions while keeping the core secure.
In conclusion, building an expandable base in ARK requires careful planning, resource management, and strategic placement of structures. By choosing a good location, leaving room for growth, and prioritizing defense and resource gathering, you can create a base that grows with your needs. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or in a tribe, these strategies will help you build a functional and expandable home in the dangerous world of ARK.