What is the best way to farm cementing paste for base building in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Farming cementing paste in ARK: Survival Evolved is essential for advanced base building, as it is a key ingredient in crafting structures like metal walls, turrets, and other high-tier items. Cementing paste is primarily made from two resources: chitin or keratin and stone. The most efficient way to farm cementing paste depends on your progression level, available resources, and whether you are playing solo or in a tribe. Below is a detailed guide on how to farm cementing paste effectively.
To start, you need to gather the necessary resources. Cementing paste is crafted in a mortar and pestle or a chemistry bench by combining chitin or keratin with stone. Chitin and keratin are obtained by harvesting certain creatures, such as trilobites, scorpions, spiders, and beetles. Stone is easily gathered by mining rocks with a pickaxe or a metal hatchet. For large-scale farming, you will need a steady supply of both chitin/keratin and stone.
One of the most efficient methods for farming chitin is to tame a Megatherium, a large sloth-like creature. Megatheriums have a special ability called the "Insect Killer" buff, which significantly increases their damage and harvesting efficiency against insects and arthropods. When a Megatherium kills an insect, it gains this buff, allowing it to harvest massive amounts of chitin from creatures like scorpions, spiders, and ants. This makes the Megatherium the best dinosaur for chitin farming. To use this method, tame a high-level Megatherium and take it to areas with high insect populations, such as caves or the Swamp biome. Clear out the insects, and you will quickly accumulate large amounts of chitin.
For keratin, you can harvest creatures like turtles, trikes, and carnos. However, chitin is generally more abundant and easier to farm, so it is often the preferred resource for cementing paste. If you are in the early game and do not have access to a Megatherium, you can use a hatchet or a tamed Sabertooth to harvest chitin from smaller creatures like trilobites and scorpions. Trilobites are found along beaches and shallow waters, making them an easy target for early-game players.
Once you have a good supply of chitin or keratin, you will need stone. Stone is one of the most common resources in ARK and can be gathered by mining rocks with a pickaxe or a metal hatchet. For large-scale farming, consider using a Doedicurus, a dinosaur specialized in harvesting stone. A tamed Doedicurus can gather stone much faster than a player, and it also reduces the weight of stone in its inventory, making it easier to transport large quantities.
After gathering the necessary resources, you can craft cementing paste in a mortar and pestle or a chemistry bench. The chemistry bench is more efficient, as it produces cementing paste at a 1:1 ratio, meaning one chitin or keratin and one stone will yield one cementing paste. The mortar and pestle, on the other hand, requires two chitin or keratin and four stone to produce one cementing paste. Therefore, if you have access to a chemistry bench, it is highly recommended to use it for crafting cementing paste.
For advanced players, another efficient method of obtaining cementing paste is by farming it directly from beaver dams. Beavers build dams in certain areas, such as rivers and lakes, and these dams contain large amounts of cementing paste, along with other valuable resources like wood and rare flowers. To farm cementing paste from beaver dams, locate a beaver dam and take the resources from its inventory. Be cautious, as the beavers will become aggressive if they see you taking items from their dam. After looting the dam, you can either destroy it or leave it, as it will respawn over time. This method is highly efficient but requires careful planning to avoid aggroing the beavers.
When farming cementing paste, there are a few common mistakes to avoid. First, do not underestimate the importance of weight management. Cementing paste and its components can be heavy, so make sure to use dinosaurs with high weight capacity or reduce the weight of resources by using creatures like the Doedicurus. Second, avoid farming in dangerous areas without proper preparation. Caves and the Swamp biome are rich in chitin but also home to dangerous creatures. Always bring a strong tamed dinosaur and adequate supplies to survive these environments.
For tribes, coordination is key. Assign roles to tribe members, such as one person gathering chitin with a Megatherium while another gathers stone with a Doedicurus. This division of labor will maximize efficiency and ensure a steady supply of cementing paste for your tribe's base-building needs. Solo players should focus on taming dinosaurs that can handle multiple tasks, such as a Megatherium for chitin and a Doedicurus for stone, to streamline the farming process.
In summary, the best way to farm cementing paste in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of efficient resource gathering and strategic use of tamed dinosaurs. Use a Megatherium for chitin, a Doedicurus for stone, and a chemistry bench for crafting. For advanced players, farming beaver dams can provide a quick and abundant source of cementing paste. Avoid common mistakes like poor weight management and venturing into dangerous areas unprepared. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, these strategies will help you gather cementing paste efficiently and build a strong, secure base.
To start, you need to gather the necessary resources. Cementing paste is crafted in a mortar and pestle or a chemistry bench by combining chitin or keratin with stone. Chitin and keratin are obtained by harvesting certain creatures, such as trilobites, scorpions, spiders, and beetles. Stone is easily gathered by mining rocks with a pickaxe or a metal hatchet. For large-scale farming, you will need a steady supply of both chitin/keratin and stone.
One of the most efficient methods for farming chitin is to tame a Megatherium, a large sloth-like creature. Megatheriums have a special ability called the "Insect Killer" buff, which significantly increases their damage and harvesting efficiency against insects and arthropods. When a Megatherium kills an insect, it gains this buff, allowing it to harvest massive amounts of chitin from creatures like scorpions, spiders, and ants. This makes the Megatherium the best dinosaur for chitin farming. To use this method, tame a high-level Megatherium and take it to areas with high insect populations, such as caves or the Swamp biome. Clear out the insects, and you will quickly accumulate large amounts of chitin.
For keratin, you can harvest creatures like turtles, trikes, and carnos. However, chitin is generally more abundant and easier to farm, so it is often the preferred resource for cementing paste. If you are in the early game and do not have access to a Megatherium, you can use a hatchet or a tamed Sabertooth to harvest chitin from smaller creatures like trilobites and scorpions. Trilobites are found along beaches and shallow waters, making them an easy target for early-game players.
Once you have a good supply of chitin or keratin, you will need stone. Stone is one of the most common resources in ARK and can be gathered by mining rocks with a pickaxe or a metal hatchet. For large-scale farming, consider using a Doedicurus, a dinosaur specialized in harvesting stone. A tamed Doedicurus can gather stone much faster than a player, and it also reduces the weight of stone in its inventory, making it easier to transport large quantities.
After gathering the necessary resources, you can craft cementing paste in a mortar and pestle or a chemistry bench. The chemistry bench is more efficient, as it produces cementing paste at a 1:1 ratio, meaning one chitin or keratin and one stone will yield one cementing paste. The mortar and pestle, on the other hand, requires two chitin or keratin and four stone to produce one cementing paste. Therefore, if you have access to a chemistry bench, it is highly recommended to use it for crafting cementing paste.
For advanced players, another efficient method of obtaining cementing paste is by farming it directly from beaver dams. Beavers build dams in certain areas, such as rivers and lakes, and these dams contain large amounts of cementing paste, along with other valuable resources like wood and rare flowers. To farm cementing paste from beaver dams, locate a beaver dam and take the resources from its inventory. Be cautious, as the beavers will become aggressive if they see you taking items from their dam. After looting the dam, you can either destroy it or leave it, as it will respawn over time. This method is highly efficient but requires careful planning to avoid aggroing the beavers.
When farming cementing paste, there are a few common mistakes to avoid. First, do not underestimate the importance of weight management. Cementing paste and its components can be heavy, so make sure to use dinosaurs with high weight capacity or reduce the weight of resources by using creatures like the Doedicurus. Second, avoid farming in dangerous areas without proper preparation. Caves and the Swamp biome are rich in chitin but also home to dangerous creatures. Always bring a strong tamed dinosaur and adequate supplies to survive these environments.
For tribes, coordination is key. Assign roles to tribe members, such as one person gathering chitin with a Megatherium while another gathers stone with a Doedicurus. This division of labor will maximize efficiency and ensure a steady supply of cementing paste for your tribe's base-building needs. Solo players should focus on taming dinosaurs that can handle multiple tasks, such as a Megatherium for chitin and a Doedicurus for stone, to streamline the farming process.
In summary, the best way to farm cementing paste in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of efficient resource gathering and strategic use of tamed dinosaurs. Use a Megatherium for chitin, a Doedicurus for stone, and a chemistry bench for crafting. For advanced players, farming beaver dams can provide a quick and abundant source of cementing paste. Avoid common mistakes like poor weight management and venturing into dangerous areas unprepared. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, these strategies will help you gather cementing paste efficiently and build a strong, secure base.