What are the best ways to gather obsidian for advanced base building in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Gathering obsidian in ARK: Survival Evolved is essential for advanced base building, as it is a key resource for crafting high-tier items like polymer, electronics, and advanced structures. Obsidian is primarily found in mountainous regions and volcanic areas, making it a challenging resource to collect due to its limited spawn locations and the dangerous creatures often found nearby. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to efficiently gather obsidian, including mechanics, strategies, and tips.
First, you need to understand where obsidian spawns. Obsidian nodes are large, black, shiny rocks that are typically found in high-altitude areas or near volcanoes. On The Island map, for example, obsidian is abundant in the mountains near the Red Obelisk, the volcano in the center of the map, and the snow biome. On other maps like Ragnarok or Extinction, obsidian can be found in similar mountainous or volcanic regions. Knowing the spawn locations is crucial, so use a map or explore to identify the best spots.
To gather obsidian efficiently, you need the right tools. A metal pickaxe is the most effective tool for harvesting obsidian, as it yields the highest amount per node. Using a stone pickaxe or a hatchet will result in significantly less obsidian, so always prioritize crafting a metal pickaxe before attempting to gather this resource. Additionally, having a high-level Ankylosaurus can greatly increase your efficiency. The Ankylosaurus has a natural bonus to harvesting obsidian, and its weight reduction for metal and obsidian makes it an ideal companion for resource runs.
Preparation is key when gathering obsidian. Since obsidian nodes are often located in dangerous areas, you should bring a strong mount for protection. A high-level Argentavis is a great choice because it can carry both you and your Ankylosaurus, and it has good stamina and weight capacity. Alternatively, a Quetzal with a platform saddle can transport your Ankylosaurus and provide a mobile base for storing resources. Always bring plenty of food, water, and medical supplies, as well as tools for repairing your pickaxe or saddle.
When you arrive at an obsidian-rich area, dismount your Ankylosaurus and use it to harvest the nodes. The AnkylosaurusÔÇÖs tail swing attack will break the obsidian nodes quickly, and its weight reduction will allow you to carry more obsidian before needing to return to your base. If you donÔÇÖt have an Ankylosaurus, use your metal pickaxe to gather obsidian manually, but be prepared for slower progress and more frequent trips to unload your inventory.
One common mistake is underestimating the weight of obsidian. Obsidian is extremely heavy, so managing your inventory and your mountÔÇÖs weight capacity is crucial. Always monitor your weight and plan your route to avoid being overburdened in a dangerous area. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, consider setting up a small outpost near the obsidian spawns with storage boxes and a bed for respawning. This will allow you to store obsidian and make multiple trips without returning to your main base each time.
For tribes, coordination is essential. Assign roles to tribe members, such as one person gathering obsidian while another provides protection or transports resources. Using a Quetzal with a platform saddle can allow multiple tribe members to work together efficiently, with one person flying the Quetzal and others harvesting obsidian or defending against threats. Tribes can also set up mining outposts with turrets or tamed creatures to secure the area and protect their operations.
Advanced techniques include using a Tek Suit or a Tek Hover Skiff to gather obsidian more efficiently. The Tek SuitÔÇÖs flight ability allows you to quickly move between nodes, while the Tek Hover Skiff can transport heavy loads of obsidian with ease. Additionally, using a mining drill can speed up the harvesting process, but it requires fuel and is less effective than an Ankylosaurus for obsidian.
In summary, gathering obsidian requires careful planning, the right tools, and a strong mount. Focus on high-altitude or volcanic areas, use a metal pickaxe or Ankylosaurus for harvesting, and manage your weight to avoid being overburdened. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, preparation and coordination are key to successfully gathering obsidian for advanced base building. Avoid common mistakes like using inefficient tools or venturing into dangerous areas unprepared, and consider advanced techniques like using Tek equipment to optimize your resource gathering. With these strategies, youÔÇÖll be able to collect obsidian efficiently and progress to building advanced structures in ARK: Survival Evolved.
First, you need to understand where obsidian spawns. Obsidian nodes are large, black, shiny rocks that are typically found in high-altitude areas or near volcanoes. On The Island map, for example, obsidian is abundant in the mountains near the Red Obelisk, the volcano in the center of the map, and the snow biome. On other maps like Ragnarok or Extinction, obsidian can be found in similar mountainous or volcanic regions. Knowing the spawn locations is crucial, so use a map or explore to identify the best spots.
To gather obsidian efficiently, you need the right tools. A metal pickaxe is the most effective tool for harvesting obsidian, as it yields the highest amount per node. Using a stone pickaxe or a hatchet will result in significantly less obsidian, so always prioritize crafting a metal pickaxe before attempting to gather this resource. Additionally, having a high-level Ankylosaurus can greatly increase your efficiency. The Ankylosaurus has a natural bonus to harvesting obsidian, and its weight reduction for metal and obsidian makes it an ideal companion for resource runs.
Preparation is key when gathering obsidian. Since obsidian nodes are often located in dangerous areas, you should bring a strong mount for protection. A high-level Argentavis is a great choice because it can carry both you and your Ankylosaurus, and it has good stamina and weight capacity. Alternatively, a Quetzal with a platform saddle can transport your Ankylosaurus and provide a mobile base for storing resources. Always bring plenty of food, water, and medical supplies, as well as tools for repairing your pickaxe or saddle.
When you arrive at an obsidian-rich area, dismount your Ankylosaurus and use it to harvest the nodes. The AnkylosaurusÔÇÖs tail swing attack will break the obsidian nodes quickly, and its weight reduction will allow you to carry more obsidian before needing to return to your base. If you donÔÇÖt have an Ankylosaurus, use your metal pickaxe to gather obsidian manually, but be prepared for slower progress and more frequent trips to unload your inventory.
One common mistake is underestimating the weight of obsidian. Obsidian is extremely heavy, so managing your inventory and your mountÔÇÖs weight capacity is crucial. Always monitor your weight and plan your route to avoid being overburdened in a dangerous area. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, consider setting up a small outpost near the obsidian spawns with storage boxes and a bed for respawning. This will allow you to store obsidian and make multiple trips without returning to your main base each time.
For tribes, coordination is essential. Assign roles to tribe members, such as one person gathering obsidian while another provides protection or transports resources. Using a Quetzal with a platform saddle can allow multiple tribe members to work together efficiently, with one person flying the Quetzal and others harvesting obsidian or defending against threats. Tribes can also set up mining outposts with turrets or tamed creatures to secure the area and protect their operations.
Advanced techniques include using a Tek Suit or a Tek Hover Skiff to gather obsidian more efficiently. The Tek SuitÔÇÖs flight ability allows you to quickly move between nodes, while the Tek Hover Skiff can transport heavy loads of obsidian with ease. Additionally, using a mining drill can speed up the harvesting process, but it requires fuel and is less effective than an Ankylosaurus for obsidian.
In summary, gathering obsidian requires careful planning, the right tools, and a strong mount. Focus on high-altitude or volcanic areas, use a metal pickaxe or Ankylosaurus for harvesting, and manage your weight to avoid being overburdened. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, preparation and coordination are key to successfully gathering obsidian for advanced base building. Avoid common mistakes like using inefficient tools or venturing into dangerous areas unprepared, and consider advanced techniques like using Tek equipment to optimize your resource gathering. With these strategies, youÔÇÖll be able to collect obsidian efficiently and progress to building advanced structures in ARK: Survival Evolved.