What are the best ways to farm charcoal for base building in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Farming charcoal in ARK: Survival Evolved is essential for crafting gunpowder, which is used in ammunition, explosives, and other advanced items. Charcoal is obtained by burning wood in structures like campfires, standing torches, forges, or industrial forges. The most efficient way to farm charcoal 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 charcoal effectively.
To start, you need a reliable source of wood. Wood is gathered by chopping down trees using tools like a stone hatchet, metal hatchet, or a tamed creature such as a Beaver, Mammoth, or Therizinosaurus. Tamed creatures are far more efficient for gathering wood, especially the Therizinosaurus, which can harvest large amounts quickly. Once you have a steady supply of wood, you need a structure to burn it. Early in the game, a campfire or standing torch is sufficient, but as you progress, using a refining forge or industrial forge becomes more efficient.
For early-game players, a campfire is the simplest option. Place the campfire in a safe area, add wood to its inventory, and light it. The campfire will slowly convert wood into charcoal over time. However, this method is slow and not ideal for large-scale charcoal farming. A better option is the refining forge, which burns wood faster and produces charcoal more quickly. The refining forge also has the added benefit of being able to smelt metal, making it a versatile tool for resource processing.
For mid-to-late-game players, the industrial forge is the best option for charcoal farming. The industrial forge burns wood at an incredibly fast rate and produces charcoal in large quantities. To use the industrial forge, you need to unlock its engram at level 89 and gather the required resources, including metal ingots, cementing paste, and electronics. Once built, the industrial forge can process thousands of wood in minutes, making it the most efficient method for charcoal farming.
When farming charcoal, it is important to manage your resources effectively. Wood is heavy, so carrying large amounts can be challenging. Using a tamed creature with high weight capacity, such as a Brontosaurus or Argentavis, can help transport wood to your base. Additionally, storing wood in a storage box or vault near your burning structure will save time and effort. If you are playing in a tribe, coordinating with other members to gather wood and manage the burning process can significantly increase efficiency.
One common mistake is not having enough wood to sustain the burning process. Always gather more wood than you think you need, as the industrial forge and refining forge consume wood quickly. Another mistake is placing your burning structure in an unsafe location. Hostile creatures or other players can destroy your structures, so always build in a secure area with proper defenses.
Advanced techniques for charcoal farming include using multiple forges or industrial forges simultaneously. This requires more resources but significantly increases charcoal production. Additionally, using a tamed creature like a Phoenix can automate the process, as the Phoenix passively burns wood into charcoal while flying. However, the Phoenix is a rare creature and can only be found in specific maps like Scorched Earth or Ragnarok.
In terms of resource requirements, you will need a steady supply of wood, fuel for your burning structures, and materials to build the structures themselves. For example, a refining forge requires stone, wood, flint, and fiber, while an industrial forge requires metal ingots, cementing paste, and electronics. Preparing these materials in advance will save time and ensure a smooth farming process.
For solo players, managing wood gathering and charcoal production can be time-consuming. Using tamed creatures to gather wood and automating the burning process with multiple forges can help. For tribes, dividing tasks among members, such as assigning one person to gather wood and another to manage the forges, can optimize efficiency.
In specific scenarios, such as preparing for a boss fight or crafting large amounts of ammunition, charcoal farming becomes critical. For example, if you are crafting hundreds of bullets for a boss fight, you will need thousands of charcoal. Planning ahead and setting up an efficient charcoal farming system will ensure you have enough resources when needed.
In conclusion, farming charcoal in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and efficient use of structures and tamed creatures. Whether you are a solo player or part of a tribe, using the right tools and strategies will make the process faster and more effective. By avoiding common mistakes and optimizing your setup, you can ensure a steady supply of charcoal for all your crafting needs.
To start, you need a reliable source of wood. Wood is gathered by chopping down trees using tools like a stone hatchet, metal hatchet, or a tamed creature such as a Beaver, Mammoth, or Therizinosaurus. Tamed creatures are far more efficient for gathering wood, especially the Therizinosaurus, which can harvest large amounts quickly. Once you have a steady supply of wood, you need a structure to burn it. Early in the game, a campfire or standing torch is sufficient, but as you progress, using a refining forge or industrial forge becomes more efficient.
For early-game players, a campfire is the simplest option. Place the campfire in a safe area, add wood to its inventory, and light it. The campfire will slowly convert wood into charcoal over time. However, this method is slow and not ideal for large-scale charcoal farming. A better option is the refining forge, which burns wood faster and produces charcoal more quickly. The refining forge also has the added benefit of being able to smelt metal, making it a versatile tool for resource processing.
For mid-to-late-game players, the industrial forge is the best option for charcoal farming. The industrial forge burns wood at an incredibly fast rate and produces charcoal in large quantities. To use the industrial forge, you need to unlock its engram at level 89 and gather the required resources, including metal ingots, cementing paste, and electronics. Once built, the industrial forge can process thousands of wood in minutes, making it the most efficient method for charcoal farming.
When farming charcoal, it is important to manage your resources effectively. Wood is heavy, so carrying large amounts can be challenging. Using a tamed creature with high weight capacity, such as a Brontosaurus or Argentavis, can help transport wood to your base. Additionally, storing wood in a storage box or vault near your burning structure will save time and effort. If you are playing in a tribe, coordinating with other members to gather wood and manage the burning process can significantly increase efficiency.
One common mistake is not having enough wood to sustain the burning process. Always gather more wood than you think you need, as the industrial forge and refining forge consume wood quickly. Another mistake is placing your burning structure in an unsafe location. Hostile creatures or other players can destroy your structures, so always build in a secure area with proper defenses.
Advanced techniques for charcoal farming include using multiple forges or industrial forges simultaneously. This requires more resources but significantly increases charcoal production. Additionally, using a tamed creature like a Phoenix can automate the process, as the Phoenix passively burns wood into charcoal while flying. However, the Phoenix is a rare creature and can only be found in specific maps like Scorched Earth or Ragnarok.
In terms of resource requirements, you will need a steady supply of wood, fuel for your burning structures, and materials to build the structures themselves. For example, a refining forge requires stone, wood, flint, and fiber, while an industrial forge requires metal ingots, cementing paste, and electronics. Preparing these materials in advance will save time and ensure a smooth farming process.
For solo players, managing wood gathering and charcoal production can be time-consuming. Using tamed creatures to gather wood and automating the burning process with multiple forges can help. For tribes, dividing tasks among members, such as assigning one person to gather wood and another to manage the forges, can optimize efficiency.
In specific scenarios, such as preparing for a boss fight or crafting large amounts of ammunition, charcoal farming becomes critical. For example, if you are crafting hundreds of bullets for a boss fight, you will need thousands of charcoal. Planning ahead and setting up an efficient charcoal farming system will ensure you have enough resources when needed.
In conclusion, farming charcoal in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and efficient use of structures and tamed creatures. Whether you are a solo player or part of a tribe, using the right tools and strategies will make the process faster and more effective. By avoiding common mistakes and optimizing your setup, you can ensure a steady supply of charcoal for all your crafting needs.