What are the best ways to farm metal ingots for base building in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Farming metal ingots is one of the most important tasks in ARK: Survival Evolved, as metal is essential for crafting advanced tools, weapons, and structures. To efficiently farm metal ingots, you need to understand the mechanics, prepare properly, and use the right strategies. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you maximize your metal farming efforts.
First, you need to know where to find metal nodes. Metal nodes are large, shiny rocks that are usually found in mountainous or rocky areas. Some of the best locations for metal farming include mountains, caves, and specific regions like the Volcano on The Island map or the Highlands on Ragnarok. These areas have high concentrations of metal nodes, making them ideal for farming. Once you locate a metal node, you can harvest it using tools like a pickaxe, a metal pickaxe, or a dinosaur with high melee damage, such as an Ankylosaurus.
Using an Ankylosaurus is one of the most efficient ways to farm metal. The Ankylosaurus has a special ability that allows it to gather large amounts of metal from nodes with its tail attack. To use an Ankylosaurus for metal farming, you need to tame one first. Taming an Ankylosaurus requires narcotics, berries, or vegetables, depending on its level. Once tamed, you can ride the Ankylosaurus and use its tail attack to harvest metal nodes. The Ankylosaurus also has a weight reduction for metal, allowing it to carry more metal ore than other creatures or players.
After gathering metal ore, you need to smelt it into metal ingots. Smelting requires a forge, which can be crafted using stone, wood, and fiber. There are different types of forges, including the regular forge, the refining forge, and the industrial forge. The industrial forge is the most efficient, as it can smelt large quantities of metal ore quickly, but it requires advanced materials and engrams. To smelt metal ore, place it in the forge along with fuel, such as wood or gasoline. The forge will convert the metal ore into metal ingots over time.
One important tip for efficient metal farming is to use a weight-reducing dinosaur to transport the metal ore. Creatures like the Argentavis or the Quetzal have weight reduction for metal, allowing them to carry more metal ore without being overburdened. You can also use a platform saddle on a Quetzal to carry an Ankylosaurus, creating a mobile metal farming setup. This allows you to harvest metal nodes and transport the ore back to your base without making multiple trips.
Another advanced technique is to set up a mining outpost near a metal-rich area. This involves building a small base with a forge, storage boxes, and a bed near a mountain or cave. By doing this, you can smelt the metal ore on-site and reduce the amount of weight you need to carry back to your main base. You can also use a teleporter or a cryopod to quickly transport your Ankylosaurus and other resources between your main base and the mining outpost.
When farming metal, itÔÇÖs important to be aware of the dangers in the area. Metal-rich regions are often populated by aggressive creatures like Carnotaurus, Raptors, and even Rexes. Make sure to bring a strong mount or weapons to defend yourself. Additionally, if youÔÇÖre playing on a PvP server, be cautious of other players who may try to ambush you while youÔÇÖre farming.
For solo players, metal farming can be more challenging due to the lack of tribe support. However, you can still optimize your farming by using a combination of an Ankylosaurus and a weight-reducing dinosaur like an Argentavis. You can also use a bed or sleeping bag to respawn near your mining outpost if you die. For tribes, metal farming can be more efficient with multiple players working together. One player can focus on harvesting metal with an Ankylosaurus, while another player transports the ore using a Quetzal or Argentavis.
In summary, farming metal ingots in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning and the right tools. Use an Ankylosaurus to harvest metal nodes efficiently, and transport the ore using a weight-reducing dinosaur. Set up a mining outpost near metal-rich areas to reduce travel time, and always be prepared for dangers in the environment. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or in a tribe, these strategies will help you gather the metal you need for advanced crafting and base building.
First, you need to know where to find metal nodes. Metal nodes are large, shiny rocks that are usually found in mountainous or rocky areas. Some of the best locations for metal farming include mountains, caves, and specific regions like the Volcano on The Island map or the Highlands on Ragnarok. These areas have high concentrations of metal nodes, making them ideal for farming. Once you locate a metal node, you can harvest it using tools like a pickaxe, a metal pickaxe, or a dinosaur with high melee damage, such as an Ankylosaurus.
Using an Ankylosaurus is one of the most efficient ways to farm metal. The Ankylosaurus has a special ability that allows it to gather large amounts of metal from nodes with its tail attack. To use an Ankylosaurus for metal farming, you need to tame one first. Taming an Ankylosaurus requires narcotics, berries, or vegetables, depending on its level. Once tamed, you can ride the Ankylosaurus and use its tail attack to harvest metal nodes. The Ankylosaurus also has a weight reduction for metal, allowing it to carry more metal ore than other creatures or players.
After gathering metal ore, you need to smelt it into metal ingots. Smelting requires a forge, which can be crafted using stone, wood, and fiber. There are different types of forges, including the regular forge, the refining forge, and the industrial forge. The industrial forge is the most efficient, as it can smelt large quantities of metal ore quickly, but it requires advanced materials and engrams. To smelt metal ore, place it in the forge along with fuel, such as wood or gasoline. The forge will convert the metal ore into metal ingots over time.
One important tip for efficient metal farming is to use a weight-reducing dinosaur to transport the metal ore. Creatures like the Argentavis or the Quetzal have weight reduction for metal, allowing them to carry more metal ore without being overburdened. You can also use a platform saddle on a Quetzal to carry an Ankylosaurus, creating a mobile metal farming setup. This allows you to harvest metal nodes and transport the ore back to your base without making multiple trips.
Another advanced technique is to set up a mining outpost near a metal-rich area. This involves building a small base with a forge, storage boxes, and a bed near a mountain or cave. By doing this, you can smelt the metal ore on-site and reduce the amount of weight you need to carry back to your main base. You can also use a teleporter or a cryopod to quickly transport your Ankylosaurus and other resources between your main base and the mining outpost.
When farming metal, itÔÇÖs important to be aware of the dangers in the area. Metal-rich regions are often populated by aggressive creatures like Carnotaurus, Raptors, and even Rexes. Make sure to bring a strong mount or weapons to defend yourself. Additionally, if youÔÇÖre playing on a PvP server, be cautious of other players who may try to ambush you while youÔÇÖre farming.
For solo players, metal farming can be more challenging due to the lack of tribe support. However, you can still optimize your farming by using a combination of an Ankylosaurus and a weight-reducing dinosaur like an Argentavis. You can also use a bed or sleeping bag to respawn near your mining outpost if you die. For tribes, metal farming can be more efficient with multiple players working together. One player can focus on harvesting metal with an Ankylosaurus, while another player transports the ore using a Quetzal or Argentavis.
In summary, farming metal ingots in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning and the right tools. Use an Ankylosaurus to harvest metal nodes efficiently, and transport the ore using a weight-reducing dinosaur. Set up a mining outpost near metal-rich areas to reduce travel time, and always be prepared for dangers in the environment. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or in a tribe, these strategies will help you gather the metal you need for advanced crafting and base building.