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 a key resource for crafting advanced tools, weapons, and structures. Metal ingots are created by smelting metal ore in a forge, and the process requires careful planning and efficient resource gathering. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to farm metal ingots effectively.
First, you need to locate metal-rich areas. Metal nodes are found in specific locations across the map, often on mountains, hills, or rocky areas. On The Island map, for example, the mountains in the northwest, northeast, and central areas are excellent sources of metal. Other maps like Ragnarok or Valguero also have abundant metal nodes in mountainous regions. Once youÔÇÖve identified a good location, youÔÇÖll need the right tools to gather metal efficiently. A metal pickaxe is the best tool for harvesting metal ore, as it yields more metal compared to a stone pickaxe. If youÔÇÖre early in the game and donÔÇÖt have access to metal tools, a stone pickaxe will work, but itÔÇÖs less efficient.
To maximize your metal farming, consider taming dinosaurs that can help gather resources. Ankylosaurus is the best dinosaur for harvesting metal ore, as it has a high metal yield and can carry a large amount of weight. If you donÔÇÖt have an Ankylosaurus, a Doedicurus or a Mantis with a metal pick can also be useful. Once youÔÇÖve gathered the metal ore, youÔÇÖll need to transport it back to your base. Argentavis is an excellent choice for this task, as it can carry heavy loads and has a weight reduction for metal ore. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, you may need to make multiple trips, but in a tribe, you can coordinate with others to transport larger quantities.
Smelting metal ore into ingots requires a forge. There are several types of forges in ARK, including the refining forge, industrial forge, and tek replicator. The refining forge is the most basic and can be crafted early in the game. It requires wood or thatch as fuel to smelt metal ore. The industrial forge is more advanced and can smelt large quantities of metal ore quickly, but it requires a significant amount of resources to craft. If youÔÇÖre playing on a map with access to tek technology, the tek replicator is the most efficient option, as it can smelt metal ore instantly without fuel.
When smelting metal ore, itÔÇÖs important to manage your fuel and resources efficiently. Wood and thatch are the most common fuels for refining forges, but sparkpowder and gasoline are more efficient for industrial forges. Always ensure you have enough fuel to smelt all your metal ore in one go, as leaving it partially smelted can waste time and resources. Additionally, consider building multiple forges to speed up the smelting process, especially if youÔÇÖre farming large amounts of metal.
One common mistake players make is not prioritizing weight management when farming metal. Metal ore is heavy, and carrying too much can slow you down or prevent you from moving at all. To avoid this, use dinosaurs with high weight capacity or weight reduction for metal ore. Another mistake is not protecting your farming area. Metal-rich locations are often dangerous, with aggressive creatures like raptors, carnos, or even alpha predators. Always bring a tamed dinosaur for protection, such as a Rex or Spino, and be prepared to defend yourself.
Advanced techniques for metal farming include setting up a mining outpost near metal-rich areas. This can save time and resources by reducing the need to travel back and forth to your main base. Build a small, secure base with storage boxes, a forge, and a bed for respawning. You can also use a Quetzal or a platform saddle on a Brontosaurus to create a mobile mining base, allowing you to farm metal on the go.
In a tribe, coordination is key to efficient metal farming. Assign roles to tribe members, such as one person gathering metal, another transporting it, and another smelting it. This division of labor can significantly increase your metal output. Solo players should focus on taming dinosaurs that can handle multiple tasks, such as an Argentavis for transport and an Ankylosaurus for gathering.
Finally, always plan ahead and prepare for your metal farming trips. Bring enough food, water, and tools, and ensure your dinosaurs are well-fed and equipped with saddles. By following these strategies and avoiding common mistakes, you can efficiently farm metal ingots and build a strong, secure base in ARK: Survival Evolved.
First, you need to locate metal-rich areas. Metal nodes are found in specific locations across the map, often on mountains, hills, or rocky areas. On The Island map, for example, the mountains in the northwest, northeast, and central areas are excellent sources of metal. Other maps like Ragnarok or Valguero also have abundant metal nodes in mountainous regions. Once youÔÇÖve identified a good location, youÔÇÖll need the right tools to gather metal efficiently. A metal pickaxe is the best tool for harvesting metal ore, as it yields more metal compared to a stone pickaxe. If youÔÇÖre early in the game and donÔÇÖt have access to metal tools, a stone pickaxe will work, but itÔÇÖs less efficient.
To maximize your metal farming, consider taming dinosaurs that can help gather resources. Ankylosaurus is the best dinosaur for harvesting metal ore, as it has a high metal yield and can carry a large amount of weight. If you donÔÇÖt have an Ankylosaurus, a Doedicurus or a Mantis with a metal pick can also be useful. Once youÔÇÖve gathered the metal ore, youÔÇÖll need to transport it back to your base. Argentavis is an excellent choice for this task, as it can carry heavy loads and has a weight reduction for metal ore. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, you may need to make multiple trips, but in a tribe, you can coordinate with others to transport larger quantities.
Smelting metal ore into ingots requires a forge. There are several types of forges in ARK, including the refining forge, industrial forge, and tek replicator. The refining forge is the most basic and can be crafted early in the game. It requires wood or thatch as fuel to smelt metal ore. The industrial forge is more advanced and can smelt large quantities of metal ore quickly, but it requires a significant amount of resources to craft. If youÔÇÖre playing on a map with access to tek technology, the tek replicator is the most efficient option, as it can smelt metal ore instantly without fuel.
When smelting metal ore, itÔÇÖs important to manage your fuel and resources efficiently. Wood and thatch are the most common fuels for refining forges, but sparkpowder and gasoline are more efficient for industrial forges. Always ensure you have enough fuel to smelt all your metal ore in one go, as leaving it partially smelted can waste time and resources. Additionally, consider building multiple forges to speed up the smelting process, especially if youÔÇÖre farming large amounts of metal.
One common mistake players make is not prioritizing weight management when farming metal. Metal ore is heavy, and carrying too much can slow you down or prevent you from moving at all. To avoid this, use dinosaurs with high weight capacity or weight reduction for metal ore. Another mistake is not protecting your farming area. Metal-rich locations are often dangerous, with aggressive creatures like raptors, carnos, or even alpha predators. Always bring a tamed dinosaur for protection, such as a Rex or Spino, and be prepared to defend yourself.
Advanced techniques for metal farming include setting up a mining outpost near metal-rich areas. This can save time and resources by reducing the need to travel back and forth to your main base. Build a small, secure base with storage boxes, a forge, and a bed for respawning. You can also use a Quetzal or a platform saddle on a Brontosaurus to create a mobile mining base, allowing you to farm metal on the go.
In a tribe, coordination is key to efficient metal farming. Assign roles to tribe members, such as one person gathering metal, another transporting it, and another smelting it. This division of labor can significantly increase your metal output. Solo players should focus on taming dinosaurs that can handle multiple tasks, such as an Argentavis for transport and an Ankylosaurus for gathering.
Finally, always plan ahead and prepare for your metal farming trips. Bring enough food, water, and tools, and ensure your dinosaurs are well-fed and equipped with saddles. By following these strategies and avoiding common mistakes, you can efficiently farm metal ingots and build a strong, secure base in ARK: Survival Evolved.