What is the best way to set up a smelting area in my base in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Setting up a smelting area in your base in ARK: Survival Evolved is a critical step in progressing through the game, as it allows you to refine raw materials like metal ore into usable metal ingots. A well-designed smelting area ensures efficiency, safety, and scalability as your base grows. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you create an effective smelting setup.
First, you need to understand the mechanics of smelting. Smelting is done using a refining forge or an industrial forge. The refining forge is the basic option, requiring wood or thatch as fuel to convert metal ore into metal ingots. The industrial forge is an advanced version that smelts materials much faster and can hold more resources, but it requires electricity to operate. Both forges can also smelt other materials like oil from oil rocks or hide into keratin and chitin.
To start, choose a location for your smelting area. Ideally, this should be close to your resource storage and crafting stations to minimize travel time. If youÔÇÖre on a PvP server, consider placing it in a secure, enclosed area to protect it from raids. For PvE, you can place it outdoors but still within a walled perimeter to keep wild creatures out.
Next, gather the necessary resources. For a refining forge, youÔÇÖll need stone, wood, flint, and fiber. For an industrial forge, youÔÇÖll need metal ingots, cementing paste, polymer, and electronics. If youÔÇÖre early in the game, start with a refining forge and upgrade to an industrial forge later. YouÔÇÖll also need a steady supply of metal ore, which can be gathered from metal-rich rocks found in mountainous areas or caves. Use a metal pick or a high-level dinosaur like an Ankylosaurus for efficient mining.
Once you have your forge, place it in your chosen location. If youÔÇÖre using a refining forge, ensure you have a nearby storage box for wood or thatch to keep it fueled. For an industrial forge, connect it to a power source like a generator or wind turbine. Industrial forges are more efficient, so prioritize upgrading to one as soon as possible.
To optimize your smelting area, consider adding multiple forges. This allows you to smelt large quantities of metal ore simultaneously, which is especially useful for late-game crafting. Place storage boxes nearby to hold raw materials and finished products. You can also add a preserving bin or refrigerator to store organic polymer or other perishable resources.
One common mistake is not having enough fuel for your forges. Always keep a surplus of wood or thatch for refining forges, and ensure your generator is fueled with gasoline for industrial forges. Another mistake is placing the smelting area too far from your resource storage, which wastes time and increases the risk of losing resources to predators or other players.
For advanced optimization, consider using tamed dinosaurs to assist with resource gathering and transportation. An Ankylosaurus is excellent for mining metal ore, while a Argentavis or Quetzal can carry large amounts of resources back to your base. If youÔÇÖre in a tribe, assign roles to members to streamline the process, such as one person gathering metal ore and another managing the forges.
In solo play, focus on creating a compact and efficient smelting area. Use a combination of refining forges early on and upgrade to an industrial forge as soon as you can. Prioritize building a secure perimeter to protect your resources and forges from threats.
For example, if youÔÇÖre playing on The Island map, a good location for a smelting area is near the volcano or in the central mountain range, where metal nodes are abundant. On Scorched Earth, set up near the metal-rich canyons. On Aberration, use the metal nodes in the blue or red zones, but be cautious of the dangerous creatures in those areas.
In conclusion, setting up a smelting area requires careful planning and resource management. Start with a refining forge, upgrade to an industrial forge, and optimize your setup with multiple forges and storage solutions. Use tamed dinosaurs to gather resources efficiently, and protect your smelting area with walls and defenses. By following these steps, youÔÇÖll have a reliable and efficient smelting operation to support your base-building and crafting needs in ARK: Survival Evolved.
First, you need to understand the mechanics of smelting. Smelting is done using a refining forge or an industrial forge. The refining forge is the basic option, requiring wood or thatch as fuel to convert metal ore into metal ingots. The industrial forge is an advanced version that smelts materials much faster and can hold more resources, but it requires electricity to operate. Both forges can also smelt other materials like oil from oil rocks or hide into keratin and chitin.
To start, choose a location for your smelting area. Ideally, this should be close to your resource storage and crafting stations to minimize travel time. If youÔÇÖre on a PvP server, consider placing it in a secure, enclosed area to protect it from raids. For PvE, you can place it outdoors but still within a walled perimeter to keep wild creatures out.
Next, gather the necessary resources. For a refining forge, youÔÇÖll need stone, wood, flint, and fiber. For an industrial forge, youÔÇÖll need metal ingots, cementing paste, polymer, and electronics. If youÔÇÖre early in the game, start with a refining forge and upgrade to an industrial forge later. YouÔÇÖll also need a steady supply of metal ore, which can be gathered from metal-rich rocks found in mountainous areas or caves. Use a metal pick or a high-level dinosaur like an Ankylosaurus for efficient mining.
Once you have your forge, place it in your chosen location. If youÔÇÖre using a refining forge, ensure you have a nearby storage box for wood or thatch to keep it fueled. For an industrial forge, connect it to a power source like a generator or wind turbine. Industrial forges are more efficient, so prioritize upgrading to one as soon as possible.
To optimize your smelting area, consider adding multiple forges. This allows you to smelt large quantities of metal ore simultaneously, which is especially useful for late-game crafting. Place storage boxes nearby to hold raw materials and finished products. You can also add a preserving bin or refrigerator to store organic polymer or other perishable resources.
One common mistake is not having enough fuel for your forges. Always keep a surplus of wood or thatch for refining forges, and ensure your generator is fueled with gasoline for industrial forges. Another mistake is placing the smelting area too far from your resource storage, which wastes time and increases the risk of losing resources to predators or other players.
For advanced optimization, consider using tamed dinosaurs to assist with resource gathering and transportation. An Ankylosaurus is excellent for mining metal ore, while a Argentavis or Quetzal can carry large amounts of resources back to your base. If youÔÇÖre in a tribe, assign roles to members to streamline the process, such as one person gathering metal ore and another managing the forges.
In solo play, focus on creating a compact and efficient smelting area. Use a combination of refining forges early on and upgrade to an industrial forge as soon as you can. Prioritize building a secure perimeter to protect your resources and forges from threats.
For example, if youÔÇÖre playing on The Island map, a good location for a smelting area is near the volcano or in the central mountain range, where metal nodes are abundant. On Scorched Earth, set up near the metal-rich canyons. On Aberration, use the metal nodes in the blue or red zones, but be cautious of the dangerous creatures in those areas.
In conclusion, setting up a smelting area requires careful planning and resource management. Start with a refining forge, upgrade to an industrial forge, and optimize your setup with multiple forges and storage solutions. Use tamed dinosaurs to gather resources efficiently, and protect your smelting area with walls and defenses. By following these steps, youÔÇÖll have a reliable and efficient smelting operation to support your base-building and crafting needs in ARK: Survival Evolved.