What are the best ways to gather keratin for advanced base building in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Keratin is a crucial resource in ARK: Survival Evolved, especially for advanced base building. It is used to craft items like saddles, armor, and certain structures. Gathering keratin efficiently requires understanding the mechanics of the game, knowing which creatures drop it, and using the right tools and strategies. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to gather keratin effectively.

Keratin is primarily obtained by harvesting certain creatures. The most common sources are creatures with hard shells or horns, such as Triceratops, Carbonemys, Ankylosaurus, and Sabertooths. When you kill these creatures, you can harvest their bodies using tools like a hatchet or a tamed dinosaur with high melee damage. A hatchet is generally more effective for gathering keratin compared to a pickaxe, as it yields more keratin per harvest. However, using a tamed dinosaur like a Sabertooth or a Therizinosaurus can be even more efficient, as they can gather large amounts of keratin quickly.

To start gathering keratin, youÔÇÖll need to prepare by crafting a hatchet if you donÔÇÖt already have one. YouÔÇÖll also want to ensure you have a weapon to defend yourself, as many of the creatures that drop keratin can be dangerous. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, itÔÇÖs a good idea to bring a tamed dinosaur for protection and to help with harvesting. If youÔÇÖre in a tribe, you can coordinate with other players to cover more ground and gather keratin more quickly.

Once youÔÇÖre prepared, head to areas where the target creatures spawn. For example, Triceratops and Carbonemys are commonly found in the grasslands and near rivers. Sabertooths are often found in forests and mountainous regions. Ankylosaurus can be found in rocky areas. When you encounter these creatures, kill them using your weapon or tamed dinosaur. After theyÔÇÖre dead, use your hatchet or tamed dinosaur to harvest their bodies. YouÔÇÖll receive keratin along with other resources like hide and meat.

One important tip is to focus on creatures that yield the most keratin. For example, Triceratops and Carbonemys are excellent sources, as they drop a significant amount of keratin per harvest. Sabertooths also drop keratin, but they are more dangerous and harder to kill, so they may not be the best choice for solo players or those with weaker tamed dinosaurs. Ankylosaurus are another good source, but they are heavily armored and can be difficult to take down without a strong tamed dinosaur or powerful weapons.

A common mistake is using the wrong tool for harvesting. As mentioned earlier, a hatchet is more effective for gathering keratin than a pickaxe. Using a pickaxe will yield less keratin and more chitin, which is a different resource. Another mistake is not bringing enough supplies or protection. Some of the creatures that drop keratin can be aggressive and dangerous, so itÔÇÖs important to be prepared with weapons, armor, and healing items.

For advanced players, there are several optimizations you can make to gather keratin more efficiently. One strategy is to use a tamed Therizinosaurus, which has a high harvesting efficiency for keratin. Another strategy is to set up a base or outpost near a high-density spawn area for the target creatures. This allows you to quickly gather keratin without having to travel long distances. You can also use a tamed Argentavis or other flying mount to transport large amounts of keratin back to your base.

Resource requirements for gathering keratin are relatively low. YouÔÇÖll need a hatchet, which requires wood, stone, and fiber to craft. If youÔÇÖre using a tamed dinosaur, youÔÇÖll need to have the necessary resources to tame and maintain it, such as food and saddles. YouÔÇÖll also need weapons and armor to protect yourself from hostile creatures.

In terms of tribe versus solo considerations, tribes have the advantage of being able to cover more ground and gather keratin more quickly. Solo players will need to be more cautious and may need to rely on tamed dinosaurs for protection and harvesting. However, solo players can still gather keratin efficiently by focusing on safer areas and using the right tools and strategies.

Specific examples of keratin gathering scenarios include hunting Triceratops in the grasslands near the beach, where they are plentiful and relatively easy to kill. Another scenario is hunting Carbonemys near rivers, where they are often found in groups. For more advanced players, hunting Sabertooths in the forests can yield a lot of keratin, but it requires strong tamed dinosaurs or powerful weapons.

In conclusion, gathering keratin in ARK: Survival Evolved requires understanding the mechanics of harvesting, knowing which creatures drop it, and using the right tools and strategies. By focusing on high-yield creatures, using a hatchet or tamed dinosaur, and being prepared with weapons and armor, you can gather keratin efficiently for advanced base building. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or in a tribe, these tips and strategies will help you gather the keratin you need to progress in the game.