How do I build a secure perimeter wall in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Building a secure perimeter wall in ARK: Survival Evolved is essential for protecting your base from hostile creatures, wild dinosaurs, and other players in PvP scenarios. A well-constructed wall can deter intruders, provide a safe zone for your tamed dinosaurs, and give you peace of mind while crafting or storing valuable resources. Below is a detailed guide on how to build a secure perimeter wall, covering mechanics, strategies, tips, and considerations.
To start, you need to understand the building mechanics in ARK. Walls are constructed using the building menu, which allows you to choose from different materials like thatch, wood, stone, and metal. Each material offers varying levels of durability and resistance to damage. Thatch is the weakest and can be destroyed easily, while metal is the strongest and most resistant to attacks. For a secure perimeter wall, you should aim to use stone or metal, depending on your progression level and available resources. Stone is a good mid-game option, while metal is ideal for late-game bases.
The first step is to gather the necessary resources. For a stone wall, you will need stone, wood, and thatch. Stone can be obtained by mining rocks with a pickaxe or an Ankylosaurus, while wood is gathered by chopping trees with an axe or a Therizinosaurus. Thatch is also collected from trees but in smaller quantities. If you are building a metal wall, you will need metal ingots, which are crafted by smelting metal ore in a forge. Metal ore is mined from metal-rich rocks, often found in mountainous areas. Additionally, you will need cementing paste, which can be crafted from chitin or keratin and stone, or harvested from beaver dams.
Once you have the resources, plan the layout of your perimeter wall. Start by placing fence foundations around the area you want to enclose. Fence foundations provide a stable base for your walls and ensure they are aligned properly. After placing the fence foundations, attach walls to them. You can stack walls vertically to increase the height of your perimeter, making it harder for creatures or players to climb over. For added security, consider adding a second layer of walls or using sloped walls to create a more complex structure that is harder to breach.
Gates are an important part of your perimeter wall. You will need at least one large gate to allow your tamed dinosaurs to enter and exit the base. Gates can be crafted from the same materials as walls, so choose a material that matches the durability of your perimeter. Place the gate in a strategic location, preferably near your main entrance, and ensure it is well-protected with additional walls or turrets.
Defensive structures like turrets can be placed along the perimeter to deter intruders. Auto turrets and plant species X are effective at targeting hostile creatures and players. Auto turrets require ammunition and electricity, so make sure you have a reliable power source like a generator or wind turbine. Plant species X can be grown from seeds and do not require power, making them a good alternative for early to mid-game bases.
When building your perimeter wall, avoid common mistakes like leaving gaps between walls or using weak materials. Even a small gap can allow smaller creatures or players to slip through, so double-check your placement. Also, ensure your walls are tall enough to prevent creatures like Rexes or Gigas from reaching over. If you are playing on a PvP server, consider adding a layer of spikes or traps around the perimeter to slow down or damage attackers.
Advanced techniques include using behemoth gates for larger bases or incorporating natural terrain features like cliffs or rivers into your perimeter design. Behemoth gates are wider and taller than regular gates, making them ideal for enclosing large areas or accommodating bigger dinosaurs. If your base is near a cliff, you can use the cliff as part of your perimeter, reducing the amount of wall you need to build. Similarly, rivers or lakes can act as natural barriers, forcing intruders to approach from specific directions.
Resource management is crucial when building a perimeter wall. Gather more materials than you think you will need, as building a large wall can be resource-intensive. Use tamed dinosaurs like the Ankylosaurus for mining, the Doedicurus for gathering stone, and the Castoroides for collecting wood and cementing paste. These dinosaurs can significantly speed up the resource-gathering process.
If you are playing solo, focus on building a smaller, more manageable perimeter to conserve resources. For tribes, divide the workload among members to gather materials and construct the wall more efficiently. Communication and coordination are key to ensuring the perimeter is built quickly and securely.
In summary, building a secure perimeter wall in ARK: Survival Evolved involves careful planning, resource gathering, and strategic placement of walls, gates, and defensive structures. Use durable materials like stone or metal, avoid gaps, and incorporate advanced techniques like behemoth gates or natural barriers. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, a well-built perimeter wall will provide the protection you need to thrive in the dangerous world of ARK.
To start, you need to understand the building mechanics in ARK. Walls are constructed using the building menu, which allows you to choose from different materials like thatch, wood, stone, and metal. Each material offers varying levels of durability and resistance to damage. Thatch is the weakest and can be destroyed easily, while metal is the strongest and most resistant to attacks. For a secure perimeter wall, you should aim to use stone or metal, depending on your progression level and available resources. Stone is a good mid-game option, while metal is ideal for late-game bases.
The first step is to gather the necessary resources. For a stone wall, you will need stone, wood, and thatch. Stone can be obtained by mining rocks with a pickaxe or an Ankylosaurus, while wood is gathered by chopping trees with an axe or a Therizinosaurus. Thatch is also collected from trees but in smaller quantities. If you are building a metal wall, you will need metal ingots, which are crafted by smelting metal ore in a forge. Metal ore is mined from metal-rich rocks, often found in mountainous areas. Additionally, you will need cementing paste, which can be crafted from chitin or keratin and stone, or harvested from beaver dams.
Once you have the resources, plan the layout of your perimeter wall. Start by placing fence foundations around the area you want to enclose. Fence foundations provide a stable base for your walls and ensure they are aligned properly. After placing the fence foundations, attach walls to them. You can stack walls vertically to increase the height of your perimeter, making it harder for creatures or players to climb over. For added security, consider adding a second layer of walls or using sloped walls to create a more complex structure that is harder to breach.
Gates are an important part of your perimeter wall. You will need at least one large gate to allow your tamed dinosaurs to enter and exit the base. Gates can be crafted from the same materials as walls, so choose a material that matches the durability of your perimeter. Place the gate in a strategic location, preferably near your main entrance, and ensure it is well-protected with additional walls or turrets.
Defensive structures like turrets can be placed along the perimeter to deter intruders. Auto turrets and plant species X are effective at targeting hostile creatures and players. Auto turrets require ammunition and electricity, so make sure you have a reliable power source like a generator or wind turbine. Plant species X can be grown from seeds and do not require power, making them a good alternative for early to mid-game bases.
When building your perimeter wall, avoid common mistakes like leaving gaps between walls or using weak materials. Even a small gap can allow smaller creatures or players to slip through, so double-check your placement. Also, ensure your walls are tall enough to prevent creatures like Rexes or Gigas from reaching over. If you are playing on a PvP server, consider adding a layer of spikes or traps around the perimeter to slow down or damage attackers.
Advanced techniques include using behemoth gates for larger bases or incorporating natural terrain features like cliffs or rivers into your perimeter design. Behemoth gates are wider and taller than regular gates, making them ideal for enclosing large areas or accommodating bigger dinosaurs. If your base is near a cliff, you can use the cliff as part of your perimeter, reducing the amount of wall you need to build. Similarly, rivers or lakes can act as natural barriers, forcing intruders to approach from specific directions.
Resource management is crucial when building a perimeter wall. Gather more materials than you think you will need, as building a large wall can be resource-intensive. Use tamed dinosaurs like the Ankylosaurus for mining, the Doedicurus for gathering stone, and the Castoroides for collecting wood and cementing paste. These dinosaurs can significantly speed up the resource-gathering process.
If you are playing solo, focus on building a smaller, more manageable perimeter to conserve resources. For tribes, divide the workload among members to gather materials and construct the wall more efficiently. Communication and coordination are key to ensuring the perimeter is built quickly and securely.
In summary, building a secure perimeter wall in ARK: Survival Evolved involves careful planning, resource gathering, and strategic placement of walls, gates, and defensive structures. Use durable materials like stone or metal, avoid gaps, and incorporate advanced techniques like behemoth gates or natural barriers. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, a well-built perimeter wall will provide the protection you need to thrive in the dangerous world of ARK.