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

Gathering honey in ARK: Survival Evolved is essential for advanced base building, as it is used in crafting recipes like Sweet Vegetable Cake, which is crucial for taming certain creatures and healing tamed dinosaurs. Honey is primarily obtained from wild beehives or by placing your own beehives around your base. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to gather honey efficiently, including mechanics, strategies, and tips.

To start, you need to locate wild beehives, which are typically found in specific areas of the map, such as redwood forests or near cliffs. Wild beehives are large, hanging structures that emit a buzzing sound and are guarded by aggressive giant bees. When you approach a beehive, the bees will attack, so preparation is key. You will need protective gear like a full set of ghillie armor to reduce your aggro range and minimize bee attacks. Alternatively, you can use a tamed creature like a Dire Bear or a Megatherium, as they are resistant to insect damage and can destroy the hive quickly.

Once youÔÇÖve located a beehive, you can harvest honey by interacting with it. However, this will anger the bees, so you need to act fast. After harvesting, you will receive a small amount of honey, but the hive will be destroyed, and the bees will respawn after a cooldown period. To avoid this, you can craft a Bug Repellant, which reduces the chance of bees attacking you when harvesting. This is a more sustainable method, as it allows you to harvest honey without destroying the hive.

A more advanced and efficient way to gather honey is by taming a queen bee and crafting your own beehives. To do this, you need to find a wild beehive and use a rare flower to lure the queen bee out. Once she emerges, you can knock her out using a ranged weapon like a crossbow with tranquilizer arrows. Be careful not to kill her, as she has low health. After she is unconscious, place rare flowers in her inventory to tame her. Once tamed, you can craft a beehive using the queen bee, along with resources like wood, thatch, fiber, and cementing paste. Place the beehive in a safe location near your base, and it will produce honey over time. You can harvest honey from your beehive every 30 minutes, and it will store up to five jars of honey at a time.

When placing beehives, consider their surroundings. Bees require a certain amount of space and cannot be placed too close to other structures or creatures. They also need to be in a warm environment, so avoid placing them in cold biomes. Additionally, beehives can be damaged by hostile creatures or players, so itÔÇÖs a good idea to protect them with walls or turrets.

For solo players, managing beehives can be challenging, as you need to regularly harvest honey and protect the hives. However, in a tribe, you can assign roles to different members, such as one person responsible for harvesting honey and another for defending the base. This division of labor makes the process more efficient and ensures a steady supply of honey.

Common mistakes to avoid include harvesting honey without proper protection, which can lead to bee attacks and potential death. Another mistake is placing beehives in unsuitable locations, such as cold areas or too close to other structures, which can prevent them from functioning properly. Additionally, failing to protect your beehives from hostile creatures or players can result in their destruction, wasting your resources.

Advanced techniques include using tamed creatures like the Dire Bear, which not only helps in harvesting honey but also increases the amount of honey gathered. You can also use a whip to quickly collect honey from beehives without aggroing the bees. For optimal honey production, consider placing multiple beehives in a secure area and harvesting them regularly to maximize output.

In summary, gathering honey in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning and preparation. Whether youÔÇÖre harvesting from wild beehives or maintaining your own, understanding the mechanics and using the right strategies will ensure a steady supply of honey for your advanced base-building needs. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can efficiently gather honey and enhance your survival experience in the game.