What is the most efficient way to farm stone for base building in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Farming stone efficiently in ARK: Survival Evolved is crucial for base building, as stone is one of the most commonly used resources for constructing durable structures. Stone is primarily gathered by hitting rocks with tools like picks, hatchets, or by using tamed creatures with harvesting abilities. The most efficient way to farm stone involves a combination of using the right tools, taming specific creatures, and optimizing your gathering routes.
To start, you will need a metal pick, as it yields the most stone per rock compared to stone or primitive picks. If you are early in the game and do not have access to metal tools, a stone pick will suffice, but upgrading to metal should be a priority. Once you have a metal pick, you can begin gathering stone from rocks scattered across the map. Rocks are abundant in most biomes, but certain areas like mountains, riverbeds, and rocky outcrops have higher concentrations of large rocks that yield more stone.
One of the most effective strategies for farming stone is to tame a creature with high stone-gathering efficiency. The best creatures for this task are the Doedicurus and the Ankylosaurus. The Doedicurus is a large, armadillo-like creature that specializes in gathering stone. When set to wander or manually controlled, it can harvest massive amounts of stone from rocks with minimal effort. The Ankylosaurus, while primarily used for metal farming, can also gather stone efficiently, especially when equipped with a saddle that increases its weight capacity. Taming these creatures requires preparation, such as gathering narcotics, tranquilizer arrows, and the appropriate food (berries for the Doedicurus and mejoberries or vegetables for the Ankylosaurus).
Once you have a Doedicurus or Ankylosaurus, you can optimize your stone-gathering route by targeting areas with dense rock clusters. Mountains are ideal for this, as they often have large boulders that yield significant amounts of stone. When farming with a Doedicurus, you can set it to wander mode, and it will automatically harvest nearby rocks. However, it is often more efficient to manually control the creature to ensure it targets the largest rocks and avoids wandering into dangerous areas. Always keep an eye on your creatureÔÇÖs weight limit, as overloading it will slow it down and reduce efficiency. Using a weight-reducing saddle or having a follow-up creature like a Argentavis to carry excess stone can help mitigate this issue.
For solo players, managing weight and inventory space is critical. Always carry a few storage boxes or a large storage container like a vault to offload stone while farming. If you are in a tribe, coordinate with your teammates to have one person focus on gathering while others transport the stone back to your base. This division of labor can significantly increase efficiency.
Advanced techniques include using a Quetzal or Argentavis to carry your Doedicurus or Ankylosaurus to high-yield areas. This allows you to quickly move between rock clusters without worrying about the creatureÔÇÖs slow movement speed. Additionally, using a whip can help you gather stone from rocks more efficiently, as it can dislodge resources from a distance.
Common mistakes to avoid include overloading your creature or inventory, which slows down movement and makes you vulnerable to attacks. Always be aware of your surroundings, as stone-rich areas like mountains are often populated by dangerous predators like Rexes or Carnotaurus. Bringing a tamed creature for protection, such as a Rex or Spino, can help you farm safely.
In summary, the most efficient way to farm stone involves using a metal pick or a tamed Doedicurus/Ankylosaurus, targeting high-yield areas like mountains, and managing weight and inventory effectively. Advanced techniques like using flying creatures for transport and whips for gathering can further optimize your stone farming. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, proper preparation and strategy will ensure a steady supply of stone for all your base-building needs.
To start, you will need a metal pick, as it yields the most stone per rock compared to stone or primitive picks. If you are early in the game and do not have access to metal tools, a stone pick will suffice, but upgrading to metal should be a priority. Once you have a metal pick, you can begin gathering stone from rocks scattered across the map. Rocks are abundant in most biomes, but certain areas like mountains, riverbeds, and rocky outcrops have higher concentrations of large rocks that yield more stone.
One of the most effective strategies for farming stone is to tame a creature with high stone-gathering efficiency. The best creatures for this task are the Doedicurus and the Ankylosaurus. The Doedicurus is a large, armadillo-like creature that specializes in gathering stone. When set to wander or manually controlled, it can harvest massive amounts of stone from rocks with minimal effort. The Ankylosaurus, while primarily used for metal farming, can also gather stone efficiently, especially when equipped with a saddle that increases its weight capacity. Taming these creatures requires preparation, such as gathering narcotics, tranquilizer arrows, and the appropriate food (berries for the Doedicurus and mejoberries or vegetables for the Ankylosaurus).
Once you have a Doedicurus or Ankylosaurus, you can optimize your stone-gathering route by targeting areas with dense rock clusters. Mountains are ideal for this, as they often have large boulders that yield significant amounts of stone. When farming with a Doedicurus, you can set it to wander mode, and it will automatically harvest nearby rocks. However, it is often more efficient to manually control the creature to ensure it targets the largest rocks and avoids wandering into dangerous areas. Always keep an eye on your creatureÔÇÖs weight limit, as overloading it will slow it down and reduce efficiency. Using a weight-reducing saddle or having a follow-up creature like a Argentavis to carry excess stone can help mitigate this issue.
For solo players, managing weight and inventory space is critical. Always carry a few storage boxes or a large storage container like a vault to offload stone while farming. If you are in a tribe, coordinate with your teammates to have one person focus on gathering while others transport the stone back to your base. This division of labor can significantly increase efficiency.
Advanced techniques include using a Quetzal or Argentavis to carry your Doedicurus or Ankylosaurus to high-yield areas. This allows you to quickly move between rock clusters without worrying about the creatureÔÇÖs slow movement speed. Additionally, using a whip can help you gather stone from rocks more efficiently, as it can dislodge resources from a distance.
Common mistakes to avoid include overloading your creature or inventory, which slows down movement and makes you vulnerable to attacks. Always be aware of your surroundings, as stone-rich areas like mountains are often populated by dangerous predators like Rexes or Carnotaurus. Bringing a tamed creature for protection, such as a Rex or Spino, can help you farm safely.
In summary, the most efficient way to farm stone involves using a metal pick or a tamed Doedicurus/Ankylosaurus, targeting high-yield areas like mountains, and managing weight and inventory effectively. Advanced techniques like using flying creatures for transport and whips for gathering can further optimize your stone farming. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, proper preparation and strategy will ensure a steady supply of stone for all your base-building needs.