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, other players, and environmental threats. A well-constructed wall can deter intruders, provide a safe zone for your tamed dinosaurs, and give you peace of mind while you focus on other survival tasks. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to build a secure perimeter wall, covering mechanics, strategies, and considerations.

First, you need to understand the mechanics of building walls in ARK. Walls are structures that can be crafted from various materials, including thatch, wood, stone, and metal. Each material offers different levels of durability and resistance to damage. Thatch walls are the weakest and can be destroyed easily by most creatures and players. Wood walls are stronger but still vulnerable to fire and stronger attacks. Stone walls are much more durable and resistant to most early-game threats, while metal walls are the strongest and can withstand heavy damage from explosives and high-level creatures. When building a perimeter wall, always aim for the highest-tier material you can afford, as it will provide the best protection.

To start building your perimeter wall, you need to gather the necessary resources. For a stone wall, you will need a significant amount of stone, wood, and thatch. Stone can be gathered by mining rocks with a pickaxe or a metal hatchet. Wood is obtained by chopping down trees, and thatch can be collected from trees or by using a pickaxe on rocks. If youÔÇÖre building a metal wall, youÔÇÖll need metal ingots, which are crafted by smelting metal ore in a forge. Metal ore is found in rocks, particularly in mountainous areas. YouÔÇÖll also need cementing paste, which can be crafted from chitin or keratin and stone, or harvested from beaver dams. Preparing these resources in bulk is crucial, as building a large perimeter wall can be resource-intensive.

Once you have the materials, the next step is to plan the layout of your wall. Start by placing fence foundations around the perimeter of your base. Fence foundations are essential for creating a stable and even wall. They can be placed directly on the ground and will snap to each other, allowing you to create a straight or curved wall. After placing the fence foundations, attach walls to them. Walls can be stacked 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 barrier.

One common mistake players make is not leaving enough space between the wall and their main structures. If the wall is too close to your base, enemies can use ranged weapons or explosives to damage both the wall and your buildings. To avoid this, leave a buffer zone of at least a few foundationsÔÇÖ width between the wall and your base. This space can also be used for defensive structures like turrets or traps.

Another important consideration is the placement of gates. Gates are necessary for allowing you and your tamed dinosaurs to enter and exit the base. However, they are also potential weak points in your perimeter. To secure your gates, use multiple layers of walls or metal behemoth gates, which are larger and more durable than standard gates. You can also place turrets or tamed dinosaurs near the gates to deter intruders.

For advanced players, optimizing your perimeter wall can involve using a combination of materials and structures. For example, you can use stone walls as the primary barrier and reinforce them with metal pillars or spikes. Spikes can be placed along the base of the wall to damage creatures that try to attack it. Additionally, you can use plant species X, which are defensive plants that shoot projectiles at enemies. These plants require fertilizer and water but can provide an extra layer of defense.

Resource management is critical when building a perimeter wall, especially for solo players or small tribes. Focus on gathering resources efficiently by using tamed dinosaurs like the Ankylosaurus for metal and stone, the Beaver for wood, and the Doedicurus for stone. These creatures can significantly speed up the resource-gathering process. For larger tribes, dividing tasks among members can make the process faster and more efficient.

In specific scenarios, such as PvP servers, you may need to adapt your wall design to counter advanced threats. For example, players on PvP servers often use C4 or rockets to breach walls. To counter this, consider building multiple layers of walls or using vaults as additional barriers. Vaults are extremely durable and can absorb a lot of damage, making them a valuable addition to your perimeter defense.

In conclusion, building a secure perimeter wall in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and strategic placement. By using high-tier materials, optimizing your layout, and incorporating advanced defensive structures, you can create a strong barrier that protects your base from threats. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or as part of a tribe, a well-built perimeter wall is a cornerstone of survival in the dangerous world of ARK.