What are the best early-game armor sets for survival in ARK: Survival Evolved?
In ARK: Survival Evolved, early-game armor sets are crucial for survival, as they provide protection against environmental hazards, hostile creatures, and other players in PvP scenarios. The best early-game armor sets are the Cloth Armor and Hide Armor, which are relatively easy to craft and offer decent protection for beginners. Below is a detailed explanation of how to obtain and use these armor sets effectively, along with strategies, tips, and considerations.
The Cloth Armor set is the first armor you can craft in ARK. It requires basic resources like Fiber, Hide, and Wood. Fiber can be gathered by hand from bushes, Hide is obtained by killing small creatures like Dodos or Dilophosaurs, and Wood is collected from trees using a Stone Pickaxe or Hatchet. To craft Cloth Armor, you need to unlock the Cloth Armor engrams at level 2. The set includes a Cloth Shirt, Cloth Pants, Cloth Gloves, Cloth Boots, and a Cloth Hat. While Cloth Armor provides minimal protection, it is essential for surviving the early game, especially in colder or hotter biomes, as it offers some insulation against extreme temperatures.
Once you reach level 10, you can unlock the Hide Armor engrams, which provide better protection than Cloth Armor. Hide Armor requires more resources, including Hide, Fiber, and Wood. You will need to hunt larger creatures like Parasaur or Trikes to gather enough Hide. The Hide Armor set includes a Hide Shirt, Hide Pants, Hide Gloves, Hide Boots, and a Hide Helmet. This armor offers better defense against physical attacks and environmental damage, making it ideal for exploring and combat.
To craft these armor sets, you need to gather the necessary resources and use a Crafting Table or your inventory crafting menu. Prioritize gathering Fiber and Hide early on, as these are the most critical resources for crafting armor. Use a Stone Pickaxe to harvest Hide more efficiently from corpses, and gather Fiber by hand or with a sickle if you have one. Wood is abundant and can be collected from trees using a Stone Hatchet.
When wearing armor, keep an eye on its durability. Armor degrades over time when taking damage, so always carry extra materials to repair it. Repairing armor requires the same resources used to craft it, so stockpile Hide, Fiber, and Wood. Additionally, consider crafting multiple sets of armor to have backups in case one set breaks during combat or exploration.
One common mistake early-game players make is neglecting armor in favor of weapons or tools. While weapons are essential for defense, armor is equally important for survival. Without proper armor, you are vulnerable to attacks from creatures and environmental hazards like extreme temperatures. Another mistake is not repairing armor regularly, which can leave you unprotected in critical moments.
For advanced techniques, consider using tamed dinosaurs to gather resources more efficiently. For example, a Parasaur can help you gather Fiber, while a Trike or Stegosaurus can collect large amounts of Wood and Thatch. Taming a Raptor or Carnotaurus can also help you hunt for Hide more effectively. Additionally, prioritize leveling up your character to unlock better armor sets like Chitin or Flak Armor, which offer superior protection.
Resource management is key to maintaining your armor. Always gather more resources than you think you need, as you will use them for crafting, repairing, and building. If you are playing in a tribe, coordinate with your teammates to divide tasks like gathering Fiber, Hide, and Wood. This ensures that everyone has the resources they need to craft and repair armor.
In solo play, focus on gathering resources efficiently and taming dinosaurs to assist you. A tamed Trike or Stegosaurus can help you gather large amounts of Wood and Thatch, while a Raptor can protect you from hostile creatures. Always carry a backup set of armor and repair materials when exploring, as you may encounter unexpected threats.
In specific scenarios, such as exploring caves or fighting bosses, armor becomes even more critical. Caves are filled with dangerous creatures and environmental hazards, so wearing Hide Armor or better is essential. For boss fights, consider crafting higher-tier armor like Chitin or Flak Armor, as bosses deal significant damage.
In summary, the best early-game armor sets in ARK: Survival Evolved are Cloth Armor and Hide Armor. These sets provide essential protection for beginners and are relatively easy to craft. Focus on gathering resources like Fiber, Hide, and Wood, and use tamed dinosaurs to improve efficiency. Repair your armor regularly and carry backup sets for emergencies. By following these strategies, you can survive the early game and prepare for more advanced challenges.
The Cloth Armor set is the first armor you can craft in ARK. It requires basic resources like Fiber, Hide, and Wood. Fiber can be gathered by hand from bushes, Hide is obtained by killing small creatures like Dodos or Dilophosaurs, and Wood is collected from trees using a Stone Pickaxe or Hatchet. To craft Cloth Armor, you need to unlock the Cloth Armor engrams at level 2. The set includes a Cloth Shirt, Cloth Pants, Cloth Gloves, Cloth Boots, and a Cloth Hat. While Cloth Armor provides minimal protection, it is essential for surviving the early game, especially in colder or hotter biomes, as it offers some insulation against extreme temperatures.
Once you reach level 10, you can unlock the Hide Armor engrams, which provide better protection than Cloth Armor. Hide Armor requires more resources, including Hide, Fiber, and Wood. You will need to hunt larger creatures like Parasaur or Trikes to gather enough Hide. The Hide Armor set includes a Hide Shirt, Hide Pants, Hide Gloves, Hide Boots, and a Hide Helmet. This armor offers better defense against physical attacks and environmental damage, making it ideal for exploring and combat.
To craft these armor sets, you need to gather the necessary resources and use a Crafting Table or your inventory crafting menu. Prioritize gathering Fiber and Hide early on, as these are the most critical resources for crafting armor. Use a Stone Pickaxe to harvest Hide more efficiently from corpses, and gather Fiber by hand or with a sickle if you have one. Wood is abundant and can be collected from trees using a Stone Hatchet.
When wearing armor, keep an eye on its durability. Armor degrades over time when taking damage, so always carry extra materials to repair it. Repairing armor requires the same resources used to craft it, so stockpile Hide, Fiber, and Wood. Additionally, consider crafting multiple sets of armor to have backups in case one set breaks during combat or exploration.
One common mistake early-game players make is neglecting armor in favor of weapons or tools. While weapons are essential for defense, armor is equally important for survival. Without proper armor, you are vulnerable to attacks from creatures and environmental hazards like extreme temperatures. Another mistake is not repairing armor regularly, which can leave you unprotected in critical moments.
For advanced techniques, consider using tamed dinosaurs to gather resources more efficiently. For example, a Parasaur can help you gather Fiber, while a Trike or Stegosaurus can collect large amounts of Wood and Thatch. Taming a Raptor or Carnotaurus can also help you hunt for Hide more effectively. Additionally, prioritize leveling up your character to unlock better armor sets like Chitin or Flak Armor, which offer superior protection.
Resource management is key to maintaining your armor. Always gather more resources than you think you need, as you will use them for crafting, repairing, and building. If you are playing in a tribe, coordinate with your teammates to divide tasks like gathering Fiber, Hide, and Wood. This ensures that everyone has the resources they need to craft and repair armor.
In solo play, focus on gathering resources efficiently and taming dinosaurs to assist you. A tamed Trike or Stegosaurus can help you gather large amounts of Wood and Thatch, while a Raptor can protect you from hostile creatures. Always carry a backup set of armor and repair materials when exploring, as you may encounter unexpected threats.
In specific scenarios, such as exploring caves or fighting bosses, armor becomes even more critical. Caves are filled with dangerous creatures and environmental hazards, so wearing Hide Armor or better is essential. For boss fights, consider crafting higher-tier armor like Chitin or Flak Armor, as bosses deal significant damage.
In summary, the best early-game armor sets in ARK: Survival Evolved are Cloth Armor and Hide Armor. These sets provide essential protection for beginners and are relatively easy to craft. Focus on gathering resources like Fiber, Hide, and Wood, and use tamed dinosaurs to improve efficiency. Repair your armor regularly and carry backup sets for emergencies. By following these strategies, you can survive the early game and prepare for more advanced challenges.