What are the best ways to gather metal in the early game of ARK: Survival Evolved?
Gathering metal in the early game of ARK: Survival Evolved is crucial for progressing to more advanced tools, weapons, and structures. Metal is used to craft items like metal tools, weapons, and building components, which are far more durable and effective than their stone counterparts. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to efficiently gather metal in the early stages of the game.
First, you need to understand where to find metal. Metal nodes are the primary source of metal and are typically found in rocky areas, mountains, and hills. These nodes look like large, shiny rocks with a metallic sheen. On The Island map, for example, metal nodes are abundant in the mountains near the center of the map, such as the volcano and the surrounding highlands. However, these areas are also dangerous, as they are often populated by aggressive creatures like raptors, carnos, and even the occasional rex. Therefore, preparation is key.
To start gathering metal, youÔÇÖll need the right tools. A metal pick is the most efficient tool for harvesting metal, but since youÔÇÖre in the early game, youÔÇÖll likely only have access to a stone pick. While a stone pick is less efficient, it can still gather metal, albeit at a slower rate. Once youÔÇÖve gathered enough metal, prioritize crafting a metal pick to speed up your resource collection.
Before heading out to gather metal, prepare yourself for the journey. Craft a few stone picks, as they will break quickly. Bring a bed or sleeping bag to set up a respawn point near the metal nodes in case you die. Pack some food, water, and basic weapons like a spear or bow for defense. If you have a tamed dinosaur, consider bringing it along for protection and to carry additional resources. Early-game tames like a Trike or Parasaur can be useful for carrying metal, though they are not the best for combat.
When you reach the metal nodes, start mining them with your stone pick. Each hit will yield metal ore, and occasionally flint. Be mindful of your surroundings, as aggressive creatures can attack you while youÔÇÖre mining. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, itÔÇÖs best to mine quickly and retreat to a safe spot if you hear or see any threats. If youÔÇÖre in a tribe, consider having one person act as a lookout while the others mine.
Once youÔÇÖve gathered metal ore, youÔÇÖll need to smelt it into metal ingots. To do this, youÔÇÖll need a refining forge. Craft a refining forge using stone, wood, and fiber, and place it near your base. Fuel the forge with wood or thatch, and place the metal ore inside. Over time, the forge will smelt the ore into metal ingots. This process can be slow, so consider building multiple forges to speed up production.
A common mistake early-game players make is not bringing enough tools or supplies when venturing out for metal. Running out of tools mid-mining can leave you stranded in a dangerous area. Always bring extra tools and materials to craft more if needed. Another mistake is not scouting the area before mining. Aggressive creatures can quickly overwhelm you if youÔÇÖre not prepared. Always survey the area and clear out any threats before starting to mine.
Advanced techniques for gathering metal include using tamed dinosaurs to increase efficiency. Ankylosaurus is the best dinosaur for gathering metal, as it can harvest large amounts of metal ore with each swing of its tail. If you can tame an Ankylosaurus early, it will significantly speed up your metal gathering. Additionally, using a flying mount like a Pteranodon can help you reach metal nodes in hard-to-reach areas, such as mountain peaks.
Resource management is also important. Metal is heavy, so youÔÇÖll need a way to transport it back to your base. Early-game tames like the Trike or Parasaur can carry a decent amount of metal, but they are slow. If you have access to a raft, you can use it to transport metal from coastal metal nodes. Later, when you have access to stronger tames like the Argentavis, you can carry even more metal and transport it quickly.
In summary, gathering metal in the early game requires preparation, the right tools, and careful planning. Start by locating metal nodes in safe or semi-safe areas, bring extra tools and supplies, and consider using tamed dinosaurs to increase efficiency. Smelt the metal ore into ingots using a refining forge, and manage your resources carefully to avoid being overburdened. With these strategies, youÔÇÖll be able to gather metal efficiently and progress to more advanced stages of the game.
First, you need to understand where to find metal. Metal nodes are the primary source of metal and are typically found in rocky areas, mountains, and hills. These nodes look like large, shiny rocks with a metallic sheen. On The Island map, for example, metal nodes are abundant in the mountains near the center of the map, such as the volcano and the surrounding highlands. However, these areas are also dangerous, as they are often populated by aggressive creatures like raptors, carnos, and even the occasional rex. Therefore, preparation is key.
To start gathering metal, youÔÇÖll need the right tools. A metal pick is the most efficient tool for harvesting metal, but since youÔÇÖre in the early game, youÔÇÖll likely only have access to a stone pick. While a stone pick is less efficient, it can still gather metal, albeit at a slower rate. Once youÔÇÖve gathered enough metal, prioritize crafting a metal pick to speed up your resource collection.
Before heading out to gather metal, prepare yourself for the journey. Craft a few stone picks, as they will break quickly. Bring a bed or sleeping bag to set up a respawn point near the metal nodes in case you die. Pack some food, water, and basic weapons like a spear or bow for defense. If you have a tamed dinosaur, consider bringing it along for protection and to carry additional resources. Early-game tames like a Trike or Parasaur can be useful for carrying metal, though they are not the best for combat.
When you reach the metal nodes, start mining them with your stone pick. Each hit will yield metal ore, and occasionally flint. Be mindful of your surroundings, as aggressive creatures can attack you while youÔÇÖre mining. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, itÔÇÖs best to mine quickly and retreat to a safe spot if you hear or see any threats. If youÔÇÖre in a tribe, consider having one person act as a lookout while the others mine.
Once youÔÇÖve gathered metal ore, youÔÇÖll need to smelt it into metal ingots. To do this, youÔÇÖll need a refining forge. Craft a refining forge using stone, wood, and fiber, and place it near your base. Fuel the forge with wood or thatch, and place the metal ore inside. Over time, the forge will smelt the ore into metal ingots. This process can be slow, so consider building multiple forges to speed up production.
A common mistake early-game players make is not bringing enough tools or supplies when venturing out for metal. Running out of tools mid-mining can leave you stranded in a dangerous area. Always bring extra tools and materials to craft more if needed. Another mistake is not scouting the area before mining. Aggressive creatures can quickly overwhelm you if youÔÇÖre not prepared. Always survey the area and clear out any threats before starting to mine.
Advanced techniques for gathering metal include using tamed dinosaurs to increase efficiency. Ankylosaurus is the best dinosaur for gathering metal, as it can harvest large amounts of metal ore with each swing of its tail. If you can tame an Ankylosaurus early, it will significantly speed up your metal gathering. Additionally, using a flying mount like a Pteranodon can help you reach metal nodes in hard-to-reach areas, such as mountain peaks.
Resource management is also important. Metal is heavy, so youÔÇÖll need a way to transport it back to your base. Early-game tames like the Trike or Parasaur can carry a decent amount of metal, but they are slow. If you have access to a raft, you can use it to transport metal from coastal metal nodes. Later, when you have access to stronger tames like the Argentavis, you can carry even more metal and transport it quickly.
In summary, gathering metal in the early game requires preparation, the right tools, and careful planning. Start by locating metal nodes in safe or semi-safe areas, bring extra tools and supplies, and consider using tamed dinosaurs to increase efficiency. Smelt the metal ore into ingots using a refining forge, and manage your resources carefully to avoid being overburdened. With these strategies, youÔÇÖll be able to gather metal efficiently and progress to more advanced stages of the game.