What are the best ways to gather honey in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Gathering honey in ARK: Survival Evolved is an essential task for crafting certain recipes, taming specific creatures, and maintaining your character's health. Honey is primarily obtained from beehives, which are found in specific locations across the maps. The process involves locating, harvesting, and safely transporting honey, all while dealing with the aggressive bees that guard the hives. Below is a detailed guide on how to efficiently gather honey, including mechanics, strategies, and tips.
To begin, you need to locate a beehive. Beehives are typically found in forested areas, often attached to large redwood trees or other tall trees, depending on the map. On The Island, for example, they are commonly found in the Redwood Forest. On other maps like Ragnarok or Valguero, they may appear in different biomes. Once you find a beehive, you will notice it is guarded by a swarm of bees. These bees are aggressive and will attack if you get too close or disturb the hive. This is where preparation becomes crucial.
Before attempting to harvest honey, you need to equip yourself with the right tools and gear. The most important item is a full set of Ghillie Armor, which reduces your detection range by creatures, including bees. This armor is crafted using fiber, hide, and rare flowers. Additionally, you will need a weapon to defend yourself, such as a crossbow or a longneck rifle, and a tamed creature for protection, like a Carnotaurus or a Raptor. It is also recommended to bring a flying mount, such as an Argentavis or a Pteranodon, to quickly escape if things go wrong.
Once you are prepared, approach the beehive cautiously. Bees will not attack unless you disturb the hive or get too close. To harvest honey, you need to use a tool like a Metal Hatchet or a Chainsaw. When you strike the hive, it will drop honey, but it will also aggro the bees. This is where your Ghillie Armor comes into play, as it reduces the chance of the bees detecting you. However, if the bees do attack, you need to either fight them off or retreat quickly. Using a tamed creature to distract the bees while you harvest the honey is a good strategy.
After successfully harvesting the honey, you need to store it properly. Honey spoils quickly, so it is best to place it in a preserving bin or a refrigerator to extend its shelf life. If you are far from your base, consider bringing a preserving bin with you and placing it nearby to store the honey temporarily. Alternatively, you can use a tamed creature with a saddle that has storage, such as a Paraceratherium or a Mammoth, to carry the honey back to your base.
There are some common mistakes to avoid when gathering honey. One is underestimating the bees' aggression. Even with Ghillie Armor, bees can still detect and attack you if you linger too long or make too much noise. Another mistake is not bringing enough supplies, such as food, water, and healing items, as the process can be time-consuming and dangerous. Additionally, failing to store the honey properly can result in it spoiling before you can use it.
For advanced players, there are optimizations to consider. One is taming a Giant Bee, which allows you to create your own beehive at your base. This eliminates the need to venture into dangerous areas to gather honey. To tame a Giant Bee, you need to find a wild beehive and use rare flowers to lure the queen bee out. Once she is out, you can knock her unconscious and feed her rare flowers to tame her. After taming, you can place the queen bee in a crafted beehive, which will produce honey over time. This method requires more effort initially but provides a steady supply of honey in the long run.
In terms of tribe and solo considerations, gathering honey is generally easier in a tribe. Tribe members can work together to distract the bees, harvest the honey, and transport it back to the base. Solo players need to be more cautious and may need to rely on tamed creatures for protection and transportation. Regardless of your playstyle, communication and coordination are key to successfully gathering honey.
In conclusion, gathering honey in ARK: Survival Evolved involves careful preparation, strategic planning, and efficient execution. By equipping yourself with the right gear, using tamed creatures for protection, and storing the honey properly, you can ensure a steady supply of this valuable resource. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, mastering the art of honey gathering will greatly enhance your survival and progression in the game.
To begin, you need to locate a beehive. Beehives are typically found in forested areas, often attached to large redwood trees or other tall trees, depending on the map. On The Island, for example, they are commonly found in the Redwood Forest. On other maps like Ragnarok or Valguero, they may appear in different biomes. Once you find a beehive, you will notice it is guarded by a swarm of bees. These bees are aggressive and will attack if you get too close or disturb the hive. This is where preparation becomes crucial.
Before attempting to harvest honey, you need to equip yourself with the right tools and gear. The most important item is a full set of Ghillie Armor, which reduces your detection range by creatures, including bees. This armor is crafted using fiber, hide, and rare flowers. Additionally, you will need a weapon to defend yourself, such as a crossbow or a longneck rifle, and a tamed creature for protection, like a Carnotaurus or a Raptor. It is also recommended to bring a flying mount, such as an Argentavis or a Pteranodon, to quickly escape if things go wrong.
Once you are prepared, approach the beehive cautiously. Bees will not attack unless you disturb the hive or get too close. To harvest honey, you need to use a tool like a Metal Hatchet or a Chainsaw. When you strike the hive, it will drop honey, but it will also aggro the bees. This is where your Ghillie Armor comes into play, as it reduces the chance of the bees detecting you. However, if the bees do attack, you need to either fight them off or retreat quickly. Using a tamed creature to distract the bees while you harvest the honey is a good strategy.
After successfully harvesting the honey, you need to store it properly. Honey spoils quickly, so it is best to place it in a preserving bin or a refrigerator to extend its shelf life. If you are far from your base, consider bringing a preserving bin with you and placing it nearby to store the honey temporarily. Alternatively, you can use a tamed creature with a saddle that has storage, such as a Paraceratherium or a Mammoth, to carry the honey back to your base.
There are some common mistakes to avoid when gathering honey. One is underestimating the bees' aggression. Even with Ghillie Armor, bees can still detect and attack you if you linger too long or make too much noise. Another mistake is not bringing enough supplies, such as food, water, and healing items, as the process can be time-consuming and dangerous. Additionally, failing to store the honey properly can result in it spoiling before you can use it.
For advanced players, there are optimizations to consider. One is taming a Giant Bee, which allows you to create your own beehive at your base. This eliminates the need to venture into dangerous areas to gather honey. To tame a Giant Bee, you need to find a wild beehive and use rare flowers to lure the queen bee out. Once she is out, you can knock her unconscious and feed her rare flowers to tame her. After taming, you can place the queen bee in a crafted beehive, which will produce honey over time. This method requires more effort initially but provides a steady supply of honey in the long run.
In terms of tribe and solo considerations, gathering honey is generally easier in a tribe. Tribe members can work together to distract the bees, harvest the honey, and transport it back to the base. Solo players need to be more cautious and may need to rely on tamed creatures for protection and transportation. Regardless of your playstyle, communication and coordination are key to successfully gathering honey.
In conclusion, gathering honey in ARK: Survival Evolved involves careful preparation, strategic planning, and efficient execution. By equipping yourself with the right gear, using tamed creatures for protection, and storing the honey properly, you can ensure a steady supply of this valuable resource. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, mastering the art of honey gathering will greatly enhance your survival and progression in the game.