How do I craft a pickaxe and hatchet in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Crafting a pickaxe and hatchet in ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the first and most essential tasks you will undertake as a survivor. These tools are critical for gathering basic resources like stone, wood, and thatch, which are necessary for building structures, crafting other items, and progressing in the game. Here is a detailed guide on how to craft these tools, along with tips and strategies to optimize your early-game experience.
To craft a pickaxe and hatchet, you need to unlock their engrams first. Engrams are blueprints that allow you to craft items, and they are unlocked by spending Engram Points, which you earn as you level up. Both the pickaxe and hatchet are unlocked at level 2, making them some of the earliest tools available. Once unlocked, you can craft them using the appropriate resources.
The resources required to craft a pickaxe are 1 wood, 1 thatch, and 10 flint. For the hatchet, you need 1 wood, 1 thatch, and 10 flint as well. These materials are relatively easy to find in the early game. Wood can be gathered by punching trees, though this is inefficient and damages your health. Thatch is also obtained from trees, while flint is collected by picking up small rocks scattered across the ground. Once you have the required materials, open your inventory and navigate to the crafting tab. Select the pickaxe or hatchet, and click "Craft" to create the tool.
A common mistake new players make is not prioritizing the collection of flint early on. Flint is essential for crafting both tools, and without it, you cannot progress. To avoid this, focus on gathering flint as soon as you spawn. Look for small rocks on the ground, which are abundant in most starting areas. Another mistake is not crafting both tools immediately. The pickaxe and hatchet serve different purposes: the pickaxe is better for gathering stone and flint, while the hatchet is more efficient for collecting wood and thatch. Having both tools ensures you can gather all necessary resources efficiently.
Advanced players often optimize their early-game resource gathering by taming a dinosaur like the Moschops or the Trike. These creatures can gather resources much faster than using tools, saving you time and effort. However, taming requires preparation, such as gathering berries or other food items, so it may not be feasible immediately. If you are playing solo, focus on crafting the tools first to ensure you can gather resources quickly. In a tribe, you can divide tasks among members, with one person gathering flint while another collects wood and thatch.
Resource management is crucial in the early game. Avoid wasting materials on unnecessary items, and prioritize crafting tools and basic shelter. Once you have a pickaxe and hatchet, gather enough resources to build a small thatch or wood hut to protect yourself from the elements and hostile creatures. This will give you a safe space to store items and plan your next steps.
In terms of progression, the pickaxe and hatchet are just the beginning. As you level up, you will unlock better tools like the metal pickaxe and hatchet, which are more durable and efficient. However, the stone versions will serve you well in the early stages. Always keep an eye on the durability of your tools, as they will break over time. Carry extra materials to craft replacements when needed.
Specific scenarios where these tools are invaluable include gathering resources for a campfire to cook food, crafting a bed for respawning, or building a storage box to organize your items. Without a pickaxe and hatchet, these tasks would be much more difficult and time-consuming.
In summary, crafting a pickaxe and hatchet is a straightforward but essential task in ARK: Survival Evolved. By gathering flint, wood, and thatch early on, you can craft these tools and significantly improve your resource-gathering efficiency. Avoid common mistakes like neglecting flint or not crafting both tools, and consider taming dinosaurs for advanced resource gathering. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, these tools are the foundation of your survival and progression in the game.
To craft a pickaxe and hatchet, you need to unlock their engrams first. Engrams are blueprints that allow you to craft items, and they are unlocked by spending Engram Points, which you earn as you level up. Both the pickaxe and hatchet are unlocked at level 2, making them some of the earliest tools available. Once unlocked, you can craft them using the appropriate resources.
The resources required to craft a pickaxe are 1 wood, 1 thatch, and 10 flint. For the hatchet, you need 1 wood, 1 thatch, and 10 flint as well. These materials are relatively easy to find in the early game. Wood can be gathered by punching trees, though this is inefficient and damages your health. Thatch is also obtained from trees, while flint is collected by picking up small rocks scattered across the ground. Once you have the required materials, open your inventory and navigate to the crafting tab. Select the pickaxe or hatchet, and click "Craft" to create the tool.
A common mistake new players make is not prioritizing the collection of flint early on. Flint is essential for crafting both tools, and without it, you cannot progress. To avoid this, focus on gathering flint as soon as you spawn. Look for small rocks on the ground, which are abundant in most starting areas. Another mistake is not crafting both tools immediately. The pickaxe and hatchet serve different purposes: the pickaxe is better for gathering stone and flint, while the hatchet is more efficient for collecting wood and thatch. Having both tools ensures you can gather all necessary resources efficiently.
Advanced players often optimize their early-game resource gathering by taming a dinosaur like the Moschops or the Trike. These creatures can gather resources much faster than using tools, saving you time and effort. However, taming requires preparation, such as gathering berries or other food items, so it may not be feasible immediately. If you are playing solo, focus on crafting the tools first to ensure you can gather resources quickly. In a tribe, you can divide tasks among members, with one person gathering flint while another collects wood and thatch.
Resource management is crucial in the early game. Avoid wasting materials on unnecessary items, and prioritize crafting tools and basic shelter. Once you have a pickaxe and hatchet, gather enough resources to build a small thatch or wood hut to protect yourself from the elements and hostile creatures. This will give you a safe space to store items and plan your next steps.
In terms of progression, the pickaxe and hatchet are just the beginning. As you level up, you will unlock better tools like the metal pickaxe and hatchet, which are more durable and efficient. However, the stone versions will serve you well in the early stages. Always keep an eye on the durability of your tools, as they will break over time. Carry extra materials to craft replacements when needed.
Specific scenarios where these tools are invaluable include gathering resources for a campfire to cook food, crafting a bed for respawning, or building a storage box to organize your items. Without a pickaxe and hatchet, these tasks would be much more difficult and time-consuming.
In summary, crafting a pickaxe and hatchet is a straightforward but essential task in ARK: Survival Evolved. By gathering flint, wood, and thatch early on, you can craft these tools and significantly improve your resource-gathering efficiency. Avoid common mistakes like neglecting flint or not crafting both tools, and consider taming dinosaurs for advanced resource gathering. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, these tools are the foundation of your survival and progression in the game.