How do I craft a longneck rifle and use it for hunting in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Crafting and using a longneck rifle in ARK: Survival Evolved is a significant milestone in your progression, as it provides a powerful ranged weapon for hunting, taming, and combat. The longneck rifle is one of the most accurate and high-damage weapons in the game, making it ideal for taking down dangerous creatures or defending yourself against hostile players in PvP. Below is a detailed guide on how to craft and use the longneck rifle effectively.

To craft a longneck rifle, you must first unlock its engram. The engram becomes available at level 35 and costs 21 engram points. Once unlocked, you will need to gather the required resources. The crafting recipe for a longneck rifle includes 75 metal ingots, 20 wood, 15 hide, and 10 fiber. Metal ingots are crafted by smelting metal ore in a refining forge, which requires a significant amount of metal ore and fuel (such as wood or thatch). Wood and fiber can be gathered from trees and bushes, while hide is obtained by harvesting corpses of creatures like dodos, raptors, or larger dinosaurs.

Once you have the resources, you can craft the longneck rifle at a smithy. The smithy is a crafting station that becomes available at level 20 and requires 12 metal ingots, 40 wood, and 35 hide to build. Place the smithy in a secure location, such as your base, and interact with it to access the crafting menu. Select the longneck rifle from the list of available items and craft it. The process takes a few seconds, and once completed, the rifle will be added to your inventory.

To use the longneck rifle, you will need to craft or obtain rifle ammunition. The rifle uses simple rifle bullets, which are crafted at a fabricator. The fabricator is unlocked at level 50 and requires 55 metal ingots, 40 cementing paste, 20 polymer, and 10 crystal to build. Simple rifle bullets are crafted using 13 gunpowder, 13 metal ingots, and 1 sparkpowder. Gunpowder is made by combining charcoal and sparkpowder in a mortar and pestle or chemistry bench. Charcoal is obtained by burning wood in a campfire or industrial forge, while sparkpowder is crafted from flint and stone.

Once you have the rifle and ammunition, equip the longneck rifle from your inventory and load it by dragging the simple rifle bullets into the ammo slot. The rifle has a slow rate of fire but deals high damage, making it ideal for precise shots. Aim down the sights by holding the right mouse button (or the equivalent button on your controller) and fire with the left mouse button. The longneck rifle is highly accurate, even at long ranges, but it has significant recoil, so take your time to line up shots carefully.

When hunting with the longneck rifle, prioritize high-value targets such as large predators or creatures with valuable resources. For example, a well-placed shot can take down a Rex or Spino, providing large amounts of meat and hide. The rifle is also excellent for taming, as it can deliver tranquilizer darts to knock out creatures without killing them. Tranquilizer darts are crafted using simple rifle bullets and narcotics at a fabricator. They deal torpor damage, which is essential for taming.

One common mistake when using the longneck rifle is underestimating its reload time. The rifle takes several seconds to reload after each shot, leaving you vulnerable if you miss or fail to kill your target. Always have a backup weapon, such as a shotgun or crossbow, in case you need to defend yourself during the reload. Another mistake is using the rifle in close-quarters combat. The longneck rifle is best used at medium to long range, where its accuracy and damage can shine. In close combat, you are better off using a melee weapon or a faster-firing ranged weapon.

Advanced techniques for using the longneck rifle include pairing it with a scope for even greater accuracy. The scope attachment is unlocked at level 55 and can be crafted using 15 metal ingots, 10 crystal, and 5 polymer. Attach the scope to the rifle to zoom in and take precise shots at distant targets. This is especially useful for hunting or sniping in PvP. Additionally, consider using the rifle in combination with tamed dinosaurs. For example, you can use a fast mount like a Raptor or Sabertooth to chase down prey, then dismount and finish it with the rifle.

Resource management is crucial when using the longneck rifle. Ammunition is expensive to craft, so use it sparingly and only when necessary. Prioritize gathering metal, gunpowder, and other resources to keep your supply of bullets stocked. If you are playing in a tribe, coordinate with your teammates to share resources and craft ammunition efficiently. Solo players should focus on building a secure base with a reliable source of metal and gunpowder to sustain their rifle usage.

In summary, the longneck rifle is a powerful tool for hunting, taming, and combat in ARK: Survival Evolved. Crafting it requires careful resource gathering and preparation, but the payoff is well worth the effort. Use the rifle at medium to long range, pair it with a scope for precision, and always have a backup weapon for close encounters. With proper planning and execution, the longneck rifle can become your most trusted weapon in the dangerous world of ARK.