What is the best way to gather hexagons in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Hexagons are a unique currency in ARK: Survival Evolved, primarily used in the Genesis Part 1 and Genesis Part 2 DLCs. They are essential for purchasing items, tames, and resources from the HLN-A shop, which offers a variety of useful tools and creatures. Gathering hexagons efficiently requires understanding the mechanics of missions, exploration, and resource management. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to gather hexagons effectively.

Hexagons are earned by completing missions, which are scattered across the Genesis maps. These missions vary in difficulty and type, ranging from simple fetch quests to complex combat challenges. Each mission rewards a specific amount of hexagons based on its difficulty and your performance. Missions are marked on your map with icons, and you can activate them by interacting with the mission terminal. Some missions are solo, while others can be completed in groups, making them ideal for tribes.

To start gathering hexagons, you should first prepare your character and tames. Missions often require combat, resource gathering, or traversal, so having a well-equipped character and strong tames is crucial. Early on, focus on taming creatures that excel in combat, such as Raptors or Carnotaurus, and those that can gather resources efficiently, like Ankylosaurus or Doedicurus. As you progress, aim for stronger tames like Rexes or Spinos for combat missions and Argentavis or Megalosaurus for resource missions.

Once youÔÇÖre prepared, head to a mission terminal and select a mission. Start with easier missions like "Hunt" or "Race" to get a feel for the mechanics and earn some initial hexagons. For example, the "Hunt-Swamp" mission tasks you with killing a certain number of creatures in the swamp biome. Use your combat tames to quickly dispatch the targets and complete the mission. For "Race" missions, use fast tames like a Pteranodon or a high-speed land creature to navigate the course efficiently.

As you gain confidence and better gear, move on to more challenging missions like "Gauntlet" or "Survival." These missions often involve waves of enemies or timed objectives, requiring strong tames and good strategy. For instance, in the "Gauntlet-Arctic" mission, youÔÇÖll face waves of aggressive creatures in a confined space. Bring a powerful combat tame like a Rex or a Yutyrannus to handle the waves, and use healing items to keep your tame alive. Completing these missions on higher difficulty levels rewards more hexagons, so aim for the best performance possible.

Resource management is key when gathering hexagons. Missions can be resource-intensive, especially combat-focused ones, so always bring extra supplies like food, water, and healing items. For resource-gathering missions, ensure your tames have high weight capacity and gather efficiency. For example, in the "Resource-River" mission, youÔÇÖll need to collect a large amount of resources from the river biome. Use an Ankylosaurus for metal and a Doedicurus for stone to maximize your gathering speed.

Advanced techniques can further optimize your hexagon gathering. One strategy is to focus on repeatable missions that you can complete quickly and efficiently. Missions like "Hunt" or "Race" often have short completion times and can be farmed for consistent hexagon income. Another technique is to use tames with special abilities to gain an edge in missions. For example, a Megalosaurus is highly effective in nighttime missions due to its nocturnal buff, while a Rock DrakeÔÇÖs climbing ability can help you navigate difficult terrain in "Race" missions.

Tribe considerations are important when gathering hexagons. In a tribe, you can divide tasks among members to complete missions more efficiently. For example, one member can focus on combat missions while another handles resource-gathering missions. Coordinating with your tribe can also help you tackle more difficult missions that require teamwork, such as "Gauntlet" or "Survival." Solo players should focus on missions that match their strengths and avoid overly challenging missions until they have the necessary resources and tames.

Common mistakes to avoid include underestimating mission difficulty and not preparing adequately. Always scout the mission area beforehand and bring the appropriate tames and supplies. Another mistake is neglecting to upgrade your gear and tames. As you progress, invest in better weapons, armor, and saddles to improve your chances of success in missions. Finally, avoid wasting hexagons on unnecessary items in the HLN-A shop. Prioritize purchases that will help you complete more missions, such as strong tames or advanced gear.

In summary, gathering hexagons in ARK: Survival Evolved involves completing missions efficiently, managing resources, and using the right tames and strategies. Start with easier missions to build up your hexagon reserves, then move on to more challenging ones as you improve your gear and tames. Coordinate with your tribe for better efficiency, and avoid common mistakes like inadequate preparation or poor resource management. With these strategies, youÔÇÖll be able to gather hexagons effectively and make the most of the HLN-A shopÔÇÖs offerings.