How do I craft a tek underwater turret in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Crafting a Tek Underwater Turret in ARK: Survival Evolved is a complex process that requires advanced knowledge of the game's mechanics, access to high-tier resources, and a solid understanding of Tek technology. This guide will walk you through the steps, strategies, and considerations needed to successfully craft and deploy this powerful defensive structure.

To begin, you must first unlock the Tek Underwater Turret engram. This engram is available at level 105 and requires 35 Engram Points to unlock. However, you cannot unlock it immediately upon reaching level 105. Instead, you must defeat certain bosses to gain access to Tekgrams, which are special engrams tied to Tek technology. For the Tek Underwater Turret, you need to defeat the Megapithecus, Broodmother Lysrix, or Dragon boss on Gamma difficulty or higher. Once you have defeated one of these bosses, you will unlock the Tekgrams, including the Tek Underwater Turret.

After unlocking the engram, you need to gather the necessary resources to craft the Tek Underwater Turret. The crafting recipe requires the following materials: 250 Metal Ingots, 100 Polymer, 100 Crystal, 50 Electronics, and 50 Element. These resources are not easy to come by, so you will need to plan your resource gathering carefully. Metal Ingots can be obtained by smelting Metal Ore in a Forge or Industrial Forge. Polymer can be harvested from Obsidian or crafted using Organic Polymer, which is obtained by killing certain creatures like Kairuku or Mantis. Crystal is found in caves or on mountain tops, and Electronics are crafted using Metal Ingots, Silica Pearls, and Oil. Element is the most challenging resource to obtain, as it is primarily acquired by defeating bosses or completing certain endgame activities.

Once you have gathered all the required resources, you can craft the Tek Underwater Turret at a Tek Replicator. The Tek Replicator is a high-tier crafting station that requires Element to operate. To craft the Tek Replicator, you need 1200 Metal Ingots, 200 Polymer, 150 Crystal, 100 Electronics, and 80 Element. Building a Tek Replicator is a significant investment, so make sure you have a secure base to protect it.

After crafting the Tek Underwater Turret, you need to place it in an underwater location. The turret can only be placed on a Tek Foundation or Tek Ceiling, so you will need to build a Tek structure underwater to support it. Once placed, the turret requires Element to function. You can insert Element into the turret's inventory to power it. The turret will automatically target and shoot at any hostile creatures or players that come within its range.

There are several important tips and considerations to keep in mind when using a Tek Underwater Turret. First, the turret has a limited range, so you need to place it strategically to cover key areas. Second, the turret consumes Element quickly, so you need to have a steady supply of Element to keep it operational. Third, the turret can be destroyed by enemy players or creatures, so you need to protect it with additional defenses like walls or other turrets.

Common mistakes to avoid include placing the turret in an area with poor visibility or coverage, not having enough Element to power the turret, and failing to protect the turret with additional defenses. Advanced techniques include using multiple turrets to create overlapping fields of fire, placing the turret in hidden or hard-to-reach locations, and using underwater tames like Basilosaurus or Tusoteuthis to defend the turret.

Resource management is crucial when crafting and maintaining a Tek Underwater Turret. You need to balance your resource gathering efforts with your base defense and other survival needs. Efficiently using tamed dinosaurs for resource gathering can save time and effort. For example, an Ankylosaurus is excellent for gathering Metal Ore, while a Doedicurus is great for gathering Stone.

Tribe considerations are also important. If you are part of a tribe, you can divide the resource gathering and crafting tasks among tribe members to speed up the process. Solo players will need to be more self-sufficient and may need to focus on building a secure base before attempting to craft a Tek Underwater Turret.

In conclusion, crafting a Tek Underwater Turret in ARK: Survival Evolved is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. By following the steps and strategies outlined in this guide, you can successfully craft and deploy this powerful defensive structure to protect your underwater base from threats. Remember to plan carefully, gather resources efficiently, and protect your turret with additional defenses to ensure its effectiveness.