What is the best way to gather sap in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Gathering sap in ARK: Survival Evolved is an essential task for crafting various items, including tree platforms, greenhouse structures, and certain consumables. Sap is primarily obtained from specific trees called Redwood Trees or by using a Tree Sap Tap. Below is a detailed guide on how to efficiently gather sap, including mechanics, strategies, and tips to optimize your efforts.
To start, you need to locate Redwood Trees, which are found in the Redwood Forest biome on most maps. These trees are massive and easily identifiable by their towering height and unique appearance. Once you find a Redwood Tree, you can gather sap by placing a Tree Sap Tap on it. The Tree Sap Tap is a structure that can be crafted once you unlock its engram at level 20. To craft a Tree Sap Tap, you will need 15 wood, 25 thatch, 10 fiber, and 5 cementing paste. Cementing paste can be crafted using chitin or keratin and stone in a mortar and pestle, or obtained by harvesting beaver dams or taming a Beelzebufo.
Once you have crafted a Tree Sap Tap, approach a Redwood Tree and place the tap on its trunk. The tap will automatically start collecting sap over time. Each tap can hold up to 20 sap before it needs to be emptied. Sap collection is passive, meaning you can leave the tap in place and return later to collect the sap. However, the rate of sap collection is relatively slow, so it is advisable to place multiple taps on different trees to maximize your yield.
When placing Tree Sap Taps, consider the following tips. First, ensure that the taps are placed high enough on the tree to avoid interference from ground-dwelling creatures. Redwood Trees are often surrounded by aggressive wildlife, so placing the taps higher up can help protect them from being destroyed. Second, mark the locations of your taps on your map or use landmarks to easily find them later. This is especially important if you are playing on a large map or in a densely forested area.
For solo players, gathering sap can be time-consuming, but it is manageable with proper planning. Make sure to bring enough materials to craft multiple taps, as well as a flying mount like an Argentavis or Pteranodon to reach higher parts of the trees. If you are playing in a tribe, you can divide the workload by having different members place and maintain taps in various parts of the Redwood Forest. This can significantly increase your overall sap collection rate.
One common mistake to avoid is placing Tree Sap Taps too close to the ground. Ground-level taps are more likely to be destroyed by wandering creatures or other players in PvP scenarios. Additionally, failing to check on your taps regularly can result in lost sap if the tap reaches its capacity and stops collecting. To avoid this, set a timer or make it a habit to check your taps every few hours.
Advanced techniques for sap gathering include using a tamed creature like a Megatherium or a Therizinosaurus to harvest sap directly from Redwood Trees. While these creatures cannot replace Tree Sap Taps, they can provide an additional source of sap when you are in the area. Another optimization is to build a small outpost near the Redwood Forest with storage containers and a bed. This allows you to quickly respawn and access your resources if you die or need to make multiple trips.
Resource management is crucial when gathering sap. Ensure you have enough materials to craft multiple taps and repair them if necessary. Bring a pickaxe or hatchet to gather additional wood and thatch from the surrounding trees if needed. If you are playing on a map with limited Redwood Trees, consider transferring to another map with a larger Redwood Forest biome to increase your sap yield.
In summary, gathering sap in ARK: Survival Evolved involves crafting Tree Sap Taps and placing them on Redwood Trees. By following the steps outlined above, you can efficiently collect sap for your crafting needs. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, proper planning and resource management will help you maximize your sap collection and avoid common pitfalls. With these strategies, you will be well-equipped to gather sap and progress in the game.
To start, you need to locate Redwood Trees, which are found in the Redwood Forest biome on most maps. These trees are massive and easily identifiable by their towering height and unique appearance. Once you find a Redwood Tree, you can gather sap by placing a Tree Sap Tap on it. The Tree Sap Tap is a structure that can be crafted once you unlock its engram at level 20. To craft a Tree Sap Tap, you will need 15 wood, 25 thatch, 10 fiber, and 5 cementing paste. Cementing paste can be crafted using chitin or keratin and stone in a mortar and pestle, or obtained by harvesting beaver dams or taming a Beelzebufo.
Once you have crafted a Tree Sap Tap, approach a Redwood Tree and place the tap on its trunk. The tap will automatically start collecting sap over time. Each tap can hold up to 20 sap before it needs to be emptied. Sap collection is passive, meaning you can leave the tap in place and return later to collect the sap. However, the rate of sap collection is relatively slow, so it is advisable to place multiple taps on different trees to maximize your yield.
When placing Tree Sap Taps, consider the following tips. First, ensure that the taps are placed high enough on the tree to avoid interference from ground-dwelling creatures. Redwood Trees are often surrounded by aggressive wildlife, so placing the taps higher up can help protect them from being destroyed. Second, mark the locations of your taps on your map or use landmarks to easily find them later. This is especially important if you are playing on a large map or in a densely forested area.
For solo players, gathering sap can be time-consuming, but it is manageable with proper planning. Make sure to bring enough materials to craft multiple taps, as well as a flying mount like an Argentavis or Pteranodon to reach higher parts of the trees. If you are playing in a tribe, you can divide the workload by having different members place and maintain taps in various parts of the Redwood Forest. This can significantly increase your overall sap collection rate.
One common mistake to avoid is placing Tree Sap Taps too close to the ground. Ground-level taps are more likely to be destroyed by wandering creatures or other players in PvP scenarios. Additionally, failing to check on your taps regularly can result in lost sap if the tap reaches its capacity and stops collecting. To avoid this, set a timer or make it a habit to check your taps every few hours.
Advanced techniques for sap gathering include using a tamed creature like a Megatherium or a Therizinosaurus to harvest sap directly from Redwood Trees. While these creatures cannot replace Tree Sap Taps, they can provide an additional source of sap when you are in the area. Another optimization is to build a small outpost near the Redwood Forest with storage containers and a bed. This allows you to quickly respawn and access your resources if you die or need to make multiple trips.
Resource management is crucial when gathering sap. Ensure you have enough materials to craft multiple taps and repair them if necessary. Bring a pickaxe or hatchet to gather additional wood and thatch from the surrounding trees if needed. If you are playing on a map with limited Redwood Trees, consider transferring to another map with a larger Redwood Forest biome to increase your sap yield.
In summary, gathering sap in ARK: Survival Evolved involves crafting Tree Sap Taps and placing them on Redwood Trees. By following the steps outlined above, you can efficiently collect sap for your crafting needs. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, proper planning and resource management will help you maximize your sap collection and avoid common pitfalls. With these strategies, you will be well-equipped to gather sap and progress in the game.