How do I craft a sleeping bag or bed in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Crafting a sleeping bag or bed in ARK: Survival Evolved is an essential part of survival, as it allows you to set a respawn point in case of death. This is particularly important in the early game when you are still establishing your base and gathering resources. Below is a detailed guide on how to craft these items, along with tips and considerations to help you succeed.

To craft a sleeping bag, you first need to unlock its engram. The sleeping bag engram becomes available at level 5 and costs 3 engram points. Once unlocked, you can craft it using the following resources: 15 fiber, 20 hide, and 5 wood. These materials are relatively easy to gather early in the game. Fiber can be collected by hand from bushes, hide is obtained by killing small creatures like dodos or dilophosaurs, and wood is gathered by punching trees or using a stone pickaxe. The sleeping bag is a single-use item, meaning it will disappear after you respawn on it once. This makes it a temporary solution for setting a respawn point.

For a more permanent solution, you can craft a simple bed. The simple bed engram is unlocked at level 15 and costs 12 engram points. Crafting a simple bed requires more resources: 50 fiber, 40 hide, 15 wood, and 20 thatch. Thatch is gathered by hitting trees with a stone pickaxe or by hand. The simple bed can be used multiple times, making it a better long-term investment. However, it requires a foundation or a ceiling to be placed, so you will need to have a basic structure built before you can set it up.

To craft either item, open your inventory and navigate to the crafting tab. Select the sleeping bag or simple bed from the list of available engrams, and if you have the required resources, click the craft button. Once crafted, the item will appear in your inventory. To place the sleeping bag, simply drop it on the ground in a safe location. For the simple bed, you must place it on a foundation or ceiling within your base. After placing the bed, interact with it to set it as your respawn point.

There are several important tips and considerations to keep in mind when using sleeping bags and beds. First, always place your respawn point in a secure location. If you respawn in an area surrounded by hostile creatures or other players, you may die again immediately. Second, sleeping bags and beds have a cooldown period after use. For sleeping bags, the cooldown is 5 minutes, while for simple beds, it is 30 seconds. This means you cannot respawn on the same sleeping bag or bed multiple times in quick succession. Plan accordingly, especially in dangerous situations.

A common mistake players make is not having a backup respawn point. If your primary bed is destroyed or inaccessible, you may be forced to respawn at a random location, which can be far from your base. To avoid this, consider placing multiple beds or sleeping bags in different locations. This is especially important in PvP scenarios, where your base may be raided and your beds destroyed. Additionally, always ensure you have enough resources to craft replacement beds or sleeping bags if needed.

Advanced techniques for using beds and sleeping bags include setting up forward operating bases (FOBs) in strategic locations. For example, if you are exploring a dangerous area or preparing for a boss fight, placing a bed nearby can save you time and resources if you die. This is particularly useful in caves, where respawning at the entrance can save you from a long trek back. Another advanced strategy is to use beds for fast travel. By placing beds in different locations, you can quickly move between them, saving time when traveling across the map.

Resource management is key when crafting beds and sleeping bags. Early in the game, prioritize gathering fiber, hide, and wood to ensure you can craft these items as soon as possible. Taming dinosaurs like the Trike or Parasaur can help you gather these resources more efficiently. For example, a Trike can gather large amounts of thatch and wood, while a Parasaur can help you collect fiber and berries. Efficient resource gathering will allow you to craft multiple beds and sleeping bags, giving you more flexibility in setting respawn points.

In a tribe setting, coordinating the placement of beds and sleeping bags is important. Ensure that each tribe member has access to a bed or sleeping bag, and consider placing them in different locations to provide multiple respawn options. This is especially important in large tribes, where multiple players may need to respawn simultaneously. Additionally, tribe members can share resources to craft beds and sleeping bags more quickly, allowing the tribe to establish a strong presence on the map.

In conclusion, crafting a sleeping bag or bed in ARK: Survival Evolved is a straightforward process, but it requires careful planning and resource management. By understanding the mechanics, gathering the necessary resources, and placing your respawn points strategically, you can ensure your survival and progress in the game. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, having multiple respawn options will give you a significant advantage in both PvE and PvP scenarios.