What is the best way to gather meat and hide in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Gathering meat and hide in ARK: Survival Evolved is a fundamental part of survival, as these resources are essential for crafting, taming, and sustaining your character. Meat is used for food, while hide is necessary for crafting armor, saddles, and other important items. To efficiently gather these resources, you need to understand the mechanics, use the right tools, and employ effective strategies.
The first step in gathering meat and hide is to locate suitable targets. Early in the game, small creatures like dodos, lystrosaurus, and dilos are ideal because they are easy to kill and provide a decent amount of meat and hide. As you progress, larger creatures like trikes, stegos, and carnos become more efficient sources, but they require better tools and preparation. Dinosaurs like the parasaur and phiomia are also good targets because they drop a lot of hide and are relatively easy to take down.
To kill these creatures, you need the right tools. Early on, a stone pick or hatchet is sufficient for small animals, but as you move to larger targets, you will need better weapons. A bow with stone arrows is a great upgrade, as it allows you to kill creatures from a distance, reducing the risk of taking damage. For close combat, a pike or spear is effective, but be cautious of the durability of these weapons, as they break easily. Once you unlock metal tools, a metal hatchet or pike will significantly increase your efficiency in gathering meat and hide.
When hunting, aim for the head or weak spots of the creature to maximize damage and reduce the number of hits required. This is especially important when dealing with larger or more dangerous animals. For example, a trike can be taken down quickly if you aim for its head, but attacking its body will take longer and may result in you taking more damage. Always be aware of your surroundings, as other predators may be attracted to the noise of combat.
After killing a creature, use a hatchet to gather more hide and a pick to gather more meat. The type of tool you use affects the yield, so choose accordingly. For example, a hatchet will give you more hide but less meat, while a pick will give you more meat but less hide. If you need both resources, alternate between the two tools to maximize your haul.
One common mistake is overextending yourself during hunts. It is easy to get caught up in chasing a creature or fighting multiple enemies at once, but this can lead to death, especially if you are low on health or stamina. Always keep an eye on your health and stamina, and retreat if necessary. Another mistake is not bringing enough tools or weapons. Always carry extra tools in case one breaks, and bring healing items like cooked meat or berries to recover health during or after combat.
Advanced techniques involve using tamed dinosaurs to gather meat and hide more efficiently. A carnivorous dinosaur like a raptor or carno can kill creatures quickly and gather large amounts of resources. For example, a raptor can easily take down a parasaur or trike, and its natural harvesting abilities will yield more meat and hide than using tools. Similarly, a therizinosaur is excellent for gathering both meat and hide, as it has high damage and harvesting efficiency. Using a tamed dinosaur not only speeds up the process but also reduces the risk of taking damage from hostile creatures.
Preparation is key to successful hunting. Before heading out, ensure you have enough tools, weapons, and healing items. If you are using a tamed dinosaur, make sure it is well-fed and has enough stamina for the hunt. It is also a good idea to scout the area beforehand to identify potential threats and locate high-yield targets. For example, hunting near a river or lake can be dangerous due to the presence of predators like sarcos or spinos, but it can also be rewarding as these areas often have a high concentration of herbivores.
In a tribe setting, hunting can be more efficient if you coordinate with other players. One player can focus on killing creatures while another gathers resources, or you can use multiple tamed dinosaurs to take down larger targets quickly. Communication and teamwork are essential to avoid friendly fire or accidental aggro of nearby predators. Solo players should focus on smaller, safer targets and use tamed dinosaurs to compensate for the lack of backup.
Specific scenarios include hunting in dangerous areas like the Redwoods or the Swamp. These areas are rich in resources but are also home to aggressive creatures like raptors, carnos, and titanoboas. In these situations, it is crucial to stay alert and use ranged weapons or tamed dinosaurs to minimize risk. For example, using a tamed carno to clear out a pack of raptors before gathering resources can save you from a deadly encounter.
In summary, gathering meat and hide in ARK: Survival Evolved requires a combination of the right tools, strategies, and preparation. Start with small, easy targets and gradually move to larger creatures as you progress. Use tamed dinosaurs to increase efficiency and reduce risk, and always be mindful of your surroundings. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, careful planning and execution will ensure you gather the resources you need to survive and thrive in the world of ARK.
The first step in gathering meat and hide is to locate suitable targets. Early in the game, small creatures like dodos, lystrosaurus, and dilos are ideal because they are easy to kill and provide a decent amount of meat and hide. As you progress, larger creatures like trikes, stegos, and carnos become more efficient sources, but they require better tools and preparation. Dinosaurs like the parasaur and phiomia are also good targets because they drop a lot of hide and are relatively easy to take down.
To kill these creatures, you need the right tools. Early on, a stone pick or hatchet is sufficient for small animals, but as you move to larger targets, you will need better weapons. A bow with stone arrows is a great upgrade, as it allows you to kill creatures from a distance, reducing the risk of taking damage. For close combat, a pike or spear is effective, but be cautious of the durability of these weapons, as they break easily. Once you unlock metal tools, a metal hatchet or pike will significantly increase your efficiency in gathering meat and hide.
When hunting, aim for the head or weak spots of the creature to maximize damage and reduce the number of hits required. This is especially important when dealing with larger or more dangerous animals. For example, a trike can be taken down quickly if you aim for its head, but attacking its body will take longer and may result in you taking more damage. Always be aware of your surroundings, as other predators may be attracted to the noise of combat.
After killing a creature, use a hatchet to gather more hide and a pick to gather more meat. The type of tool you use affects the yield, so choose accordingly. For example, a hatchet will give you more hide but less meat, while a pick will give you more meat but less hide. If you need both resources, alternate between the two tools to maximize your haul.
One common mistake is overextending yourself during hunts. It is easy to get caught up in chasing a creature or fighting multiple enemies at once, but this can lead to death, especially if you are low on health or stamina. Always keep an eye on your health and stamina, and retreat if necessary. Another mistake is not bringing enough tools or weapons. Always carry extra tools in case one breaks, and bring healing items like cooked meat or berries to recover health during or after combat.
Advanced techniques involve using tamed dinosaurs to gather meat and hide more efficiently. A carnivorous dinosaur like a raptor or carno can kill creatures quickly and gather large amounts of resources. For example, a raptor can easily take down a parasaur or trike, and its natural harvesting abilities will yield more meat and hide than using tools. Similarly, a therizinosaur is excellent for gathering both meat and hide, as it has high damage and harvesting efficiency. Using a tamed dinosaur not only speeds up the process but also reduces the risk of taking damage from hostile creatures.
Preparation is key to successful hunting. Before heading out, ensure you have enough tools, weapons, and healing items. If you are using a tamed dinosaur, make sure it is well-fed and has enough stamina for the hunt. It is also a good idea to scout the area beforehand to identify potential threats and locate high-yield targets. For example, hunting near a river or lake can be dangerous due to the presence of predators like sarcos or spinos, but it can also be rewarding as these areas often have a high concentration of herbivores.
In a tribe setting, hunting can be more efficient if you coordinate with other players. One player can focus on killing creatures while another gathers resources, or you can use multiple tamed dinosaurs to take down larger targets quickly. Communication and teamwork are essential to avoid friendly fire or accidental aggro of nearby predators. Solo players should focus on smaller, safer targets and use tamed dinosaurs to compensate for the lack of backup.
Specific scenarios include hunting in dangerous areas like the Redwoods or the Swamp. These areas are rich in resources but are also home to aggressive creatures like raptors, carnos, and titanoboas. In these situations, it is crucial to stay alert and use ranged weapons or tamed dinosaurs to minimize risk. For example, using a tamed carno to clear out a pack of raptors before gathering resources can save you from a deadly encounter.
In summary, gathering meat and hide in ARK: Survival Evolved requires a combination of the right tools, strategies, and preparation. Start with small, easy targets and gradually move to larger creatures as you progress. Use tamed dinosaurs to increase efficiency and reduce risk, and always be mindful of your surroundings. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, careful planning and execution will ensure you gather the resources you need to survive and thrive in the world of ARK.