What is the best way to gather element in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Gathering Element in ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the most challenging and rewarding tasks in the game. Element is a rare and powerful resource used to craft advanced technology, such as Tek-tier items, structures, and weapons. It is essential for endgame progression, but obtaining it requires significant preparation, strategy, and effort. Below is a detailed guide on how to gather Element effectively, covering mechanics, strategies, and tips.
Element is primarily obtained by defeating bosses, completing the Tek Cave, or harvesting it from specific sources in certain maps. The most common method is defeating bosses, as they drop Element as a reward. Each boss fight has different difficulty levels (Gamma, Beta, and Alpha), with higher difficulties yielding more Element. For example, defeating the Alpha Broodmother on The Island map rewards 100 Element, while the Gamma version only gives 10. Boss fights require preparation, including strong tamed creatures, high-quality weapons, and a well-coordinated tribe.
To start gathering Element, you must first prepare for boss fights. This involves taming and breeding powerful creatures like Rexes, Therizinos, or Megatheriums, depending on the boss. For example, Rexes are ideal for the Broodmother and Megapithecus, while Therizinos are better for the Dragon due to their resistance to fire damage. Breeding these creatures for high stats and mutations is crucial for success. Additionally, crafting high-quality saddles for your tames will significantly increase their survivability during fights.
Once your tames are ready, you need to gather the required tributes to summon the boss. Each boss requires specific artifacts and trophies, which are found in caves or obtained by defeating certain creatures. For example, the Broodmother requires the Artifact of the Hunter, the Artifact of the Clever, and trophies like Sauropod Vertebra and Titanoboa Venom. These items are often found in dangerous caves, so bring strong tames like a Baryonyx or Thylacoleo to clear them efficiently.
After gathering the tributes, head to the appropriate Obelisk or Supply Drop to summon the boss. Ensure your tames are saddled and equipped with the best gear, and bring plenty of medical brews or cooked meat to heal them during the fight. Coordinate with your tribe to focus fire on the boss while avoiding its attacks. For example, the Dragon deals massive fire damage, so keeping your tames healed and avoiding its breath attack is critical.
Once the boss is defeated, you will receive Element as a reward. However, Element has a decay timer and will eventually turn into Element Dust if not used. To prevent this, craft a Tek Replicator or Tek Generator, which can store Element indefinitely. Alternatively, you can convert Element into Element Shards using a City Terminal on Extinction or a Charge Node on Genesis Part 2, as Shards do not decay.
For solo players, gathering Element is more challenging but still achievable. Focus on breeding high-stat creatures and crafting strong saddles to compensate for the lack of tribe support. Start with Gamma-level bosses to build up your Element reserves before attempting higher difficulties. Solo players can also use strategies like kiting bosses with ranged weapons or using specific tames like Deinonychus for their bleed effect.
Advanced techniques include optimizing your tames' stats through mutations and imprinting. Mutations can significantly boost your creatures' health and damage, making boss fights easier. Imprinting increases your tames' stats and reduces the damage they take, so always imprint your boss-fighting creatures. Additionally, using Tek-tier gear like Tek Rifles or Tek Saddles can give you an edge in combat.
Common mistakes to avoid include underestimating boss mechanics, bringing underprepared tames, or forgetting to bring tributes. Always scout the boss arena beforehand and plan your strategy accordingly. For example, the Dragon's arena has lava pits that can kill your tames if they fall in, so position them carefully. Also, ensure you have enough Element storage to prevent decay.
In summary, gathering Element in ARK requires careful preparation, strong tames, and a solid strategy. Focus on breeding and mutating your creatures, gathering the necessary tributes, and coordinating with your tribe for boss fights. Solo players can succeed with optimized tames and careful planning. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can efficiently gather Element and unlock the powerful Tek-tier technology in ARK: Survival Evolved.
Element is primarily obtained by defeating bosses, completing the Tek Cave, or harvesting it from specific sources in certain maps. The most common method is defeating bosses, as they drop Element as a reward. Each boss fight has different difficulty levels (Gamma, Beta, and Alpha), with higher difficulties yielding more Element. For example, defeating the Alpha Broodmother on The Island map rewards 100 Element, while the Gamma version only gives 10. Boss fights require preparation, including strong tamed creatures, high-quality weapons, and a well-coordinated tribe.
To start gathering Element, you must first prepare for boss fights. This involves taming and breeding powerful creatures like Rexes, Therizinos, or Megatheriums, depending on the boss. For example, Rexes are ideal for the Broodmother and Megapithecus, while Therizinos are better for the Dragon due to their resistance to fire damage. Breeding these creatures for high stats and mutations is crucial for success. Additionally, crafting high-quality saddles for your tames will significantly increase their survivability during fights.
Once your tames are ready, you need to gather the required tributes to summon the boss. Each boss requires specific artifacts and trophies, which are found in caves or obtained by defeating certain creatures. For example, the Broodmother requires the Artifact of the Hunter, the Artifact of the Clever, and trophies like Sauropod Vertebra and Titanoboa Venom. These items are often found in dangerous caves, so bring strong tames like a Baryonyx or Thylacoleo to clear them efficiently.
After gathering the tributes, head to the appropriate Obelisk or Supply Drop to summon the boss. Ensure your tames are saddled and equipped with the best gear, and bring plenty of medical brews or cooked meat to heal them during the fight. Coordinate with your tribe to focus fire on the boss while avoiding its attacks. For example, the Dragon deals massive fire damage, so keeping your tames healed and avoiding its breath attack is critical.
Once the boss is defeated, you will receive Element as a reward. However, Element has a decay timer and will eventually turn into Element Dust if not used. To prevent this, craft a Tek Replicator or Tek Generator, which can store Element indefinitely. Alternatively, you can convert Element into Element Shards using a City Terminal on Extinction or a Charge Node on Genesis Part 2, as Shards do not decay.
For solo players, gathering Element is more challenging but still achievable. Focus on breeding high-stat creatures and crafting strong saddles to compensate for the lack of tribe support. Start with Gamma-level bosses to build up your Element reserves before attempting higher difficulties. Solo players can also use strategies like kiting bosses with ranged weapons or using specific tames like Deinonychus for their bleed effect.
Advanced techniques include optimizing your tames' stats through mutations and imprinting. Mutations can significantly boost your creatures' health and damage, making boss fights easier. Imprinting increases your tames' stats and reduces the damage they take, so always imprint your boss-fighting creatures. Additionally, using Tek-tier gear like Tek Rifles or Tek Saddles can give you an edge in combat.
Common mistakes to avoid include underestimating boss mechanics, bringing underprepared tames, or forgetting to bring tributes. Always scout the boss arena beforehand and plan your strategy accordingly. For example, the Dragon's arena has lava pits that can kill your tames if they fall in, so position them carefully. Also, ensure you have enough Element storage to prevent decay.
In summary, gathering Element in ARK requires careful preparation, strong tames, and a solid strategy. Focus on breeding and mutating your creatures, gathering the necessary tributes, and coordinating with your tribe for boss fights. Solo players can succeed with optimized tames and careful planning. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can efficiently gather Element and unlock the powerful Tek-tier technology in ARK: Survival Evolved.