How do I craft and use a tek grenade for boss fights in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Crafting and using a Tek Grenade in ARK: Survival Evolved is a late-game strategy that requires significant preparation and resources. Tek Grenades are powerful explosives that deal high damage and can be particularly useful in boss fights due to their ability to disrupt enemy movements and deal area-of-effect damage. Below is a detailed guide on how to craft and use Tek Grenades effectively, along with tips and considerations for both solo and tribe play.

To craft a Tek Grenade, you must first unlock the Tek Grenade engram. This engram is available at level 100 and requires 35 Engram Points to unlock. However, you also need to defeat certain bosses to gain access to Tek-tier items. Specifically, you must defeat the Broodmother, Megapithecus, or Dragon boss to unlock the Tek Replicator, which is required to craft Tek Grenades. Once you have the engram, you can craft Tek Grenades in a Tek Replicator using the following resources: 100 Element, 50 Polymer, 50 Metal Ingots, and 50 Crystal. Element is a rare resource obtained primarily from defeating bosses or harvesting it from specific nodes in the Extinction map.

Before attempting to craft Tek Grenades, ensure you have a reliable source of Element. This often means farming bosses repeatedly or trading with other players if you are on a multiplayer server. Polymer can be obtained from killing Kairuku (penguins) or by crafting it using Obsidian and Cementing Paste. Metal Ingots and Crystal are more common resources, but you will need a large amount, so consider setting up a mining operation with tamed dinosaurs like Ankylosaurus or Doedicurus to gather these materials efficiently.

Once you have crafted Tek Grenades, using them effectively in boss fights requires careful planning. Tek Grenades deal significant damage and have a large blast radius, making them ideal for hitting multiple targets or large bosses. However, they also have a delay before detonation, so timing is crucial. In boss fights, it is often best to throw Tek Grenades when the boss is stationary or moving predictably. For example, during the Dragon boss fight, the Dragon often lands and remains still for a period, making it an ideal target for Tek Grenades.

One common mistake is underestimating the blast radius of Tek Grenades. They can easily damage or kill your own tamed dinosaurs if thrown too close. To avoid this, position your dinosaurs at a safe distance while you handle the grenades. Additionally, Tek Grenades are expensive to craft, so wasting them by missing your target can be costly. Practice your aim in less critical situations, such as against wild creatures, to get a feel for the grenade's trajectory and timing.

For solo players, using Tek Grenades in boss fights can be challenging due to the need to manage both the grenades and your tamed dinosaurs. Consider using a high-health dinosaur like a Rex or a Yutyrannus to tank the boss while you focus on throwing grenades. Alternatively, you can use a ranged weapon like a Tek Rifle to deal damage from a distance while occasionally throwing grenades when the opportunity arises.

In a tribe setting, coordination is key. Assign specific roles to tribe members, such as one person handling the grenades while others focus on controlling the dinosaurs or providing support with healing items. Communication is essential to ensure that grenades are thrown at the right time and that no one accidentally damages the tribe's dinosaurs.

Advanced techniques include combining Tek Grenades with other Tek-tier items for maximum effectiveness. For example, using a Tek Shield to block incoming attacks while throwing grenades can give you an edge in close-quarters combat. Additionally, pairing Tek Grenades with a Tek Rifle allows you to switch between ranged and explosive damage depending on the situation.

Resource management is critical when using Tek Grenades. Since they require Element, which is a finite resource, it is important to use them sparingly and only when necessary. Consider saving Tek Grenades for the most challenging parts of boss fights, such as when the boss enrages or summons additional creatures.

In summary, crafting and using Tek Grenades in ARK: Survival Evolved requires significant preparation, including defeating bosses to unlock the necessary engrams and gathering rare resources like Element. When used correctly, Tek Grenades can be a powerful tool in boss fights, but they require careful timing and positioning to avoid damaging your own dinosaurs. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, effective communication and resource management are key to making the most of this advanced explosive.