How do I craft and use a bola in ARK: Survival Evolved to immobilize small creatures?
Crafting and using a bola in ARK: Survival Evolved is a fundamental skill that can greatly enhance your early-game survival and taming efforts. A bola is a simple yet effective tool used to immobilize small to medium-sized creatures, making them easier to tame or kill. Below is a detailed guide on how to craft and use a bola effectively, along with tips and strategies to maximize its utility.
To craft a bola, you need to unlock its engram first. The bola engram becomes available at level 9 and costs 9 engram points. Once unlocked, you can craft it using the following resources: 5 fiber, 5 hide, and 10 stone. 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 stone can be gathered by hitting rocks with a pickaxe or by hand. Once you have the required materials, open your inventory or a crafting station like the Mortar and Pestle, and craft the bola.
Using a bola is straightforward but requires precision. Equip the bola in your hotbar and select it. When you encounter a small or medium creature, such as a raptor, dilophosaur, or even a human player, aim at the target and throw the bola by pressing the attack button. If your aim is accurate, the bola will wrap around the target's legs, immobilizing them for 30 seconds. During this time, the creature cannot move or attack, giving you a window to either tame it, kill it, or escape.
One important tip is to always carry multiple bolas, especially when exploring or taming. Bolas are single-use items, meaning they break after being thrown, so having extras ensures you can handle multiple threats or retry if you miss your target. Additionally, bolas are most effective against creatures that are roughly human-sized or smaller. Larger creatures like carnotaurus or rexes are immune to bolas, so do not waste them on such targets.
A common mistake players make is underestimating the bola's range and accuracy. The bola has a limited range, so you need to get relatively close to your target for it to be effective. However, getting too close can put you in danger, especially if the creature is aggressive. Practice your aim in safe environments, such as by targeting passive creatures like dodos, to get a feel for the bola's trajectory and range.
Advanced techniques involve using bolas in combination with other tools and strategies. For example, when taming a raptor, you can bola it to immobilize it, then use tranquilizer arrows or a slingshot to knock it out safely. This method minimizes the risk of the raptor attacking you or running away. Another strategy is to use bolas in PvP scenarios to immobilize enemy players, giving you an advantage in combat or allowing you to escape.
Resource management is crucial when using bolas. Since they require hide, fiber, and stone, ensure you have a steady supply of these materials. Taming creatures like the trike or parasaur can help you gather fiber and thatch more efficiently, while killing small creatures will provide hide. Stone is abundant, but always carry a pickaxe to gather it quickly when needed.
In tribe settings, bolas can be a valuable tool for coordinated taming or defense. For example, one tribe member can bola a target while another prepares tranquilizers or weapons. Communication and teamwork are key to maximizing the bola's effectiveness in group scenarios. Solo players, on the other hand, should focus on carrying multiple bolas and using them strategically to handle threats alone.
Specific examples of bola usage include taming a pack of raptors or defending against an aggressive dilophosaur. In both cases, the bola provides a crucial window of opportunity to act without being overwhelmed. For instance, if you encounter a raptor in the wild, bola it to immobilize it, then use tranquilizer arrows to knock it out. Once it is unconscious, feed it meat to begin the taming process. Similarly, if a dilophosaur attacks you, bola it to stop its movement and spit attacks, giving you time to either kill it or retreat.
In summary, the bola is an essential tool in ARK: Survival Evolved that can significantly improve your early-game survival and taming efforts. By crafting multiple bolas, practicing your aim, and using them in combination with other tools, you can effectively immobilize small to medium creatures, making them easier to tame or defeat. Always be mindful of the bola's limitations, such as its range and single-use nature, and plan accordingly. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, mastering the bola will give you a significant advantage in the dangerous world of ARK.
To craft a bola, you need to unlock its engram first. The bola engram becomes available at level 9 and costs 9 engram points. Once unlocked, you can craft it using the following resources: 5 fiber, 5 hide, and 10 stone. 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 stone can be gathered by hitting rocks with a pickaxe or by hand. Once you have the required materials, open your inventory or a crafting station like the Mortar and Pestle, and craft the bola.
Using a bola is straightforward but requires precision. Equip the bola in your hotbar and select it. When you encounter a small or medium creature, such as a raptor, dilophosaur, or even a human player, aim at the target and throw the bola by pressing the attack button. If your aim is accurate, the bola will wrap around the target's legs, immobilizing them for 30 seconds. During this time, the creature cannot move or attack, giving you a window to either tame it, kill it, or escape.
One important tip is to always carry multiple bolas, especially when exploring or taming. Bolas are single-use items, meaning they break after being thrown, so having extras ensures you can handle multiple threats or retry if you miss your target. Additionally, bolas are most effective against creatures that are roughly human-sized or smaller. Larger creatures like carnotaurus or rexes are immune to bolas, so do not waste them on such targets.
A common mistake players make is underestimating the bola's range and accuracy. The bola has a limited range, so you need to get relatively close to your target for it to be effective. However, getting too close can put you in danger, especially if the creature is aggressive. Practice your aim in safe environments, such as by targeting passive creatures like dodos, to get a feel for the bola's trajectory and range.
Advanced techniques involve using bolas in combination with other tools and strategies. For example, when taming a raptor, you can bola it to immobilize it, then use tranquilizer arrows or a slingshot to knock it out safely. This method minimizes the risk of the raptor attacking you or running away. Another strategy is to use bolas in PvP scenarios to immobilize enemy players, giving you an advantage in combat or allowing you to escape.
Resource management is crucial when using bolas. Since they require hide, fiber, and stone, ensure you have a steady supply of these materials. Taming creatures like the trike or parasaur can help you gather fiber and thatch more efficiently, while killing small creatures will provide hide. Stone is abundant, but always carry a pickaxe to gather it quickly when needed.
In tribe settings, bolas can be a valuable tool for coordinated taming or defense. For example, one tribe member can bola a target while another prepares tranquilizers or weapons. Communication and teamwork are key to maximizing the bola's effectiveness in group scenarios. Solo players, on the other hand, should focus on carrying multiple bolas and using them strategically to handle threats alone.
Specific examples of bola usage include taming a pack of raptors or defending against an aggressive dilophosaur. In both cases, the bola provides a crucial window of opportunity to act without being overwhelmed. For instance, if you encounter a raptor in the wild, bola it to immobilize it, then use tranquilizer arrows to knock it out. Once it is unconscious, feed it meat to begin the taming process. Similarly, if a dilophosaur attacks you, bola it to stop its movement and spit attacks, giving you time to either kill it or retreat.
In summary, the bola is an essential tool in ARK: Survival Evolved that can significantly improve your early-game survival and taming efforts. By crafting multiple bolas, practicing your aim, and using them in combination with other tools, you can effectively immobilize small to medium creatures, making them easier to tame or defeat. Always be mindful of the bola's limitations, such as its range and single-use nature, and plan accordingly. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, mastering the bola will give you a significant advantage in the dangerous world of ARK.