What are the most efficient ways to gather chitin or keratin in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Gathering chitin and keratin in ARK: Survival Evolved is essential for crafting items like cementing paste, armor, and saddles. Both resources are primarily obtained from killing and harvesting certain creatures, but the methods and efficiency vary depending on your tools, tames, and location. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to gather these resources effectively.

Chitin and keratin are harvested from creatures like trilobites, scorpions, spiders, ants, and certain dinosaurs such as the Ankylosaurus and Sabertooth. Chitin is more commonly found in arthropods, while keratin is typically obtained from creatures with hard shells or horns, like turtles and rhinos. The most efficient way to gather these resources is by using a tamed creature with high melee damage or a tool like a metal hatchet or chainsaw. Creatures like the Sabertooth, Megatherium, and Direwolf are excellent for farming chitin and keratin due to their high damage and harvesting multipliers.

To start, youÔÇÖll need to prepare by taming a creature suited for resource gathering. The Sabertooth is a great early-game option, as it is fast, deals good damage, and has a decent chitin and keratin harvesting rate. For mid to late-game, the Megatherium is the best choice, especially in areas with many insects, as it gains a buff called "Insect Killer" after killing an insect, which significantly increases its damage and harvesting efficiency. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, focus on taming one of these creatures and leveling up their melee damage to maximize resource yield. In a tribe, you can coordinate with others to tame multiple creatures for faster farming.

Once you have your tamed creature, head to areas rich in the creatures that drop chitin and keratin. Caves are the best locations for chitin, as they are filled with scorpions, spiders, and other arthropods. The Swamp Cave on The Island is particularly lucrative, but itÔÇÖs also dangerous due to high levels of heat and poisonous creatures. Bring a gas mask or scuba gear to survive the environment. For keratin, areas with turtles, rhinos, and other horned creatures are ideal. The beaches and rivers on most maps are good spots to find turtles, while rhinos are more common in snowy or mountainous regions.

When farming, use your tamed creature to kill and harvest the target creatures. For example, a Megatherium can quickly clear out a cave filled with insects, yielding thousands of chitin in a short time. If youÔÇÖre using tools, a metal hatchet is better for chitin, while a pickaxe is better for keratin. However, tools are generally less efficient than tamed creatures, so prioritize taming if possible.

One common mistake is not preparing adequately for the dangers of farming areas. Caves, in particular, are filled with hostile creatures and environmental hazards. Always bring healing items, armor, and a backup plan in case your tamed creature dies. Another mistake is overloading your inventory or your creatureÔÇÖs inventory with resources, which can slow you down or leave you vulnerable. Use a weight-reducing creature like a Paracer or Argentavis to carry the resources back to your base.

Advanced techniques include using a chainsaw, which has a high harvesting rate for both chitin and keratin, or breeding and imprinting a Megatherium for even higher efficiency. Imprinted creatures have boosted stats, making them even more effective at farming. Additionally, using a whip can help gather resources from corpses more quickly, though this is less efficient than using a tamed creature.

Resource requirements for farming chitin and keratin include a strong tamed creature, appropriate tools, and supplies for survival in dangerous areas. If youÔÇÖre farming in caves, bring gas masks, scuba gear, or hazard suits to counter environmental effects. For solo players, focus on taming a single strong creature and leveling its melee damage. In a tribe, you can divide tasks, with some players taming and others gathering resources.

Specific examples include farming the Swamp Cave on The Island with a Megatherium for chitin or hunting turtles along the beaches with a Sabertooth for keratin. Both methods are highly efficient and can yield large amounts of resources in a short time. By following these strategies and avoiding common mistakes, you can gather chitin and keratin efficiently and progress faster in ARK: Survival Evolved.