What are the most efficient ways to gather stone and flint in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Gathering stone and flint efficiently in ARK: Survival Evolved is crucial for crafting, building, and progressing in the game. Both resources are abundant but require specific strategies to collect in large quantities. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you maximize your efficiency.

Stone and flint are primarily gathered by hitting rocks with tools or dinosaurs. The most basic way to collect these resources is by using a pickaxe, which yields more flint than stone. A hatchet, on the other hand, provides more stone than flint. However, using dinosaurs like the Doedicurus for stone and the Ankylosaurus for flint is far more efficient than manual gathering. These creatures have specialized abilities that allow them to harvest large amounts of resources quickly.

To start, youÔÇÖll need to tame a Doedicurus for stone and an Ankylosaurus for flint. The Doedicurus is a large, armadillo-like creature found in mountainous or rocky areas. It has a unique ability to roll into a ball, which increases its movement speed and reduces damage taken. When attacking rocks, the Doedicurus gathers stone at an exceptional rate. Similarly, the Ankylosaurus is a heavily armored dinosaur that excels at gathering metal and flint. It has a powerful tail attack that can break rocks and harvest resources efficiently.

To tame these dinosaurs, youÔÇÖll need to prepare the right tools and resources. For the Doedicurus, use tranquilizer arrows or darts to knock it out. Once unconscious, feed it vegetables or kibble to tame it. The Ankylosaurus can also be tamed with tranquilizer arrows or darts, but it prefers berries or kibble. Make sure to have plenty of narcotics or narcoberries on hand to keep the dinosaurs sedated during the taming process.

Once tamed, equip the Doedicurus and Ankylosaurus with a saddle to ride them. This allows you to control their movements and target specific rocks for harvesting. When gathering stone, look for large boulders or rock formations. The Doedicurus can break these rocks quickly, yielding hundreds of stone in a short amount of time. For flint, the Ankylosaurus is best used on smaller rocks or riverbeds, where flint is more abundant.

One important tip is to level up your dinosaursÔÇÖ melee damage and weight capacity. Increasing melee damage allows them to gather more resources per hit, while higher weight capacity lets them carry more before becoming overencumbered. Additionally, consider using a weight-reducing platform saddle or a storage box on your dinosaur to extend your harvesting trips.

A common mistake is not bringing enough food or tools for your dinosaurs. Always carry extra food, especially for the Ankylosaurus, as it consumes stamina quickly when harvesting. Also, avoid harvesting in dangerous areas without proper protection. Predators like raptors or carnotaurus can attack your dinosaurs, so bring weapons or tamed creatures for defense.

For advanced players, consider using a Quetzal or Argentavis to transport your harvesting dinosaurs. These flying creatures can carry the Doedicurus or Ankylosaurus to resource-rich areas, saving time and effort. Additionally, using a mining drill from the Tek tier can automate resource gathering, though this requires advanced technology and resources.

In a tribe setting, coordination is key. Assign specific roles to tribe members, such as one person gathering stone while another collects flint. This division of labor maximizes efficiency and ensures a steady supply of resources. Solo players should focus on taming and leveling up their dinosaurs to handle both tasks independently.

Specific examples include the mountains on The Island map, which are rich in stone and metal. The riverbeds in the southern regions are excellent for flint. On Scorched Earth, the rocky outcrops and canyons are prime locations for both resources. In Aberration, the surface and blue zone contain abundant stone and flint, though the dangers are greater.

In conclusion, gathering stone and flint efficiently in ARK requires the right dinosaurs, tools, and strategies. Taming a Doedicurus and Ankylosaurus, leveling them up, and using advanced techniques like flying transport or Tek tools can significantly boost your resource collection. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, proper preparation and coordination are essential for success.