Where are the best locations for farming polymer in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Farming polymer in ARK: Survival Evolved is essential for crafting advanced items like weapons, armor, and structures. Polymer is a high-tier resource used in many late-game recipes, and there are two main types: organic polymer and regular polymer. Organic polymer can be harvested from certain creatures, while regular polymer is crafted using obsidian and cementing paste. Below is a detailed guide on the best locations and strategies for farming polymer, along with tips and considerations.
Organic polymer is the easier of the two to farm, as it can be harvested directly from creatures like Kairuku, Mantis, and Hesperornis. Kairuku, found in the snowy regions of the Island map, are the most efficient source. They are passive creatures, so they wonÔÇÖt attack, but youÔÇÖll need to be prepared for the cold. Bring fur armor or a otter to stay warm. Use a chainsaw or a high-damage weapon like a sword to harvest the most polymer from each Kairuku. A tamed Pelagornis or a flying mount like an Argentavis can help you carry the polymer back to your base. Mantis, found in the desert regions of Scorched Earth or Ragnarok, also drop organic polymer when killed. They are aggressive, so bring a strong mount or weapon to deal with them. Hesperornis, found near water sources, drop organic polymer when killed, but they are harder to find and less efficient than Kairuku.
Regular polymer requires more effort, as it is crafted using obsidian and cementing paste. Obsidian is found in mountainous regions on most maps, often near metal nodes. The best locations for obsidian on the Island map are the volcano and the mountains in the northwest. On Ragnarok, obsidian is abundant in the highlands and the volcano. Cementing paste is crafted using chitin or keratin and stone in a mortar and pestle or chemistry bench. Chitin can be harvested from insects like Trilobites, Araneo, and Scorpions, while keratin comes from creatures like Triceratops and Ankylosaurus. A tamed Beaver or Achatina can help you gather cementing paste more efficiently, as Beavers produce it in their dams, and Achatina passively produce it over time.
To optimize your polymer farming, consider setting up a base near a resource-rich area. For example, on the Island map, building near the volcano gives you easy access to obsidian and metal. On Ragnarok, the highlands are a great location for both obsidian and organic polymer from Kairuku. Use a tamed Ankylosaurus to gather obsidian more efficiently, as it has a weight reduction for metal and obsidian. A Doedicurus is ideal for gathering stone, which is needed for cementing paste. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, prioritize taming these creatures to make resource gathering easier. In a tribe, assign roles to members to streamline the process, such as having one person gather obsidian while another farms chitin or keratin.
One common mistake is not preparing for the environment when farming organic polymer. The snowy regions where Kairuku are found are extremely cold, so failing to bring proper insulation can lead to hypothermia and death. Always bring fur armor, medical brews, and a otter to stay warm. Another mistake is not using the right tools. A chainsaw is the most efficient tool for harvesting organic polymer, but if you donÔÇÖt have one, a high-damage weapon like a sword or a metal hatchet will work. For regular polymer, failing to gather enough cementing paste can slow down your progress. Focus on farming chitin or keratin early on to stockpile cementing paste.
Advanced techniques include using a tamed Megatherium for chitin farming. Megatheriums gain a buff when killing insects, making them incredibly efficient at gathering chitin. For obsidian, use a Quetzal or Argentavis to carry your Ankylosaurus to high-altitude nodes, as this allows you to gather more obsidian without being encumbered. If youÔÇÖre playing on a map with a Gacha, such as Extinction, you can tame one to passively produce polymer crystals, which can be converted into polymer.
In summary, the best locations for farming polymer depend on the type you need. For organic polymer, head to the snowy regions for Kairuku or the deserts for Mantis. For regular polymer, focus on mountainous areas for obsidian and caves or insect-rich areas for chitin. Prepare for the environment, use the right tools and tames, and consider setting up a base near resource-rich areas to optimize your farming. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or in a tribe, efficient resource management and preparation are key to success.
Organic polymer is the easier of the two to farm, as it can be harvested directly from creatures like Kairuku, Mantis, and Hesperornis. Kairuku, found in the snowy regions of the Island map, are the most efficient source. They are passive creatures, so they wonÔÇÖt attack, but youÔÇÖll need to be prepared for the cold. Bring fur armor or a otter to stay warm. Use a chainsaw or a high-damage weapon like a sword to harvest the most polymer from each Kairuku. A tamed Pelagornis or a flying mount like an Argentavis can help you carry the polymer back to your base. Mantis, found in the desert regions of Scorched Earth or Ragnarok, also drop organic polymer when killed. They are aggressive, so bring a strong mount or weapon to deal with them. Hesperornis, found near water sources, drop organic polymer when killed, but they are harder to find and less efficient than Kairuku.
Regular polymer requires more effort, as it is crafted using obsidian and cementing paste. Obsidian is found in mountainous regions on most maps, often near metal nodes. The best locations for obsidian on the Island map are the volcano and the mountains in the northwest. On Ragnarok, obsidian is abundant in the highlands and the volcano. Cementing paste is crafted using chitin or keratin and stone in a mortar and pestle or chemistry bench. Chitin can be harvested from insects like Trilobites, Araneo, and Scorpions, while keratin comes from creatures like Triceratops and Ankylosaurus. A tamed Beaver or Achatina can help you gather cementing paste more efficiently, as Beavers produce it in their dams, and Achatina passively produce it over time.
To optimize your polymer farming, consider setting up a base near a resource-rich area. For example, on the Island map, building near the volcano gives you easy access to obsidian and metal. On Ragnarok, the highlands are a great location for both obsidian and organic polymer from Kairuku. Use a tamed Ankylosaurus to gather obsidian more efficiently, as it has a weight reduction for metal and obsidian. A Doedicurus is ideal for gathering stone, which is needed for cementing paste. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, prioritize taming these creatures to make resource gathering easier. In a tribe, assign roles to members to streamline the process, such as having one person gather obsidian while another farms chitin or keratin.
One common mistake is not preparing for the environment when farming organic polymer. The snowy regions where Kairuku are found are extremely cold, so failing to bring proper insulation can lead to hypothermia and death. Always bring fur armor, medical brews, and a otter to stay warm. Another mistake is not using the right tools. A chainsaw is the most efficient tool for harvesting organic polymer, but if you donÔÇÖt have one, a high-damage weapon like a sword or a metal hatchet will work. For regular polymer, failing to gather enough cementing paste can slow down your progress. Focus on farming chitin or keratin early on to stockpile cementing paste.
Advanced techniques include using a tamed Megatherium for chitin farming. Megatheriums gain a buff when killing insects, making them incredibly efficient at gathering chitin. For obsidian, use a Quetzal or Argentavis to carry your Ankylosaurus to high-altitude nodes, as this allows you to gather more obsidian without being encumbered. If youÔÇÖre playing on a map with a Gacha, such as Extinction, you can tame one to passively produce polymer crystals, which can be converted into polymer.
In summary, the best locations for farming polymer depend on the type you need. For organic polymer, head to the snowy regions for Kairuku or the deserts for Mantis. For regular polymer, focus on mountainous areas for obsidian and caves or insect-rich areas for chitin. Prepare for the environment, use the right tools and tames, and consider setting up a base near resource-rich areas to optimize your farming. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or in a tribe, efficient resource management and preparation are key to success.