What are the best ways to farm chitin and keratin on The Island in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Farming chitin and keratin on The Island in ARK: Survival Evolved is essential for crafting items like cementing paste, armor, and saddles. Both resources are primarily obtained from killing certain creatures, and understanding the mechanics and strategies for efficient farming is crucial for survival and progression.
Chitin and keratin are dropped by creatures such as trilobites, scorpions, spiders, mantises, and arthropleuras. Trilobites are passive creatures found along beaches and shallow waters, while scorpions, spiders, and arthropleuras are aggressive and commonly found in caves or specific biomes. Keratin can also be obtained from creatures like turtles, carbonemys, and stegosaurus. The key to efficient farming is targeting the right creatures in the right locations.
To begin farming, you need a strong combat mount or tools. A saber-toothed cat (saber) is one of the best early-game mounts for chitin farming due to its ability to harvest large amounts of chitin from corpses. Alternatively, a metal pick or hatchet can be used, but they are less efficient. For keratin, a strong mount like a direwolf or therizinosaur is ideal, as they can quickly kill turtles and other keratin-dropping creatures.
One of the best locations for chitin farming is the Swamp Cave, located in the Redwood Forest. This cave is filled with scorpions, spiders, and arthropleuras, all of which drop chitin. However, the cave is extremely dangerous due to high levels of heat, poison, and hostile creatures. To survive, you will need a gas mask or scuba gear to protect against the cave's toxic atmosphere, as well as a strong mount like a megatherium, which gains a damage boost against insects. Bring medical brews and stimulants to counteract the heat and poison effects.
For keratin, the beaches and rivers are excellent starting points. Carbonemys and stegosaurus are common in these areas and drop keratin when killed. A strong mount like a rex or therizinosaur can quickly dispatch these creatures. Additionally, the Snow Biome is a great spot for farming keratin from creatures like wolves and mammoths, but be prepared for the cold weather by wearing fur armor or using otter companions for insulation.
Preparation is key for efficient farming. Always bring a mount with high damage and health, as well as tools like a metal pick or hatchet for manual harvesting. Carry a few preserving bins or a refrigerator to store your resources, as chitin and keratin spoil quickly. If you are farming in dangerous areas like caves, bring medical supplies, armor, and weapons to handle unexpected threats.
Common mistakes include venturing into dangerous areas without proper preparation, such as entering the Swamp Cave without a gas mask or scuba gear. Another mistake is using inefficient tools or mounts, which can slow down your farming progress. Always prioritize using a mount with high harvesting efficiency, like a saber or megatherium, to maximize your resource yield.
Advanced techniques include using a chainsaw, which is highly effective for harvesting chitin and keratin from corpses. However, chainsaws require gasoline and are expensive to craft, making them a late-game option. Another advanced strategy is breeding megatheriums for the Swamp Cave, as their insect-killing bonus makes them incredibly efficient for chitin farming. Additionally, using a cryopod to transport mounts into caves can save time and effort.
For solo players, farming chitin and keratin can be challenging, especially in dangerous areas like caves. It is recommended to focus on safer locations like beaches or rivers for keratin and use a strong mount like a saber for chitin. Solo players should also prioritize building a small outpost near farming locations to store resources and recover between farming runs.
For tribes, coordination is key. Assign roles to tribe members, such as one person handling mounts while another focuses on resource gathering. Tribes can also set up taming pens near farming locations to quickly tame new mounts if needed. Additionally, tribes can use advanced tools like chainsaws and industrial grinders to process resources more efficiently.
In summary, farming chitin and keratin on The Island requires careful planning, the right tools, and a strong mount. Focus on high-yield locations like the Swamp Cave for chitin and beaches or rivers for keratin. Avoid common mistakes like inadequate preparation and inefficient tools, and consider advanced techniques like using chainsaws or breeding megatheriums for optimal results. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, efficient resource management and preparation are essential for success.
Chitin and keratin are dropped by creatures such as trilobites, scorpions, spiders, mantises, and arthropleuras. Trilobites are passive creatures found along beaches and shallow waters, while scorpions, spiders, and arthropleuras are aggressive and commonly found in caves or specific biomes. Keratin can also be obtained from creatures like turtles, carbonemys, and stegosaurus. The key to efficient farming is targeting the right creatures in the right locations.
To begin farming, you need a strong combat mount or tools. A saber-toothed cat (saber) is one of the best early-game mounts for chitin farming due to its ability to harvest large amounts of chitin from corpses. Alternatively, a metal pick or hatchet can be used, but they are less efficient. For keratin, a strong mount like a direwolf or therizinosaur is ideal, as they can quickly kill turtles and other keratin-dropping creatures.
One of the best locations for chitin farming is the Swamp Cave, located in the Redwood Forest. This cave is filled with scorpions, spiders, and arthropleuras, all of which drop chitin. However, the cave is extremely dangerous due to high levels of heat, poison, and hostile creatures. To survive, you will need a gas mask or scuba gear to protect against the cave's toxic atmosphere, as well as a strong mount like a megatherium, which gains a damage boost against insects. Bring medical brews and stimulants to counteract the heat and poison effects.
For keratin, the beaches and rivers are excellent starting points. Carbonemys and stegosaurus are common in these areas and drop keratin when killed. A strong mount like a rex or therizinosaur can quickly dispatch these creatures. Additionally, the Snow Biome is a great spot for farming keratin from creatures like wolves and mammoths, but be prepared for the cold weather by wearing fur armor or using otter companions for insulation.
Preparation is key for efficient farming. Always bring a mount with high damage and health, as well as tools like a metal pick or hatchet for manual harvesting. Carry a few preserving bins or a refrigerator to store your resources, as chitin and keratin spoil quickly. If you are farming in dangerous areas like caves, bring medical supplies, armor, and weapons to handle unexpected threats.
Common mistakes include venturing into dangerous areas without proper preparation, such as entering the Swamp Cave without a gas mask or scuba gear. Another mistake is using inefficient tools or mounts, which can slow down your farming progress. Always prioritize using a mount with high harvesting efficiency, like a saber or megatherium, to maximize your resource yield.
Advanced techniques include using a chainsaw, which is highly effective for harvesting chitin and keratin from corpses. However, chainsaws require gasoline and are expensive to craft, making them a late-game option. Another advanced strategy is breeding megatheriums for the Swamp Cave, as their insect-killing bonus makes them incredibly efficient for chitin farming. Additionally, using a cryopod to transport mounts into caves can save time and effort.
For solo players, farming chitin and keratin can be challenging, especially in dangerous areas like caves. It is recommended to focus on safer locations like beaches or rivers for keratin and use a strong mount like a saber for chitin. Solo players should also prioritize building a small outpost near farming locations to store resources and recover between farming runs.
For tribes, coordination is key. Assign roles to tribe members, such as one person handling mounts while another focuses on resource gathering. Tribes can also set up taming pens near farming locations to quickly tame new mounts if needed. Additionally, tribes can use advanced tools like chainsaws and industrial grinders to process resources more efficiently.
In summary, farming chitin and keratin on The Island requires careful planning, the right tools, and a strong mount. Focus on high-yield locations like the Swamp Cave for chitin and beaches or rivers for keratin. Avoid common mistakes like inadequate preparation and inefficient tools, and consider advanced techniques like using chainsaws or breeding megatheriums for optimal results. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, efficient resource management and preparation are essential for success.