When it comes to the survival game Ark: Survival Evolved, nothing beats the rush of gathering resources and crafting essential tools for your journey. One of the most crucial resources you will encounter is metal. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to efficiently cook metal in Ark, ensuring that you have the necessary tools and weapons to thrive in this prehistoric world.
Understanding Metal in Ark
Metal is a critical resource in Ark, used to craft a plethora of advanced items such as weapons, tools, and building materials. Unlike basic resources like wood or thatch, cooking metal is essential for progressing in the game.
Types of Metal Resources
In Ark, there are various types of metal resources you can gather. Here are the primary types you’ll come across:
- Metal Ore: The most common form of metal.
- Raw Metal: Obtained from smelting metal ore in a forge.
- Element: A rare resource used for advanced crafting.
Each of these resources plays a vital role in your survival, and understanding how to process them efficiently is key to your success.
Gathering Metal Resources
Before you can cook metal, you need to gather the required resources. Here’s how you can efficiently collect metal:
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Finding Metal Deposits: Metal is usually found in rocky areas, especially on mountains and cliff faces. Look for shiny, metallic nodes scattered throughout the landscape.
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Tools for Gathering Metal: You will need specific tools to gather metal efficiently. Using a pickaxe or a metal pickaxe will yield more metal ore compared to using your bare hands or a hatchet.
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Using Dinosaurs: Some dinosaurs can help you gather resources faster. The Ankylosaurus, for instance, is known for its exceptional ability to harvest metal efficiently. Riding one can accelerate your metal-gathering sessions significantly.
Cooking Metal: The Process
Cooking metal in Ark involves smelting metal ore into raw metal. This process is achieved using a forge. Here is the step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Building a Forge
Before you can cook metal, you must first construct a forge. Here are the materials you’ll need:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Stone | 50 |
| Wood | 20 |
| Thatch | 10 |
| Flint | 15 |
| Metal Ingot | 1 |
Once gathered, you can craft the forge by accessing your inventory and selecting the forge from the crafting menu.
Fueling the Forge
Now that you’ve built a forge, it’s time to fuel it. Here’s what you can use:
- Wood: Easy to obtain, but burns relatively quickly.
- Thatch: Burns even faster than wood, making it less effective.
- Coal: A more efficient source of fuel that burns longer.
For optimal results, it’s best to use coal or a large quantity of wood when cooking metal.
Smelting Metal Ore
With your forge built and fueled, it’s time to start the smelting process. Here’s how:
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Access the Forge Menu: Approach the forge and press the button to access its menu.
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Add Metal Ore: You will see slots for both fuel and metal ore. Place your metal ore into the designated slot.
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Add Fuel: Next, place your chosen fuel source in the fuel slot.
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Start Smelting: Once both resources are in place, the forge will start working automatically. You will see a progress bar indicating the smelting process.
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Collect Raw Metal: After some time, the metal ore will transform into raw metal, which is essential for crafting tools, weapons, and advanced structures.
Uses for Smelted Metal
Once you have your raw metal, the possibilities are endless. Here are a few primary uses:
Crafting Tools and Weapons
Creating metal tools and weapons is a game-changer in Ark. Here are some items you can craft with metal:
- Metal Pickaxe: Significantly more efficient than a stone pickaxe, allowing for faster resource gathering.
- Metal Hatchet: Ideal for quickly harvesting wood and thatch.
- Firearms: With the right level, you can craft rifles and pistols, giving you an edge over dinosaurs and other players.
Building Structures
Metal is also crucial for fortifying your base. It allows you to craft durable structures that can withstand attacks from both wild creatures and other players.
- Metal Walls: Provide superior resistance against damage.
- Metal Doors: More robust than wooden doors, ensuring that your base remains secure.
Advanced Crafting
As you progress, you’ll want to craft more advanced items using raw metal:
- Railings: Perfect for making your structures safer.
- Advanced Saddles: Helps in riding and training dinosaurs with more protection and speed.
Tips for Efficient Metal Cooking
Cooking metal can be time-consuming if not done efficiently. Here are some tips to streamline the process:
Gather in Bulk
Whenever you go out to gather metal, aim to collect as much as possible in one trip to reduce the frequency of gathering sessions. This allows you to maximize your time spent cooking metal in the forge.
Organize Fuel Sources
Organizing your fuel sources can prevent wasting valuable time searching for wood or coal. Consider establishing a dedicated storage area where you keep all your fuel at hand.
Use Multiple Forges
If you have the resources, building multiple forges can significantly increase your metal smelting speed. This way, you can have several forges running simultaneously, dramatically increasing your production.
Protect Your Forage
Given that metal is a valuable resource, it’s crucial to protect your forges from potential raiding players or aggressive dinosaurs. Building walls around your forge area can help mitigate this risk.
Conclusion
Cooking metal in Ark: Survival Evolved is a critical skill that can significantly enhance your gaming experience. By understanding how to gather and process metal efficiently, you will elevate your survival skills, craft formidable weapons, and build impenetrable bases.
Remember to gather in bulk, organize your resources, and consider building multiple forges for the most efficient metal cooking experience. With these strategies in hand, you’re well on your way to dominating the Ark! Enjoy your adventure as you master the art of crafting and survival in this perilous yet captivating world.
What is metal used for in Ark: Survival Evolved?
Metal is a crucial resource in Ark: Survival Evolved, serving as a primary material for crafting numerous items and structures. Players use metal to forge weapons, armor, and tools that offer improved durability and damage compared to their primitive counterparts. Additionally, metal is essential for building advanced structures that provide better protection and functionality for your base.
Beyond tools and buildings, metal is also used in crafting items like vehicles and advanced crafting stations. The availability and efficient use of metal can significantly enhance gameplay, allowing players to survive better against threats and venture into more challenging environments.
How do I obtain metal in Ark?
To obtain metal, players need to mine metal nodes, which can be found in various locations around the map, typically on rocky surfaces or mountains. Using a pickaxe is the most efficient way to gather metal from these nodes, and the higher the quality of the pickaxe, the more metal you can collect. It’s essential to explore different biomes, particularly mountainous areas, to find abundant metal deposits.
Players can also gather metal from destruction of metal structures or specific types of rocks, which may drop metal ingots when harvested. Additionally, certain creatures, like the Daeodon or Ankylosaurus, can help increase your metal yield when used for harvesting, making them valuable assets for resource gathering.
What tools are best for mining metal?
The best tools for mining metal in Ark: Survival Evolved are the pickaxes, particularly the Metal Pick, which allows you to collect larger quantities of metal per hit. The Metal Pick is crafted using metal ingots once you have access to a Forge, making it an important upgrade as you progress in the game. It’s advisable to carry multiple picks to improve efficiency and minimize downtime.
In addition to the Metal Pick, using a creature such as the Ankylosaurus can vastly increase metal yield. Equipped with a saddle, an Ankylosaurus specializes in harvesting resources and can gather more metal from nodes than a player can alone, maximizing your efficiency in resource collection.
How do I turn raw metal into ingots?
To turn raw metal into ingots, players need to utilize a Forge. First, gather enough raw metal by mining it from metal nodes, and then place the raw metal in the Forge’s inventory. You’ll also need to provide a fuel source, such as wood, thatch, or sparkpowder, to keep the Forge running. Once the Forge is lit, it will start smelting the raw metal into metal ingots.
After a brief period, the Forge will produce a number of metal ingots based on the amount of raw metal you placed inside. In-game, each raw metal can be turned into one metal ingot, allowing you to craft a wide variety of advanced items once you collect enough ingots for your needs.
Where can I find metal nodes on the map?
Metal nodes are scattered throughout various locations across the Ark maps. The most common areas to find metal nodes include mountainous regions, cliffsides, and certain biomes like the High Mountains and the snowy areas. These locations typically offer the most concentrated deposits of metal, making them prime hunting grounds for resource gatherers.
Players can also check regions with rocky outcroppings or any area where there are more rocks than foliage. Consulting community resources or maps specific to your Ark server can provide detailed information on where to find metal nodes efficiently, as some locations might be safer or more accessible than others.
What is the best way to transport metal ingots?
Transporting metal ingots can be a bit challenging due to their weight, especially in large quantities. One effective way to transport them is by using a creature with a high carry weight, such as an Argentavis or a Quetzalcoatlus, which can help you fly back to your base without being encumbered. These flying mounts allow for safe and quick transportation, reducing the chances of encountering hostile creatures on the ground.
Alternatively, players can utilize storage boxes or cargo containers if they are traveling via land or need to store metal temporarily. Building a raft or using a Gelder creature can also be effective if you’re moving across water to an island or another base, ensuring that you can carry multiple stacks of metal ingots without losing them along the way.
Can I use metal in crafting armor and tools?
Yes, metal is essential for crafting higher-tier armor and tools in Ark: Survival Evolved. Once you have enough metal ingots, you can craft metal tools, such as a Metal Pick or Metal Hatchet, which have significantly higher durability and efficiency compared to their primitive versions. Crafting metal tools allows players to gather resources more effectively, making survival easier.
Similarly, metal armor provides increased protection against attacks from hostile creatures or players. Players can craft pieces of metal armor, like the Metal Helmet or Metal Boots, which enhance their survivability in combat situations. Acquiring metal resources is critical for progressing in the game and adapting to tougher challenges.
Is it possible to lose metal ingots?
Yes, metal ingots can be lost under certain circumstances in Ark: Survival Evolved. If a player dies while carrying metal ingots, they risk losing them unless they manage to retrieve their body. It’s advisable to limit how much metal you carry on dangerous excursions or when exploring hostile territories to reduce potential losses.
Additionally, if a base is destroyed or raided, any metal ingots stored within that base could also be lost. It’s crucial to regularly move resources to safer locations or have backup storage strategies in place, such as transferring items between tribes or allies, to minimize the risk of losing valuable resources like metal ingots.