Beginner's Guide to ARK: Survival Ascended
New to ARK? This guide covers surviving your first day, taming dinosaurs, building your base, and progressing through the game.
First 10 Minutes
- 1Pick up stones from the ground and punch trees for wood and thatch.
- 2Craft a Stone Pickaxe immediately (1 Stone, 1 Wood, 10 Thatch).
- 3Then craft a Stone Hatchet for more wood per tree.
- 4Gather berries from bushes for food - eat to restore hunger.
- 5Avoid large predators like Raptors and Rex until you have weapons.
Your First Shelter
- 1Build a thatch foundation, walls, ceiling, and doorframe.
- 2Place a campfire inside to cook meat and stay warm.
- 3Craft a sleeping bag as a temporary respawn point.
- 4Upgrade to wood structures as soon as possible.
- 5Place a storage box to keep your items safe.
Your First Tame
- 1The Parasaur or Dodo are the easiest first tames.
- 2Use a bola to immobilize small creatures (craft at level 9).
- 3Punch or use a slingshot to knock out creatures.
- 4Place Mejoberries (for herbivores) or meat (for carnivores) in their inventory.
- 5Feed Narcoberries to keep them unconscious during taming.
Essential Engrams
- 1Level 1-5: Stone tools, Cloth armor, Campfire.
- 2Level 6-10: Storage Box, Sleeping Bag, Bola, Bow.
- 3Level 10-20: Narcotics, Mortar and Pestle, Tranq Arrows.
- 4Level 20-30: Metal tools, Refining Forge, Smithy, Pike.
- 5Do not waste points on thatch building engrams - skip to wood.
Survival Tips
- 1Always carry cooked meat and water for healing and hunger.
- 2Craft a raft at level 16 for safe ocean exploration.
- 3Night is dangerous - stay near your base or carry torches.
- 4Tame a Pteranodon (level 38 saddle) for your first flyer.
- 5Join a tribe for safety or play PVE servers as a beginner.