InArk: Survival Ascended,caves are among the most dangerous locations, so it is crucial to understand how to survive them. In a way, caves inArkare like mini-dungeons, filled with worthy adversaries that have no problems overwhelming players, especially new ones. This is doubly so as many tamed creatures inArkare too big to enter caves unless brought in with a Cryopod. Even then, some ofAscended’s best creatureswould likely be too large to maneuver about in many of these tight spaces easily.
Cave difficulty can also heavily depend on the map. On The Island, many caves are filled with vanillaArkcreatures that, with some experience, become easier to handle, but still require proper preparation. Whereas later DLC maps have caves that abide by their rules with new mechanics and creatures. Furthermore, caves are split up into those that reward artifacts and those that only reward resources.
How To Explore Caves In Ark
Experience Outranks Everything
There are two main ways of exploring caves inArkthat depend on the player’s experience level.For new survivors, that means taking everything slowand checking every corner of the cave. Many cave inhabitants, especially of the insect variety, will hide on walls or ceilings waiting for unexpected prey. One creature to especially look out for is Megalania. These large prehistoric reptiles will cling to ceilings and wait for players to enter their range, and while their impact damage is nothing spectacular, the Rabies debuff they give will quickly drain health and stamina.
Experienced players who know where to look and what to bring have much more liberty when exploring caves.Pace becomes a personal preferencebased on how fast one is able to kill or avoid creatures. With the right gear or dinosaurs, it is also possible to stealth through caves and retrieve the Artifact with minimal interaction. However, it will never hurt to be prepared for any fight or take out any annoying threats beforehand.
The Best Gear To Take Into Ark’s Caves
Preparation At Its Finest
For the best results, it would be ideal to wait until at least Flak Armor before exploring caves. This will give the most resistance to attacks and can be acquired relatively early in the playthrough for those who know where to find metal. For weapons, a Sword or Pike will be the best option, as clubs and spears will be less effective weapons against the larger opponents of caves.A Longneck Rifle or better would be ideal to help kill things at range, but a high-level bow could also do the trick.
For any underwater caves, scuba gear will be a requirement, as there will rarely be chances to replenish air naturally. These caves would also benefit from having a Harpoon Launcher, one ofArk: Survival Ascended’s most obscure Engrams, to help stay safe. Regular melee weapons can work here, but are not as ideal against many aquatic foes.
Any gear level above what has just been recommended makes caves even easier. At the point when players start having modern day gear or even Tek level,individual strength will have grown tenfold. For movement, grappling hooks and climbing picks can be a great help, especially on later DLC maps. It also becomes easier to fight and traverse caves once players have the tames/means to bring tames into them.
The Best Dinosaurs To Take Into Ark’s Caves
Cave Exploration Partners
Luckily, there is no end of options for wonderful tames to take into caves. Two great recommendations, and some of the mostunderused tames inArk: Survival Ascended, are the Megalania and Megatherium. Even though Megalania can be dangerous, a tamed one allows players to easily scale any cave surface and avoid fights if desired. Meanwhile,the Megatherium is the ultimate insect killer, having a passive damage increase for them and another large temporary bonus once it kills an insect.
Some options also depend on the map, with a perfect example of this being the versatile Baryonyx for The Island. However,other maps benefit more from newer creatures made for them, like the Rock Drake or Reapers onAberration. The size of the cave also plays a huge part in this, as it can limit what size of dinosaur it can fit, which is why small-to-medium sizes are better options.
A final option, though locked behind theBob’s Tall TalesDLC and limited spawning, isAberration’s best new mechanic, the Cosmo Spider. This shoulder pet arachnid collects cobwebs andcan then use them as an organic grappling hook. This frees up a spot in a players hotbar and can also serve as a pseudo weapon to slow down any approaching enemies.
Overall, while caves may seem daunting at first, they get easier with time and preparation. Some late game caves are meant to be a challenge, but can still be simplified. Besides bosses, conquering caves can be one of the most rewarding progression points inArk: Survivla Ascended, proving a player’s efforts are being rewarded.
Ark: Survival Ascended
ARK: Survival Ascended is a reimagined version of the 2017 action-adventure survival MMORPG by the developers at Studio Wildcard and Grove Street Games. Built in Unreal Engine 5, players will return to ARK to build tribes, fight and tame dinosaurs, and brave the elements as they battle to survive in a unique sandbox where crafting and resource management is essential.
