Ark: Extinction, the third expansion pack for Ark: Survival Evolved, throws players into a desolate, post-apocalyptic Earth teeming with mutated creatures and the remnants of a lost civilization. This map is a stark contrast to the lush landscapes of The Island and the scorched deserts of Scorched Earth. Extinction demands adaptation, resourcefulness, and a deep understanding of its unique ecosystem to survive and ultimately, thrive. This article serves as a comprehensive resource map, guiding you through the key materials, locations, and strategies necessary to conquer the challenges of Extinction.
Understanding Extinction’s Unique Environment:
Extinction’s map is divided into distinct biomes, each offering a unique set of resources and dangers:
- The City: A sprawling urban landscape dominated by ruined skyscrapers and corrupted foliage. It’s home to many basic resources, but also heavily patrolled by powerful corrupted creatures and element-infused Tek dinosaurs.
- The Wasteland: A barren, irradiated zone surrounding the city, characterized by canyons, caves, and harsh weather conditions. It offers rare resources and challenging encounters.
- The Snow Dome: A frigid, mountainous region covered in snow and ice. It’s a haven for cold-weather creatures and provides essential materials for crafting high-tier gear.
- The Desert Dome: A scorching, arid biome with limited water and harsh sunlight. It’s home to desert-adapted creatures and valuable resources for crafting advanced technology.
- The Sunken Forest: A lush, overgrown area with a thick canopy and hidden waterways. It’s a relatively safer zone with abundant plant life and small creatures.
Essential Resources and Their Locations:
Mastering resource gathering is crucial for survival in Extinction. Here’s a breakdown of key resources and where to find them:
- Metal: Metal is the backbone of crafting in Ark. On Extinction, metal nodes are abundant throughout the map, particularly in the Wasteland canyons, the City ruins, and the Snow Dome mountains. Look for large, dark-grey rocks. A good starting point is around the edges of the City, venturing further out as you level up and acquire stronger harvesting tools.
- Stone: Stone is readily available across all biomes. It’s found in the form of small rocks and larger boulders. The City and the Wasteland offer plentiful supplies.
- Wood: Wood can be harvested from trees. The Sunken Forest and the areas surrounding the City are your best bets. Beware of aggressive creatures lurking in the undergrowth.
- Thatch: Thatch is harvested from smaller plants and bushes. It’s abundant in the Sunken Forest and the areas surrounding the City.
- Fiber: Fiber is crucial for crafting clothes and early-game tools. It’s harvested from plants and bushes, particularly common in the Sunken Forest and around the City.
- Hide: Hide is obtained by harvesting creatures. Dodos, Lystrosaurus, and other smaller creatures are easy targets for beginners. As you progress, you’ll need to hunt tougher creatures like Raptors and Direwolves.
- Keratin: Keratin is harvested from creatures like Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and Ankylosaurus. It’s used in various crafting recipes, including saddles and armor.
- Chitin: Chitin is harvested from insects like Scorpions, Arthropluera, and Pulmonoscorpius. These creatures are often found in caves and the Wasteland.
- Cementing Paste: Cementing Paste is a vital crafting ingredient used in advanced structures and equipment. It can be crafted from Chitin or Keratin and Stone.
- Oil: Oil is used in various crafting recipes, including gasoline and electronics. It can be found in oil veins in the Snow Dome and the Desert Dome. The Snow Dome veins are generally easier to access.
- Crystals: Crystals are used in crafting various items, including scopes and electronics. They can be found in caves and mountainous regions. The Snow Dome and the Wasteland are good sources.
- Obsidian: Obsidian is a valuable resource used in crafting high-tier tools and weapons. It can be found in volcanic areas and caves, particularly in the Wasteland. Be prepared for dangerous encounters.
- Element Shards: Element Shards are essential for crafting Element, the power source for Tek technology. They can be obtained by defeating corrupted creatures, participating in Orbital Supply Drops, and completing Element Vein events.
- Element Dust: Element Dust is a more readily available form of Element, used for crafting lower-tier Tek items. It can be found in abundance in the City and the Wasteland, often near corrupted creatures.
- Gacha Crystals: These crystals are dropped by Gacha creatures and contain a variety of resources, including metal, stone, fiber, and even rare items. Taming a Gacha can be a valuable asset for resource gathering.
- Orbital Supply Drops: These events spawn throughout the map and offer valuable resources and blueprints. However, they are heavily guarded by corrupted creatures. Prepare for a challenging fight.
- Element Veins: These events spawn randomly and require players to defend a vein of Element from waves of corrupted creatures. Successfully defending the vein rewards players with a significant amount of Element Shards.
Dome-Specific Resources:
Each Dome offers unique resources crucial for survival and progression:
- Snow Dome:
- Black Pearls: Found in the depths of the Snow Dome’s icy waters, these are essential for crafting Tek structures and taming certain creatures.
- Organic Polymer: Obtained by harvesting Kairuku (Penguins), this resource is a substitute for Polymer and is crucial for crafting early-game tools and weapons.
- Woolly Rhino Horns: Dropped by Woolly Rhinos, these are used in specific crafting recipes.
- Desert Dome:
- Sulfur: Found in caves and near volcanic areas, Sulfur is used in crafting explosives and certain medications.
- Silica Pearls: These pearls are used in electronics crafting and can be found near the water sources in the Desert Dome.
- Moth Wings: Dropped by moths, these are used in crafting certain potions and items.
Taming and Utilizing Creatures for Resource Gathering:
Taming the right creatures can significantly boost your resource gathering efficiency. Here are some recommended tames for Extinction:
- Ankylosaurus: The go-to tame for metal gathering. Its special attack efficiently harvests metal nodes.
- Doedicurus: Excellent for gathering stone. Its rolling attack allows for rapid harvesting.
- Castoroides (Beaver): A versatile tame for wood gathering and dam construction.
- Therizinosaur: A powerful all-around harvester capable of efficiently gathering wood, fiber, and thatch.
- Gacha: A unique creature that produces resources based on the type of food it consumes.
- Argentavis: A reliable flyer capable of carrying heavy loads and transporting resources across the map.
- Gasbags: While not ideal for traditional resource gathering, Gasbags can carry a significant amount of weight, making them useful for transporting large quantities of resources.
Strategies for Efficient Resource Gathering:
- Establish a Base Near Resource Hotspots: Building your base near abundant resources like metal and stone will save you time and effort.
- Utilize Resource Gathering Tames: As mentioned above, taming the right creatures can drastically increase your resource gathering efficiency.
- Craft High-Quality Tools: Upgrading your tools to higher tiers (e.g., Metal Pickaxe, Metal Hatchet) will significantly improve your harvesting speed and yield.
- Level Up Harvesting Skills: Investing points in your character’s weight and melee damage will enhance your carrying capacity and harvesting power.
- Utilize Industrial Machines: As you progress, consider crafting industrial machines like the Industrial Grinder, Industrial Forge, and Industrial Cooker to automate resource processing and crafting.
- Team Up with Other Players: Joining a tribe can make resource gathering more efficient and safer.
Dangers and Mitigation Strategies:
Extinction is a dangerous map. Be aware of the following threats and take necessary precautions:
- Corrupted Creatures: These aggressive creatures are found throughout the map, particularly in the City and the Wasteland. Wear appropriate armor and use ranged weapons to engage them from a safe distance.
- Tek Creatures: Tek creatures are powerful and heavily armored. Use Tek weapons or high-damage dinosaurs to take them down.
- Orbital Supply Drops: These events attract a large number of corrupted creatures. Bring a strong team and powerful tames to secure the loot.
- Element Veins: Defending Element Veins is a challenging task. Coordinate with your tribe and utilize defensive structures to protect the vein.
- Weather Conditions: The Snow Dome and the Desert Dome have extreme weather conditions. Wear appropriate clothing and utilize shelters to avoid hypothermia or hyperthermia.
- Radiation: The Wasteland is highly irradiated. Wear a Hazmat Suit to protect yourself from radiation poisoning.
Conclusion:
Ark: Extinction presents a unique and challenging survival experience. By understanding the map’s diverse biomes, mastering resource gathering, taming the right creatures, and mitigating the various dangers, you can overcome the challenges and thrive in this post-apocalyptic world. This resource map provides a solid foundation for your Extinction journey, empowering you to conquer the corrupted landscape and rebuild civilization. Good luck, survivor!
