ARK: The Island offers a vast and diverse landscape, making the choice of base location crucial for survival and prosperity. The ideal spot depends on your playstyle, preferred resources, and comfort level with danger. This guide will explore some of the best base locations, considering various factors to help you choose the perfect spot to establish your dominion.
What Makes a Great Base Location in ARK: The Island?
Before we dive into specific locations, let's outline the key factors to consider when selecting a base:
- Resource Availability: Proximity to essential resources like stone, metal, wood, water, and crucial harvestable plants is paramount. A base near multiple resources minimizes travel time and effort.
- Defense: A defensible location minimizes the risk of raids by both players and creatures. Consider natural defenses like cliffs, water barriers, or chokepoints.
- Accessibility: Easy access to taming areas and transportation routes is essential for efficient gameplay. A base too isolated can hinder your progress.
- Creature Population: The surrounding area's creature population and their aggression levels directly impact the safety and ease of resource gathering.
- Aesthetic Appeal: While not essential, a visually pleasing location enhances the overall gaming experience.
Best Base Locations Based on Playstyle:
Beginners: South-East Beach Area
This area offers a relatively safe introduction to the Island. The abundance of resources like wood and stone on the beach makes early construction straightforward. While not heavily fortified naturally, the open area allows for easy visibility, giving you time to react to threats. However, be aware of the nearby raptors.
Mid-Game Players: Redwoods
The Redwood forest is a beautiful, resource-rich area. The massive trees provide excellent building materials and natural cover. However, be aware of the high density of dangerous creatures like carnotaurs and raptors. Careful base placement is vital to minimize exposure. This location is suitable for players comfortable handling moderate threats.
End-Game Players: Mountains
The mountainous regions offer unparalleled views and substantial stone and metal deposits. The cliffs provide natural defensive barriers, making them ideal for secure bases. However, these areas present extreme challenges with dangerous terrain and aggressive creatures. This is for seasoned survivors confident in their defenses and taming capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What are some good beginner bases in ARK: The Island?
As mentioned, the South-East beach is ideal for beginners due to its ease of access to resources and less aggressive wildlife compared to other regions. The area near the starting point also provides a good sense of security and familiarity in the early game.
Where are the best places to farm metal on The Island?
The mountainous regions, particularly the west side, typically boast the highest concentrations of metal nodes. However, remember the increased risk from aggressive creatures in these areas.
What are the safest areas on The Island?
Relatively speaking, the starting beach and other relatively flat, coastal areas are generally safer than the dense forests and mountainous regions, but no area is completely free of danger. Always be prepared for unexpected encounters.
What are some good places to tame creatures?
Many players prefer taming in relatively open areas with a clear escape route should things go wrong. However, depending on the creature, you may need access to specific resources or terrain features nearby, such as water for aquatic creatures.
Conclusion
Choosing the perfect base location in ARK: The Island is a critical decision impacting your survival and progress. Weigh your playstyle, experience level, and resource needs carefully before establishing your base. Remember to always prepare for unexpected events and adapt your base design as you progress in the game. Happy surviving!
