ARK: The Island offers a vast landscape teeming with dangers and opportunities. Choosing the right base location is crucial for survival and prosperity. This guide explores some of the best spots, considering factors like resource availability, safety from predators, and accessibility. We'll also address common questions players have about base building.
What Makes a Good Base Location in ARK: The Island?
Before diving into specific locations, let's establish the key criteria for an ideal base:
- Resource Abundance: Proximity to crucial resources like stone, metal, wood, and water is paramount. Spending less time gathering means more time taming, exploring, and progressing.
- Predator Defense: A location that minimizes exposure to dangerous creatures is essential, especially in the early game.
- Accessibility: Easy access to your base is crucial, particularly when carrying heavy loads of resources.
- Defense Potential: The ability to easily defend your base from both wild creatures and other players is a significant advantage. This includes natural defenses like cliffs or high ground.
- Taming Potential: A good base location might offer a safe and convenient spot to tame creatures.
Best Base Locations Based on Game Stage
The optimal base location often changes depending on your progress in the game.
Early Game Bases:
-
Redwood Forest: The Redwood Forest offers abundant wood, stone, and fiber, essential for early-game building. While there are some dangers like raptors, the dense trees provide some natural cover. It's also relatively close to the beach for easy access to water and early taming opportunities.
-
South-East Beach: This area offers good access to water, stone, and flint. While more exposed to predators, its proximity to resources makes it a viable early game option. Early game players can focus on building defensive structures quickly.
Mid-Game Bases:
-
North Mountain (Near the Volcano): This area boasts significant amounts of metal and obsidian, crucial for crafting stronger weapons and armor. The mountainous terrain offers excellent natural defense, though it requires a larger initial investment in building upwards.
-
Central South Coast: This area strikes a balance between resource accessibility and relative safety. You can find a mix of stone, wood, and metal while being far enough from many high-level predators.
Late Game Bases:
-
High-Altitude Mountain Bases: These bases offer unparalleled protection from most wild creatures. However, access to resources might require significant effort and preparation. They are excellent for defensive purposes, making them ideal bases for players who value security above all else.
-
Volcano Area (with adequate defenses): The rich resources of the volcano area are a significant draw for late-game bases. However, the extremely high-level threats in this area demand robust defenses and preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the safest place to build a base in ARK: The Island?
There's no single "safest" place. The best location depends on your progress and the level of risk you're willing to accept. High-altitude mountain bases offer the greatest protection but require more effort to build and maintain.
What resources are most important near a base?
Wood, stone, and thatch are vital early game. Metal and obsidian become crucial later. Proximity to water is always beneficial for both drinking and crafting.
How do I protect my base from other players?
Building strong walls, utilizing turrets (once you have the technology), and strategically placing your base make a significant difference. Consider the terrain and build in a location that is difficult to access.
What are some good places to tame dinosaurs near my base?
Look for areas with relatively few predators and a decent supply of the necessary taming resources (such as berries or meat). The outskirts of forests or areas with less dense vegetation are often good spots for taming.
Remember that the best base location is subjective and depends on your individual play style and priorities. Experiment and find a spot that suits your needs and enjoy the journey of building your ARK: The Island empire!
