ARK: Survival Ascended Beginner's Guide
Welcome to ARK: Survival Ascended! This guide covers your first spawn, early tools, key engrams, a first tame, and the survival habits that keep you alive.
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Quick Start Tip
1. Choosing Your Spawn Location
Your spawn location dramatically affects your survival chances. Choose wisely!
🟢 Easy Zones (South)
- Southern beaches (South Zone 1-3)
- Passive herbivores like Dodos and Parasaurs
- Abundant basic resources
- Fewer aggressive predators
🔴 Hard Zones (North/Swamp)
- Northern tundra and swamps
- High-level predators everywhere
- Extreme temperatures
- Only for experienced players
🌿 Valguero Launch Starter Loop
Valguero Ascended is a free map for ASA (released October 7, 2025). It is a strong alternate fresh start if you want faster early progression:
- Spawn in the White Cliffs (Chalk Hills). Wide plateaus sit near Deinonychus nests, and Chalk Golems roam the White Cliffs.
- Plan a trench run later. The Aberration Trench is a dangerous underground biome; go in prepared.
Need more detail? Check the Valguero tab in our Resource Locations guide for interactive map links and drop coordinates.
❄️ Lost Colony Cold-Start Loop
Lost Colony spawns are colder but safer than the city interior. Plan your first base around stable heat sources:
- Spawn options: Northwest tundra or south tundra coastlines for calmer early wildlife.
- First resource run: Grab early metal and pearls along safer outer routes before pushing inland.
Need the full route? Jump to the Lost Colony tab for detailed farm loops.
2. Essential First Steps (First 30 Minutes)
Priority Actions:
-
Gather Basic Resources
- Pick up stones from the ground
- Punch trees for thatch and wood (watch your health!)
- Collect fiber from bushes
-
Craft Essential Tools
- Stone Pick (1 wood, 1 stone, 10 thatch)
- Stone Hatchet (1 flint, 1 wood, 10 thatch)
- Spear for defense (8 wood, 2 flint, 12 fiber)
-
Create Basic Shelter
- Thatch foundation and walls (temporary)
- Storage box for resources
- Bed for respawn point
- Campfire for cooking and warmth
3. Character Stats - Where to Invest Points
Every level gives you points to allocate. Here's the optimal distribution for beginners:
| Stat | Priority | Recommended Points | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health | High | 20-30 points | Survive longer against threats |
| Weight | High | 20-30 points | Carry more resources |
| Stamina | Medium | 10-15 points | Run longer, fight more |
| Movement Speed | Note | N/A | Disabled on official servers |
| Melee Damage | Low | 5-10 points | Gather resources faster |
3b. (New) Skill Tree & Milestones (Lost Colony)
What it is: A progression layer with passive and active abilities that augment core gameplay.
Where to find it: Open your inventory and click the red Skill Tree tab on the far right.
How it works:
- Complete Milestones (e.g., Beachcomber, Woodland Worker, Stone Age) to earn Skill Points.
- Spend points across early branches:
- Beast Mastery – mount/taming bonuses (e.g., Experienced Killer for mount XP).
- Wayfarer – survivability & movement (e.g., Hot Blooded regen, Spirit Rush active).
- Utility – building/harvesting/crafting (e.g., Well‑Oiled Machine repair reduction, Tracker active).
Respec: A mindwipe resets the tree and refunds points.
Important access note
4. Critical Early Engrams (Levels 1-20)
Don't waste engram points! Focus on these essentials first:
Must-Have Engrams:
- Bola - Immobilize threats
- Bow & Arrows - Ranged combat
- Tranq Arrows - For taming
- Narcotics - Keep dinos unconscious
- Bed - Respawn point
- Mortar & Pestle - Craft narcotics
- Preserving Bin - Food storage
- Smithy - Metal tools
Avoid Early:
- Decorative items
- Advanced saddles
- Industrial equipment
- Most furniture
- Specialty structures
5. Your First Tame - Parasaur Strategy
Parasaurs are perfect first tames: easy to knock out, fast runners, and excellent pack mules.
Taming Requirements:
- Use a Bola, then Club/Tranq Arrows to knock out.
- Food, narcotics, and time vary by level and current server rates. Check a taming calculator and our live Official Rates first.
- Protect the tame during the process (build a quick thatch perimeter if needed).
Step-by-Step Process:
- Craft a bow and tranq arrows
- Find a lone Parasaur (avoid groups)
- Bola it to immobilize (if you have one)
- Shoot tranq arrows at the body (not head)
- Once unconscious, put berries in its inventory
- Monitor torpor and add narcotics as needed
- Protect it from predators while taming
6. Essential Survival Tips
Water Safety
Bola Everything
Explorer Notes = XP Boost
Death is Learning
7. Efficient Resource Gathering
Different tools yield different resources from the same source:
| Source | Pickaxe Yields | Hatchet Yields | Best Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trees | More Thatch | More Wood | Hatchet for wood |
| Rocks | More Flint | More Stone | Hatchet for stone |
| Metal Nodes | Metal + Stone | Less efficient | Always pickaxe |
| Dead Bodies | More Meat | More Hide | Depends on need |
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