ARK: Survival Evolved – Survival Tips

As the name suggests, ARK: Survival Evolved, newly released for the Nintendo Switch, is focused around doing what you can to survive on a treacherous, dinosaur-filled island. While you may have already started your adventure, you may want to know how to make the most of your time out in the wild. 

Survival Tips

Maintain Your Distance

Where you choose to set up camp in ARK: Survival Evolved can greatly impact your chances of survival. Among the many threats to your life, other players can rank toward the top. When creating temporary shelters, try to do so in areas that are a good distance from predators as well as from the beach where players spawn. Look to build your shelter in places that are rich in crafting resources and that are secluded enough to maintain a safe distance from other players.

Watch Where You Drink

While quenching your thirst is as easy as visiting the local watering hole, keep in mind that other creatures may have the same idea. Watch out for predators when looking for a place to get a drink, and don’t wade too far out into bodies of water that may contain hostile creatures of their own, such as Megapiranhas.

Taming Takes Time

Taming animals and dinosaurs can seem a bit tedious at first, as you will typically need to knock them out, feed them the food they like, and gain their trust before you can call them your pet. This is well worth the effort, though, as certain tamed creatures can ease the burdens of survival by helping you gather materials or fend off hostile threats.

Tame an Equus

Gathering food and crafting materials can be time consuming when done by hand. You can make gathering easier by taming certain animals like the Equus, a zebra-like creature that can be a helpful harvesting companion in ARK. The Equus is easier to tame than most other animals and dinosaurs, as you only need carrots or berries on hand and you don’t need to knock it out (simply riding it will do).

A tamed Equus will help you gather berries and other resources more efficiently. Plus, these cute creatures can act as a secondary storage unit and ground transport. This is a great animal to tame early on when resources are scarce. 

Mind Your Vital Stats

ARK is all about survival, which means you’ll need to keep an eye on your health, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and torpor levels to ensure your character stays far away from death’s doorstep. You’ll also want to be aware of your body temperature, as being too cold or too hot can increase the amount of food and drink you need to maintain healthy status levels. 

Build Beds for Fast Travel

Despite your efforts, there is a good chance you’re going to die in ARK. If you happened to have put down a bed before you perished, you can use the bed as a respawn point to help you return to the supplies you dropped. Beds can also act as fast travel points, allowing you to instantly trek far distances depending on where you placed them down. 

Sleeping bags are the cheapest bedding option, but these can only be used for respawning once. Permanent beds are better options in the long run, just make sure you put them somewhere safe and away from players who might look to destroy them. 

Hopefully these tips will help bolster your survival efforts in ARK: Survival Evolved on Nintendo Switch.