Ark Survival Evolved How To Get Stone

Imagine waking up on a mysterious island, surrounded by towering dinosaurs and the constant need to survive. In ARK: Survival Evolved, this is your reality. One of the very first challenges you'll face is acquiring the basic resources needed to build shelter, craft tools, and defend yourself against the prehistoric dangers that lurk around every corner. And among those resources, stone stands as a cornerstone of your early survival and progression.

Mastering the art of gathering stone in ARK: Survival Evolved is more than just hitting rocks with a tool. It's about understanding the game's mechanics, optimizing your resource gathering, and using your ingenuity to thrive in a harsh and unforgiving environment. Whether you're a fresh spawn struggling to build your first thatch hut or a seasoned survivor looking to streamline your stone production, this guide will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how to efficiently acquire this essential resource and leverage it to conquer the ARK.

Main Subheading

The quest for stone in ARK: Survival Evolved begins the moment you take your first steps on the island. This seemingly simple resource is fundamental to your early game progression. It allows you to craft basic tools like the stone pick and axe, which are essential for gathering other resources and defending yourself. As you progress, stone becomes a crucial component in building stronger structures, crafting more advanced tools and weapons, and ultimately establishing a secure base of operations.

But simply knowing that you need stone is not enough. The efficiency with which you gather it, the tools you use, and the locations you explore can significantly impact your early game experience. A slow and inefficient approach to stone gathering can leave you vulnerable to predators and hinder your progress, while a strategic and optimized approach can set you on the path to becoming a dominant force on the ARK.

Comprehensive Overview

What is Stone in ARK: Survival Evolved?

In the world of ARK: Survival Evolved, stone is a raw resource obtained primarily by striking rocks and boulders. It is a gray, rough-textured material that forms the basis for many early-game crafting recipes. Unlike some other resources, stone is relatively abundant and can be found in almost every biome, making it accessible to new players from the very beginning.

The Scientific Foundation (Kind Of)

While ARK doesn't adhere strictly to real-world geology, we can think of the stone in the game as a generic representation of various types of rock. These rocks are formed through geological processes like sedimentation, volcanic activity, and metamorphism, resulting in a diverse range of materials with varying properties. In ARK, however, all these materials are simplified into a single resource called "stone" for gameplay purposes.

A Brief History of Stone Use in ARK

From the earliest days of ARK: Survival Evolved, stone has held a prominent place in the game's crafting system. Initially, it was primarily used for crafting basic tools and weapons, as well as for constructing simple stone structures. As the game evolved and new content was added, the uses for stone expanded to include more advanced crafting recipes, decorative items, and even components for some technological structures. Its consistent presence throughout the game's updates solidifies its importance as a foundational resource.

Essential Concepts: How to Gather Stone

The most basic method of gathering stone is by hand. Simply walk up to a rock or boulder and interact with it to harvest stone. However, this method is incredibly slow and inefficient, yielding only a small amount of stone per interaction.

The stone pick is the next step up in stone gathering. Crafted from flint, wood, and stone, the stone pick allows you to harvest stone from rocks much faster than by hand. It also provides a chance to harvest flint along with stone.

As you level up, you can unlock the metal pick. The metal pick is significantly more efficient at gathering stone than the stone pick and also provides a higher chance of harvesting flint.

Beyond tools, certain creatures can be used to efficiently gather stone. The Doedicurus, for example, is a specialized stone gathering mount that can harvest large quantities of stone with each swing of its tail.

Important Considerations:

• Weight: Stone is a relatively heavy resource, so managing your weight is crucial when gathering large quantities. Consider increasing your character's weight stat or using a pack animal to carry the load.
• Tool Durability: Tools like the stone pick and metal pick have durability, meaning they will eventually break with use. Always carry spare tools or materials to repair them on the go.
• Location: While stone is abundant, some areas have a higher concentration of rocks and boulders than others. Exploring different biomes can help you find the best stone gathering spots.
• Dangers: Be aware of your surroundings while gathering stone. Predators can often be found near rocks and boulders, so be prepared to defend yourself.

Trends and Latest Developments

The role of stone in ARK: Survival Evolved has remained relatively consistent over time, but there are some trends and developments worth noting:

• Increased Efficiency: With each new creature and tool added to the game, the efficiency of stone gathering has steadily increased. Players can now amass vast quantities of stone in a relatively short amount of time, allowing them to focus on other aspects of the game.
• Specialized Gathering: Creatures like the Doedicurus have become highly sought-after for their specialized gathering abilities. These creatures have revolutionized resource gathering, making it easier than ever to acquire large amounts of specific resources.
• Automated Gathering: The introduction of structures like the industrial grinder has allowed players to automate the processing of stone into other resources, further streamlining the crafting process.
• Community Opinions: While stone is a fundamental resource, some players feel that it becomes less relevant in the late game. However, it remains essential for building structures and crafting certain items, ensuring its continued importance throughout the game.

Professional Insights

From a professional perspective, the development of stone gathering in ARK: Survival Evolved reflects the game's overall design philosophy of empowering players to overcome challenges and progress through the game. By providing increasingly efficient methods of resource gathering, the developers have encouraged players to experiment with different strategies and build elaborate bases and structures.

Tips and Expert Advice

Here are some practical tips and expert advice to help you optimize your stone gathering in ARK: Survival Evolved:

• Prioritize the Metal Pick: As soon as you reach the appropriate level, prioritize crafting a metal pick. The metal pick is significantly more efficient than the stone pick and will save you a lot of time and effort in the long run.

  • Crafting a metal pick requires metal ingots, which are obtained by smelting metal ore in a refining forge. Metal ore can be found in caves and mountainous regions. Be prepared to face dangerous creatures when venturing into these areas.
  • Once you have the metal ingots, combine them with wood and hide at a smithy to craft the metal pick. The smithy itself will require stone, wood, and thatch to craft. So make sure you are prepared.

• Tame a Doedicurus: The Doedicurus is a game-changer when it comes to stone gathering. Taming one of these creatures will allow you to harvest massive amounts of stone with each swing of its tail.

  • Doedicurus can be found in mountainous regions and are generally passive unless attacked. They can be tamed by knocking them unconscious and feeding them plant matter, like Mejoberries.
  • Once tamed, the Doedicurus can be ridden and used to harvest stone by simply walking up to rocks and boulders and pressing the attack button. Be aware of the Doedicurus's weight limit, as it can become encumbered quickly.

• Optimize Your Weight: Stone is a heavy resource, so managing your weight is crucial when gathering large quantities. Increase your character's weight stat or use a pack animal to carry the load.

  • Leveling up your character's weight stat will allow you to carry more stone before becoming encumbered. This is especially important for solo players who don't have access to pack animals.
  • Alternatively, you can tame a pack animal like a Parasaurolophus or a Trike to carry the stone for you. Simply load the stone onto the pack animal and follow it as you gather more.

• Build a Stone Gathering Base: Consider building a small base near a stone-rich area to store your harvested stone and repair your tools.

  • A simple stone structure with a crafting table and a storage box can serve as a convenient base for stone gathering. This will allow you to quickly repair your tools, store your stone, and craft new tools as needed.
  • Consider adding a bed to your stone gathering base to serve as a respawn point in case you die. This will save you time and effort in the long run.

• Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Predators can often be found near rocks and boulders, so be prepared to defend yourself while gathering stone.

  • Always carry a weapon with you when gathering stone, and be prepared to use it if necessary. A stone spear or a bow and arrow can be effective for defending yourself against early-game predators.
  • Pay attention to the sounds around you, as this can often alert you to the presence of nearby predators. If you hear a threatening sound, be prepared to run or fight.

• Use a Mining Drill: The mining drill is a late-game tool that allows you to harvest resources, including stone, at an incredibly fast rate.

  • The mining drill requires gasoline to operate, which can be crafted from hide, oil, and cooked meat.
  • While the mining drill is incredibly efficient, it also attracts the attention of nearby predators, so be prepared to defend yourself when using it.

• Craft a Castoroides Saddle: Beavers, or Castoroides, can reduce the weight of wood carried in their inventories by 75%. While they do not have a weight reduction for stone, they are able to harvest wood and stone themselves. A player riding the Castoroides can also use tools to harvest. This makes them an effective way to harvest stone if the player is concerned with weight management in the early game.

  • To get a Castoroides, the player must find and tranquilize one. Be sure to protect the unconscious Castoroides during the taming process as other creatures may attack.
  • Once tamed, the Castoroides must be equipped with a saddle to ride. The saddle can be unlocked at level 61, and costs 32 Engram Points. It is crafted with Hide, Fiber, and Cementing Paste.

FAQ

Q: Where is the best place to find stone in ARK: Survival Evolved?

A: Stone can be found in almost every biome, but mountainous regions and areas with rocky terrain tend to have a higher concentration of rocks and boulders.

Q: What is the most efficient way to gather stone?

A: Taming a Doedicurus and using it to harvest stone is the most efficient method. Alternatively, the mining drill can be used in the late game for even faster stone gathering.

Q: How can I manage the weight of stone while gathering it?

A: Increase your character's weight stat or use a pack animal like a Parasaurolophus or a Trike to carry the load.

Q: What tools are required to gather stone?

A: The stone pick is the most basic tool for gathering stone, but the metal pick is significantly more efficient. The mining drill is a late-game tool that can also be used to gather stone.

Q: Can I automate stone gathering?

A: Yes, structures like the industrial grinder can be used to automate the processing of stone into other resources.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of gathering stone in ARK: Survival Evolved is essential for your early survival and progression. By understanding the game's mechanics, optimizing your resource gathering, and using your ingenuity, you can efficiently acquire this fundamental resource and leverage it to conquer the ARK.

Now that you are equipped with the knowledge and tips to efficiently gather stone, it's time to put your skills to the test. Head out into the ARK, gather your resources, and start building your empire. Don't forget to share your stone gathering strategies and experiences in the comments below! Happy surviving!