How to Get Metal Faster in Ark
Understanding Metal Nodes and Location Strategies
Not all metal is created equal. Depending on where you’re searching, the abundance of metal nodes and the type of tool you use can either work for or against you. Metal-rich areas such as the mountains, volcanic regions, and caves are often hotspots for the best metal yields. Here’s a breakdown of some key locations for maximum efficiency:
| Location | Metal Yield Rating (1-5) | Danger Level (1-5) |
|---|---|---|
| Volcano | 5 | 5 |
| Far's Peak | 4 | 3 |
| Metal Mountain | 4.5 | 4 |
| Red Obelisk | 3 | 2 |
| Hidden Lake Caves | 4 | 2.5 |
The volcanic areas are known to produce the most metal per node, but they come with a tradeoff: high danger. Expect to encounter large predators like Gigas or even dangerous player tribes. If you’re willing to take the risk, the payoff can be significant.
Tools of the Trade: Which is the Best for Metal?
The tools you use matter more than you think. While it’s easy to rely on basic picks, the efficiency of metal collection can drastically change based on what you bring to the field. Here’s a list of the tools ranked by their effectiveness:
| Tool Type | Metal Yield (per hit) | Durability Rating | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Pick | High | Moderate | Solo collection |
| Ankylosaurus (Tamed Dino) | Very High | N/A | Mass collection |
| Chainsaw | Low | High | Only for smaller nodes |
| Gacha | Moderate | N/A | Passive collection |
The Ankylosaurus, a must-have for any serious metal farmer, can gather a ridiculous amount of metal compared to even the highest-end tools. If you have an Argentavis or Quetzal to carry the Ankylosaurus, you can hop between nodes without worrying about the metal weight. Weight reduction from these creatures will also cut down on trips back to your base.
Pro tip: Tame a high-level Ankylosaurus and level it up primarily in weight capacity to maximize your trips. Also, note that some servers may have mods or settings that affect metal yield per node, so it’s always a good idea to check the server settings.
Weight Reduction Tactics: Carrying More Metal at Once
Metal is heavy, no doubt about that. But there are a few ways to carry more metal without constantly dropping items to make space. The key is in dino usage and player stats. Certain dinos offer metal weight reduction:
- Argentavis: 50% weight reduction for metal.
- Quetzal: High base weight, making it ideal for carrying heavy materials.
- Mammoth: Mostly used for wood, but its weight capacity can help when metal gathering is paired with other resources.
By pairing a high-weight dino with weight-enhancing gear (like the crafted saddles), you can easily reduce trips, increasing your overall efficiency.
Another trick is to pump your character’s weight stat. While this may seem like a waste of points compared to health or stamina, players with high weight can contribute more in cooperative farming runs or during long-distance mining.
Expeditions: Mining with Efficiency in Mind
One of the most overlooked strategies in Ark is mining expedition planning. Before you leave your base, consider the following:
- Location scouting: Know the map and identify where the highest concentrations of metal nodes are.
- Dino preparation: Take dinos that have both weight reduction and protection abilities. A rex can fend off predators while your ankylosaurus mines metal.
- Tribemate roles: If you play in a tribe, organize dedicated roles. Have one player protect the team, another to mine, and one more to ferry back metal to base using a high-weight dino or fast flyer.
- Spare tools: Always bring a backup pick or repair materials to avoid running out of harvesting tools halfway through an expedition.
By organizing these tasks ahead of time, you’ll find that the amount of metal you gather increases exponentially.
Advanced Techniques: Automating Your Metal Collection
Here’s where things get interesting. Automation. While metal gathering is inherently manual to an extent, Ark provides a few creative options for making your life easier.
Gacha crystals: A tamed Gacha can passively produce resources, including metal, over time if it’s fed appropriately. While it’s not the fastest method, it’s entirely passive, which means you’re earning metal even while you sleep (or raid).
Mining drill (Genesis DLC): This tool, while not as traditional as others, can significantly speed up your metal-gathering process, especially in metal-dense regions.
Combine these methods with the right resource-gathering dinos like the Ankylosaurus, and you’ve got a near fully automated process.
Timing and Respawn Optimization
Once you’ve harvested a rich vein of metal nodes, they don’t immediately respawn. However, there are ways to optimize the timing of your farming runs. For example:
- Server Settings: Many unofficial servers have increased node respawn rates, so check the settings if you’re playing on one.
- Node Rotation: Some players rotate between 3 or 4 different metal-rich areas on the map, ensuring that by the time they return to their starting point, nodes have respawned.
The key takeaway here is to manage your time. You want to mine nodes when they are abundant and avoid downtime, where you’re waiting for respawns.
Conclusion: Building an Efficient Metal Farming Operation
To farm metal efficiently in Ark: Survival Evolved, the key is to combine the right location, tools, and tactics with an emphasis on weight reduction and automation. By taming the appropriate dinos, planning your expeditions, and using the game’s mechanics to your advantage, you can significantly cut down on the time it takes to gather metal. With the right strategy, you’ll have more metal than you know what to do with, whether it’s for crafting advanced gear or trading with other players.
Remember: Ark is a game of survival, but also a game of efficiency. If you can master metal gathering, you’ll always have the upper hand—whether you’re building the most impenetrable fortress or gearing up for the next big raid.
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