ARK: Survival Evolved On IPhone: A Comprehensive Guide

by Jhon Lennon 55 views

Hey gamers! Ready to dive into the dino-filled world of ARK: Survival Evolved right on your iPhone? That's right, you can now experience the thrill of taming dinosaurs, building epic bases, and battling for survival, all from the palm of your hand. This guide is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about playing ARK on your iPhone, from the basics to advanced strategies. So, buckle up, grab your virtual pickaxe, and let's get started!

Getting Started with ARK: Survival Evolved on iPhone

Okay, first things first, how do you even get ARK: Survival Evolved on your iPhone? The process is pretty straightforward. You'll need an iPhone (obviously!) and access to the App Store. Search for “ARK: Survival Evolved” – make sure it’s the official version, not some knock-off. Download and install the game. Be aware that the download size can be quite large, so ensure you have enough storage space on your device. Once installed, fire up the game. You'll likely be prompted to create an account or log in if you already have one. And then, boom, you're in! Prepare to be amazed by the stunning graphics and immersive gameplay, all optimized for your iPhone screen.

Now, let's talk about the initial setup. The game offers various servers and game modes. If you're new, it's a good idea to start with a PvE (Player versus Environment) server. This means you can focus on learning the ropes without the immediate threat of other players attacking you. Choose a server with a reasonable ping (lower is better for smoother gameplay) and a decent population. You'll then be prompted to create a character. Customize your survivor's appearance – this is where you can let your creativity shine! After that, you'll choose a spawn point on the map. It's usually a good idea to spawn near the beach or a river, where resources are plentiful and the early game is a little less brutal. Remember to create a name for your character – something that reflects your adventurous spirit! Once you've spawned into the world, the real adventure begins. You'll find yourself on a mysterious island filled with prehistoric creatures and unknown dangers. Your primary goal is to survive, which means gathering resources, crafting tools, building shelter, and eventually, taming dinosaurs. The game's controls are pretty intuitive, with on-screen buttons for movement, attacking, and interacting with objects. You'll quickly get used to it. The initial phase involves collecting resources like wood, thatch, stone, and fiber. These are used to craft basic tools like a pickaxe and a hatchet, which in turn allow you to gather more advanced resources. Don't be afraid to experiment, explore, and learn through trial and error. The world of ARK is vast and unforgiving, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.

Core Gameplay Mechanics: Survival 101

Alright, so you've spawned in, and you're staring at the wild. Now what? The core mechanics of ARK revolve around survival. This means keeping your character fed, hydrated, warm, and safe from predators. Let's break down the essential elements:

  • Hunger and Thirst: Keep an eye on your food and water levels. Eating berries and drinking water from rivers will help you initially. Later on, you'll need to cook meat and find more reliable water sources.
  • Health and Stamina: Your health is, well, your life! Stamina dictates how long you can run, swim, and attack. Avoid overexertion, especially early on.
  • Temperature: The temperature can affect your survival. Dress appropriately for the climate. Too hot or too cold can lead to negative status effects.
  • Inventory Management: You have a limited inventory space. Learn to prioritize what you carry. Drop items that you don’t immediately need.
  • Crafting: Crafting is essential. It lets you create tools, weapons, armor, and structures. The crafting menu shows you what you can make and what resources you need.
  • Building: Building shelters is crucial for protection. Start with a basic thatch hut and upgrade as you gather more resources.
  • Taming: The most fun part! Use various methods to tame dinosaurs. Each dinosaur requires a specific approach, often involving tranquilizing them and feeding them their preferred food.
  • Leveling Up: As you survive and complete tasks, you gain experience points (XP). Leveling up allows you to improve your stats, unlock new engrams (crafting recipes), and become a better survivor.

Mastering these mechanics is key to surviving and thriving in ARK. The more you play, the better you’ll become at understanding the game's nuances. Don't worry about being perfect at first. The fun is in the journey. Each death is a lesson, and each successful day is a victory. The sense of accomplishment when you finally tame your first dinosaur or build a sturdy base is unparalleled. So get out there and explore, and always, always be aware of your surroundings – those raptors are sneaky!

Taming Dinosaurs: Your Prehistoric Army

Alright, let's talk about the stars of the show: the dinosaurs! Taming these majestic creatures is one of the most exciting aspects of ARK: Survival Evolved. But it's not as simple as it looks. Each dinosaur has its own preferences and taming methods. Understanding these methods is crucial for success.

The Taming Process:

  1. Identify Your Target: Each dinosaur has specific requirements. Start with easier ones like Dodos or Parasaurolophus to learn the ropes.
  2. Knock 'Em Out: You'll need to knock the dinosaur unconscious. Use tranquilizer arrows, tranq darts, or clubs (though clubs are less effective). The best method depends on the creature's size and health.
  3. Keep Them Down: Once unconscious, the dinosaur's torpor (a measure of unconsciousness) will slowly decrease. Keep their torpor up by feeding them narcotics or biotoxin. Narcotics are crafted from narcotics and sparkpowder, while biotoxin is obtained from jellyfish.
  4. Feed Them: Every dinosaur has a preferred food. Feeding them their favorite food increases their taming effectiveness, which affects how quickly they tame and how high their stats will be after taming. For herbivores, it's usually berries or crops. For carnivores, it's meat (raw meat, cooked meat, or prime meat).
  5. Be Patient: Taming can take a long time, especially for higher-level dinosaurs. Stay vigilant and keep feeding them. You don't want them to wake up before they are tamed!
  6. Saddle Up!: Once tamed, you can craft a saddle for your new companion and start riding them. Each dinosaur has a unique saddle, which is unlocked through engrams. Congratulations, you've got yourself a dino!

Dino Taming Tips

  • Research: Learn about the dinosaurs you want to tame. Find out their preferred foods, torpor rates, and the best taming methods.
  • Traps: Build traps to make it easier to knock out and tame dinosaurs. Traps can prevent them from escaping.
  • Narcoberries and Narcotics: Always have plenty of narcotics on hand. They are essential to keep the dinos unconscious. Narcoberries are a readily available resource.
  • Prime Meat: Prime meat greatly increases taming effectiveness for carnivores. It's obtained by harvesting specific dinosaurs or creatures.
  • Kibble: Kibble is a highly effective food for taming and is crafted from eggs. Each egg corresponds to a particular dino kibble. Kibble can drastically reduce the taming time and increase taming effectiveness. Check the ARK wiki for the best kibble for your chosen dino.
  • Taming Effectiveness: Taming effectiveness decreases as the creature wakes up and is woken by other creatures or conditions. Always protect your creatures while taming. Higher taming effectiveness means better stats post-tame!

Popular Dinosaurs to Tame:

  • Triceratops: A great early-game tank and berry gatherer.
  • Raptor: Fast and agile, good for early-game combat and travel.
  • Pteranodon: Fly through the skies with this flying dino. Great for travel and scouting.
  • Stegosaurus: Excellent for resource gathering and defense.
  • Argentavis: A large flying mount, useful for carrying other dinos and resources.
  • Rex: The king of the dinosaurs! A powerful combat mount.

With your own army of dinosaurs, you'll be well-equipped to face the challenges of ARK. Experiment with different dinos and learn their strengths and weaknesses. The more you explore, the more you'll discover about these incredible creatures. Building relationships with these creatures is one of the most satisfying parts of playing this game.

Building and Base Defense: Securing Your Territory

Building a base is essential for survival in ARK: Survival Evolved. It provides shelter from the elements, protection from predators, and a place to store your resources and craft items. But building a base isn't just about slapping down a few walls and a roof; it's about strategy, design, and defense. Let's explore the ins and outs of base building.

The Basics of Base Building:

  1. Choose Your Location: Location, location, location! Consider these factors:
    • Resources: Proximity to resources (wood, stone, metal, water) is crucial.
    • Safety: Choose a location that is naturally defensible or away from aggressive creatures.
    • Flat Ground: Makes building easier.
    • Accessibility: Choose a location easy to reach and defend.
  2. Start Small: Begin with a basic structure made of thatch, then upgrade to wood, stone, and metal as you gather more resources. This will provide you a place to store your gear and crafting stations.
  3. Foundation and Walls: Lay down a foundation (or multiple foundations) and build walls on top. The foundation provides structural support and helps you plan the layout of your base. Walls provide protection from the outside world.
  4. Doors and Windows: Add doors for entry and exit. Windows allow you to see outside, but they also create vulnerabilities. Metal doors are recommended for security.
  5. Roof and Interior: Put on a roof to protect yourself from the elements. Inside, place crafting stations like a smithy, fabricator, and refining forge. You can also build storage chests and sleeping bags or beds.
  6. Upgrade: Upgrade your base as you gather better resources. Stone is more durable than wood, and metal is even stronger. Your base's strength is one of the most important aspects of your survival.

Base Defense Strategies:

  • Turrets: Turrets are automated defense systems that will shoot at enemies. They are a must-have for any serious base. Place them strategically around your base, particularly near entrances and along walls.
  • Traps: Build traps to slow down or incapacitate attackers. Examples include spike walls, bear traps, and plant species X. These can be used to stop those pesky dinos from rampaging.
  • Dino Defense: Station your tamed dinosaurs around your base to defend it. Carnivores can attack intruders, while herbivores can provide a protective barrier. Having your base in a safe location is also important.
  • Wall Design: Build multiple layers of walls to provide additional protection. Consider using different types of walls and gates. Use metal walls. They're more durable and harder to break through.
  • Security: Use code locks on doors and chests. This prevents unauthorized access to your base. Ensure that your base is secure even when you are offline.
  • Base Layout: Consider the layout of your base. Make it difficult for attackers to navigate. Use narrow corridors and chokepoints. Make sure to have emergency escape routes.

Base building is a continuous process of improvement and adaptation. Your base will evolve as you progress through the game. Experiment with different designs and strategies to find what works best for you. Build wisely, and defend fiercely, and you'll become a force to be reckoned with in the world of ARK. And remember to always be prepared for raids.

Tips and Tricks for iPhone Players

Playing ARK: Survival Evolved on an iPhone has its own unique set of challenges and advantages. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your mobile experience.

Optimizing Performance:

  • Graphics Settings: Adjust your graphics settings to improve performance. Lowering the resolution, shadow quality, and view distance can significantly improve the frame rate.
  • Close Unused Apps: Close other apps running in the background to free up system resources. Keep your iPhone focused on the game.
  • Clear Cache: From time to time, clear the game's cache in the settings menu. This helps to reduce lag and improve performance.
  • Update Your iPhone: Keep your iPhone's operating system updated to the latest version. This can improve the game's stability and performance.
  • Use a Charger: Prolonged gameplay can drain your battery quickly. Consider playing while plugged in to ensure you don’t run out of power mid-session.

Controls and Gameplay:

  • Customize Controls: The game allows you to customize the on-screen controls. Experiment with different layouts to find the one that best suits your playstyle.
  • Use the Quick Access Bar: The quick access bar allows you to quickly select items and weapons. Customize it to your needs.
  • Touch Controls: Get familiar with the touch controls. Tap to interact with objects, swipe to look around, and use the on-screen buttons to move and attack.
  • Multiplayer: The game has multiplayer aspects. Coordinate with your friends to play with others.

Resource Management:

  • Prioritize Resources: Focus on gathering essential resources like wood, stone, and metal. These are needed for crafting tools, weapons, and structures. Understand what resources you'll need the most early on.
  • Manage Your Inventory: Learn to prioritize what you carry. Drop items that you don't immediately need.
  • Craft Smartly: Don't waste resources on unnecessary items. Learn the crafting recipes and craft only what you need. Learn how to do this as efficiently as possible.

General Tips:

  • Join a Tribe: Consider joining a tribe with other players. You can share resources, defend each other, and coordinate your actions.
  • Explore: Don't be afraid to explore the world. ARK is a huge game. There is a lot to discover. Learn the map.
  • Learn from Others: Watch YouTube videos, read online guides, and ask for help from experienced players. There is a lot to learn, and the community is usually helpful.
  • Be Patient: ARK is a challenging game. Be prepared to die and learn from your mistakes. Persistence is key to success.

By following these tips and tricks, you'll be well on your way to mastering ARK: Survival Evolved on your iPhone. Remember to have fun, experiment, and enjoy the adventure. The world of ARK is vast and full of possibilities. Don't be afraid to try new things and push your limits. Good luck, survivor!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, things don't go according to plan, and you'll run into problems. Don't worry; here are solutions to some common issues you might encounter while playing ARK: Survival Evolved on your iPhone.

Game Crashes and Freezes:

  • Restart the App: If the game crashes or freezes, try restarting the app. Close it completely and then reopen it.
  • Restart Your iPhone: Sometimes, restarting your iPhone can resolve the issue. This clears the memory and can fix minor glitches.
  • Update the Game: Make sure you're running the latest version of the game. Updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements.
  • Check Your Storage: Make sure you have enough free storage space on your device. Low storage can cause the game to crash. Delete unused apps or files to free up space.
  • Contact Support: If the problem persists, contact the game's support team. They can provide additional assistance and troubleshooting steps.

Lag and Performance Issues:

  • Lower Graphics Settings: Adjust your graphics settings to reduce lag. Lower the resolution, shadow quality, and view distance.
  • Close Other Apps: Close any other apps running in the background to free up system resources.
  • Check Your Internet Connection: If you're playing online, make sure you have a stable internet connection. A poor connection can cause lag and disconnections.
  • Clear Cache: Clear the game's cache in the settings menu to reduce lag.
  • Restart Your Device: Restart your iPhone.

Connection Issues:

  • Check Your Internet Connection: Make sure you have a stable internet connection. Try resetting your router or modem.
  • Server Status: Check the server status to see if there are any known issues. Server maintenance or other problems could prevent you from connecting.
  • Reinstall the Game: As a last resort, try reinstalling the game. This can resolve corrupted files and other issues.
  • Firewall: Check your device's firewall settings to ensure the game has internet access.

Other Issues:

  • Lost Progress: Make sure you are saving your game frequently. If your progress is lost, check if you're logged into the correct account. Contact the game support if this happens.
  • Stuck Characters: If your character gets stuck, try using the unstuck feature. This is usually found in the game settings.
  • Incorrect Display: Check display settings and game settings. Make sure they are set to your liking.

By following these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to resolve most issues you encounter while playing ARK: Survival Evolved on your iPhone. If the problem persists, reach out to the game's support team for further assistance. Never hesitate to look for help when you need it.

The Future of ARK on iPhone

What does the future hold for ARK: Survival Evolved on the iPhone? The developers are constantly working to improve the game, add new content, and enhance the overall experience. Here are some things to look forward to:

  • Updates: Expect regular updates with bug fixes, performance improvements, and new content.
  • New Dinosaurs: The developers are continually adding new dinosaurs to the game. Look forward to taming and riding even more prehistoric creatures.
  • New Maps: More maps, which can introduce new challenges, biomes, and resources to the game.
  • Community Support: The developers are actively involved with the community. You can look forward to more communication and support from them.
  • Cross-Platform Features: The game will improve cross-platform functionalities and possibilities.

ARK: Survival Evolved on iPhone is an ever-evolving game, and the future looks bright. With each update, the game gets better and more immersive. Stay tuned for exciting new content, features, and improvements. The world of ARK is constantly growing and changing, so prepare yourself for more thrilling adventures. The journey is just beginning. Get ready for an exciting future in the world of ARK, and enjoy the ride. Keep exploring, keep surviving, and keep taming those amazing dinosaurs! Your adventure is waiting.