To obtain food in ARK: Survival Evolved, you can hunt animals, gather berries, fish in water bodies, or farm crops. Keep an eye on your food meter to stay nourished and healthy. Experimenting with various food sources will help you find the best options for sustainability and health in the game.
Foraging and Harvesting:
In ARK: Survival Evolved, one of the primary ways to acquire food is by foraging and harvesting resources from the environment. This includes gathering various types of plants, berries, seeds, fruits, and mushrooms. These can be found throughout the game world, often in abundance in specific regions or biomes. Players can collect these resources by hand, by using tools such as a pickaxe, hatchet, or sickle for more efficiency. Berries like Mejoberry and Tintoberry are commonly found and can serve as a quick source of food for your character.
Hunting and Fishing:
Another essential method of obtaining food in ARK is through hunting and fishing. Players can hunt and kill various creatures roaming the world, such as Dodos, Dilophosaurs, or even larger ones like Trikes and Raptors. Once slain, these creatures can be harvested for raw meat, hide, and other resources. Raw meat can be cooked on a campfire or turned into jerky for more extended preservation. Fishing is also an option, as players can use a fishing rod to catch fish from rivers, lakes, or the ocean, providing a different food source.
Farming and Agriculture:
In ARK, players have the option to create farms and engage in agriculture to produce their own food resources. This includes planting seeds to grow crops like potatoes, carrots, corn, and more. By cultivating these crops in designated farm plots, players can harvest them for vegetables, fruits, and other food items to sustain themselves. Additionally, players can raise livestock such as Dodos, Ovis, or even farm aquatic creatures like Coelacanths for a more consistent food supply.
Taming and Domestication:
Furthermore, players can tame and domesticate certain creatures in ARK to serve as a sustainable source of food. By taming herbivores like Parasaur, Phiomia, or Triceratops, players can harvest resources from them such as eggs, milk, or even meat without having to hunt wild animals constantly. Carnivorous creatures can also be tamed to assist in hunting for food or protecting the player's base from threats, adding a strategic element to food acquisition in the game.
Cooking and Preservation:
Once players have gathered raw meat, fish, vegetables, or fruits, they can cook and prepare various recipes using campfires, grills, or cooking pots in ARK. Cooking raw ingredients produces cooked meat, stews, soups, or other dishes that not only provide sustenance but can also offer various benefits like increased health, stamina, or resistance to weather effects. Additionally, players can preserve food items by turning them into jerky using preserving bins, extending their shelf life for longer periods and ensuring a stable food supply for their character.
Trading and Cooperation:
In multiplayer servers or cooperative gameplay, players can engage in trading or cooperation to acquire food in ARK more efficiently. By teaming up with other players, sharing resources, or participating in community trading posts, players can exchange surplus food items, resources, or services to meet their food needs. This collaborative approach not only fosters a sense of community within the game but also allows players to specialize in different roles like farming, hunting, cooking, or taming to optimize their food production and distribution.
Exploration and Discovery:
Lastly, the exploration of different regions, biomes, and caves in ARK can lead players to discover unique food sources, recipes, or rare ingredients that enhance their culinary options. By venturing into uncharted territories, players can uncover hidden treasures, special plants with beneficial properties, or encounter exotic creatures with valuable resources. This sense of exploration adds depth to the gameplay experience and motivates players to seek out new food alternatives beyond the usual staples, enriching their survival skills in the harsh world of ARK.