Here\u2019s our guide to getting started in ARK Survival Evolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Life\u2019s a Beach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.greenmangaming.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Ark-Survival-In-line.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOnce you\u2019ve fired up the game and chosen a server, you\u2019ll hit the character creation menu. Don\u2019t fret about this, as it\u2019s mostly cosmetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s more important to choose the right spawn location. You\u2019ll get a choice of several spawn locations scattered around the island. Stick to the southern areas, as they tend to be safer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ARK begins in the grand tradition of survival games: you wake up in the middle of nowhere with no context for anything. Even on the noob-friendly beaches, there are plenty of creatures (and players) here that will happily kill you. You might even die in the first few seconds. If so, don\u2019t panic. Respawn and try again. It can be tough to escape enemies in ARK: Survival Evolved, so prepare to die many times over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start by gathering wood, stone, and thatch. To find supplies in ARK, gather stone from the ground and punch trees (yes, it hurts) for wood and thatch. With those, craft a stone pick. This will make future harvesting more efficient and net you some XP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Player is Evolving!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.greenmangaming.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Ark-Survival-In-line-Alt.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYou should gain your first level soon. This will give you Engram Points you can use to unlock Engrams, which represent the ability to craft the many items in ARK. You\u2019ll also have the option to improve your character\u2019s statistics, like Health and Stamina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together, these represent your overall progress and take much of the sting out of dying at low levels. Unlike some survival games, you aren\u2019t starting from scratch when you respawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Invest your initial Engram Points in essentials, like the hatchet, cloth armour, and spears. With your next few Engram Points, grab a campfire for cooking meat and some better armour. Follow the requirements of each Engram to know which resources to gather next. Trees and stone are obvious resource points, but you\u2019ll also need to grab handfuls of foliage to obtain fibre and berries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hunger Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.greenmangaming.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Ark-Survival-In-line-Alt-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBy now, you may be getting hungry. Berries will feed and hydrate you, but you should also try to get your first few kills. Start with non-threats like dodos, which will give you some raw meat. Toss it on a campfire and wait for it to cook before you eat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check your map if you get lost, but beware: the map will complete itself as you explore, but there\u2019s no handy YOU ARE HERE marker. You\u2019ll need to navigate by landmarks in these early levels, so sticking to the coast is the smart play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Survival of the Fittest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.greenmangaming.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Ark-Survival-In-line-Alt-3.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith some clothes on your back, food in your belly, and a weapon in hand, you\u2019re ready to tackle the challenges of the island. Establish a base, craft a sleeping bag, and expand your operations by venturing inland. Soon it will be time to indulge in ARK\u2019s main attraction: taming your first dinosaurs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ark: Survival Evolved<\/a> is available on Mac and PC from Green Man Gaming. Still deciding if it’s for you? Stop by the Green Man Gaming Community Site<\/a> and see what other gamers have to say.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOnce you\u2019ve fired up the game and chosen a server, you\u2019ll hit the character creation menu. Don\u2019t fret about this, as it\u2019s mostly cosmetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s more important to choose the right spawn location. You\u2019ll get a choice of several spawn locations scattered around the island. Stick to the southern areas, as they tend to be safer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ARK begins in the grand tradition of survival games: you wake up in the middle of nowhere with no context for anything. Even on the noob-friendly beaches, there are plenty of creatures (and players) here that will happily kill you. You might even die in the first few seconds. If so, don\u2019t panic. Respawn and try again. It can be tough to escape enemies in ARK: Survival Evolved, so prepare to die many times over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start by gathering wood, stone, and thatch. To find supplies in ARK, gather stone from the ground and punch trees (yes, it hurts) for wood and thatch. With those, craft a stone pick. This will make future harvesting more efficient and net you some XP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Player is Evolving!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYou should gain your first level soon. This will give you Engram Points you can use to unlock Engrams, which represent the ability to craft the many items in ARK. You\u2019ll also have the option to improve your character\u2019s statistics, like Health and Stamina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together, these represent your overall progress and take much of the sting out of dying at low levels. Unlike some survival games, you aren\u2019t starting from scratch when you respawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Invest your initial Engram Points in essentials, like the hatchet, cloth armour, and spears. With your next few Engram Points, grab a campfire for cooking meat and some better armour. Follow the requirements of each Engram to know which resources to gather next. Trees and stone are obvious resource points, but you\u2019ll also need to grab handfuls of foliage to obtain fibre and berries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hunger Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBy now, you may be getting hungry. Berries will feed and hydrate you, but you should also try to get your first few kills. Start with non-threats like dodos, which will give you some raw meat. Toss it on a campfire and wait for it to cook before you eat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check your map if you get lost, but beware: the map will complete itself as you explore, but there\u2019s no handy YOU ARE HERE marker. You\u2019ll need to navigate by landmarks in these early levels, so sticking to the coast is the smart play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Survival of the Fittest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith some clothes on your back, food in your belly, and a weapon in hand, you\u2019re ready to tackle the challenges of the island. Establish a base, craft a sleeping bag, and expand your operations by venturing inland. Soon it will be time to indulge in ARK\u2019s main attraction: taming your first dinosaurs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ark: Survival Evolved<\/a> is available on Mac and PC from Green Man Gaming. Still deciding if it’s for you? Stop by the Green Man Gaming Community Site<\/a> and see what other gamers have to say.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYou should gain your first level soon. This will give you Engram Points you can use to unlock Engrams, which represent the ability to craft the many items in ARK. You\u2019ll also have the option to improve your character\u2019s statistics, like Health and Stamina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together, these represent your overall progress and take much of the sting out of dying at low levels. Unlike some survival games, you aren\u2019t starting from scratch when you respawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Invest your initial Engram Points in essentials, like the hatchet, cloth armour, and spears. With your next few Engram Points, grab a campfire for cooking meat and some better armour. Follow the requirements of each Engram to know which resources to gather next. Trees and stone are obvious resource points, but you\u2019ll also need to grab handfuls of foliage to obtain fibre and berries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hunger Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBy now, you may be getting hungry. Berries will feed and hydrate you, but you should also try to get your first few kills. Start with non-threats like dodos, which will give you some raw meat. Toss it on a campfire and wait for it to cook before you eat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check your map if you get lost, but beware: the map will complete itself as you explore, but there\u2019s no handy YOU ARE HERE marker. You\u2019ll need to navigate by landmarks in these early levels, so sticking to the coast is the smart play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Survival of the Fittest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith some clothes on your back, food in your belly, and a weapon in hand, you\u2019re ready to tackle the challenges of the island. Establish a base, craft a sleeping bag, and expand your operations by venturing inland. Soon it will be time to indulge in ARK\u2019s main attraction: taming your first dinosaurs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ark: Survival Evolved<\/a> is available on Mac and PC from Green Man Gaming. Still deciding if it’s for you? Stop by the Green Man Gaming Community Site<\/a> and see what other gamers have to say.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBy now, you may be getting hungry. Berries will feed and hydrate you, but you should also try to get your first few kills. Start with non-threats like dodos, which will give you some raw meat. Toss it on a campfire and wait for it to cook before you eat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check your map if you get lost, but beware: the map will complete itself as you explore, but there\u2019s no handy YOU ARE HERE marker. You\u2019ll need to navigate by landmarks in these early levels, so sticking to the coast is the smart play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Survival of the Fittest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith some clothes on your back, food in your belly, and a weapon in hand, you\u2019re ready to tackle the challenges of the island. Establish a base, craft a sleeping bag, and expand your operations by venturing inland. Soon it will be time to indulge in ARK\u2019s main attraction: taming your first dinosaurs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ark: Survival Evolved<\/a> is available on Mac and PC from Green Man Gaming. Still deciding if it’s for you? Stop by the Green Man Gaming Community Site<\/a> and see what other gamers have to say.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith some clothes on your back, food in your belly, and a weapon in hand, you\u2019re ready to tackle the challenges of the island. Establish a base, craft a sleeping bag, and expand your operations by venturing inland. Soon it will be time to indulge in ARK\u2019s main attraction: taming your first dinosaurs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ark: Survival Evolved<\/a> is available on Mac and PC from Green Man Gaming. Still deciding if it’s for you? Stop by the Green Man Gaming Community Site<\/a> and see what other gamers have to say.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"