Highlights
- Building in ARK: Survival Ascended has been significantly improved with an overhaul of the building mechanic, including better snap points and reduced engrams required for base construction.
- The irrigation system has been revamped to allow for remote irrigation, eliminating the need for large and cumbersome pipes.
- Players can pick up structures without destroying attached objects, providing more flexibility in base design and construction.
The release of ARK: Survival Ascended introduced many great tweaks and improvements, including an overhaul of the building mechanic, which transformed the old, frustrating experience of base-building in ARK: Survival Evolved into a much less painful task. Along with enhanced graphics, snap points were also revised to better represent where building blocks will be placed, and the overall engrams required to build a base were reduced.
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ARK: Survival Ascended also saw the removal of pipes and wires completely, fine-tuning the previously awkward irrigation and electronic systems. With so many updates, some more obvious than others, a few of the improvements and reworked mechanics flew under the radar of many players, and those looking to build the best base possible should be aware of them.
8 Increase Water Intake Range
Remote Irrigation Systems Make Base Building Simple
One of the biggest changes to building in ARK: Survival Ascended was the overhaul of plumbing. Previously, irrigation required placing multiple awkward pipes to funnel water from one place to another. Now, the irrigation system is remote, meaning that players no longer need to run large irrigation systems to get water to their base.
Players still need to place either a Stone or Metal Water Intake to transport water to their base. However, so long as a crop plot is in range of the Water Intake, it will count as being irrigated. This range can be increased by placing a Water Tank just inside the Water Intake’s initial range. Water Tanks can continue to be placed just inside each other’s radius to further increase the range.
7 Pick Up Multiple Building Blocks
Players No Longer Have To Fear Accidental Destruction
A small but much-needed change to building in ARK: Survival Ascended was the improved pick-up mechanic that no longer destroys objects atop or linked to another structure. In ARK: Survival Evolved, picking up a structure would often lead to the destruction of several other building blocks.
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Now, thanks to the building improvements in ARK: Survival Ascended, any other objects linked to an item will be added to the player’s inventory instead of being destroyed. So long as the objects aren’t Admin Locked, players can pick up structures such as Foundations without worrying about destroying the attached walls or crafting benches relying on them for support.
6 Place Multiple Power Generators For The Highest Efficiency
Generators Power Structures Remotely
The electrical power system was reworked, much like the plumbing system, to fine-tune the amount of clutter players had in and around their base. Thanks to the building update in ARK: Survival Ascended, Power Generators and other building blocks or crafting benches that require electricity to be powered no longer rely on electrical wires.
Instead, anything within the Generators’ range is powered remotely. However, unlike the irrigation system, the range of a Power Generator cannot be increased. Therefore, to ensure everything that needs power has access to it, players will need to place multiple Power Generators around their base.
5 Railings Have Unique Snap Points
Add Additional Flair to Structures
Another improvement to the building system in ARK: Survival Ascended was the addition of new snap points for certain structure types. Now, Railings can be placed on any sloped building block, such as the Stone Roof or Ramp and Stairs, to add flair to a building.
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These new snap-point additions have added some much-needed creative freedom to base-building in ARK: Survival Ascended, allowing for more unique structures. Moreover, Railings and Quarter Walls can be snapped to one another, allowing players to keep fencing level and avoid the unpleasant staggering that often occurs over jagged terrain.
4 Collect Building Blocks From Drops
A Cheaper Way To Build Large Structures
A great tip for players looking to build large bases is to routinely pick up nearby drops to potentially receive free building blocks. ARK: Survival Ascended has massively improved the loot found within drops, and it’s common to retrieve expensive structures.
While engrams were fine-tuned, the overall cost for certain structures is still relatively high. Especially when it comes to building a majestic mansion on a PvE server, the material cost for building can become quite expensive. Frequently checking and picking up loot from drops can therefore be a great way to reduce the overall amount of materials required to build a base.
3 Place Pillars Horizontally
Construct Visually Distinct Buildings
Pillars are another structure type that received some TLC in ARK: Survival Ascended, introducing new snap points and the ability to be rotated. Like Railings, Pillars can be placed horizontally over the tops of buildings or along walls to add a unique look to structures.
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The overall snap system for pillars seems to have been drastically improved since ARK: Survival Evolved, allowing pillars to be placed beneath one another and into the floor for a seamless appearance. Players can place Pillars horizontally inside buildings to create impressive beams that add to the overall interior decor.
2 Snap And Rotate Building Blocks
Allows For Even More Freedom When Designing A Build
Snap points in ARK: Survival Ascended allow players to place items in specific locations, helping to align building blocks and visually representing where the structure will be placed. Players can flip through snap points by pressing Q, flip items by pressing E, and rotate items by pressing R. Alternatively, players can free-place structures by pressing and holding Q to disable snap points.
The new snap-points in ARK: Survival Ascended have made room for the community’s creative freedom, allowing structures to be placed upside down, horizontally, or even vertically to create impressive and unique structures.
1 Multiple Structure Variants In One Engram
Building Requires Less Engrams Than Ever
Another building mechanic that was reworked to reduce the overall number of engrams required to build a structure was the walls, ceilings, windows, railings, doorways, and doors. Whilst previously, players were required to spend hundreds of points just to learn every variant of one type of structure, building blocks were reduced in quantity and fine-tuned into a handful of engrams.
Players can cycle through building blocks such as the Metal Wall, Doorways & Windowframe to place different wall variants. Railings were also tweaked to include Quarter Walls, allowing players to switch between the two structure variants easily. Additionally, due to the building improvements, players can place multiple wall types at once without needing to switch between different building blocks.
Ark: Survival Ascended
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- October 26, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Studio Wildcard
- Genre(s)
- Survival , Open-World
