Building & Structures - Base building, materials, defense in ARK: Survival Ascended
In ARK: Survival Ascended, bases are the center of survival. Structures protect against creatures, PvP and provide space for crafting, breeding and storage. With improved graphics and physics systems, buildings look more detailed and realistic than ever before.
Materials & construction progress
Players start with primitive structures and develop step by step up to high-tech bases. Each material has its own strengths, weaknesses and areas of application.
Comparison table of building materials
| Material | Durability / HP | Protection | Cost & Availability | Typical area of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stroh | Very low (~1,600 HP per wall) | Hardly any protection, flammable, vulnerable to all attacks | Very cheap, easy to collect | Only early game or temporary huts |
| Wood | Low (~10,000 HP per wall) | Protects against small creatures, not large predators or explosives | Easy, but more resource intensive than straw | Early to mid game, PvE bases |
| Stone | Medium (~15,000 HP per wall) | Resistant to many creatures, withstands standard raids | Frequently available, slightly harder to farm | Standard in PvP, medium long-term bases |
| Metal | High (~25,000 HP per wall) | Very resistant to explosives, dinos and PvP attacks | Expensive, metal and forge required | Late game, PvP strongholds |
| Tek | Very high (40,000+ HP per wall) | Highest resistance, immune to many standard attacks | Endgame resource, requires element & tek replicator | Endgame bases, boss fightable strongholds |
Note: Numerical values may vary slightly depending on the server or due to mods.
Base building
A base is more than just a shelter - it is the center of progress.
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Choice of location
- Proximity to important resources such as water, metal or crystals.
- Protected from predators, boss spawn zones and hostile tribes.
- Good accessibility for tribe members and transportation routes.
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Basic construction
- Foundation, walls, roofs, doors and windows.
- Space for crafting stations, storage boxes and sleeping areas.
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Extensions
- Multi-storey structures and modular extensions.
- Specialized rooms for breeding, incubation or tribal meetings.
- Fortifications such as outer walls, gates and defense towers.
Defense
Bases must be protected against both dinos and other players.
- Natural defense
- Build in places that are difficult to access: cliffs, caves or islands.
- Artificial defense**
- Reinforced walls, metal doors, stone and metal foundations.
- Automated defense
- Turrets, plant species X/Y, Tek guns.
- Creatures as guards
- Place tamed dinos in "defense mode".
Multiplayer & Tribes
Base building is much more effective in Tribe:
- Division of labor when collecting resources.
- Defense through coordinated PvP strategies.
- Shared use of specialized spaces (crafting, breeding, storage).
Conclusion
Base building in ARK: Survival Ascended offers creative freedom and tactical depth. From a simple straw hut to a Tek fortress with automated turrets, everything is possible. Clever planning of location, materials and defense determines survival and success - both in PvE and PvP.
