Metal is one of the most important resources in ARK: Survival Ascended. It's used for metal tools, weapons, armor, and advanced structures. Metal nodes are found in mountains, caves, and along cliff edges.
Top Metal Farming Methods
Node yields assume the base harvest HP from game data (e.g. 1000 for Redwood trees, 620 for Metal nodes). In-game, trees and rocks with bAllowHarvestHealthScalinghave per-instance HP that varies with the node's size, so actual yields per node will vary. The values shown represent the average.
Where to find:
188,526 harvestable nodes across 24 maps · 157 node types
MetalRock 01
MetalRock 02
ObsidianRock 01
CaveRocksMediumF
Surface Rock small B
Element Harvestable 01
Element Rock Small B
CaveRocksSmallE
CaveRocksSmallF
Element Rock small E
Copper Rock
CaveRocksLargeF
Best Tool for Metal
Metal Weight Reduction
These creatures reduce Metal weight when carried in their inventory.
Full Rankings
| # | Creature | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Rock Elemental | 9x | - |
| 2 |  Doedicurus | 21x | - |
| 3 |  Giganotosaurus | 1.56x | - |
| 4 |  Dunkleosteus | 9x | -50% |
| 5 |  Magmasaur | 9x | -75% |
| 6 |  Carcharodontosaurus | 1.56x | - |
| 7 |  Acrocanthosaurus | 1.56x | - |
| 8 |  Deinosuchus | 1.56x | - |
| 9 |  Ankylosaurus | 2.25x | -85% |
| 10 |  PhoenixFly | 2.25x | - |
| 11 |  AstrocetusFly | 1.56x | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dino for Metal in ARK: Survival Ascended?
The Doedicurus is the best Metal farmer with a 21x gather multiplier from game data. The Rock Elemental is the runner-up with 9x.
Which dinos reduce Metal carry weight in ARK?
The following creatures reduce Metal weight when carried: Dunkleosteus (-50%), Magmasaur (-75%), Ankylosaurus (-85%). This means they can carry more Metal before becoming encumbered.