What resources are available on The Island in ARK: Survival Ascended?

The Island has all basic resources including Metal (mountains and volcano region), Crystal (mountain peaks), Obsidian (volcano), Oil (ocean floor and snow biome), Silica Pearls (shallow northeast waters and deep underwater caves), Organic Polymer (Kairuku in the snow biome), and rare resources like Rare Flowers and Rare Mushrooms in swamps and underwater caves.

How many caves and bosses are on The Island in ARK: Survival Ascended?

The Island contains 10 artifact caves needed for boss summoning, plus hidden underwater caves with high-tier loot. There are three boss arenas: Broodmother Lysrix, Megapithecus, and the Dragon. After defeating all bosses, you can access the Tek Cave for the final Ascension challenge.

The Island

The Island Mapa - ARK: Survival Ascended

Q: Where are the best base locations on The Island?

Top base locations include Hidden Lake (70,40) for its protected valley with fresh water near metal and crystal, Herbivore Island (85,85) with no natural predator spawns, Redwood Plateau (50,50) for central access to all regions, Western Coast (15,65) for resource-rich flat building spaces, and Footpaw (40,80) for coastal access to metal.

Mapa interactivo de recursos, apariciones de criaturas, cuevas, artefactos y más

Última actualización: abril de 2026

116Criaturas13Recursos216Puntos de aparición239Notas del explorador10Artefactos11Cuevas4Terminales38Cajas de botín33Loot Tables

Resources

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The Island - Detailed Guide

The Island is the original ARK map and serves as the foundation of the ARK: Survival Ascended experience. This diverse landscape offers a perfect introduction to the game's mechanics and challenges.

Geography & Regions

The Island features a variety of distinct regions, each with unique resources, creatures, and challenges:

Coastal Beaches

Safe starting areas with basic resources. Ideal for new players to establish their first base with relatively few predators. Common resources include Thatch, Wood, Stone, and Berries.

Temperate Forests

Abundant in resources with moderate danger. Home to many herbivores and some predators like Raptors and Carnos. Rich in Wood, Fiber, Berries, and Chitin.

Mountains & Highlands

Rich in metal and crystal but dangerous. Higher elevations contain valuable resources like Metal, Crystal, and Obsidian, but also dangerous predators including Argentavis, Sabers, and occasionally Rexes.

Swamplands

Dangerous but resource-rich area. Home to Sarcos, Titanoboas, and Leeches. Contains rare resources like Rare Flowers, Rare Mushrooms, and Leech Blood.

Snow Biome

Extremely cold with unique resources. Requires specialized insulation gear but offers Oil, Organic Polymer (from Kairuku), and Fur from dire wolves and mammoths.

Redwood Forest

Massive trees with unique resources. Home to Thylacoleos that can ambush from trees. Contains Rare Mushrooms, Rare Flowers, and abundant Wood.

Volcano

Dangerous but metal-rich area. The volcano and surrounding mountains contain the highest concentration of Metal, Obsidian, and Crystal on the map.

Underwater World

Vast ocean with unique resources. Contains Oil, Silica Pearls, Black Pearls (deep sea), and unique creatures like Plesiosaurs and Mosasaurs.

Unique Features

The Island has several distinctive features that make it special:

•Complete Cave System: Contains all artifact caves needed for boss fights

•Balanced Resource Distribution: All basic resources available in reasonable quantities

•Diverse Ecosystem: Nearly all core ARK creatures represented

•Artifact Caves: 10 unique caves containing artifacts needed for boss summoning

•Three Boss Arenas: Broodmother, Megapithecus, and Dragon challenges

•Tek Cave: Final endgame challenge leading to Ascension

•Hidden Underwater Caves: Secret locations with high-tier loot

Survival Tips for The Island

Specific advice for thriving on The Island:

•Start on the southern beaches for the safest early game experience

•Establish a main base in the central regions for easy access to all areas

•Build outposts near resource-rich areas like mountains for efficient gathering

•Tame an Argentavis early for metal runs to the mountains

•Explore underwater with a Baryonyx or Sarco before getting dedicated water tames

•Prepare cold-weather gear before venturing into the snow biome

•Watch for Thylacoleos when passing through the redwoods - they ambush from trees

•Use the abundant metal in the volcano region for industrial-tier equipment

Essential Resource Locations

Where to find critical resources on The Island:

metalMountains, especially the volcano region and metal mountain in the north

crystalHigher elevations in mountain regions

obsidianVolcano and surrounding mountains

oilUnderwater oil nodes or from Basilosaurus/Trilobites

pearlsShallow waters in the northeast and deep underwater caves

polymerOrganic polymer from Kairuku in the snow biome or crafted from Obsidian and Cementing Paste

cementingBeaver dams in the rivers or crafted from Chitin and Stone

rareSwamp areas and underwater caves for Rare Flowers and Rare Mushrooms

Recommended Base Locations

Strategic places to establish your presence:

•Hidden Lake (70,40): Protected valley with fresh water, near metal and crystal

•Herbivore Island (85,85): Safe peninsula with no natural predator spawns

•Redwood Plateau (50,50): Central location with access to all regions

•Western Coast (15,65): Resource-rich area with flat building spaces

•Footpaw (40,80): Coastal area with access to metal and relatively safe surroundings

Explorer Notes & Lore

The Island contains numerous explorer notes that reveal the story of ARK and provide temporary XP boosts when collected. Key note series include Helena, Rockwell, and Mei-Yin's journals that begin to unravel the mysteries of the ARK.

The Island remains the definitive ARK experience, offering the perfect balance of challenge, resource availability, and progression. Whether you're a new survivor or a veteran returning to where it all began, The Island provides the complete ARK experience in one diverse package.