10 Obscure Ark: Survival Ascended Engrams That Everyone Should Craft Once

4 days ago 2

Ark: Survival Ascended is filled with hundreds of engrams to craft, but some underused options can still be incredibly useful. For all the good features and updates Ark has included, it still has a handful of issues. The balance between items and creatures is the largest one, creating a meta of top options that dominate the franchise. Unfortunately, this is the fate of many games, but that doesn't mean they are the only options.

Item-wise, the meta tends to follow a pretty standard course. Players move through the basic armor and weapons of each tech tier, eventually ending with the dominant Tek gear. However, Ark 2 may push this to a new level, as the sequel is said to bring many new mechanics to the franchise. In this regard, it is not impossible that Ark 2 could add a new tech tier.

10 Elevators Are A Simple But Useful Transportation Engram

Required Level: 20 (Wood), 70 (Metal)

Ark Survival Ascended Most Annoying Creatures.

Elevators in Ark are an ingenious addition that unfortunately gets power crept. This is through Cryopods late game, or through the numerous mods akin to them that are accessible early on. However, elevators can still be incredibly helpful while also filling a more realistic RPG role.

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Elevators can be used to transport dinosaurs, with the most obvious use being to deal with tricky height differences. This can be extremely helpful on vertical maps, or when players build on cliffs. Though the investment can be annoying, it will save a lot of travel time afterward. Even in the late game when Cryopods are available, elevators can still be used for those who prefer a more rustic/lifelike base theme.

9 Never Lose A Target With Transponders

Required Level: 66

A player riding a Pteradon while running away from a Rex.

Transponders are a weird item in that they sound extremely useful, but lack a true purpose. The Node and Tracker together make a powerful combo that will track any target once stuck to it. However, it often won't have much use in PvE, as most encounters won't cover a long distance. Some scenarios will be helped by this, like dealing with creatures that like to run away and can do so quickly, but the transponder simply isn't a PvE necessity.

PvP is where transponders can reach another level, even if they're much harder to use. However, if used correctly, then transponders can be the ultimate tracking tool. With a transponder stuck to an enemy player or one of their tamed dinos, no location or base will ever be truly safe.

8 Bear Traps Will Lock Down Most Targets

Required Level: 28 (Regular), 31 (Large)

Dinosaurs from Ark Survival Ascended with an obelisk

Bear Traps are an item that does see some usage, but could always be used more. These steel traps, coming in a normal and large size, can trap the majority of creatures Ark introduces. However, they mainly see their uses for large targets that have unique tame methods or high torpor levels. A perfect example of this can be found in Aberration's Reapers and their weird breeding mechanic.

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With how versatile these traps can be, they should be used more often, especially once players have the metal to spare. PvP is another area where Bear Traps excel, as they have an increased timer and can only be destroyed by sources that would hurt the trapped dinosaur. Overall, while Bear Traps may not be as looked over as other Engrams, they have more uses than most may think.

7 The Bolas Are An Early-Game Necessity

Required Level: 9 (Regular), 51 (Chain)

Dinosaur from Ark Survival Ascended Aberration with the map

Due to how easy most creatures are to knockout in the early game, Bolas are often ignored. However, they can be incredibly helpful in slowing down or entrapping creatures. This can be for taming purposes or simply to give players an advantage at a point in the game where they are squishy. There is even a mod that makes them reusable for the sake of not having to craft them repeatedly.

Chain Bolas are slightly more annoying, as they require a Ballista to fire, but they can also lock down bigger targets. In this regard, it may be easier to avoid the metal variants unless necessary. Regular Bolas also have use in PvP as being a cheap way to immobilize players for around 25 seconds.

6 Embrace The Medieval With Lances

Required Level: 32

Character from Ark Survival Ascended crying with a dinosaur.

The Lance is an odd weapon in Ark, but it's one with immense PvP potential. The downside to this weapon is that it does no damage and can only be used when mounted. Meanwhile, an odd but interesting feature of the Lance is that it can be given to tamed Mantises to use.

Even though it does no damage, Lances have an amazing PvP use in that they can knock players off their mounts. Without Tek armor and proper builds, survivors are incredibly squishy, making them easy targets without mounts. When combined with powerful mounts, weapons, and other ways to isolate players, a Lance can be the ultimate engagement tool.

5 Cannons Are A Surprisingly Versatile Weapon

Required Level: 34

Cannons in Ark can on paper seem like a lackluster turret. This is because they can't aim and fire at the same time, need to reload after every shot, and lose damage to better options. However, the few pros it has, like not being able to be shot down, actually make it an intriguing choice for PvP.

PvE-wise, Cannons are a necessity while trying to tame some of the largest creatures, like the Titanosaur, or mythical ones like the Rock Elemental. This is because each cannonball shot has some of the highest torpor damage in the game, along with some creatures being immune to regular tranq darts or arrows. Without mods that add better ways to inflict torpor, Cannons will have to be used eventually for some taming.

4 Dominate The Seas With Harpoon Launchers

Required Level: 43

Dinosaur swimming in the water in the Ark Survival Ascended game

Though most will find an underwater tame like the Megalodon for aquatic adventures, Harpoon Launchers shouldn't be overlooked. This weapon has three ammo types: damaging spear bolts, torpor-inflicting tranq bolts, and net projectiles. A bonus of the Harpoon Launcher is that its damage will get doubled for any aquatic targets, perfect for mods that make the oceans more dangerous.

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Since the oceans of Ark can hold some tanky and scary targets, a Harpoon Launcher is highly recommended for extra damage or safety. A great example of this is the terrifying Jellyfish, which will knock players off mounts and inflict torpor. Thus, a Harpoon Launcher is the best and safest way to dispatch those foes.

3 Craft Shields For Protection At Any Level

Required Level: 12 (Wood), 39 (Metal), 92 (Riot), Boss Drop (Tek)

Survival Ascended roaring at a player-built base.

Shields may get overlooked considering many will want to ride these prehistoric creatures into battle, but they can make survivors into dangerous combatants. The first two stages in Wood and Metal have their downsides, mainly Wood being weak and Metal being heavy, though they show possible prowess. However, the Riot and Tek shields are where the downsides drain away and players are made into tanky units.

Though only the Sword and Pike can be used with shields, these are not underrated weapons. When players are built into melee damage and have high-level variants, these can rival even Ark: Survival Ascended's best dinosaurs. So, for those who prefer a melee playstyle or just want to chip in with damage without using ammo, shields should be utilized for safety.

2 Never Miss A Shot With A Laser Attachment

Required Level: 59

Shirtless man from ARK with a bazooka, riding a raptor.

Gun attachments may seem overkill in a game like Ark, but some can prove useful. Though the Laser Attachment loses most usage when aiming, given the chaotic nature of this prehistoric survival game, it's better to hip fire. In this regard, having the laser to show exactly where the gun is aiming could mean the difference between life and death.

Though not as good as the flashlight, they can be used in dark areas to help navigate. Overall, the laser is a simple but huge quality-of-life engram for those who prefer ranged combat. It can also be used to save resources from crafting scopes, as they are most handy with weapons that would be unsuitable for the laser.

1 Toilets Are Surprisingly Overpowered

Required Level: 32

Vin Diesel's prehistoric man from Ark 2 in front of a dinosaur and wooly mammoth.

Toilets may seem like a comical addition to Ark, but they have multiple helpful usages. The first is being a way to turn survivors' poop into fertilizer, which is crucial for growing crops. Compared to the alternate methods, namely the composting bin and Dung Beetles, this is a more consistent and easy method.

Along with this, players will get a 120-second long experience buff, roughly 33%, when they use the toilet. A small buff, to be sure, but anything that can help to level is a boon. Lastly, the toilet can be used to spoil any amount of meat when it is placed in the inventory and then used to defecate. This can be incredibly helpful whenever a mass amount of spoiled meat is needed, like for crafting narcotics.

Overall, every engram in Ascended can be helpful if used correctly. Even if it's a situational use, any advantage could go a long way in a game as unforgiving as this. This is doubly important in PvP, which can feel like an even steeper hill for players, regardless of experience level. Thus, no matter the mode, these are ten underrated Ark: Survival Ascended engrams that everyone should craft at least once.