How to Craft in ARK: Survival Evolved - Beginners Guide

ARK: Survival Evolved drops you into a prehistoric world filled with dinosaurs, danger, and adventure. One of the most important skills you’ll need to survive is crafting. Crafting allows you to turn raw resources into tools, weapons, shelter, and other essential gear.

If you’re new and wondering how to craft in ARK: Survival Evolved, don’t worry, this beginner’s guide will walk you through the basics and even touch on intermediate crafting concepts in a casual, newbie-friendly way. By the end, you’ll know how to craft everything from simple stone tools to advanced structures and crafting stations.

Crafting Basics in ARK: How Crafting Works

Engrams (Crafting Recipes)

In ARK, engrams are crafting recipes that you unlock as your character levels up. Each time you level up, you'll earn Engram Points, which can be spent to learn how to craft new items, such as tools, weapons, clothing, and building components. Once unlocked, an engram is permanently available to you.

As a beginner, you’ll want to prioritise learning essential engrams early on. These typically include:

Campfire
Stone tools (Pick, Hatchet)
Spear
Cloth clothing
Waterskin
Thatch building parts
Sleeping bag

Mastering these basics early will greatly improve your survival odds in your initial days in ARK.

Gathering Resources

Crafting requires resources that you gather directly from your environment. When you first spawn into ARK, typically on a beach, you’ll have nothing but your bare hands. Start by collecting materials immediately around you:

Stone: Pick up loose stones scattered across the ground.
Fiber and Berries: Gather these by hand from bushes and tall grass.
Thatch and Wood: Punch trees to collect primarily Thatch (with some Wood). It might hurt a bit, but it's a classic ARK tradition for newcomers.

These core resources, Thatch, Wood, Stone, and Fiber, are foundational for most of your early crafting recipes. For example, crafting your first essential tool, the Stone Pick, will require small amounts of Wood, Thatch, and Stone.

Using the Crafting Menu

ARK’s crafting interface is conveniently integrated into your inventory screen. To start crafting:

Open your inventory (I on PC by default).
Select the Crafting tab to view all the available engrams you’ve learned.
Click on the item you want to craft (or use the search bar to find it quickly).
The game will show you the required materials. If you have enough resources, click “Craft” to begin creating the item.

Each crafted item takes a few seconds (more complex items take longer), after which the finished product appears in your inventory. You can queue multiple items at once, a handy feature if you’re crafting several building pieces like walls or foundations for your base.

Inventory Crafting vs. Crafting Stations

In ARK, crafting happens in two main ways: directly within your inventory or through special crafting stations.

Inventory Crafting: Basic items, such as torches, primitive weapons, clothing, and thatch structures, can be crafted directly from your inventory.
Crafting Stations: Advanced items, like metal tools, firearms, armour, and electrical equipment, require dedicated crafting stations, such as the Smithy or Fabricator.

The item description indicates whether an item can be crafted directly in your inventory or if it needs a specialised crafting station. As a rule of thumb:

Simple items: Craft directly in your inventory.
Complex items: Craft at a specialised station.

Essential Tools for Early Survival in ARK

When you first start your ARK journey, crafting tools are essential. Tools help you gather resources efficiently, making tasks like building and hunting much easier. Here are the fundamental tools every beginner should craft:

Stone Pick

Your first essential tool, the stone Pick, doesn't require unlocking, it’s available by default. Crafting it only requires 1 wood, 1 stone, and 10 thatch. Use the pick to:

Gather flint and stone efficiently from rocks.
Harvest thatch from trees.
Collect more raw meat than hide from animal carcasses.

This multipurpose tool should be the first thing you craft after spawning.

Stone Hatchet

Unlocked at level 2, the stone hatchet is crafted using wood, thatch, and flint (gathered with your pick). The hatchet complements the pick by excelling at:

Harvesting wood from trees.
Mining stone rather than flint.
Collecting hides from carcasses rather than meat.

Remember this tip for efficiency:
Use a pick for flint and thatch; use a hatchet for wood, stone, and hide.

Torch

A torch is essential for visibility at night and provides warmth in colder areas. It requires basic materials and can even deter smaller predators. In emergencies, it doubles as a makeshift weapon, causing minor fire damage. Always have a torch handy when exploring after dark.

Additional Early Tools

As you level up, consider crafting these helpful tools:

Waterskin or water jar: Lets you carry water, essential for longer trips inland.
Spyglass: Crafted with crystal (found later in-game), allowing you to scout creatures from afar.
Metal Sickle (mid-game): Once you unlock and craft this at a Smithy, it greatly accelerates fiber harvesting. Until then, gather fiber manually.

These initial tools set the foundation for your survival, making resource collection faster and safer as you progress.

Your First Weapons for Hunting and Defence

ARK is full of prehistoric dangers, making it crucial to arm yourself early on. Here are essential beginner-friendly weapons for self-defence and hunting:

Spear (Level 2)

The spear is typically your first weapon. Crafted with wood, flint, and fiber, spears are inexpensive and versatile. You can stab or throw them at smaller creatures. Because spears can break or get lost after throwing, always carry extras. They’re ideal for early encounters with creatures like dilophosaurs or dodos.

Slingshot (Level 5)

The slingshot is your first ranged weapon, crafted with basic materials and using stone as ammunition. Though damage output is modest, slingshots cause torpor, helping knock out smaller dinosaurs for early taming. Use carefully, as it can unintentionally kill weaker creatures.

Bow and Arrow (Level 10)

Once unlocked, prioritise crafting a bow (fiber and wood) and plenty of stone arrows (flint, thatch, fiber). The bow is a significant upgrade from the slingshot, allowing effective ranged hunting and safer engagements. Later, craft tranquilliser arrows (stone arrows combined with narcotics crafted in a mortar and pestle) to tranquillise larger creatures for taming.

Bola (Level 9)

Technically a tool, the bola is vital for defence and hunting. Crafted from stone, thatch, and hide, bolas immobilise small-to-medium dinosaurs temporarily by tangling their legs. Perfect for stopping fast-moving threats like raptors or for safely taming speedy dinosaurs like parasaurs. Always keep bolas handy for emergencies.

Upgrading to Advanced Weapons

As you progress, you’ll unlock powerful weapons, including metal tools and firearms. At around level 25, items like the crossbow and pike become available, crafted at specialised stations like the Smithy. These weapons significantly outperform primitive equipment, offering higher durability and damage output.

Early on, stick with spears, bows, and bolas. As you gain resources and experience, upgrade to metal gear to take on larger threats and explore further safely.

Crafting Tips for Beginners

Here are a few helpful tips to enhance your crafting efficiency and experience as you start your ARK journey:

Manage Your Weight Effectively

Early-game crafting involves gathering lots of resources, quickly adding weight. Prioritise upgrading your character’s weight attribute to increase carrying capacity. Also, build storage boxes at your base to store materials near crafting stations conveniently.

Prioritise Essential Engrams

Engram Points are limited, especially on multiplayer servers. Unlock essential crafting recipes first, basic tools, weapons, and structures. Non-essential engrams can wait, or you can let tribe members specialise. Keep an eye out for Blueprints from supply drops, allowing you to craft higher-quality items without spending Engram Points.

Choose the Right Tool

Use the correct tool to gather resources efficiently. Remember:

Pick: Best for gathering Flint from rocks, thatch from trees, and Meat from carcasses.
Hatchet: Ideal for harvesting Wood from trees, Stone from rocks, and hide from animals.

Later, specialised tools or tamed dinos (like a Metal Sickle for Fiber or Doedicurus for Stone) will further boost your efficiency.

Boost XP with Crafting

Crafting simple items (like cloth hats or thatch foundations) can quickly level your character early on. If desired, investing in Crafting Skill will speed up crafting times and improve the quality of crafted items from blueprints, especially useful at higher levels or on multiplayer servers.

Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help

ARK is complex, and every player was once a beginner. If you're unsure how something works, reach out to fellow players, consult community resources, or check the official ARK wiki. The ARK community is generally helpful and welcoming.

Armed with these tips, you're now ready to confidently gather, craft, and survive in ARK: Survival Evolved!