ARK: Survival Evolved tools determine how quickly players progress from helpless survivor to dominant tribe leader. Every player spawns on the beach with nothing. The right tools change everything. This guide covers every tool tier in ARK: Survival Evolved, from primitive stone picks to advanced Tek equipment. Players will learn which ARK: Survival Evolved tools to craft first, when to upgrade, and how to manage their inventory efficiently. Whether someone just downloaded the game or wants to optimize their farming runs, this breakdown provides the essential information needed to thrive.
Key Takeaways
- Craft your Stone Pick and Stone Hatchet within the first five minutes of spawning to start gathering essential resources immediately.
- Metal ARK: Survival Evolved tools like the Metal Pick, Metal Hatchet, and Sickle dramatically increase gathering speed and durability over stone versions.
- Always use the right tool for the job—picks gather Thatch, Flint, and Metal, while hatchets collect Wood and Hide.
- Advanced tools like the Chainsaw and Mining Drill run on Gasoline and offer the fastest resource gathering before Tek tier.
- Repair your ARK: Survival Evolved tools at 25-30% durability to prevent permanent loss and keep backup tools at your base.
- Combine tool use with tamed gathering dinosaurs like the Ankylosaurus and Therizinosaurus for maximum farming efficiency.
Essential Starter Tools
The first few minutes in ARK: Survival Evolved demand quick action. Players need ARK: Survival Evolved tools immediately to gather resources and defend themselves.
Stone Pick
The Stone Pick is the first tool every survivor crafts. It requires 1 Stone, 1 Wood, and 10 Thatch. Players can gather these materials by punching trees and picking up rocks from the ground. The Stone Pick harvests Thatch from trees, Raw Meat from corpses, and Flint from rocks. It works as a basic weapon in emergencies, though it deals minimal damage.
Stone Hatchet
The Stone Hatchet comes next. It costs 1 Flint, 1 Wood, and 10 Thatch. This tool gathers Wood from trees instead of Thatch. It also collects Hide from dead creatures more efficiently than the pick. Players need both tools because each one specializes in different resources.
Torch
Nights in ARK get dark. Really dark. The Torch costs 1 Flint, 1 Wood, and 1 Stone. It provides light and warmth, which helps prevent hypothermia during cold nights. Players can also use it as a weak weapon that applies burning damage. Smart survivors craft multiple torches since they burn out over time.
Spear
The Wooden Spear serves as the first real weapon. It requires 8 Wood, 2 Flint, and 12 Fiber. Players can throw it or use it for melee attacks. The spear helps kill small dinosaurs like Dilos and Compys. It breaks quickly, so keeping spare spears ready saves lives.
These basic ARK: Survival Evolved tools form the foundation for everything that follows. Players should craft them within the first five minutes of spawning.
Intermediate Crafting Tools
Once players establish a small base, they can upgrade their ARK: Survival Evolved tools to metal versions. Metal tools gather resources faster and last longer than stone equivalents.
Metal Pick
The Metal Pick requires 1 Metal Ingot, 1 Wood, and 10 Hide. Players must build a Refining Forge first to smelt Metal Ore into ingots. This pick gathers significantly more Flint, Metal, and Thatch per swing. It also harvests Chitin from dead insects and Crystal from deposits.
Metal Hatchet
The Metal Hatchet needs the same materials as the Metal Pick. It excels at collecting Wood and Hide. Players farming for a wooden base should prioritize this tool. The durability far exceeds the stone version, meaning fewer repairs during long gathering sessions.
Pike
The Pike replaces the Wooden Spear as the primary melee weapon. It costs 10 Metal Ingots, 10 Wood, and 20 Hide. Unlike spears, the Pike cannot be thrown. But, it deals much more damage and has excellent reach. Players can safely attack many medium-sized creatures without taking hits.
Sickle
The Metal Sickle changes how players gather Fiber. It costs 18 Metal Ingots, 4 Wood, and 16 Hide. Players swing it through bushes and tall grass to collect massive amounts of Fiber quickly. This tool saves hours of manual harvesting. Anyone planning to craft armor or saddles needs this tool.
Crossbow
The Crossbow provides ranged options. It requires 7 Metal Ingots, 10 Wood, and 35 Fiber. Players use it with Stone Arrows or Tranq Arrows for taming dinosaurs. The Crossbow deals more damage than the basic Bow and shoots underwater, making it essential for ocean exploration.
These intermediate ARK: Survival Evolved tools represent a major power increase. Players should upgrade as soon as they secure a steady metal supply.
Advanced Metal and Tek Tools
Endgame ARK: Survival Evolved tools require rare resources and boss defeats. These items offer the best gathering rates and unique abilities.
Chainsaw
The Chainsaw gathers Wood and organic resources at incredible speeds. It requires 40 Metal Ingots, 50 Polymer, and 20 Cementing Paste. Players also need Gasoline to fuel it. The Chainsaw cuts through trees in seconds and harvests Organic Polymer from dead Mantis and Kairuku efficiently.
Mining Drill
The Mining Drill destroys rocks and metal nodes faster than any pick. It costs 60 Metal Ingots, 35 Crystal, 20 Polymer, and 12 Cementing Paste. Like the Chainsaw, it runs on Gasoline. Players mining Obsidian, Crystal, or Metal should use this tool for maximum yield.
Tek Tier Tools
Tek tools require Element and Tekgrams earned from defeating bosses. The Tek Pickaxe and Tek Hatchet run on Element instead of durability. They gather resources at rates that match or exceed the Chainsaw and Mining Drill. The Tek Rifle serves as the ultimate ranged weapon, firing energy projectiles.
Tek tools also provide utility features. Some allow players to hover or see through walls. These ARK: Survival Evolved tools represent the peak of technological advancement in the game.
Players typically reach this tier after hundreds of hours. The investment pays off through dramatically faster resource collection.
Best Practices for Tool Management
Owning the right ARK: Survival Evolved tools means nothing without proper management. Smart players follow these practices to maximize efficiency.
Repair Before Breaking
Tools lose durability with each use. Players should repair them at 25-30% durability remaining. Completely broken tools disappear forever. Keeping repair materials in inventory prevents this frustrating loss.
Use the Right Tool
Each tool excels at specific resources. Picks gather Thatch, Flint, and Metal. Hatchets collect Wood and Hide. Using the wrong tool wastes time and yields fewer materials. Players should memorize which tool matches each resource type.
Craft Backup Tools
Death happens in ARK. Often. Players lose everything in their inventory when they die. Keeping spare ARK: Survival Evolved tools at base ensures quick recovery after respawning. A storage box dedicated to backup equipment saves frustration.
Consider Quality Levels
Blueprints from loot drops create better tools. Ramshackle, Apprentice, Journeyman, Mastercraft, and Ascendant quality levels exist. Higher quality tools have more durability and gather more resources per action. Players should save high-quality blueprints for late-game crafting.
Tame Gathering Creatures
Dinosaurs often outperform tools entirely. An Ankylosaurus gathers Metal better than any pick. A Therizinosaurus collects more Fiber than the Sickle. Players should balance tool use with tamed creature farming for optimal results.
These management strategies help players get maximum value from their ARK: Survival Evolved tools.
