The vast, immersive world of Ark: Survival Evolved offers players a demanding challenge filled with adventure and discovery. Nevertheless, many gamers wonder, “How long does it take to 100% Ark?” This question taps into the very essence of the game, where exploration is as vital as survival. In this detailed article, we will dive deep into the complexities of completing Ark and uncover the time investment involved.
Understanding the Basics of Ark: Survival Evolved
Before delving into the time it takes to achieve 100% completion in Ark, it’s crucial to grasp the game’s core mechanics and objectives. Ark: Survival Evolved is an open-world survival game set in a post-apocalyptic environment filled with dinosaurs, ancient creatures, and mysterious elements.
Players start by crafting tools, building shelters, and taming wildlife. The primary goals include:
- Survival: The player must manage hunger, thirst, and health while navigating the dangers of the wild.
- Exploration: Discovering various biomes, resources, and hidden treasures across the expansive map.
- Taming and Breeding: Capturing and raising dinosaurs, each with its own capabilities.
- Crafting and Building: Creating weapons, armor, and structures to enhance survivability.
- Boss Battles: Confronting powerful creatures at select locations to unlock game content.
The Game’s Scope: What Does 100% Completion Mean?
To answer the question of how long it takes to 100% Ark, we must first dissect what “100% completion” encompasses. Achieving this milestone involves several significant tasks:
1. Discovering All Engrams
Engrams are blueprints in Ark that enable players to craft items, tools, and structures. There are hundreds of engrams to discover, each contributing to survival and exploration.
2. Taming All Creatures
Ark boasts an incredible variety of creatures, from ferocious dinosaurs to mythical beasts. Taming every creature requires considerable time and effort since each has different behavioral patterns and requirements.
3. Completing All Achievements
The game has various achievements that players can complete, ranging from simple tasks to more challenging goals. Each platform (Steam, Xbox, PlayStation) has its own set of achievements that may affect completion time.
4. Boss Battles and Gamma, Beta, and Alpha Difficulty
Confronting the game’s bosses (like the Dragon, the Broodmother, and the Megapithecus) is crucial for completion. Players have to defeat these bosses in various difficulties, requiring a strong strategy and optimization of creature strength.
5. Map Exploration
Each of the Ark maps presents a stunning environment filled with unique biomes. To claim 100% completion, players need to explore every corner of these maps and document their experiences.
Estimating the Time to 100% Complete Ark
The journey to 100% Ark varies significantly based on several factors, including player experience, game difficulty, and whether you are playing solo or with a dedicated team.
Factors Affecting Completion Time
- Player Skill Level: Experienced players tend to progress faster due to their familiarity with mechanics, creature abilities, and optimal strategies.
- Game Mode: Playing in an official server environment presents challenges due to PvP dynamics and limited server capabilities compared to private servers with boosted rates.
Average Time Estimates
Based on extensive player reviews and community feedback, we can break down the 100% completion time for Ark into several categories:
- Casual Players: Approximately 500-700 hours
- Regular Players: Around 300-500 hours
- Dedicated Players: Often reach 100% in 200-300 hours
These estimates can fluctuate widely based on individual circumstances.
Strategy for Achieving 100% Completion
To optimize your journey toward 100% completion in Ark, consider a strategic approach. Here are key aspects of an effective game plan:
1. Planning Your Progression
Setting clear goals for what you want to achieve during your play sessions can significantly enhance your efficiency. Create a checklist that includes:
- Specific engrams to unlock
- Creatures you aim to tame
- Bosses you plan to defeat
2. Collaborating with Friends
Playing with friends can lead to swifter completion rates. Divide responsibilities such as taming, building, and embarking on exploration journeys. Each player can specialize, maximizing productivity.
3. Utilize Resources and Communities
Engage with the broad Ark community through forums, Discord, and social media. Players often share useful strategies, locations for rare resources, and taming tips that can save you time.
Challenges on the Road to 100% Completion
While striving to achieve 100% completion in Ark, players may encounter various obstacles:
1. PvP Dynamics
If you’re playing on an official PvP server, you risk losing progress to other players. Craft protective structures and ensure you have backup resources to minimize losses.
2. Resource Scarcity
Some resources are limited in availability, leading to time-intensive farming sessions. Plan crafting activities around resource requirements to avoid interruptions and resource hoarding.
Conclusion: Is 100% Completion Worth It?
Achieving 100% completion in Ark: Survival Evolved is a monumental task that can take hundreds of hours of dedicated gameplay. While the time investment is significant, the rewards are equally gratifying. Not only do players gain a profound understanding of the game’s mechanics and lore, but they also enhance their survival skills.
Ultimately, the quest for 100% completion can be both a challenging and rewarding journey, filled with memorable experiences and camaraderie among players. Whether you spend 200 or 700 hours conquering every aspect of Ark, the adventure itself is undoubtedly worthwhile. Gear up, head into the wilds, and let the adventure begin!
How long does it generally take to 100% Ark?
The time it takes to 100% Ark: Survival Evolved can vary significantly depending on several factors, including your playstyle, the difficulty of the game settings, and whether you’re playing solo or with a group. On average, players can expect to spend anywhere from 400 to 800 hours to achieve 100%.
For players who focus solely on the main objectives and have an efficient strategy, it might be possible to complete the game in around 300 hours. However, soaking in the vast amount of content, exploring all maps, and obtaining every achievement will extend that time considerably, particularly for thorough collectors and fans of the game.
What does it mean to 100% Ark?
To 100% Ark means to complete all aspects of the game, including but not limited to finishing all major bosses, obtaining every item, and accomplishing all achievements available in the game. This also often involves exploring all maps introduced in the game, collecting all dinosaur species, and crafting every type of item.
Additionally, 100% completion typically means maxing out the level cap, which requires extensive gameplay and resource gathering. It’s not just about reaching a certain level; it’s about mastering the game and all its mechanics to experience everything that Ark has to offer.
Are there mandatory tasks to complete for 100% completion?
Yes, there are several mandatory tasks that players must complete for 100% completion in Ark. First and foremost, players need to defeat all major bosses, which includes the Overseer, the Dragon, and the Broodmother. Each boss battle requires preparation, strategy, and high-level characters or tamed creatures.
In addition to boss battles, players must explore all of the game’s maps and collect all species of dinosaurs and other creatures. Engaging with the various game modes and obtaining all blueprints and crafting recipes also contributes towards the completion. This extensive range of activities ensures a comprehensive experience of the game.
Can I achieve 100% completion solo, or is it better with a team?
While it is possible to achieve 100% completion in Ark: Survival Evolved solo, it is generally more efficient and less time-consuming to do so with a team. Playing in a group allows for better resource gathering, more effective boss fights, and collaborative strategies for exploration and taming.
That said, solo players may find satisfaction in taking their time and immersing themselves in the game at their own pace. However, the challenges can be significantly higher when taking on bosses or exploring certain biomes that require higher levels of preparedness and skill.
What are some tips to speed up the 100% completion process?
To speed up the 100% completion process in Ark, it’s vital to prioritize your goals and focus on efficient resource gathering. Establishing a base close to essential resources and crafting stations can significantly improve your gameplay efficiency. Utilize the advantages of tamed creatures for gathering and combat, which can save you time in resource collection and boss fights.
Additionally, make use of Ark’s community resources such as guides, tutorials, and forums. Learning strategies from seasoned players and joining established tribes can also help you acquire items and complete challenges faster. Organizing your tasks and taking advantage of in-game events or bonuses will further enhance your progress toward 100% completion.
How does DLC affect the time required to 100% Ark?
DLCs (Downloadable Content) have a significant impact on the time required to achieve 100% completion in Ark. Each DLC introduces new maps, creatures, items, and bosses, which means that players need to invest additional hours to complete the new content. Depending on the number of DLCs and your engagement with them, the total time required can easily increase by 100+ hours.
If you wish to achieve complete mastery, you’ll need to explore each DLC thoroughly and engage with everything it has to offer. This includes discovering all new resources, completing the DLC-specific bosses, and uncovering any unique achievements associated with them, adding layers of complexity to the overall gameplay experience.