ARK: Survival Ascended — The Island Map Guide
The Island is the original ARK map and the launch map for ASA. It's the easiest entry point — varied biomes, predictable predator zones, classic landmarks for base placement, and a complete cave + artifact set for boss-prep. If you're new to ASA, start here.
Biomes at a Glance
| Biome | What's There | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Starter beaches | Thatch, Wood, Stone, Berries — ideal first-base zone | Very Low (Dilo, Compy) |
| Forest / Grassland | Wood, Fiber, Berries, Chitin (from bugs); herbivores; some Raptors and Carnos | Low–Medium |
| Mountains | Metal, Crystal, Obsidian; Argentavis, Sabers, occasional Rex | High |
| Volcano | Highest density of Metal, Obsidian, Crystal on the map | Very High (heat, alpha spawns, Rexes) |
| Snow / North | Obsidian deposits + Crystal; cold biome | High (cold debuff, Yutyrannus, Direwolves) |
| Ocean | Oil, Silica Pearls, Black Pearls (deep), unique creatures (Plesiosaur, Mosasaur) | Very High in deep zones |
Top 3 Beginner Base Spots
Hidden Lake (~70° lat, 40° lon)
The textbook beginner base: a single chokepoint entrance to a freshwater pool surrounded by cliff walls. Central location means short travel to the mountain metal runs above. One of the few protected spots that's both safe and well-resourced.
Herbivore Island (~85° lat, 85° lon)
An island in the south-east corner. Almost entirely herbivores — your starter tames are safe here. Metal nodes nearby on the rocky shoreline. Trade-off: slightly farther from the mountain metal motherlode.
Southern Coast (~80.8° lat, 63.7° lon)
Beach area with small metal deposits and easy access to the ocean for fishing/Otter taming. Lower predator density than the central forests. Good for a relaxed solo run.
Resource Hotspots
Metal
Spread across the map, but the highest density is in the central mountain ridge and around the volcano. The southern cliffsides have small accessible deposits for early-game.
Obsidian
Two main zones:
- Volcano (south-central) — highest density; very risky pre-flyer.
- Northern icy region — scattered deposits, moderate risk.
Best harvester: Ankylo (any tier) or Phoenix at endgame. See our dino commands guide if you need to spawn-test.
Crystal
Mountains. Crystal nodes appear on cliff sides above ~600m elevation. An Anky on an Argentavis is the standard tactic — fly the Anky in, mine the cliff face, fly out.
Oil + Pearls
Underwater. Oil seeps along the shallow ocean floors; Silica Pearls in the deeper coastal zones; Black Pearls in the deep ocean only — bring a Mosasaur or Tusoteuthis.
Caves & Artifacts
The Island has the original ARK artifact cave set, required for the three boss tributes (Broodmother, Megapithecus, Dragon). Most caves are not buildable but contain heavy loot in deep chambers.
- Lower South Cave — entry-level cave; basic artifact + decent loot.
- Upper South Cave — slightly harder; alpha Megalodon at the entrance.
- Central Cave — mid-tier, water hazard.
- Snow Cave — cold + Direwolves + Yutyrannus + alpha Carno. Bring a tribe.
- Carno Island Cave — flooded entrance, Megalodons inside.
- Tek Cave (boss-tier) — endgame; Tek armor recommended.
Recommended Progression Path
- Day 1–3: Spawn south, base on Herbivore Island or Southern Coast. Tame Dodos, Trike, Parasaur.
- Day 3–7: Tame an Argentavis or Pteranodon. Move base to Hidden Lake.
- Day 7–14: Mountain metal + crystal runs with an Anky carried by your Argy.
- Day 14–21: Volcano obsidian runs (weather permitting).
- Day 21+: Cave artifact runs starting with Lower South.
- Day 30+: Boss prep — full Rex breeding line, mutton stockpile, Yutyrannus support.
Why Start Here vs Ragnarok / Valguero?
| Map | Best For | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| The Island | New players, classic experience, full boss progression | Beginner |
| Ragnarok | Larger map, Wyverns, Norse landmarks, more variety | Intermediate |
| Valguero | 63 km², Aberration trench, the Abyss, dense biome variety | Intermediate–Advanced |
| Aberration | Radiation + Rock Drakes + Reaper Queens — unique mechanics | Advanced |
For the full ASA expansion list see our DLC roadmap.
Common Mistakes
- Building base on the central forest grassland — looks safe, gets raided by Carnos at night.
- Going to the volcano without a flyer — heat damage + alpha Rexes ruin the run.
- Skipping Hidden Lake for an open beach base — open beaches get hit by ocean predators during weather events.
- Soloing the Tek Cave — possible but extremely punishing without Tek armor.
Start your ASA story right. Host an ASA Island server with Supercraft and run the original ARK with friends, lag-free.