Caves

There are two types of caves that can be found in ARK: Progression Caves and Resources Caves, the latter being found underwater on The Island and most regions of Ragnarok. Some are easy to explore, others extremely difficult. If you survive the dangers of the caves, however, they each contain a variety of resources to obtain.

Progression Caves
The Island=  

Creatures
Note that the Hard Caves spawn creatures at extremely high levels (often exceeding 250), and that these creatures are untameable. Creatures within The Caverns of Lost Faith are also untameable, but spawn at standard levels.


 * Terrestrial Entrances


 * Underwater Entrances

The Center=  

Locations


Creatures

 * Missing.

Small Caves


Scorched Earth=  

Locations


Creatures
Note that Achatina spawn as high-levelled varients, similar to the creatures found within The Island's Swamp and Snow caves. Unlike The Island however, these Achatina are tameable.

Ragnarok=

This page only lists the Dungeons and important Caves of Ragnarok. For a list of all caves in Ragnarok please visit this page: Caves (Ragnarok)

 

Locations


Creatures
Note that all creatures inside these caves are high-leveled, untameable variants, similar to the creatures found within The Island's Swamp and Snow caves.

Aberration=  

Locations


Creatures
Extinction= ''Despite having a large cave opening, dinosaurs classified as flying cannot be mounted within the cave. There are exceptions to this limitation however.''  

Locations
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Creatures
Valguero=  </ul>

Resource Caves
The Island= Cavern: A cave, or a chamber in a cave, typically a large one.

There are currently 12 Resource Caves on The Island, and are all found underwater. These caves can often be difficult to find, but often contain a dense collection of and, although the latter of which provide less oil than nodes found elsewhere in the game. The only indication of the position from the surface is a small flow of bubbles, appearing as a thin white line. On lower graphics settings, a grey box can be seen on the ocean floor from the surface around the cave's entrance.

The entrances to the resource caves also appears to be a spawn location for pairs of s, who tend to linger in the area, as well as a singular, which in turn tend to linger near to the s.

Resources
Valguero= 

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Surface Caves
''These are general cave tips. For tips on specific caves, please visit their individual pages.''
 * Take or better yet s and s or if you are a high enough level . Some progression caves require multiple s.
 * Hide or Fur armor is helpful for many, but not all caves. Chitin or Metal (Flak) is great if you have an available Smithy.
 * Set up a small base at the beginning of a cave with a and a chest with tools, weapons, armor, a  and a . If possible, in single player you can use a  as a smithy IN the cave. Or on multiplayer you can use a
 * Most of the creatures found in caves are non-tamable (mostly ), except for a few cases or caves such as, or.
 * Because there are no spawns outside of caves in Scorched Earth, caves are the only place you can tame them in. They do however provide higher max tame levels, meaning you won't have to feed them as much as when they were tamed on other maps.
 * s are useful for avoiding creatures, getting a good vantage point, and to not have to bring foundations and ceilings to bridge gaps. However, not all caves will permit its uses.
 * In some caves that are very tough, one may use a on wild creatures to clear the cave to make it easier. However, be mindful as some respawn area will immediately respawn creatures the instant the area is brought to stasis.
 * Flyers brought into the cave under any method will not be mountable, even with saddle. Oddly, Climbers can still climb upwards.
 * Aberration s and are also a big help even though all caves can be traversed without these.
 * allows bringing of creatures into previously inaccessible area due to the opening of the caves. However, some creatures that are too big to fit inside will not be released out of the cryopod. This includes areas whereby the size are strictly fittable only for survivors and smaller.
 * Bringing a Parasaur and using its turret mode can be very helpful in identifying enemies and potential tames. For example, Megalania can be hard to spot without turret mode, and Dung Beetles may accidentally be killed if not identified first through turret mode.
 * Bring a friend if trying this so you can identify enemies on the move. A Parasaur is also very weak, so an escort is needed.
 * Since a Parasaur is a pack animal, it can also help bring out the valuable Crystal and Obsidian.

Underwater Caves

 * will supply you Oxygen while underwater for a certain amount of seconds, to allow you to dive for longer times, making it easier to find the entrance. A or a powered  could also help with this, then no oxygen is ever needed! Though, the  will slowly lose durabillity as it's in use, and element, for the.
 * Riding a can help against other Sharks and allows you very quick movement in the water. They are also a good way to spot the bubbles from the surface. It is advised to bring it with a pack, as wild Megalodon are never seen alone in underwater caves and with a pack boost, will easily shred even the most resilient of Megalodon.
 * Alternatively using a or  will allow you to travel much faster than a Megalodon. A tamed Plesiosaur can fairly easily take on a wild Megalodon and an Ichthyosaurus can easily outrun any wild animals. Be wary of any  nearby if you are bringing Icthyosaurus.
 * If you have a Tribemate with a, or , they can transport you directly to the location of the cave and drop you down, avoiding most of the swim, and with that, most of the Megalodons on the way to the cave. Once finished the Pteranodon, Argentavis or Tropeognathus can pick you up again from the water surface. This is also a very resource friendly method, as it allows you to go down with minimum armor and weapons, as fighting can be reduced to a minimum. That way, the loss of dying is less of a setback. This method does, however, require you to have found the entrance beforehand.
 * Riding a Sarco allows you to use a single mount as they can move quick both in water and on the ground. Moreover, it's faster than a Megalodon, has near instant stamina regeneration under water and can fit in most underwater caves, making it safer while gathering resources. Be wary of any Tusoteuthis that spawns within the cave, as their range can grab onto the Sarco.
 * Eurypterids can spawn in groups (3-5 at once) in even small underwater caves as of patch 246. Be prepared to deal with their stings!
 * allows bringing of creatures into previously inaccessible area due to the opening of the caves. However, some creatures that are too big to fit inside will not be released out of the cryopod. Care for the Cryo Cooldown though (due to possible constant uses), as wild dinos inside the caves that are aggressive will still attack dino under Cryo Sickness, which will result in a swift death due to damage multiplier towards dino under that state.
 * can give constant oxygen to land creatures that excels under water and requires to be constantly underwater, but does not have infinite oxygen (Good example is . However, due to their sheer size, are only limited at certain areas underwater within the underwater cave, even with Cryopods.
 * swims fast for a land creature while submerged, but is incredibly frail (cannot attack underwater) and has lower oxygen that most other creature.