Explorer Notes are collectible items scattered across The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Genesis: Part 1, and Genesis: Part 2 that are either a Dossier or a piece of narrative from actual survivors intended to tell the story behind the ARKs. The Explorer Notes are collected just by walking or flying near it.
For every Note found you gain 100 XP an effect that lasts 10 minutes where XP-Collection is twice as high (Similar to the " Broth of Enlightenment"). It is advisable to collect them while on a dino because your dino gets the XP and the effect as well. So the reward for finding these are doubled. If you find two Notes within a short time the effect time is added to the current one and not reset.
Collecting all Explorer Notes unlocks an additional 10 levels for your character.
Note Locations
All available explorer notes except 11 are listed below. The other 11 are the boss dossiers, obtained by defeating each of the bosses. There are currently three creatures with an unobtainable dossier, these being the Griffin from Ragnarok, the Deinonychus from Valguero, and the Tropeognathus from Crystal Isles.
For an interactive map of Explorer Notes and other collectibles, see the following pages:
Canon Explorer Notes
The Island
Scorched Earth
Aberration
Extinction
Genesis: Part 1
Type | Topic | Author | Lat | Lon | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glitch Discovery | Biome Bog #1 | HLN-A | 69.9 | 77.0 | Titan Tree Undergrowth |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Bog #2 | HLN-A | 57.4 | 84.8 | Fetid Pools |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Bog #3 | HLN-A | 74.5 | 76.5 | Dampwood Tunnel |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Bog #4 | HLN-A | 70.2 | 76.6 | Canopy |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Bog #5 | HLN-A | 60.2 | 59.5 | Northwest Siphon |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Bog #6 | HLN-A | 84.2 | 74.8 | Toxic Mire |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Moon #1 | HLN-A | 47.1 | 14.1 | Big Brother |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Moon #2 | HLN-A | 22.3 | 31.3 | Pike |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Moon #3 | HLN-A | 21.6 | 26.0 | Venca's Realm |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Moon #4 | HLN-A | 30.2 | 35.4 | Base of the Ancients |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Moon #5 | HLN-A | 32.3 | 37.7 | Derelict Mine |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Moon #6 | HLN-A | 26.5 | 19.3 | Devo'ssa |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Moon #7 | HLN-A | 34.2 | 26.8 | Reconciliation |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Moon #8 | HLN-A | 46.4 | 21.5 | Jetsam |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Ocean #1 | HLN-A | 18.9 | 47.4 | Open Water |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Ocean #2 | HLN-A | 20.7 | 55.0 | Ocean |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Ocean #3 | HLN-A | 18.4 | 56.4 | Twin Watchers |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Ocean #4 | HLN-A | 25.9 | 58.0 | Open Water |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Ocean #5 | HLN-A | 31.4 | 56.7 | The Trench |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Ocean #6 | HLN-A | 35.9 | 45.7 | The Trench |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Snow #1 | HLN-A | 64.1 | 37.5 | Mid Arctic |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Snow #2 | HLN-A | 79.9 | 34.9 | Spire Rock |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Snow #3 | HLN-A | 74.7 | 30.5 | Thawed Waterway |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Snow #4 | HLN-A | 77.0 | 21.7 | Northern Ice Canyons |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Snow #5 | HLN-A | 67.5 | 25.8 | Northern Windbreak |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Snow #6 | HLN-A | 62.7 | 30.7 | Snowy Foothills |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Snow #7 | HLN-A | 70.8 | 28.7 | Thawed Waterway |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Snow #8 | HLN-A | 73.7 | 25.2 | Spire Taiga |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Snow #9 | HLN-A | 78.6 | 16.4 | Northern Ice Canyons |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Volcanic #1 | HLN-A | 44.6 | 85.5 | Volatile Oil Field |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Volcanic #2 | HLN-A | 26.9 | 77.2 | Volcanic Cave |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Volcanic #3 | HLN-A | 47.5 | 66.8 | Sluceway |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Volcanic #4 | HLN-A | 35.7 | 77.5 | Volcano |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Volcanic #5 | HLN-A | 27.9 | 66.7 | Volcano |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Volcanic #6 | HLN-A | 25.3 | 77.3 | Volcanic Cave |
Glitch Discovery | Biome Volcanic #7 | HLN-A | 12.4 | 76.3 | Volcano |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 17.1 | 71.3 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 17.3 | 87.9 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 18.4 | 37.4 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 18.9 | 51.8 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 21.4 | 14.5 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 23.1 | 51.3 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 28.3 | 74.0 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 28.5 | 80.6 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 30.7 | 56.2 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 31.8 | 57.3 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 32.2 | 46.2 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 32.2 | 48.5 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 34.3 | 32.1 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 36.4 | 49.3 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 36.7 | 72.4 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 37.3 | 24.5 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 37.3 | 86.2 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 39.1 | 47.1 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 40.2 | 56.3 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 41.6 | 75.9 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 43.4 | 35.2 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 48.4 | 73.6 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 48.8 | 18.0 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 49.7 | 29.2 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 50.9 | 13.9 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 61.3 | 37.5 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 61.4 | 33.0 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 66.5 | 85.0 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 68.1 | 59.8 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 70.9 | 75.1 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 71.1 | 76.8 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 71.2 | 19.5 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 73.5 | 76.9 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 73.7 | 83.7 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 75.3 | 75.8 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 75.7 | 53.1 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 76.4 | 28.1 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 80.6 | 26.7 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 82.3 | 21.4 | |
Glitch Discovery | Story | HLN-A | 82.6 | 42.0 | |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #1 | HLN-A | 83.5 | 60.6 | Southwest Siphon |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #2 | HLN-A | 72.6 | 70.0 | Titan Tree Undergrowth |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #3 | HLN-A | 67.2 | 78.2 | Titan Tree Undergrowth |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #4 | HLN-A | 66.2 | 67.5 | Swamp |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #5 | HLN-A | 32.7 | 59.0 | Hammer |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #6 | HLN-A | 33.1 | 51.9 | Open Water |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #7 | HLN-A | 28.8 | 60.6 | Zen Garden |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #8 | HLN-A | 33.3 | 51.4 | The Scar |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #9 | HLN-A | 75.5 | 46.2 | Glacier Point |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #10 | HLN-A | 70.1 | 31.1 | It's Cold Up Here |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #11 | HLN-A | 73.3 | 27.3 | The Oasis |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #12 | HLN-A | 66.2 | 21.3 | Northern Ice Canyons |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #13 | HLN-A | 24.3 | 13.7 | Eye of Horus |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #14 | HLN-A | 40.8 | 38.2 | Shards of Element Rock |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #15 | HLN-A | 32.8 | 32.9 | Base of the Ancients |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #16 | HLN-A | 12.4 | 38.8 | The Castoffs |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #17 | HLN-A | 43.3 | 80.7 | Flame Lake |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #18 | HLN-A | 43.6 | 76.1 | Volcano |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #19 | HLN-A | 21.8 | 69.2 | Hades Reservoir |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #20 | HLN-A | 28.2 | 80.3 | Burning Arteries |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #21 | HLN-A | 38.5 | 24.6 | The Armory |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #22 | HLN-A | 50.5 | 27.8 | Stone Scabbard |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #23 | HLN-A | 23.6 | 25.7 | Venca's Realm |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #24 | HLN-A | 26.4 | 32.7 | Pike |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #25 | HLN-A | 27.0 | 27.6 | Grog |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #26 | HLN-A | 31.9 | 14.8 | Capital V |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #27 | HLN-A | 33.9 | 19.3 | Serpent Scales |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #28 | HLN-A | 47.4 | 23.7 | Rocky Rock |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #29 | HLN-A | 50.8 | 31.1 | The Flotilla |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #30 | HLN-A | 67.8 | 72.9 | Titan Tree Undergrowth |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #31 | HLN-A | 66.4 | 75.3 | Dampwood Tunnel |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #32 | HLN-A | 64.2 | 74.7 | Titan Tree Undergrowth |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #33 | HLN-A | 71.6 | 75.4 | Titan Tree Undergrowth |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #34 | HLN-A | 72.5 | 76.6 | Titan Tree Undergrowth |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #35 | HLN-A | 59.8 | 61.1 | Northwest Siphon |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #36 | HLN-A | 73.1 | 84.9 | East Siphon |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #37 | HLN-A | 63.8 | 76.5 | Titan Tree Undergrowth |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #38 | HLN-A | 57.7 | 61.8 | Swamp |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #39 | HLN-A | 42.8 | 73.6 | Volcano |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #40 | HLN-A | 33.1 | 66.9 | Spillway |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #41 | HLN-A | 35.1 | 86.6 | Volcano |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #42 | HLN-A | 19.8 | 72.8 | Hades Reservoir |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #43 | HLN-A | 21.2 | 85.4 | Lavaclaw Flow |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #44 | HLN-A | 40.8 | 73.7 | Charred Creak |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #45 | HLN-A | 42.3 | 67.8 | Volcano |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #46 | HLN-A | 30.9 | 81.9 | Burning Arteries |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #47 | HLN-A | 13.7 | 87.1 | Sable Pools |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #48 | HLN-A | 29.2 | 48.1 | Sunken Jungle |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #49 | HLN-A | 34.3 | 45.3 | Shallows |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #50 | HLN-A | 26.7 | 51.1 | Helm's Reef |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #51 | HLN-A | 23.8 | 48.8 | Shallows |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #52 | HLN-A | 21.8 | 50.3 | Paradise Lost |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #53 | HLN-A | 21.0 | 51.0 | Paradise Lost |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #54 | HLN-A | 20.2 | 50.1 | Shallows |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #55 | HLN-A | 15.9 | 47.5 | Lantern Road |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #56 | HLN-A | 35.1 | 54.0 | Terrarium |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #57 | HLN-A | 22.2 | 69.6 | Volcano |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #58 | HLN-A | 15.4 | 74.5 | Volcano |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #59 | HLN-A | 82.2 | 18.8 | Southern Ice Canyons |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #60 | HLN-A | 86.2 | 15.3 | Southern Ice Canyons |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #61 | HLN-A | 85.5 | 30.8 | West Arctic |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #62 | HLN-A | 57.2 | 69.2 | Swamp |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #63 | HLN-A | 61.5 | 74.8 | Titan Tree Undergrowth |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #64 | HLN-A | 71.9 | 69.4 | Titan Tree Undergrowth |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #65 | HLN-A | 79.4 | 72.6 | Fallen Titan |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #66 | HLN-A | 34.5 | 51.0 | Open Water |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #67 | HLN-A | 28.8 | 47.8 | Squat Haven |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #68 | HLN-A | 40.9 | 12.7 | Little Sister |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #69 | HLN-A | 68.0 | 21.9 | Fishing Lake |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #70 | HLN-A | 73.1 | 30.9 | Spire Taiga |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #71 | HLN-A | 70.6 | 33.4 | Spire Rock |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #72 | HLN-A | 85.0 | 37.1 | Mid Arctic |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #73 | HLN-A | 72.5 | 43.4 | East Arctic |
Glitch Discovery | Tidbit #74 | HLN-A | 67.2 | 32.8 | Spire Rock |
Genesis 2 Chronicles | Chronicles #21 | HLN-A | 50.3 | 28.9 | Excalibur |
Genesis 2 Chronicles | Chronicles #22 | HLN-A | 32.5 | 46.7 | Chonky Point |
Genesis 2 Chronicles | Chronicles #23 | HLN-A | 65.5 | 85.8 | Root Canyon |
Genesis 2 Chronicles | Chronicles #24 | HLN-A | 46.9 | 86.5 | Oil Well |
Genesis 2 Chronicles | Chronicles #25 | HLN-A | 69.1 | 21.3 | Fishing Lake |
Genesis: Part 2
Mobile
Most Explorer Notes are on the same location as on PC, the ones that are not are listed here.
Notes from ARK Survivors
Helena Walker
Gaius Marcellus Nerva
Sir Edmund Rockwell
Mei-Yin Li
John Dahkeya
Raia
Diana Altaras
Rusty Stafford
Emilia Müller
Boris
Trent
Imamu
Skye
???
The One Who Waits
Santiago
HLN-A
Nida
Gabriel
Non-canon Preview Notes
Changelog
Version | 248.0 | 250.0 | 252.0 | 253.0 | 254.0 | 255.0 | 256.0 | 257.0 | 258.0 | 259.0 | 267.0 | 268.0 | 275.0 | 280.114 | 281.107 | 282.102 | 283.101 | 284.104 | 285.104 | 299.26 | 300.6 | 303.1 | 306.41 | 316.18 | 319.14 | 321.1 | 323.6 | 325.6 | 329.5 | TOTAL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Island | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dossier | +71 | +3 | +5 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +5 | +1 | 101 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Helena | +4 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +1 | +8 | +8 | +3 | +1 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rockwell | +4 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +1 | +8 | +8 | +2 | +1 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mei-Yin | +4 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +1 | +8 | +8 | +4 | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Nerva | +4 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +1 | +8 | +8 | +4 | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||
??? | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
HLN-A | +3 | +5 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scorched Earth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dossier | +10 | +1 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Helena | +4 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +1 | +8 | +12 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Rockwell | +4 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +1 | +8 | +12 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Raia | +4 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +1 | +8 | +12 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dahkeya | +4 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +1 | +8 | +12 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
??? | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
HLN-A | +2 | +2 | +5 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aberration | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dossier | +14 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Helena | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rockwell | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mei-Yin | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Diana | +20 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rusty | +5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Emilia | +5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boris | +5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trent | +5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Imamu | +5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Skye | +1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
??? | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
HLN-A | +3 | +1 | +5 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Extinction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dossier | +10 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Helena | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mei-Yin | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Diana | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Santiago | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The One Who Waits | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HLN-A | +4 | +5 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genesis: Part 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HLN-A | +150 | +5 | 155 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genesis: Part 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HLN-A | +46 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Santiago | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nida | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gabriel | +30 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
113 | 8 | 19 | 21 | 12 | 60 | 36 | 12 | 66 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 150 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 160 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 150 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 136 | 1004 |
Notes / trivia
- During the development process Helena's name might have once been Elimisha and Nerva's name might have once been Gellia according to the DevKit.
- Due to the similar looks and name, Helena Walker could be an Easter egg to the European show, Primeval's Hellen Cutter
- Currently you can't open the notes while in pause mode (at least in single player), i.e. pressing Esc and using the Survivor Profile menu item at the bottom. Instead you can go into your inventory and use the Survivor Profile button at the top right.
- Dying or using fast travel (sleeping bags/beds) will cancel the double XP multiplier
- The XP bonus stacks, so collecting one explorer note, gives 600 seconds double XP, and if another explorer note is collected before the first double XP expires, then 600 seconds will be added to the remaining XP time from the previous Dossiers. As such it is possible to get a fast flyer and collect a few in quick succession before taking on a titanosaur or Alpha for best possible XP gains
- The double XP does not affect XP shared To tribe members
- Some of the additional text in the Raia tablets are the names of Studio Wildcard Developers.
- In ARK Digest 49, the woman riding the raptor on the box art was confirmed to be Helena.
- Since 280.114 and the release of the Extinction Chronicles event, an unknown author's Explorer Notes have appeared in several locations, with the first three at boss arenas. The notes are related to the Extinction DLC, and unlike previous notes, these came in the form of a hologram with what appears to look similar to a Specimen Implant projecting the note itself.
- Similarly, at 299.26, at the release of Genesis Chronicles event, "elemental disturbance" are seen at some of the caves, with the first three at the main island. The notes are related to Genesis: Part 1 DLC, and unlike all the notes so far, it requires Mini-HLNA Skin equipped for any form of note to trigger nearby.
External links
- AMA from the creator of most of the explorer notes on Reddit with more answers on the background story: https://www.reddit.com/r/ARKLore/comments/iz13jo/i_wrote_arks_explorer_notes_now_my_new_game/.
References
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