ARK: Survival Evolved Cementing Paste: A Comprehensive Guide

The Indispensable Material

Crafting is the lifeblood of survival in the harsh, dinosaur-infested world of ARK: Survival Evolved. From rudimentary tools to towering fortresses, almost everything you build, tame, and conquer relies on your ability to gather resources and master the art of crafting. And at the heart of many essential creations lies a seemingly simple, yet absolutely vital, substance: Cementing Paste. This guide will delve deep into the world of Cementing Paste, providing everything you need to know to thrive in the ARK.

In the sprawling, unforgiving environment of ARK: Survival Evolved, players quickly discover that survival requires more than just brute strength and a sharp spear. It demands ingenuity, planning, and the ability to utilize the game’s complex crafting system. Cementing Paste is a critical component, essentially the glue that holds a great deal of the game’s progression together. You’ll find yourself reaching for it constantly, from the early game’s basic shelters to the endgame’s technologically advanced wonders.

What exactly is Cementing Paste? It’s a crafted resource, a thick and sticky substance that serves a multitude of purposes. Think of it as the construction adhesive, the binding agent, and the foundational element for a massive array of structures, tools, and even creatures. Without it, you’re effectively stranded, unable to access the vast majority of the game’s features and opportunities. Its versatility is what truly makes it indispensable.

Its primary uses are truly extensive. Consider its crucial role in constructing your base. Cementing Paste is fundamental for the creation of higher-tier building materials. You’ll need it to upgrade from flimsy thatch structures to durable stone buildings, then eventually to metal and even the incredible Tek structures. Each upgrade provides superior protection from the elements, aggressive creatures, and the attacks of other players in PvP environments.

Beyond base-building, Cementing Paste is also essential for crafting a range of important tools and items. You’ll need it to make saddles, allowing you to ride and control the many creatures that roam the ARK. These saddles provide protection for you and your mount, as well as the means to carry cargo or to participate in combat. Explosives, the key to raiding and base defense, also rely heavily on Cementing Paste. Certain ammunition types, like the grappling hook, also depend on its unique binding properties.

Moreover, this vital paste plays a significant role in taming many of the creatures that inhabit the ARK. It’s a key ingredient in the creation of Narcotics, which are essential for keeping unconscious creatures sedated during the taming process. Without Narcotics, your taming efforts will almost certainly fail, meaning you’ll miss out on having an entire creature as an ally.

Crafting Your Own Cementing Paste

Obtaining Cementing Paste might seem daunting at first, but there are a few effective methods to start your production. The most basic, and earliest available, method involves utilizing a Mortar and Pestle. This simple crafting station allows you to combine basic ingredients to create the paste.

To create Cementing Paste in a Mortar and Pestle, you need two ingredients: Chitin or Keratin, and Stone. Chitin is obtained by harvesting the exoskeletons of various insect-like creatures, such as the iconic giant spiders (Araneo) and the massive scorpions (Pulmonoscorpius). Keratin is sourced from the horns and hides of certain creatures. These creatures include the mammoth (Mammoth) and the direwolf (Direwolf). Stone is plentiful in almost any environment, found by gathering it from rocks and boulders using your hands or a pickaxe.

The crafting process itself is straightforward. Place your Chitin/Keratin and Stone into the Mortar and Pestle. Ensure you have enough of both ingredients to produce the quantity of Cementing Paste you desire. Once the ingredients are in place, simply initiate the crafting process. The game will automatically consume the ingredients and generate the Cementing Paste. This method is the foundation of your early-game operations, allowing you to quickly get started with building and other crafting projects.

As you advance and become more proficient, you’ll discover more efficient ways to produce Cementing Paste. The Industrial Grinder offers a massive boost to your production speed. This late-game crafting station has the capacity to process vast quantities of Chitin/Keratin and Stone very quickly, effectively automating the process. The Industrial Grinder requires a significant investment to set up, but once you do, you’ll be producing Cementing Paste faster than you can use it.

Alternatively, you could obtain Cementing Paste by befriending a Beelzebufo, which has the unique ability to harvest insects and produce Cementing Paste passively.

The Beelzebufo is a giant frog that primarily feeds on insects. Once tamed, it will consume small insects and generate Cementing Paste as a byproduct. Taming a Beelzebufo involves using specialized items like bugs or the correct food items. Once tamed, the frog will automatically gather and produce Cementing Paste over time, making it a valuable addition to your base. This method allows you to passively acquire the resource without spending time gathering or crafting it yourself.

Finally, in some server settings, you may even be able to purchase Cementing Paste from vendors. This offers a convenient, albeit potentially expensive, method of acquiring the resource in a pinch, especially if you are in a hurry to craft something important.

Optimizing Production and Resource Gathering

Maximize your production of Cementing Paste by implementing strategies to enhance your crafting and resource gathering processes. The best production location will depend on your style of gameplay.

Consider the location of your base relative to the resources you need to gather. Place your base near locations that are rich in Chitin/Keratin and Stone. Caves are often excellent spots to find these resources, as they are home to creatures that drop Chitin/Keratin. Proximity to these locations will dramatically reduce the time you spend traveling and maximize your production efficiency.

Utilizing multiple crafting stations, rather than relying on just one, will also accelerate your output. This enables you to create a steady stream of Cementing Paste and prevents bottlenecks in your crafting process.

Employing appropriate tools and creatures will significantly improve the efficiency of your resource gathering efforts. Specific creatures excel at certain tasks. The giant insect (Araneo) is a great source of Chitin/Keratin. You can also use creatures such as the Saber to harvest the needed ingredients. Ankylo are great harvesters of stone.

Efficient resource management is critical. Ensure you have enough storage to accommodate the Cementing Paste you produce. Building storage boxes will help to keep your Cementing Paste organized. Using refrigeration also helps to extend the life of Cementing Paste and reduce spoilage, which is crucial for long-term storage.

Strategic Uses in Advanced Gameplay

As you progress further into the game, you’ll find that Cementing Paste remains a cornerstone of your success. It plays an essential role in both construction and crafting.

For instance, if you hope to build with high-tier materials, you will need to have a reliable supply of Cementing Paste. These advanced structures offer superior protection and unlock a wide range of possibilities. Cementing Paste is integral to crafting advanced building materials, such as Tek structures.

Cementing Paste is also crucial in crafting many late-game tools and weapons. These require massive amounts of resources and are essential for those looking to reach the end-game.

Handling Common Challenges

One of the primary issues players face is the rapid spoilage of Cementing Paste. The paste has a limited shelf life, and if left unmanaged, it will decay, resulting in wasted resources. Utilizing storage solutions like preservation bins or a refrigerator will significantly extend its lifespan, enabling you to store large quantities for extended periods.

Resource shortages can also be a challenge. Make sure you establish a solid plan for gathering. Finding alternative uses for Chitin/Keratin and Stone could help. Consider taming creatures that can gather these resources.

Wrapping Up

Cementing Paste is, without a doubt, an absolutely essential resource in ARK: Survival Evolved. From your first ramshackle shelter to your towering fortress, it’s the glue that holds everything together. Understanding how to obtain it, how to craft it efficiently, and how to manage your resources are crucial skills for any aspiring survivor. Embrace the importance of Cementing Paste and watch your abilities soar in the world of ARK. Master this craft and make your survival much easier.