Mastering the Industrial Forge in Ark: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Ark: Survival Evolved throws players into a harsh and unforgiving world, challenging them to survive, build, and thrive. The core loop revolves around gathering resources, crafting increasingly complex items, and constructing formidable bases. As you progress, you’ll quickly realize that metal, in its refined form, becomes essential for crafting powerful weapons, durable armor, and the components required for advanced structures. This is where the Industrial Forge comes into play. It’s not just an upgrade from the basic Refining Forge; it’s a paradigm shift in your metal processing capabilities, allowing you to smelt vast quantities of ore into usable metal with significantly greater efficiency.

The Industrial Forge is the ultimate metal production powerhouse. It’s a cornerstone of any serious Ark survivor’s infrastructure, allowing for the rapid creation of refined metal and, indirectly, enabling the construction of larger bases, stronger defenses, and more advanced technology. Without it, the mid-to-late game progression becomes a bottleneck, severely limiting your ability to advance and compete. This comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know about the Industrial Forge, from acquiring the necessary resources and crafting it, to optimizing its placement, operation, and efficiency. Prepare to unlock the true potential of metalworking in Ark: Survival Evolved.

Crafting the Industrial Forge

Before you can harness the power of the Industrial Forge, you’ll need to unlock the engram and gather the substantial resources required for its construction. You will need to be level eighty to unlock this engram and begin construction.

The crafting requirements for the Industrial Forge are considerable, reflecting its advanced functionality. You will need access to a Smithy or Fabricator to construct the forge. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you’ll need:

• Metal Ingots: A significant quantity of metal ingots serves as the primary building block for the forge’s massive frame. These are smelted from metal ore in a Refining Forge or a Cast Iron Foundry (in Ark: Survival Ascended).
• Cementing Paste: This essential binding agent is crucial for securing the forge’s components together. Cementing paste can be crafted in a mortar and pestle or chemistry bench.
• Crystal: Necessary for the forge’s internal components and heat resistance, crystal is a resource found in caves and mountainous regions.
• Oil: Oil is needed for a variety of crafting recipes, including gasoline which will be the main fuel source for the Industrial Forge. Oil can be found from Oil Nodes in the ocean and the snow biome, or from harvesting Trilobites.
• Sparkpowder: Used for ignition and the overall energy input of the forge. Sparkpowder is crafted by combining flint and stone in a mortar and pestle.

Gathering these resources efficiently is key. For metal ore, consider taming an Ankylosaurus. Its special ability grants a weight reduction for metal ore while it harvests. Fly the Ankylosaurus to metal-rich locations, such as mountains or caves, and let it work its magic. Load up an Argentavis or similar capable flyer to carry the Ankylosaurus, as the bird will be encumbered quickly with all of the metal ore.

Placing and Powering the Industrial Forge

Careful consideration should be given to the location of your Industrial Forge. Ideally, you want a location that offers a balance of accessibility, defensibility, and proximity to vital resources.

• Proximity to Metal Nodes: Reduce travel time and increase efficiency by placing your forge near abundant metal ore deposits.
• Water Source: You will need water to create cementing paste, which can be created in the forge.
• Base Defenses: Protect your valuable forge from raids and hostile creatures by integrating it within your well-defended base perimeter.

The Industrial Forge has a substantial footprint. Plan accordingly and ensure you have enough space to accommodate it comfortably, with room for storage containers nearby.

To power the Industrial Forge, you’ll need gasoline. Gasoline is crafted by combining oil and hide in a Refining Forge or Industrial Cooker. The Industrial Forge will only operate when connected to a generator powered by gasoline. Place a generator nearby (or several for redundancy) and connect it to the forge using electrical cables. Ensure the generator is adequately fueled to keep the forge running continuously. Proper cabling is important, as disconnected wires will prevent the forge from powering. Consider having backup generators ready to go in case of emergencies or generator maintenance.

Operating the Industrial Forge

Once your Industrial Forge is powered and ready to go, it’s time to begin processing resources. The primary input resource is metal ore. The best locations for farming metal ore vary depending on the map you are playing. Generally, mountains, caves, and specific resource nodes are prime locations.

The primary output of the Industrial Forge is refined metal, an essential ingredient for crafting advanced items, weapons, armor, and structures. The Industrial Forge can also be used to produce cementing paste and gasoline.

The Industrial Forge features a user-friendly interface that allows you to manage its operations. You can view the amount of fuel remaining, the current processing status, and the list of items being crafted. The interface also allows you to adjust the quantity of items you want to produce and manage the inventory of resources.

Optimizing the Industrial Forge

Efficiency is key to maximizing the potential of your Industrial Forge. There are several strategies you can employ to optimize its performance:

• Efficient Resource Gathering: Taming and utilizing resource-gathering dinosaurs, such as the Ankylosaurus and Argentavis, is paramount. These dinosaurs provide weight reduction and increased harvesting efficiency.
• Blueprint Optimization: Consider crafting high-quality blueprints with better stats that the basic versions. This will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your crafting.
• Tribe Coordination: Coordinate with your tribe members to specialize in resource gathering, crafting, and base maintenance. This division of labor will increase overall efficiency and productivity.
• Server Settings: Many server admins adjust rates for resource gathering and crafting. Consider playing on servers with boosted rates to reduce the grind and improve your overall gameplay experience.

Common Problems and Troubleshooting

Even with careful planning and preparation, you may encounter problems with your Industrial Forge. Here are some common issues and their solutions:

• Forge Not Working: This is often due to a lack of power, fuel, or resources. Double-check that the generator is running, the forge is connected to the power grid, and there is enough gasoline to fuel it. Ensure that you have metal ore in the inventory.
• Security: Protect your Industrial Forge from raids and wild dinosaurs by building a secure base around it. Utilize walls, turrets, and other defensive structures to deter potential threats.

Alternatives and Endgame Progression

While the Industrial Forge is a cornerstone of metal processing, it’s not the only option. The Refining Forge provides a basic means of smelting metal ore early in the game, but is significantly less efficient. The Cast Iron Foundry (in Ark: Survival Ascended) offers an alternative method of smelting metal.

The Industrial Forge fits into the overall progression of the game as a mid-to-late-game resource processing solution. Once you have established a reliable metal production system, you can begin crafting advanced items and structures, such as the Fabricator and Tek Tier technology. The Industrial Grinder will also be useful for disassembling items and gaining resources.

Conclusion

The Industrial Forge is an indispensable tool for any serious Ark: Survival Evolved player. Its ability to efficiently process large quantities of metal ore is crucial for mid-to-late-game progression, enabling the construction of powerful weapons, durable armor, and advanced structures. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can master the Industrial Forge and unlock the true potential of metalworking in Ark.

So, what are you waiting for? Start gathering the necessary resources, craft your own Industrial Forge, and optimize your metal production to dominate the Ark! The path to technological advancement starts with a single refined metal ingot. Now, go forth and conquer!