The Ultimate Guide to the ARK Industrial Forge

Introduction

Embarking on the journey through ARK: Survival Evolved, survivors quickly discover the crucial role of crafting. From rudimentary tools to advanced weaponry, the ability to create and build is paramount to survival. As you progress and expand your base, you’ll inevitably encounter the need for more efficient and powerful crafting solutions. That’s where the Industrial Forge comes in. The ARK Industrial Forge is more than just an upgrade; it’s a game-changer, a cornerstone of any successful mid-to-late game operation. Compared to its smaller counterparts, like the Refining Forge, the ARK Industrial Forge offers significantly faster refining speeds, a much larger inventory, and overall resource efficiency. This guide aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the ARK Industrial Forge, from unlocking it to mastering its usage, ultimately helping you dominate the ARK.

Unlocking the Power of the Industrial Forge

Before you can harness the power of the Industrial Forge, you’ll need to meet the necessary requirements. First and foremost, you must reach level sixty on your survivor. Upon reaching this milestone, you will gain access to the Industrial Forge engram. The engram requires a significant investment of engram points. You’ll need to carefully plan your level-ups to ensure you have enough points to acquire it. Learning the engram is done by leveling up your character and spending available points within the engram menu.

Alternatively, you might stumble upon a blueprint for the Industrial Forge within various loot drops found throughout the ARK. Keep an eye out for Deep Sea Loot Crates, often found in the deepest parts of the ocean, or Red Supply Crates, which drop from the sky at random locations. Obtaining the blueprint skips the engram requirement, but you’ll still need the necessary resources to craft the Industrial Forge.

Gathering the Resources for Your Forge

Crafting the Industrial Forge requires a substantial investment of resources, reflecting its advanced capabilities. You’ll need a hefty supply of the following:

• Metal Ingots: A significant amount of metal ingots are needed. These are obtained by refining Metal Ore in a Refining Forge or, preferably, another ARK Industrial Forge.
• Cementing Paste: This crucial resource is crafted from chitin or keratin and stone. Chitin can be gathered from killing insects and scorpions, while keratin can be found on turtles and other armored creatures.
• Oil: Oil is harvested from Oil Veins, often located underwater or in snowy regions. You can also obtain it by taming and utilizing Dung Beetles, which convert feces into oil and fertilizer.
• Crystal: Crystal is found in caves and high mountain peaks. Be cautious when venturing into these areas, as they are often home to dangerous creatures.

Once you’ve amassed all the required resources, you’ll need a Fabricator to actually craft the Industrial Forge. The crafting process will take a considerable amount of time, so be prepared to wait or enlist the help of tribe mates to speed things up.

Constructing Your Industrial Powerhouse

When placing your Industrial Forge, consider a few important factors. First, you’ll need a relatively flat and spacious area. The ARK Industrial Forge is quite large, so ensure you have ample room for it and surrounding structures. Consider the dimensions carefully; it’s better to overestimate the required space than to have to demolish and rebuild later.

Once you’ve found the perfect spot, navigate to your inventory and select the Industrial Forge to place it. Make sure it’s properly aligned and supported by a foundation or solid ground. After placement, you must “activate” the forge to begin using it.

To maximize the efficiency of your Industrial Forge, consider building supporting structures nearby. Dedicated Storage Boxes are essential for storing resources and refined products. Preserving Bins can be used to extend the shelf life of perishable items.

Refining Resources with Unmatched Efficiency

The Industrial Forge’s primary function is to refine raw resources into more usable forms. Its immense capacity and speed make it the ideal choice for large-scale operations. To operate the ARK Industrial Forge, you need fuel. The primary fuel sources are Oil and Gasoline. Gasoline is created by combining Oil and Hide in a Refining Forge or Industrial Forge. It is best to fuel the forge with gasoline due to the time the forge will be running.

The ARK Industrial Forge is predominantly used for refining Metal Ore into Metal Ingots. It’s also capable of converting Oil and Hide into Gasoline, which can be used to power generators and other machinery.

The refining process is straightforward. Simply place the raw resources and the fuel into the Industrial Forge’s inventory. Then, activate the forge. The refining process will begin automatically, and the finished products will be deposited into the inventory. Monitor the progress to ensure the forge doesn’t run out of fuel or become overloaded with resources.

To further optimize your refining process, consider a few strategies. First, ensure you have a steady supply of raw resources readily available. Designate dinos, such as the Argentavis for Metal Ore and the Ankylosaurus for quickly harvesting metal, to transport resources to and from the forge. This will minimize downtime and maximize output.

Tips and Tricks for Forge Mastery

Effective resource management is key to maximizing the efficiency of your Industrial Forge. Organize your storage carefully, using dedicated storage boxes for different types of resources. Employ dinos with high weight capacity to transport large quantities of materials.

Monitor your fuel levels closely to prevent the ARK Industrial Forge from running dry. Consider setting up an automated fuel delivery system to ensure a constant supply of Oil or Gasoline. Automating this task makes the process of refining that much easier.

To optimize refining speed, avoid overfilling the Industrial Forge. While its large capacity is a benefit, it can also slow down the refining process if it’s overloaded. Keep the resource levels balanced to maintain optimal performance.

While overheating isn’t typically an issue with the vanilla Industrial Forge, some mods may introduce this mechanic. Be mindful of the forge’s temperature and take steps to prevent it from overheating.

The Industrial Forge Versus Its Predecessors

The Industrial Forge represents a significant upgrade over the Refining Forge and the Stone Forge. While the smaller forges are adequate for early-game crafting, they quickly become inadequate as you progress. The Industrial Forge offers a dramatically increased refining speed, a much larger inventory capacity, and superior resource efficiency.

However, the Industrial Forge also has its drawbacks. It requires a substantial initial investment of resources and takes up a considerable amount of space. The smaller forges are much cheaper to build and easier to place in confined areas.

Ultimately, the decision to upgrade to an ARK Industrial Forge depends on your needs and resources. If you’re focused on large-scale crafting and resource processing, the Industrial Forge is an essential investment. However, if you’re still in the early game or have limited resources, the smaller forges may suffice for now.

Conclusion: Forging Your Path to Success

The Industrial Forge is an indispensable asset for any serious ARK: Survival Evolved player. Its unmatched refining speed, immense capacity, and superior resource efficiency make it the cornerstone of any successful mid-to-late game operation. By mastering the Industrial Forge, you’ll unlock a new level of productivity and efficiency, allowing you to conquer the ARK and dominate your rivals. Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, get out there, gather the resources, build your Industrial Forge, and start forging your path to success!