Hey guys! Ready for an adventure? Let's dive into one of the coolest maps in ARK: Survival Evolved – The Center. This map is a fan favorite for a reason, offering a unique blend of stunning landscapes, challenging environments, and hidden secrets. Whether you're a seasoned survivor or just starting your ARK journey, The Center has something awesome for everyone. Let's get started and explore what makes this map so special.

What is The Center?

The Center is a free DLC map for ARK: Survival Evolved, created by Ben Burkart and officially added to the game. Unlike the standard island map, The Center features a dramatically different layout with a massive floating island at its heart and a network of underground caves and waterways. This unique design offers both new challenges and opportunities for players. The Center quickly became a popular choice due to its diverse biomes and strategic resource placements. Players appreciate the map's balanced difficulty, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced players. The map's design encourages exploration and rewards players with breathtaking views and hidden treasures. Its distinctive geographical features, like the floating island and intricate cave systems, set it apart from other ARK maps. The Center's addition to ARK: Survival Evolved significantly enhanced the game's replayability and provided a fresh experience for the community. The map continues to be a favored destination for players looking for a unique and engaging survival experience. The Center is not just a map; it's an adventure waiting to happen, filled with mysteries to uncover and challenges to overcome. So, grab your gear, gather your tribe, and get ready to explore all that The Center has to offer!

Key Features of The Center

When it comes to key features of the Center in ARK: Survival Evolved, this map really shines. First off, you've got to talk about the massive floating island. Seriously, it's hard to miss! This isn't just some small rock; it's a huge landmass suspended in the sky, offering a unique building location and a stunning view. Resource-wise, The Center is incredibly generous. You’ll find everything from metal and crystal to oil and rare mushrooms scattered throughout the map, often in more concentrated areas than on the Island. This makes resource gathering a bit easier, letting you focus more on building and taming. The biomes are incredibly diverse, ranging from dense jungles and scorching deserts to icy mountains and deep oceans. This variety not only keeps the game visually interesting but also affects gameplay, as different biomes offer different resources and challenges. The Center also features an extensive network of underground caves. These aren't just your average caves; they're sprawling labyrinths filled with dangers, resources, and hidden areas. Exploring these caves is an adventure in itself and often leads to valuable discoveries. The map also features a unique ocean environment with underwater caves and trenches. These areas are teeming with marine life, including dangerous predators and valuable resources. Exploring the underwater world adds another layer of depth to the gameplay. The Center is also known for its strategic base locations. Whether you prefer a secluded spot in the jungle or a defensible position on a floating island, you'll find plenty of options to suit your playstyle. The map offers a good balance of challenge and reward, making it suitable for both new and experienced players. It's not too difficult to get started, but there's still plenty of challenges to overcome as you progress. So, all these features make The Center one of the most popular and beloved maps in ARK: Survival Evolved.

Biomes and Environments

The Center map in ARK: Survival Evolved boasts a diverse range of biomes and environments, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities for players. Let's start with the tropical islands. These lush, green areas are teeming with life, offering a relatively safe starting point for new players. Resources like wood, fiber, and berries are abundant, making it easy to get your bearings. But don't get too comfortable, as predators like raptors and snakes also call these islands home. Then there are the dense jungles. Venturing deeper into the jungle, you'll find a wealth of resources, including rare flowers and mushrooms. However, the increased vegetation makes it harder to navigate, and the predator density ramps up significantly, with creatures like carnos and terror birds lurking in the shadows. For those who prefer a drier climate, The Center also features scorching deserts. These arid landscapes are challenging due to the extreme temperatures, requiring players to stay hydrated and protected from the sun. Resources like crystal and metal are plentiful, but you'll have to contend with dangers like deathworms and wyverns. If you're feeling brave, the snowy mountains offer a different kind of challenge. The freezing temperatures require insulated clothing and shelter, but the mountains are rich in metal and obsidian. Watch out for creatures like wolves and mammoths, which are well-adapted to the cold. One of the most unique environments in The Center is the underground world. This vast network of caves is home to strange creatures and valuable resources like oil and artifacts. Exploring these caves can be dangerous, but the rewards are well worth the risk. Finally, the map features an extensive ocean environment, with underwater caves and trenches. This area is teeming with marine life, including sharks, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs. Diving into the ocean is a great way to find rare resources like silica pearls and black pearls. All these diverse biomes and environments make The Center a truly unique and exciting map to explore.

Resource Locations

When it comes to resource locations in The Center map for ARK: Survival Evolved, knowing where to find specific materials can significantly boost your gameplay. Let's start with metal. Metal nodes are abundant in the mountainous regions and within the various caves scattered across the map. The higher you go, the more plentiful and pure the metal deposits tend to be. Don't forget to bring a strong pickaxe and a reliable mount for hauling the ore back to your base. Crystal is another essential resource, and The Center offers several locations to find it. The desert areas and the snowy peaks are prime spots for crystal harvesting. Be cautious, as these areas are often home to dangerous creatures. Oil is crucial for crafting gasoline and powering generators. You can find oil deposits both offshore in the ocean and within the underground cave systems. Submerge yourself with a scuba gear and a trusty water mount to gather this valuable resource. For those in need of obsidian, head to the volcanic regions of The Center. These black, glassy rocks are essential for crafting advanced tools and weapons. Just be prepared for the high temperatures and aggressive wildlife. Silica pearls are vital for electronics and advanced crafting. You can find these shimmering gems on the ocean floor, particularly around underwater caves and reefs. A good diving mount can make this task much easier. Chitin and keratin are essential for armor and various crafting recipes. Hunt down creatures like scorpions, spiders, and trilobites in the desert and cave areas to harvest these materials. Remember to bring a weapon that deals decent damage. Wood is plentiful throughout the map, especially in the jungles and forests. A good axe and a strong mount can make wood gathering much more efficient. Stone is readily available in most areas, but the beaches and rocky outcrops are particularly good spots for gathering large quantities. Fiber is essential for crafting clothing and basic tools. You can find fiber by harvesting plants in the grasslands and jungles. Knowing these key resource locations will give you a significant advantage in The Center, allowing you to progress faster and thrive in this challenging environment.

Taming Creatures

Taming creatures is a core aspect of ARK: Survival Evolved, and taming creatures on The Center map offers a unique set of opportunities and challenges. Let's start with some of the beginner-friendly tames. The Parasaur is an excellent early-game tame, providing a reliable mount and a mobile storage unit. They're relatively easy to knock out and tame with berries. The Phiomia is another great option for beginners. These passive creatures can be easily tamed with berries and provide a good source of fertilizer. For those looking for a bit more protection, the Trike is a solid choice. They're a bit tougher to knock out, but their high health and decent damage output make them a valuable asset. As you progress, you'll want to tame some more powerful creatures. The Raptor is a classic tame, providing speed and agility. They're relatively easy to knock out and tame with meat, but be careful, as they can be aggressive. The Carno is a formidable predator that can be tamed with patience and the right bait. They're powerful fighters and excellent for hunting. One of the most popular tames on The Center is the Argentavis. These flying creatures are invaluable for transport and scouting. Taming an Argentavis requires a bit of skill and the right equipment, but the rewards are well worth the effort. For those who enjoy aquatic adventures, the Ichthyosaurus is a great early-game tame. These friendly dolphins are easy to tame with fish meat and provide a fast and agile way to explore the ocean. If you're feeling brave, you can try taming a Megalodon. These powerful sharks are tough to tame, but they're formidable predators and excellent for underwater combat. The Center also offers opportunities to tame some unique creatures. The Beelzebufo, or giant frog, can be found in the swampy areas. They're excellent for taming insects and harvesting cementing paste. Taming these creatures not only enhances your gameplay but also adds a new level of excitement to your ARK: Survival Evolved experience.

Base Locations

Choosing the right base locations in The Center map for ARK: Survival Evolved can be a game-changer. A well-placed base can provide security, easy access to resources, and a strategic advantage over other players. Let's start with some beginner-friendly locations. The south zone is a popular starting area, offering relatively safe beaches and access to basic resources. Building near the water provides easy access to hydration and fishing. For those looking for a bit more seclusion, the hidden lake is a great option. This small, secluded area is surrounded by cliffs, providing natural defenses. It's also close to resources like wood, stone, and berries. As you progress, you'll want to consider more strategic locations. The floating island is a unique and highly sought-after base location. Building on the floating island provides a stunning view and a natural defense against ground-based predators. The jungle caves offer another excellent option for base building. These caves are naturally fortified and can be easily defended. Just be aware of the creatures that inhabit them. The underwater caves are a hidden gem for base building. These caves provide excellent protection from both land and air attacks. However, they require scuba gear and a strong water mount to access. The mountain peaks offer a commanding view and easy access to metal and crystal. Building on a mountain peak can be challenging, but the strategic advantages are well worth the effort. The redwood forests offer a unique and scenic base location. Building in the redwoods provides natural camouflage and access to rare resources like sap. Just be careful of the Thylacoleos that lurk in the trees. The swampy areas can be a good choice for experienced players. These areas are rich in resources like oil and rare flowers, but they're also home to dangerous creatures. No matter where you choose to build, remember to prioritize security and resource access. A well-defended base with easy access to essential resources will give you a significant advantage in The Center.

Tips and Tricks

Alright, guys, let's wrap things up with some essential tips and tricks to help you thrive on The Center map in ARK: Survival Evolved. First up, resource management is key. Knowing where to find the resources you need and how to efficiently gather them will save you a ton of time and effort. Prioritize taming a good pack mule, like a stegosaurus or mammoth, to help you haul those heavy resources back to base. Next, base defense is crucial. Build your base in a strategic location and fortify it with walls, turrets, and traps. Keep an eye out for potential threats and be prepared to defend your territory. Exploration is another important aspect of gameplay. The Center is full of hidden areas and valuable resources, so take the time to explore the map and discover its secrets. Taming a flying mount, like an Argentavis or Pteranodon, will make exploration much easier. Creature taming is essential for survival. Tame a variety of creatures to help you with different tasks, such as gathering resources, defending your base, and exploring the map. Don't forget to level up your creatures and equip them with saddles for added protection. Stay hydrated and nourished. The Center can be a harsh environment, so make sure to stay hydrated and well-fed. Carry water skins and food with you at all times, and learn to craft recipes that provide essential nutrients. Be aware of your surroundings. The Center is full of dangerous creatures, so always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Use headphones to listen for approaching predators, and keep an eye out for potential threats. Join a tribe. Playing with friends or other players can make the game much more enjoyable and increase your chances of survival. Tribes can share resources, defend each other's bases, and work together to tame powerful creatures. Learn from your mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes in ARK: Survival Evolved, so don't get discouraged if you die or lose your tames. Learn from your mistakes and use them to improve your gameplay. So, these tips and tricks will help you survive and thrive on The Center map, allowing you to enjoy all that this unique and challenging environment has to offer. Good luck, and happy surviving!