A Beacon in ARK: Survival Evolved is a colored beam of light which marks the location of a supply crate that slowly descends from the sky. The color of the beacon indicates the level required to access the contents of the crate. Each crate contains an apparently random selection of offerings (such as raw resources, weapons, building components, or blueprints), with higher-level beacons generally containing more valuable blueprints and loot. Beacons and their associated supply crates look alien in nature, with weird flashing light around the outside, and their source is unknown. Beacons are one of the ways to get higher-level items and blueprints, such as Ramshackle, Apprentice, Journeyman, Mastercraft and Ascendant level items.
In the sea, special Deep Sea Loot Crates can be found which contain only one high quality item.
Locations
A list of locations can be found on Beacon Locations.
Beacons spawns in set locations, although their density varies between regions, with more dangerous or difficult to access areas often receive higher-quality supply drops. A beacon spawn point will randomly spawn beacons of a certain variety of colors (this map indicates which colors can occur where), with higher-level colors being rarer than lower levels. If a building obstructs them below, they will stop on top. (Beacons formerly didn't spawn at points that are within 100 meters (approximately 27 foundations) of a "Core" structure. Core structures, foundations, walls, and ceilings to name a few, are defined by the "Is Core Structure" flag; fence foundations, pillars, and gates are not Core structures.)
When a beacon first spawns, a large, tangled web of lights is visible at the very top. This indicates that the supply crate has not yet reached the ground. The supply crate will take a few minutes to fully descend; from a distance it can be seen as a bright orb moving down the beacon, while up close the shape of the actual crate can be seen. When the supply crate hits the ground, the tangled web of lights atop the beacon disappears, and the beacon appears as a somewhat shorter spire of light which tapers towards the top. The supply crate drops with 100 health and slowly decays over time, and bursts apart when its health reaches 0 or when it is looted by a player. The crate's health has no bearing on the loot found inside.
Although extremely useful, there are several hazards associated with beacons. It is not advisable to stand directly in the beam of light as the supply crate descends because if it hits the player, the player falls through the ground into water, and either drowns or must swim to the sea in order to escape (This is a bug, present as of v.186). Additionally, a beacon lights the surrounding area brightly, and this light disappears abruptly when the supply crate is looted or de-spawns, potentially leaving a player who had relied on this light blind or disoriented. Finally, beacons on PvP servers draw other players, who will generally fight each other for the crate's contents.
Some beacon spawn points are over water and the player must tread water to loot the crate. Others are obstructed by trees (eg, a central point on Craggs Island). Supply crates will go through trees to land on the ground, however, some crates may not be accessible due to, for example, spawning on an extremely steep incline (such as the rocks by the Obelisks).
Supply crates cannot be opened by a player whose level is lower than the beacon's.
Deep Sea Loot Crates
Players at level eighty or higher will also be able to collect 
Deep Sea Loot Crates. They often have ramshackle or higher quality items. They scarcely spawn and are hard to find due to being underwater (although a SCUBA Mask can help with this), but have relatively fewer spawn locations, making them more predictable.
Level Requirements
The Island
| Color |
Level Requirement
|
| White |
3
|
| Green |
15
|
| Blue |
25
|
| Purple |
35
|
| Yellow |
45
|
| Red |
60
|
White beacons are also called rainbow beacons because they are not pure white, they sparkle also in all colors of the rainbow
Scorched Earth
| Color |
Level Requirement
|
| White |
3
|
| Green |
15
|
| Blue |
30
|
| Purple |
45
|
| Yellow |
55
|
| Red |
70
|
Gallery
Possible Loot (The Island)
All beacon drops contain items of the same Arbitrary Quality, with the exception of their rare "Double" drop versions, which are indistinguishable from normal drops. "Double" drops of colors other than white, green, or purple have their Arbitrary Quality multiplied by two, while white, green, and purple double drops simply contain more items.
White Beacon Drop - Level 3 (Possible Loot)
Notes: White drops contain at least one of the following 7 item-sets, rarely it will be a "double" drop containing two sets. Blueprints which use item quality will be of double Arbitrary Quality in a double white drop. Items which use item quality are of the absolute minimum quality in white drops (same as crafted by engrams). The Campsite and Furniture item sets contain the chance to spawn a Sparkpowder blueprint; however, sparkpowder currently can not be a blueprint, so nothing is spawned in this case.
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Saddles
| Icon |
Item Name |
Quantity
|
|
Phiomia Saddle |
1
|
|
25% chance for Phiomia Saddle Blueprint |
0-1
|
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Green Beacon Drop - Level 15 (Possible Loot)
Notes: Green drops contain at least one of the following 8 item-sets, rarely it will be a "double" drop containing two sets. Items which use item quality are of the absolute minimum quality in green drops (same as crafted by engrams).The Furniture item set contains the chance to spawn a Narcotic or Stimulant blueprint; however, these currently can not be a blueprint, so nothing is spawned in this case.
Advanced Wood Housing (Flooring, Second Story, or Other; Each with Same Chance of Blueprint)
| Flooring (33.3%)
|
Second Story (33.3%)
|
Other (33.3%)
|
| Icon |
Item Name |
Quantity
|
Icon
|
Item Name
|
Quantity
|
Icon
|
Item Name
|
Quantity
|
|
Wooden Ramp |
0-2
|
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Wooden Hatchframe
|
1
|
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Wooden Windowframe
|
2
|
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Wooden Fence Foundation |
2-7
|
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Wooden Trapdoor
|
1
|
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Wooden Window
|
2
|
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Wooden Pillar |
0-2
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Wooden Ladder
|
1-2
|
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Wooden Catwalk
|
0-3
|
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Wooden Billboard |
0-1
|
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Wooden Wall Sign
|
0-2
|
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25% chance for 1 Blueprint of: Wooden Ramp, Wooden Fence Foundation, Wooden Pillar, Wooden Billboard, Wooden Hatchframe, Wooden Trapdoor, Wooden Ladder, Wooden Windowframe, Wooden Window, Wooden Catwalk, or Wooden Wallsign
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Blue Beacon Drop - Level 25 (Possible Loot)
Notes: Blue drops contain 1-2 items, each item is selected from one of the three item lists: Items that are Always BPs, Items Without Quality, and Items With Quality. Each list has equal chance of being chosen, and items within each list have an equal chance within that list. Blue Beacons are unique in that items from the Items Without Quality list are always blueprints. Items from the Always BPs list are also always blueprints, while items from the Items With Quality list have a 50% chance of being a blueprint instead. Due to being on two of these lists, Medium Crop Plot Blueprints are most likely(14.11%) to drop from blue drops. Rarely the blue drop will be a "double" drop, which has the same number of items, but their Arbitrary Quality will be double that of a normal blue drop.
Purple Beacon Drop - Level 35 (Possible Loot)
Notes: Purple drops contain 1-2 items, each item has a 42.9% chance to be selected from one of the blue drop item lists; the other 57.1% of purple drop items are selected from one of the three item lists below. Each list has equal chance of being chosen, and items within each list have an equal chance within that list. Items from the Always BPs list are always blueprints, while items from the Items Without Quality and Items With Quality lists have a 50% chance of being a blueprint instead. Rarely the purple drop will be a "double" drop, which has items with the same Arbitrary Quality as a standard purple drop, but is guaranteed to contain two items.
Yellow Beacon Drop - Level 45 (Possible Loot)
Notes: Yellow drops contain 1-2 items, each item has a 26.3% chance to be selected from one of the blue drop item lists; a 31.6% chance to be selected from one of the purple drop item lists; and the other 42.1% of yellow drop items are selected from one of the three item lists below. Each list has equal chance of being chosen, and items within each list have an equal chance within that list. Items from the Always BPs list are always blueprints, while items from the Items Without Quality and Items With Quality lists have a 50% chance of being a blueprint instead. Rarely the yellow drop will be a "double" drop, which has the same number of items, but their Arbitrary Quality will be double that of a normal yellow drop.
Red Beacon Drop - Level 60 (Possible Loot)
Notes: Red drops contain 1-3 items, each item has a 17.5% chance to be selected from one of the blue drop item lists; a 21.7% chance to be selected from one of the purple drop item lists; a 26.1% chance to be selected from one of the yellow drop item lists; and the other 34.8% of red drop items are selected from one of the three item lists below. Each list has equal chance of being chosen, and items within each list have an equal chance within that list. Items from the Always BPs list are always blueprints, while items from the Items Without Quality and Items With Quality lists have a 50% chance of being a blueprint instead. Rarely the red drop will be a "double" drop, which has the same number of items, but their Arbitrary Quality will be double that of a normal red drop.
Spawn IDs
Bugs
- Supply crates are able to, on occasion, clip through structures that are in the way.
- Also be careful while standing under a supply crate as it can push you through the ground.
- Drop rates for compass, medium crop plot, and water jar blueprints are excessively high (approximately 80-90%) for blue, purple, and yellow drops. Due to this, they are far less valuable to those who are hunting for them and the items in them. Many players won't bother looking for these beacons, because that's often times all there is to be found in them.
- Sometimes supply crates won't fall to the ground and the beacon will stay.
- Some beacon locations cause the crate to merge with part of the scenery and players are unable to physically get close enough to access the inventory, a good idea is to try and remember these locations so you don't waste time with them. Click for a map of these inaccessible beacons.
Video Tutorial
A short tutorial on beacons/obelisks. v.189
Main article: 
Deep Sea Loot Crates. They often have ramshackle or higher quality items. They scarcely spawn and are hard to find due to being underwater (although a SCUBA Mask can help with this), but have relatively fewer spawn locations, making them more predictable.
White
Green
Blue
Yellow
Red
