There are two types of caves that can be found in ARK: Progression Caves and Resources Caves, the latter being found underwater on The Island and most regions of Ragnarok. Some are easy to explore, while others are extremely difficult to explore. If you survive the dangers of the caves, however, they each contain a variety of resources to obtain.
Progression Caves
The Island Caves:
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Central Cave -
North West Cave -
Lower South Cave
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North East Cave
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Upper South Cave
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South East Cave
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Swamp Cave
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Snow Cave
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Caverns of Lost Hope
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Caverns of Lost Faith
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Tek Cave
North West Cave
Lower South Cave
North East Cave
Upper South Cave
South East Cave
Swamp Cave
Snow Cave
Caverns of Lost Hope
Caverns of Lost Faith
Tek CaveLocations
| Cave | Artifact | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z | Loot Crate Lvl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Clever ( Broodmother)
|
41.5 | 46.9 | -23038 | -67442 | -9 | 10  , 25 
|
| North West | Skylord ( Dragon)
|
19.3 | 19.0 | -247569 | -245067 | -11330 | 40  , 55 
|
| Lower South | Hunter ( Broodmother)
|
80.3 | 53.5 | 28709 | 242292 | -13245 | 10
|
| North East | Devourer ( Megapithecus)
|
14.7 | 85.4 | 283225 | -281474 | -13441 | 25 , 55
|
| Upper South | Pack ( Megapithecus)
|
68.2 | 56.2 | 49630 | 145933 | -13404 | 25
|
| Lava Cave | Massive ( Broodmother)
|
70.6 | 86.1 | 288663 | 164598 | -14126 | 25 , 40
|
| Swamp Cave | Immune ( Dragon)
|
62.7 | 37.3 | -101583 | 101617 | -5167 | 25 , 40 , 70
|
| Snow Cave | Strong ( Dragon)
|
29.1 | 31.8 | -144083 | -164621 | 24 | 25 , 40 , 55
|
| The Caverns of Lost Faith | Brute ( Megapithecus)
|
53.7 | 10.4 | -315928 | 29403 | -41974 | 50 , 60 , 70
|
| The Caverns of Lost Hope | Cunning ( Dragon)
|
45.9 | 88.9 | 303017 | -29089 | -33983 | 50 , 60 , 70
|
| Tek Cave | N/A | 43.1 | 39.1 | -87011 | -54601 | 33489 | N/A |
Creatures
Note that the Hard Caves spawn creatures at extremely high levels (often exceeding 250), and that these creatures are untameable. Creatures within the Caverns of Lost Faith are also untameable, but spawn at standard levels.
- Terrestrial Entrances
- Angler
- Arthropluera
- Dilophosaur
- Direwolf
- Dung Beetle
- Kairuku
- Megalania
- Megalosaurus
- Meganeura
- Onyc
- Phiomia
- Piranha
- Sarco
- Scorpion
- Spider
- Titanoboa
- Trilobite
- Yeti
- Underwater Entrances
- Achatina
- Angler
- Araneo
- Cnidaria
- Coelacanth
- Dung Beetle
- Dunkleosteus
- Eurypterid
- Ichthy
- Manta
- Megalodon
- Mosasaurus
- Onyc
- Piranha
- Pulmonoscorpius
- Sabertooth Salmon
- Trilobite
- Tusoteuthis
Resource Caves
|
Resource Caves are referred to as "Underwater Caverns" in ARK: Survival Evolved Mobile |
Cavern: A cave, or a chamber in a cave, typically a large one.
There are currently 12 Resource Caves on The Island, and are all found underwater. These caves can often be difficult to find, but often contain a dense collection of Silica Pearls and Oil, although the latter of which provide less oil than nodes found elsewhere in the game. The only indication of the position from the surface is a small flow of bubbles, appearing as a thin white line. On lower graphics settings, a grey box can be seen on the ocean floor from the surface around the cave's entrance.
The entrances to the resource caves also appears to be a spawn location for pairs of Plesiosaurs, who tend to linger in the area, as well as a singular Mosasaurus, which in turn tend to linger near to the Plesiosaurs.
 |
| Resource Cave Locations |
| Nº | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 16.0 | 10.4 | -316800 | -272000 | -37010 |
| 02 | 10.2 | 21.8 | -225600 | -318400 | -41500 |
| 03 | 10.5 | 39.9 | -80800 | -316000 | -41800 |
| 04 | 08.0 | 90.1 | 320800 | -336000 | -45000 |
| 05 | 36.2 | 91.1 | -311200 | 800 | -45300 |
| 06 | 50.1 | 11.1 | 334400 | 22400 | -42560 |
| 07 | 52.8 | 91.8 | -320000 | 266400 | -45500 |
| 08 | 83.3 | 10.0 | -291200 | 327200 | -42000 |
| 09 | 90.9 | 13.6 | -291200 | 327200 | -45900 |
| 10 | 90.1 | 36.7 | -106400 | 320800 | -45000 |
| 11 | 90.7 | 71.4 | 171200 | 325600 | -45000 |
| 12 | 87.1 | 90.2 | 321600 | 296800 | -44800 |
- Creatures
- Resources
The Center Caves:
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Jungle Cave
-
North Ice Cave
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South Ice Cave
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West Lava Cave
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East Lava Cave
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Southeastern Trench
-
The Center Cave
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Cliffside Cavern
-
Underground World
The Center Cave
Locations
| Cave | Artifact | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z | Loot Crate Lvl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lava Oasis | Hunter | 15.8 | 50.5 | -44160 | -139351 | -10250 | ? |
| South Ice | Skylord | 60.0 | 22.5 | -312960 | 284261 | -4150 | ? |
| Lava | Massive, Strong | 11.2 | 67.4 | 118080 | -183437 | -2500 | ? |
| North Ice | Clever, Devourer | 18.7 | 29.7 | -243840 | -111557 | 8000 | ? |
| Southeastern Trench | Brute | 69.1 | 92.2 | 356160 | 371475 | -120000 | ? |
Jungle Cave
| Entrances | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land | 54.2 | 62.7 | 72960 | 228647 | -3750 |
| Ruins | 46.3 | 63.1 | 76800 | 152961 | -13550 |
| Flyer-accessible | 52.5 | 67.7 | 120960 | 212381 | -3500 |
| Underwater River | 45.0 | 64.0 | 85440 | 140501 | -19000 |
| Ocean | 50.8 | 71.3 | 155520 | 196088 | -14500 |
The Center Cave
| Entrances | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top | 35.9 | 34.4 | -198720 | 53287 | -4700 |
| Beneath 1 | 40.3 | 31.1 | -230400 | 95456 | -25000 |
| Beneath 2 | 36.4 | 35.0 | -192960 | 58079 | -25000 |
Cliffside Cavern
| Entrances | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flyer | 36.0 | 2.0 | -509760 | 54245 | -61150 |
| Land 1 | 58.1 | 12.8 | -406080 | 266051 | -53900 |
| Land 2 | 21.0 | 13.5 | -399360 | -89514 | -63700 |
Underground World
| Entrances | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flyer-accessible | 34.9 | 65.8 | 102720 | 43703 | 4000 |
| Ruins 1 | 34.3 | 53.3 | -17280 | 37952 | -13900 |
| Ruins 2 | 53.5 | 53.8 | -12480 | 221965 | -10750 |
| Underwater River 1 | 32.7 | 64.1 | 86400 | 22618 | -16000 |
| Underwater River 2 | 44.2 | 58.0 | 27840 | 132834 | -16000 |
| Underwater Ocean | 66.1 | 51.7 | -32640 | 343296 | -45000 |
Creatures
- Missing.
Small Caves
 |
| Small Cave Locations |
| Nº | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 29.7 | 54.0 | -10560 | -6134 | -10250 |
| 02 | 26.1 | 64.7 | 92160 | -40636 | -9120 |
| 03-1 | 26.9 | 65.9 | 103680 | -32969 | -9850 |
| 03-2 | 26.4 | 67.0 | 114240 | -37761 | -11500 |
| 04 | 29.1 | 61.3 | 59520 | -11884 | -4520 |
| 05 | 30.0 | 63.0 | 76672 | -3259 | -9550 |
| 06 | 35.1 | 67.4 | 118080 | 45620 | -12000 |
| 07-1 | 33.5 | 52.3 | -26800 | 30285 | -3683 |
| 07-2 | 33.3 | 50.0 | -48960 | 28369 | ? |
| 08 | 38.5 | 64.3 | 88320 | 78205 | ? |
| 09 | 40.3 | 60.9 | 55680 | 95457 | ? |
| 10 | 40.9 | 57.9 | 26800 | 101207 | ? |
| 11 | 42.6 | 56.6 | 14400 | 117500 | ? |
| 12 | 46.9 | 14.0 | -394560 | 158711 | ? |
| 13-1 | 89.4 | 38.5 | -159360 | 566031 | ? |
| 13-2 | 96.9 | 38.6 | -158400 | 637911 | ? |
| 14 | 82.5 | 53.5 | -15360 | 499901 | ? |
| 15 | 94.2 | 68.7 | 130560 | 612034 | ? |
Scorched Earth Caves:
Grave of the Tyrants
The Old Tunnels
Ruins of NostiLocations
| Cave | Artifact | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z | Loot Crate Lvl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grave Of The Tyrants | Crag | 28.5 | 29.4 | -164800 | -172000 | 15700 | ? |
| Old Tunnels | Gatekeeper | 58.8 | 47.9 | -16800 | 70400 | -15100 | ? |
| Ruins Of Nosti | Destroyer | 77.9 | 75.7 | 205600 | 223200 | -15100 | ? |
Creatures
- Achatina
- Araneo
- Arthropluera
- Direwolf
- Mantis
- Megalosaurus
- Onyc
- Pulmonoscorpius
- Raptor
- Rubble Golem
- Sabertooth
- Titanoboa
Note that Achatina spawn as high-levelled, untameable variants, similar to the creatures found within The Island's Swamp and Snow caves.
Ragnarok Caves:
This page only lists the Dungeons and Important Caves of Ragnarok. For a list of all caves in Ragnarok please visit this page: Caves (Ragnarok)
-
The Monkey's Puzzle
-
Fallen Redwood Cave
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Carnivorous Caverns
-
Jungle Dungeon
-
Frozen Dungeon
-
LifesLabyrinth
Jungle Dungeon
Frozen Dungeon
Locations
| Cave | Artifact | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z | Loot Crate Lvl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Monkey's Puzzle | Strong | 24.6 | 25.0 | -327500 | -332740 | 1900 | N/A |
| Life's Labyrinth | Skylord, Devious, Massive, Clever | 51.6 | 77.5 | 361050 | 21360 | -2600 | ? |
Creatures
Note that all creatures inside these caves are high-leveled, untameable variants, similar to the creatures found within The Island's Swamp and Snow caves.
Aberration Caves:
Old Railway Cave
Hidden Grotto
Elemental VaultLocations
| Cave | Artifact | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z | Loot Crate Lvl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Railway Cave | Depths | 48.3 | 27.2 | -178400 | -13600 | 43000 | ? |
| Hidden Grotto | Shadows | 55.2 | 65.9 | 127200 | 41600 | 18000 | ? |
| Elemental Vault | Stalker | 82.4 | 48.2 | -14400 | 259200 | 13500 | ? |
Creatures
- Aberrant Achatina
- Aberrant Anglerfish
- Aberrant Arthropluera
- Aberrant Baryonyx
- Aberrant Beelzebufo
- Aberrant Carnotaurus
- Aberrant Cnidaria
- Aberrant Dimetrodon
- Aberrant Diplocaulus
- Aberrant Dung Beetle
- Aberrant Electrophorus
- Aberrant Megalosaurus
- Aberrant Pulmonoscorpius
- Aberrant Raptor
- Aberrant Salmon
- Aberrant Titanoboa
- Alpha Karkinos
- Featherlight
- Glowbug
- Glowtail
- Karkinos
- Lamprey
- Nameless
- Ravager
- Seeker
Extinction Caves:
Desert Cave
Forest Cave
Ice CaveLocations
| Cave | Artifact | Lat | Lon | X | Y | Z | Loot Crate Lvl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Cave | Chaos | 87.4 | 70.4 | 163200 | 299200 | ? | ? |
| Forest Cave | Growth | 11.8 | 39.3 | -85600 | -305600 | ? | ? |
| Ice Cave | Void | 20.3 | 62.2 | 97600 | -237600 | ? | ? |
Creatures
Tips
|
This page is outdated. Please help update it if you can. The talk page may contain more information. |
Surface Caves
These are general cave tips. For tips on specific caves, please visit their individual pages.
- Take Stimberry or better yet Stimulants and Water Jars or if you are a high enough level Canteen. Some progression caves require multiple Canteens.
- Hide or Fur armor is helpful for many, but not all caves. Chitin is great if you have an available Smithy.
- Set up a small base at the beginning of a cave with a Simple Bed and a chest with tools, weapons, armor, a Smithy and a Refining Forge. If possible, in single player you can use a Argentavis as a smithy IN the cave. Or on multiplayer you can use a Castoroides
- Grappling Hooks are useful for avoiding creatures, getting a good vantage point, and to not have to bring foundations and ceilings to bridge gaps.
- In some caves that are very tough, one may use a Auto Turret on Wild Creatures to clear the cave to make it easier.
- Aberration Climbing Pick s and Glider Suit are also a big help even though all caves can be traversed without these.
Underwater Caves
- Lazarus Chowder will decrease the needed Oxygen while underwater and allow you to dive for longer times, making it easier to find the entrance. A SCUBA Tank could also help with this, then no oxygen is ever needed!
- Riding a Megalodon can help against other Sharks and allows you a very quick movement in the Water. They are also a good way to spot the bubbles from the surface. In an earlier version, there seemed to be a problem with taking your Shark into the Cave. However, Megalodons can now enter the underwater caves without issue .
- Alternatively using a Plesiosaur or Ichthyosaur will allow you to travel much faster than a Megalodon. A tamed Plesiosaur can fairly easily take on a wild Megalodon and an Ichthyosaur can easily outrun any wild animals.
- If you have a Tribemate with a Pteranodon or Argentavis, he or she can transport you directly to the location of the cave and drop you down, avoiding most of the swim, and with that, most of the Megalodons on the way to the cave. Once finished the Pteranodon or Argentavis can pick you up again from the water surface. This is also a very resource friendly method, as it allows you to go down with minimum armor and weapons, as fighting can be reduced to a minimum. That way, the loss of dying is less of a setback. This method does, however, require you to have found the entrance beforehand.
- Riding a Sarco allows you to use a single mount as he can move quick in both water and ground. Moreover, it's faster than a Megalodon, has near instant stamina regeneration under water and can fit in most underwater caves, making it safer while gathering resources.
- As of patch 246, Eurypterids can spawn in groups (3-5 at once) in even small underwater caves. Be prepared to deal with their stings!
Notes/Trivia
- There is a large flat faced rock that looks like it could be a cave entrance on the South haven island cliff face. Could be another cave in the future.
- Building a base in an underwater cave will stop resource spawning in that cave.
- In the North Ice Cave on The Center, one of the two parts (the part with the Artifact of the Devourer) of the cave's crystal nodes are invisible (can still be farmed normally with a pick).
- This is especially detrimental when trying to get to one of the places that spawns a loot crate, which is along a long, thin corridor that is littered with spiders, wolves, sabertooths, and Yetis (possibly one of the most concentrated areas of aggressive creatures in the game).
- These nodes can block movement, bullets, arrows, etc. but can be helpful as it blocks some creatures against walls, while other nodes can act as walls, allowing you to be unseen as long as it is between you and a creature.
- When holding the “H” key, you can see that each cave has its own location. The Tek Cave is “The Belly of the Beast.” The South East cave is “Lava Cave.”
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