How do I craft a fabricator for advanced crafting in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Crafting a fabricator in ARK: Survival Evolved is a significant milestone in your progression, as it unlocks access to advanced crafting recipes like firearms, advanced ammunition, and industrial tools. The fabricator is a tier 3 crafting station, meaning it requires a substantial amount of resources and preparation to build. Below is a detailed guide on how to craft and use a fabricator effectively.

To craft a fabricator, you must first unlock its engram. The fabricator engram becomes available at level 51 and costs 35 engram points. Once unlocked, you will need to gather the necessary resources to craft it. The fabricator requires 80 metal ingots, 40 cementing paste, 40 oil, 50 polymer, and 50 electronics. These resources are not easy to obtain, especially in the early to mid-game, so preparation is key.

Metal ingots are crafted by smelting metal ore in a refining forge. Metal ore is commonly found in rocky areas, especially near mountains. Use a metal pick or a tamed Ankylosaurus to gather metal ore efficiently. Cementing paste can be crafted using chitin or keratin and stone in a mortar and pestle, or it can be obtained by harvesting beaver dams or taming a Beelzebufo, which produces cementing paste when eating insects. Oil can be gathered from oil nodes in the ocean, from oil rocks in the snow biome, or by harvesting Trilobites and Leech Blood. Polymer can be obtained by harvesting organic polymer from Kairuku (penguins) or by crafting it using obsidian and cementing paste. Electronics are crafted using silica pearls and metal ingots in a fabricator or by looting them from supply drops and certain creatures.

Once you have gathered all the required resources, you can craft the fabricator. Place it in a secure location within your base, as it is a valuable and expensive piece of equipment. The fabricator requires gasoline to operate, so make sure you have a steady supply. Gasoline is crafted in a refining forge using oil and hide.

Using the fabricator effectively requires careful resource management. Many of the advanced items it crafts, such as firearms and advanced ammunition, require rare resources like polymer and electronics. Prioritize crafting items that will give you the most significant advantage, such as a longneck rifle or a set of flak armor. Always keep an eye on your resource stockpiles and plan your crafting projects accordingly.

One common mistake players make is underestimating the resource requirements for the fabricator and its associated recipes. It is easy to run out of materials if you do not plan ahead. To avoid this, establish a reliable resource-gathering system. Tame dinosaurs like the Ankylosaurus for metal, the Doedicurus for stone, and the Beelzebufo for cementing paste. These creatures can significantly reduce the time and effort required to gather resources.

For solo players, crafting a fabricator can be a daunting task due to the high resource demands. Focus on taming resource-gathering dinosaurs and setting up multiple refining forges to speed up the smelting process. In a tribe,ÕêåÕÀÑÕÉêõ¢£ can make the process much easier. Assign roles to tribe members, such as one person gathering metal, another collecting oil, and another managing the refining forges. This teamwork can significantly reduce the time required to craft the fabricator and its associated items.

Advanced techniques include optimizing your base layout to minimize the distance between resource storage and crafting stations. Place your fabricator near your refining forges and storage boxes to streamline the crafting process. Additionally, consider building a greenhouse to grow crops like citronal and savoroot, which can be used to craft advanced recipes like custom consumables.

In summary, crafting a fabricator in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and preparation. By gathering the necessary resources, taming resource-gathering dinosaurs, and optimizing your base layout, you can efficiently craft and use a fabricator to unlock advanced crafting recipes. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, the fabricator is a crucial tool for progressing in the game and gaining a competitive edge.