What is the best way to gather sap from redwood trees in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Gathering sap from redwood trees in ARK: Survival Evolved is an essential task for crafting various items, such as tree sap taps, which are used to collect sap passively over time. Sap is also required for crafting certain advanced items like polymer and cementing paste, making it a valuable resource for mid to late-game progression. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to efficiently gather sap from redwood trees.

To start, you need to craft a tree sap tap. This requires level 20 and the engram for the tree sap tap, which costs 12 engram points. The materials needed to craft a tree sap tap are 15 wood, 20 thatch, and 10 fiber. Once you have the tree sap tap, you can place it on a redwood tree. Redwood trees are found in the Redwood Forest biome, which is easily identifiable by its towering trees and dense foliage. These trees are much larger than regular trees and are the only ones that can support a tree sap tap.

To place the tree sap tap, approach a redwood tree and look for a flat section of the trunk. The game will prompt you to place the tap when you are in the correct position. Once placed, the tree sap tap will begin collecting sap over time. Each tap can hold up to 10 sap before it needs to be emptied. Sap is collected at a rate of approximately one unit every 20 minutes, so itÔÇÖs a good idea to place multiple taps if you need a large amount of sap quickly.

When placing tree sap taps, itÔÇÖs important to consider the location. The Redwood Forest is home to many dangerous creatures, such as Thylacoleos, which can ambush you from the trees, and Carnotaurus, which roam the forest floor. To minimize the risk, place your taps in areas that are easier to access and defend. Building a small platform or treehouse nearby can provide a safe spot to monitor your taps and store collected sap. Additionally, taming a flying mount like an Argentavis or Pteranodon can make it easier to reach higher taps and escape from predators.

One common mistake players make is placing tree sap taps too high on the redwood trees. While it might seem like a good idea to place them out of reach of ground predators, this can make it difficult to access the taps for emptying. Instead, place the taps at a height that is easily reachable with a ladder or a flying mount. Another mistake is not protecting the taps from other players in PvP servers. In PvP, other players can destroy your taps to steal the sap or simply to hinder your progress. To prevent this, consider building a small enclosed structure around the tap or placing it in a hidden location.

For advanced players, optimizing sap collection can involve using multiple taps spread across different redwood trees. This reduces the risk of losing all your taps to a single attack or accident. Additionally, using a tamed Beaver or Mammoth can help you gather wood and thatch more efficiently, allowing you to craft more taps. If you are playing in a tribe, coordinating with your tribe members to place and monitor taps can greatly increase your sap collection rate. Assigning specific roles, such as a gatherer to collect resources and a defender to protect the taps, can streamline the process.

In terms of resource management, itÔÇÖs important to balance your sap collection with other tasks. While sap is valuable, itÔÇÖs not the only resource you need to survive and progress. Make sure to allocate time for gathering food, water, and other materials. Using tamed dinosaurs like the Ankylosaurus for metal and the Doedicurus for stone can free up more time for sap collection.

In summary, gathering sap from redwood trees in ARK: Survival Evolved involves crafting and placing tree sap taps on redwood trees in the Redwood Forest biome. Placing taps at a manageable height, protecting them from predators and other players, and optimizing your collection strategy with multiple taps and tamed dinosaurs are key to success. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can efficiently gather sap and use it to craft advanced items, enhancing your survival and progression in the game.