What is the best way to gather honey in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Gathering honey in ARK: Survival Evolved is an essential task for crafting recipes like Sweet Vegetable Cake, which is used to heal tamed creatures, or for taming certain creatures like the Dire Bear. Honey is primarily obtained from wild beehives, which are found in specific locations across the maps. The process involves careful preparation and execution to avoid the dangers associated with bees and other threats in the area.
To start, you need to locate a wild beehive. These are typically found in forested areas or near cliffs, depending on the map. On The Island, for example, beehives are commonly found in the Redwood Forest or near the base of cliffs in the central and northern parts of the map. Once you locate a beehive, you will notice it hanging from a tree or rock. Approaching it without proper preparation will trigger the bees to attack, which can be deadly, especially for low-level players.
The first step is to craft or acquire the necessary equipment. You will need a full set of Ghillie Armor, which reduces your visibility to creatures and helps you avoid aggroing the bees. Additionally, you should bring a ranged weapon like a Crossbow or Longneck Rifle with Tranquilizer Arrows or Darts. This is because you will need to knock out the Giant Queen Bee inside the hive to harvest honey safely. You will also need Bug Repellant, which reduces the chance of bees attacking you. Crafting Bug Repellant requires Cementing Paste, Rare Flowers, and Narcotics, so make sure you have these resources ready.
Once you are equipped, approach the beehive cautiously. Use Bug Repellant to minimize the chance of bees attacking you. If you are playing solo, it is recommended to bring a tamed creature like a Dire Bear or a high-level Carnotaurus to help deal with any hostile creatures in the area. Bees are not the only threat; predators like Raptors or Sabertooths may also be nearby. If you are in a tribe, coordinate with your teammates to cover each other while one person focuses on the hive.
To harvest honey, you need to destroy the wild beehive. Use your ranged weapon to shoot the hive until it breaks. This will release the Giant Queen Bee, which you must quickly knock out using Tranquilizer Arrows or Darts. Be careful not to kill her, as you need her alive to craft a tameable beehive later. Once she is unconscious, you can harvest honey from the broken hive. Each hive typically yields 2-4 units of honey, but this can vary.
After harvesting, you can choose to tame the Giant Queen Bee by placing Rare Flowers in her inventory. Once tamed, she will produce a tameable beehive that you can place in your base. This beehive will generate honey over time, providing a sustainable source without needing to risk gathering from wild hives. To maximize honey production, place the tameable beehive in a safe, enclosed area and ensure it is protected from hostile creatures.
Common mistakes to avoid include approaching a beehive without Ghillie Armor or Bug Repellant, which will almost certainly result in a swarm of bees attacking you. Another mistake is killing the Giant Queen Bee instead of knocking her out, as this prevents you from taming her and creating a sustainable honey source. Additionally, failing to clear the area of predators before attempting to harvest honey can lead to unexpected attacks.
Advanced techniques involve using tamed creatures to optimize the process. For example, a Dire Bear is an excellent choice for gathering honey because it has a natural resistance to bee attacks and can carry large amounts of honey. If you are in a tribe, assign roles to each member, such as one person handling the hive while others guard against threats. You can also use a flying mount like an Argentavis to quickly escape if things go wrong.
Resource requirements for gathering honey include Ghillie Armor, Bug Repellant, a ranged weapon, Tranquilizer Arrows or Darts, and Rare Flowers for taming the Giant Queen Bee. Preparation is key, so ensure you have enough supplies before heading out. If you are playing solo, prioritize safety by bringing a strong tamed creature and planning your escape route.
In summary, gathering honey in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful preparation, the right equipment, and a strategic approach. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, understanding the mechanics and avoiding common mistakes will ensure a successful harvest. By taming a Giant Queen Bee and creating a tameable beehive, you can establish a reliable source of honey for your survival needs.
To start, you need to locate a wild beehive. These are typically found in forested areas or near cliffs, depending on the map. On The Island, for example, beehives are commonly found in the Redwood Forest or near the base of cliffs in the central and northern parts of the map. Once you locate a beehive, you will notice it hanging from a tree or rock. Approaching it without proper preparation will trigger the bees to attack, which can be deadly, especially for low-level players.
The first step is to craft or acquire the necessary equipment. You will need a full set of Ghillie Armor, which reduces your visibility to creatures and helps you avoid aggroing the bees. Additionally, you should bring a ranged weapon like a Crossbow or Longneck Rifle with Tranquilizer Arrows or Darts. This is because you will need to knock out the Giant Queen Bee inside the hive to harvest honey safely. You will also need Bug Repellant, which reduces the chance of bees attacking you. Crafting Bug Repellant requires Cementing Paste, Rare Flowers, and Narcotics, so make sure you have these resources ready.
Once you are equipped, approach the beehive cautiously. Use Bug Repellant to minimize the chance of bees attacking you. If you are playing solo, it is recommended to bring a tamed creature like a Dire Bear or a high-level Carnotaurus to help deal with any hostile creatures in the area. Bees are not the only threat; predators like Raptors or Sabertooths may also be nearby. If you are in a tribe, coordinate with your teammates to cover each other while one person focuses on the hive.
To harvest honey, you need to destroy the wild beehive. Use your ranged weapon to shoot the hive until it breaks. This will release the Giant Queen Bee, which you must quickly knock out using Tranquilizer Arrows or Darts. Be careful not to kill her, as you need her alive to craft a tameable beehive later. Once she is unconscious, you can harvest honey from the broken hive. Each hive typically yields 2-4 units of honey, but this can vary.
After harvesting, you can choose to tame the Giant Queen Bee by placing Rare Flowers in her inventory. Once tamed, she will produce a tameable beehive that you can place in your base. This beehive will generate honey over time, providing a sustainable source without needing to risk gathering from wild hives. To maximize honey production, place the tameable beehive in a safe, enclosed area and ensure it is protected from hostile creatures.
Common mistakes to avoid include approaching a beehive without Ghillie Armor or Bug Repellant, which will almost certainly result in a swarm of bees attacking you. Another mistake is killing the Giant Queen Bee instead of knocking her out, as this prevents you from taming her and creating a sustainable honey source. Additionally, failing to clear the area of predators before attempting to harvest honey can lead to unexpected attacks.
Advanced techniques involve using tamed creatures to optimize the process. For example, a Dire Bear is an excellent choice for gathering honey because it has a natural resistance to bee attacks and can carry large amounts of honey. If you are in a tribe, assign roles to each member, such as one person handling the hive while others guard against threats. You can also use a flying mount like an Argentavis to quickly escape if things go wrong.
Resource requirements for gathering honey include Ghillie Armor, Bug Repellant, a ranged weapon, Tranquilizer Arrows or Darts, and Rare Flowers for taming the Giant Queen Bee. Preparation is key, so ensure you have enough supplies before heading out. If you are playing solo, prioritize safety by bringing a strong tamed creature and planning your escape route.
In summary, gathering honey in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful preparation, the right equipment, and a strategic approach. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, understanding the mechanics and avoiding common mistakes will ensure a successful harvest. By taming a Giant Queen Bee and creating a tameable beehive, you can establish a reliable source of honey for your survival needs.