Introduction
So you’ve spawned onto the beaches of Ark: Survival Evolved, a vast and unforgiving world filled with dinosaurs, mythical creatures, and challenging survival mechanics. As you navigate this primal landscape, you’ll quickly realize that taming creatures is not just a cool feature, but a key element to your survival and progression. And when it comes to taming certain creatures, one item stands head and shoulders above the rest: the Sweet Vegetable Cake. If you’re struggling to tame an Ovis or Gastornis, or simply want a reliable healing source for your herbivore dinos, the Sweet Vegetable Cake is your secret weapon! Let’s dive into everything you need to know about crafting, using, and mastering this vital resource. This article will give you a comprehensive guide to the Sweet Vegetable Cake, including its recipe, its various uses, and why it’s an essential item for any Ark survivor, regardless of their experience level.
What is Sweet Vegetable Cake?
At its core, the Sweet Vegetable Cake is a crafted food item in Ark: Survival Evolved. It is a golden-brown cake that looks almost too good to eat, especially considering the often-grim survival conditions of the Ark. While it might seem like a simple treat, its impact on gameplay is significant.
The Sweet Vegetable Cake primarily serves two crucial purposes: taming specific creatures and providing healing for herbivorous dinosaurs. Its effectiveness in taming certain creatures, particularly the Ovis (sheep), makes it an indispensable item for players looking to expand their livestock. Similarly, its healing properties provide a vital boost to herbivore dinos, ensuring their survival during battles or prolonged expeditions.
The Sweet Vegetable Cake isn’t just a luxury item; it’s a necessity. Whether you’re looking to breed woolly creatures for their resources or keep your herbivore companions in tip-top shape, this cake will become your new best friend. It’s also comparatively easy to make once you have established a good farming base, making it a sustainable resource for your survival endeavors. It bridges the gap between the early-game struggles and the late-game efficiency, offering a tangible benefit at all stages of the game.
The Recipe: Ingredients and Preparation
Crafting a Sweet Vegetable Cake requires gathering specific ingredients and a Cooking Pot or Industrial Cooker. Here’s the list of everything you’ll need:
- Giant Bee Honey (two)
- Sap (two)
- Carrots (four)
- Corn (four)
- Potatoes (four)
- Mejoberries (two)
- Water (one)
Let’s delve into where to find these ingredients and the best strategies for obtaining them.
Acquiring the Ingredients
Giant Bee Honey: Giant Bee Honey is harvested from Bee Hives found in redwood forests and cliffsides. Approaching a Bee Hive will agitate the bees, so it is crucial to wear a full set of Ghillie Armor or use Bug Repellant to avoid being swarmed. Once you are protected, carefully approach the hive and interact with it to collect the honey. Be cautious as bees will still attack if you get too close without proper protection, or when harvesting. A well-placed shot with a grappling hook can help extract you or your tribemate from the hive danger quickly.
Sap: Sap is obtained by tapping redwood trees. You’ll need to place a Tree Tap on the redwood trees and periodically harvest the sap that accumulates. Some redwood trees are more productive than others, so experiment with different trees to find the best source. Tree Platforms can be built high up in the Redwood trees and are helpful in placing multiple taps without being attacked by ground creatures.
Carrots, Corn, and Potatoes: These vegetables are acquired through farming. You’ll need to craft a crop plot and plant seeds of the respective vegetables. Regular fertilization with fertilizer is crucial for healthy growth. Water is also essential for maintaining your crops. Keep a close eye on your farm to ensure your plants are thriving. Small crop plots are a good starting point, but medium and large plots yield more produce with the same effort.
Mejoberries: These berries are commonly found throughout the Ark. They are easy to gather and are primarily used for taming herbivores. Simply harvest bushes with your hands or a dinosaur to gather a plentiful supply. Look in grassy areas and near water sources for the most abundant spots.
Water: Water is obtained by filling a Waterskin, Water Jar, or Canteen at a water source or by connecting your cooking station to a water irrigation system. Ensure you always have a reliable source of water to keep your cooking station running smoothly.
Cooking Process
Once you have all the ingredients, you need to cook them in either a Cooking Pot or an Industrial Cooker. The Cooking Pot is the more accessible option for early to mid-game players, while the Industrial Cooker offers faster and more efficient cooking for those further along in the game.
Cooking Pot: Place the required ingredients into the Cooking Pot along with the water. Light the fire underneath the pot, and wait for the cooking process to complete. Be mindful of the cooking time and don’t leave the pot unattended, as the ingredients can burn if the fire is left on for too long. If you accidentally add too much of one ingredient or want to remove something, you can always take it out before the process begins.
Industrial Cooker: The Industrial Cooker provides a much faster and automated cooking process. Place the ingredients inside, turn it on, and it will cook the Sweet Vegetable Cakes at a significantly faster rate than the Cooking Pot. This is especially helpful when producing large quantities of cakes. The industrial cooker is bulky, however, so ensure you have the space and resources to craft it.
Using Sweet Vegetable Cake: Taming and Healing
The Sweet Vegetable Cake’s value comes from its effectiveness in taming specific creatures and its healing properties for herbivore dinos. Let’s explore each of these uses in detail.
Taming Creatures
Ovis: The Sweet Vegetable Cake is *the* primary taming food for Ovis. Ovis are notoriously picky eaters, and they will only accept the Sweet Vegetable Cake as a taming food. Simply place the cake in your hotbar, approach the Ovis, and feed it when prompted. The taming process is relatively quick and straightforward with the Sweet Vegetable Cake. Ovis are valuable for wool production and can be used for mutton, making them a useful addition to any base.
Gastornis: While not the primary taming food for Gastornis, the Sweet Vegetable Cake offers a significant taming effectiveness boost. Using Sweet Vegetable Cake in conjunction with other taming methods can significantly speed up the taming process. Gastornis are useful as a mount that allows players to carry other characters.
Achatina: The Sweet Vegetable Cake will passively tame an Achatina. Achatina are slow moving creatures that produce Achatina Paste, an organic form of cementing paste. This makes them a valuable resource to passively tame.
Liopleurodon Magic: The Liopleurodon has a timed buff that dramatically increases the spawn rate of better resources. Using the Sweet Vegetable Cake to tame a Liopleurodon is a fast way to get it tamed, and start reaping those rewards.
Healing Herbivores
The Sweet Vegetable Cake can also be used to heal herbivore dinosaurs. When consumed, the cake provides a significant health regeneration boost to the dino.
How it works: The Sweet Vegetable Cake restores a considerable amount of health to herbivore dinos over a short period. The exact amount of health restored depends on the creature’s max health and consumption rate.
When to use it: The cake is best used in situations where your herbivore dino has taken significant damage and needs immediate healing. It’s also useful during battles to keep your dino alive and fighting.
Is it worth it?: While other healing methods exist, the Sweet Vegetable Cake offers a fast and efficient way to restore health to your herbivore dinos. The cost of crafting the cake is relatively low compared to the benefits it provides, making it a worthwhile investment.
Benefits of Using Sweet Vegetable Cake
The Sweet Vegetable Cake offers a multitude of benefits, making it an essential item for Ark survivors.
Efficient Taming: The Sweet Vegetable Cake significantly reduces the time and resources required to tame creatures like Ovis and Gastornis.
Healing Power: The healing properties of the cake can save your herbivore dinos from death, keeping them healthy and ready for action.
Versatility: The Sweet Vegetable Cake can be used in a variety of scenarios, from taming creatures to healing dinos, making it a versatile and valuable item.
Time Saving: By using Sweet Vegetable Cake, you can streamline your taming and healing processes, freeing up more time to explore and conquer the Ark.
Tips and Tricks
To maximize the benefits of the Sweet Vegetable Cake, here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind:
Storage: The Sweet Vegetable Cake spoils over time, so it’s essential to store it properly. Using a Preserving Bin or Refrigerator can significantly extend its shelf life. Keep your cakes stored away until needed for taming or healing.
Farming Setup: Optimize your farm for consistent vegetable production. Build multiple crop plots and regularly fertilize your plants to ensure a steady supply of carrots, corn, and potatoes.
Stacking: Carry multiple Sweet Vegetable Cakes with you when venturing out for taming or battles. Having a stack of cakes on hand ensures you’re prepared for any situation.
Alternate Recipes: While the standard recipe is the most effective, experimenting with slight variations can sometimes yield similar results in extreme circumstances. This is useful if you are missing one ingredient.
Bee Hive Management: Manage your bee hives carefully to ensure a consistent supply of Giant Bee Honey. Regularly check the hives and harvest the honey to keep your production line flowing.
Conclusion
The Sweet Vegetable Cake is more than just a food item; it’s a key to unlocking the full potential of Ark: Survival Evolved. Whether you’re taming Ovis, healing herbivore dinos, or simply looking for a reliable resource, the Sweet Vegetable Cake has got you covered. Its ease of crafting, versatility, and multitude of benefits make it an essential item for both beginner and advanced players.
So, gather your ingredients, fire up your cooking pot, and start crafting those Sweet Vegetable Cakes! Enhance your Ark experience, tame those elusive creatures, and keep your dinos healthy and strong. Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, go forth and conquer the Ark with the power of the Sweet Vegetable Cake! Share your experiences with the cake and let us know how it’s enhanced your adventures on the Ark! What was the first creature you tamed with it?
