Introduction
The world of ARK: Survival Evolved is a brutal and beautiful one. As a survivor, you’re thrust into a prehistoric land teeming with dinosaurs, mythical creatures, and the ever-present challenge of, well, surviving. You must scavenge, build, tame, and fight to carve out your place in this hostile environment. At the heart of this survival lies the need for resources. One of the most critical of these, the very lifeblood of advanced technology and efficient crafting, is gasoline. This guide is dedicated to you, the PS4 player, looking to master the art of acquiring and managing gasoline. Get ready to fuel your adventure!
Why Gasoline Matters
Gasoline is more than just a fuel source; it’s a key to unlocking the later stages of the game. Without it, your progress will grind to a halt. Think of gasoline as the engine that drives your technological advancement. It’s essential for running generators, powering industrial equipment, and crafting many important items. A constant supply of gasoline can mean the difference between a thriving base and a struggling settlement. So, what makes it so crucial?
Imagine trying to power a refrigerator to preserve your valuable food, or attempting to create advanced weaponry to defend yourself against the dangers of the ARK, without gasoline. You would be limited to simple preservation and more rudimentary defenses. Your ability to tame and utilize the more powerful creatures would be severely hampered. Ultimately, a lack of gasoline restricts your ability to progress and compete in the world. Running out can be crippling, leaving your base vulnerable to attacks and stalling your crafting efforts.
So, how do you secure this all-important resource on your PS4? The path to gasoline begins with understanding its components and the steps needed for its creation.
Crafting Gasoline on PS4
Crafting gasoline involves a combination of resources and specific crafting stations. The recipe is relatively simple, but obtaining the raw materials requires a bit of exploration and effort. The three key ingredients you’ll need are hide, oil, and sparkpowder. Gathering each of these takes a different approach.
Gathering Hide
Hide is perhaps the most straightforward to acquire. It’s a common byproduct of harvesting creatures throughout the ARK. You can obtain hide from almost any creature you kill, from the lowly Dodo to the fearsome Tyrannosaurus Rex. The amount you get varies based on the size and type of the creature. Tame a few herbivore creatures, like Triceratops, and you’ll have a steady stream of meat and hide. Make sure you are using the right tools to harvest the hide, using a metal hatchet or a chainsaw will yield far more than harvesting by hand or using a stone tool. Remember, you can also use harvesting creatures, like the direwolf to do it for you.
Acquiring Oil
Oil, on the other hand, requires a little more adventure. This thick, viscous liquid is found in a few different places. The primary way to obtain oil involves diving into the depths of the ocean and harvesting it from the various creatures that reside there. Be mindful of the dangers of the deep, as these areas are also home to dangerous predators like the Tusoteuthis (giant squid) and Megalodon (sharks). Alternatively, you can find oil rocks scattered across the land, you will have to use a pickaxe to mine these. They resemble dark, oily-looking stones. Finally, some creatures, particularly certain insects, drop oil when killed.
Making Sparkpowder
Sparkpowder is the final ingredient, it’s a combination of other common materials and can be created at two crafting stations. It’s used in crafting ammunition and some other items. Crafting this requires flint and stone. You can easily gather these by either harvesting rocks or attacking them with your tools. The next step is the crafting.
To craft sparkpowder, you must place both stone and flint into the Mortar and Pestle. Interact with the station and craft it. This is a low-tech crafting station. This will not always be the most efficient way to create sparkpowder. You could also opt for the Smithy, but this station is more expensive to build.
Once you have gathered all of these resources, it’s time to bring them together in your crafting station.
Crafting Stations and Gasoline Creation
You have a couple of options for crafting gasoline, but you’ll want to start with the more common Smithy. Place the hide, oil, and sparkpowder into your Smithy. Interact with the station and craft gasoline. You can also craft gasoline within the Industrial Forge. This is a more advanced crafting station that requires more resources to build, but the crafting speed is much faster. The recipe remains the same regardless of the station. Simply combine three of each resource in the Smithy and then you will create one gasoline.
Now that you know how to craft it, the next step is learning how to efficiently manage your gasoline usage and keep a steady supply.
Efficient Gasoline Management
Once you’ve crafted your first batch of gasoline, you’ll want to start thinking about how to use it efficiently and how to store it. Storage is crucial to make sure it does not get damaged or wasted. Build storage containers within your base. Metal containers or vaults are good options. Store your gasoline within these containers to keep it safe and secure.
Powering Generators
When it comes to fueling your structures, consider a generator. Generators consume gasoline to provide electricity to nearby structures. To improve your efficiency, position your generators in a centralized location in your base, so that the electricity can spread and reach everything you need. Try to avoid overpopulating the area. The generator doesn’t need to be immediately touching every device.
Balancing Production and Consumption
The key to long-term success in ARK on PS4 is finding the right balance between gasoline production and consumption. Analyze your consumption to understand how quickly you are using gasoline. If you are crafting and using a lot of items that require gasoline, you are probably going to run out of fuel very quickly. Consider the cost and the value of the item you are crafting.
Preventing Waste
Waste is the enemy of progress, especially when resources are tight. Be mindful of how long you run your generators. Only use them when necessary. If you’re not crafting, or you don’t need power for lighting, switch it off.
Advanced Strategies for Gasoline Mastery
For the very best results, you will want to employ some more advanced techniques.
Creature-Based Gathering
If you’re looking to streamline your gathering, consider taming creatures that can help. Creatures like the Doedicurus are fantastic for gathering stone and can often lead to more flint. Creatures that can harvest oil from the sea can be very useful for obtaining oil, such as the Basilosaurus.
Base Location Optimization
The location of your base can have a significant impact on your gasoline production. Choose a location that gives you easy access to the resources you need. Look for locations near oil rocks. If you build near the ocean, you can harvest oil from the deep-sea creatures.
Resource-Rich Zones
Some areas are more rich in certain resources than others. Understanding where to find those specific resources will greatly increase your production rate. For oil, explore the coastline and the various underwater biomes. For hide, any forest area will do.
Crafting Station Advancement
Efficiency and consistency are key.
The Smithy is a good starting point, but eventually, you’ll want to upgrade to the Industrial Forge. This crafting station is more expensive to build, but the speed and capacity upgrades make it far more fuel-efficient.
Locating Oil-Rich Areas
A critical part of maximizing your gasoline gains is to explore oil rich locations. The following areas are known for their oil resources:
- The ocean depths.
- The arctic regions.
- Areas with oil rocks.
- Killing certain creatures.
Common Issues and PS4 Considerations
Many PS4 players have asked about this and some of the issues that can impact gameplay.
Performance and Lag
At times, ARK can experience lag or performance issues. This can have an impact on the use of resources and the crafting speed. These types of issues can cause the game to run slowly, causing you to burn through more gasoline than expected.
Updates and Bug Fixes
The game is constantly being updated. Keep your game updated so you can ensure you are playing with the most recent updates. You can also check the official forums and social media channels to see the latest patch notes and any known bug fixes.
Conclusion
It’s worth restating how essential gasoline is. It’s the fuel that drives your progress, and a steady supply is crucial for your long-term survival.
By understanding the crafting process, mastering the resource gathering, and adopting efficient usage strategies, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a gasoline aficionado on ARK PS4. Remember to stay vigilant, adapt to the challenges, and most importantly, keep fueling your adventures. So go forth, craft, explore, and dominate the ARK world!
