ARK Fjordur: Survival Guide For Beginners

Hey guys! So, you're diving into the wild and wonderful world of ARK: Survival Evolved on the Fjordur map? Awesome choice! Fjordur is a seriously cool map packed with stunning landscapes, mythical creatures, and a ton of resources. But let's be real, ARK can be a bit overwhelming when you're just starting out. That's why I've put together this beginner's guide to help you get your bearings and survive your first few days. Trust me, with a little know-how, you'll be taming dinosaurs and building your dream base in no time! So, let's jump right into this ARK Fjordur beginners guide!

Getting Started on Fjordur

Alright, first things first. When you load into Fjordur, you're gonna be greeted with a screen asking you to choose a spawn point. Now, this is a crucial decision, as it can heavily influence your early game experience. I recommend starting in the southern regions, specifically around the White Cliffs or Balheimr. These areas offer a good balance of resources, relatively low-level dinos, and decent visibility. Avoid the northern areas like Jotunheim in the beginning. Trust me, the cold and aggressive creatures there are not beginner-friendly. Once you've chosen your spawn point, take a good look around. Familiarize yourself with the environment, and start gathering the essentials. Punch some trees to get wood, pick up stones from the ground, and gather fiber from bushes. These resources are the foundation for crafting your first tools and shelter. And believe me, you'll need them sooner rather than later. Craft a stone pick and a stone hatchet as soon as possible. These tools will allow you to gather resources much more efficiently. Wood, stone, thatch, and flint will be your best friends in the early game, so stock up! Don't forget to keep an eye on your hunger and thirst levels. Berries can be found in bushes and are a decent source of food, but be careful, some berries are poisonous! Look for Mejoberries, Amarberries, and Azulberries, as they're safe to eat. Water can be obtained by swimming in rivers or lakes, but watch out for those pesky Piranhas! Crafting a waterskin or a water jar will allow you to store water and stay hydrated on the go. Remember, survival is all about resource management. Keep an eye on your surroundings, gather everything you can, and don't be afraid to run away from danger. With a little bit of luck and a lot of perseverance, you'll be well on your way to conquering the ARK.

Essential Early Game Crafting

Okay, guys, crafting is super important in ARK: Survival Evolved, and Fjordur is no exception. Getting your crafting game on point early will make your life so much easier. Let's talk about some essential items you should prioritize crafting in those initial levels. First off, get yourself a stone pick and a stone hatchet. I mentioned these earlier, but they're worth reiterating. These tools drastically improve your resource gathering efficiency, allowing you to collect wood, stone, and other materials much faster than using your bare hands. Next up, you'll want some basic clothing. Craft a set of cloth armor to protect yourself from the elements and minor dino attacks. It's not the strongest armor, but it's a heck of a lot better than nothing. A crucial early game structure is a small shelter. Start with a simple thatch hut to protect yourself from the rain, cold, and nighttime predators. A basic shelter can be the difference between surviving the night and becoming dino dinner. Inside your shelter, place a campfire to cook meat and stay warm. Cooked meat provides much more sustenance than raw meat, and staying warm is essential for avoiding hypothermia, especially in the colder regions of Fjordur. Another important crafting recipe to unlock early is the mortar and pestle. This handy tool allows you to grind resources like stone and flint into more advanced materials like sparkpowder and gunpowder. Sparkpowder is essential for crafting torches, which are crucial for exploring caves and navigating at night. As you level up, be sure to unlock the bow and arrows. A bow provides you with a ranged attack option, allowing you to defend yourself from a distance or even take down smaller dinos for food and resources. Tranq arrows are even better for taming. Don't forget about storage! Craft a storage box to keep your resources organized and safe from other players. A well-organized base is a happy base, trust me. And lastly, consider crafting a simple bed. Placing a bed in your shelter allows you to respawn there when you die, saving you a lot of time and frustration. Crafting might seem tedious at first, but it's the backbone of ARK: Survival Evolved. Prioritize these essential items, and you'll be well on your way to establishing a solid foothold on Fjordur. Just remember to keep gathering resources, leveling up, and unlocking new recipes. You've got this!

Taming Your First Dinosaur

Alright, let's talk about taming dinos! Taming is one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of ARK: Survival Evolved. Having a trusty dino companion can make your life so much easier, providing you with transportation, protection, and resource gathering assistance. But where do you even begin? Well, the first thing you need to understand is that there are two main types of taming: knock-out taming and passive taming. Knock-out taming involves rendering a dino unconscious before feeding it, while passive taming involves feeding a dino directly without knocking it out. For beginners, I recommend starting with passive tames. They're generally easier and less risky. A great starter dino for passive taming is the Lystrosaurus. These small, friendly creatures can be found wandering around the beaches and forests of Fjordur. To tame a Lystrosaurus, simply approach it with some berries in your hand and feed it until the taming bar fills up. Once tamed, a Lystrosaurus provides a useful buff to your XP gain, making it easier to level up. Another good option for early game taming is the Moschops. These herbivores can be found in the forests and are relatively docile. To tame a Moschops, you'll need to offer it its favorite food. This could be berries, vegetables, or even rare mushrooms. Experiment with different foods to find what the Moschops likes best, and keep feeding it until it's tamed. If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, you can try knock-out taming a Parasaur. Parasaurs are relatively common and easy to knock out with a few hits from a club. Once unconscious, feed it berries until it's tamed. A Parasaur can be ridden and provides a decent early game mount for exploring the island. No matter which dino you choose to tame, always be prepared for danger. Other creatures may try to interfere with your taming efforts, so keep an eye out for predators and be ready to defend yourself. Remember to bring plenty of food for the dino you're trying to tame. Taming can take a while, and you don't want to run out of food halfway through the process. Taming dinos is a learning process, so don't be discouraged if you fail a few times. With practice and patience, you'll become a master tamer in no time!

Building Your First Base

Okay, let's get into base building! Having a secure and well-organized base is essential for long-term survival in ARK: Survival Evolved. Your base provides you with a safe haven from predators, a place to store your resources, and a central location for crafting and taming. But where should you build your first base on Fjordur? Well, there are a few factors to consider. First, you'll want to choose a location that's relatively safe from predators. Avoid areas with high concentrations of dangerous creatures like Raptors, Carnos, and Rexes. Second, you'll want to choose a location that's close to resources. Look for areas with abundant wood, stone, and fiber. Third, you'll want to choose a location that's easily defensible. A natural choke point or a high vantage point can make your base much easier to defend. One popular location for early game bases on Fjordur is the White Cliffs. This area offers a good balance of resources, relatively low-level dinos, and decent visibility. Another option is the shores of the Hidden Lake. This secluded area is surrounded by cliffs, making it easy to defend. Once you've chosen your location, start by building a small, basic shelter. A simple thatch hut will suffice for the first few days. As you gather more resources, you can upgrade your base to wood or stone. Be sure to reinforce your walls and roof to protect against attacks. Don't forget to build a door to keep unwanted visitors out. Inside your base, place a campfire for cooking meat and staying warm. You'll also want to build some storage boxes to keep your resources organized. A bed is essential for respawning close to your base if you die. As you progress through the game, you can expand your base to include crafting stations, taming pens, and other useful structures. Be creative and build a base that suits your needs and playstyle. Defending your base is just as important as building it. Build walls and fences to keep predators out. Place spike walls around the perimeter to deter attackers. Tame some defensive dinos to guard your base. Turrets can be added later on to provide automated defense. Building a strong and secure base takes time and effort, but it's well worth it in the long run. A well-defended base will provide you with a safe haven and allow you to thrive in the harsh world of Fjordur.

Exploring Fjordur's Unique Features

Alright, guys, let's talk about what makes Fjordur so special! This map is packed with unique features that set it apart from other ARK experiences. From its stunning landscapes to its mythical creatures, Fjordur has something for everyone. One of the most notable features of Fjordur is its diverse biomes. You'll find everything from lush forests and snowy mountains to volcanic wastelands and underwater caves. Each biome offers its own unique challenges and rewards, so be sure to explore them all. Fjordur is also home to a variety of mythical creatures, including Fenrir, the giant wolf, and Beyla, the powerful Valkyrie. These creatures are incredibly powerful and require a coordinated effort to defeat, but the rewards are well worth it. Defeating these bosses will grant you access to unique items and abilities. One of the coolest features of Fjordur is its interconnected cave system. These caves are vast and complex, offering a challenging but rewarding exploration experience. Inside the caves, you'll find valuable resources, ancient artifacts, and dangerous creatures. Be sure to bring a strong mount and plenty of torches when venturing into the caves. Fjordur also features several unique structures and landmarks, including ancient ruins, Viking villages, and mysterious obelisks. These locations often hold secrets and valuable loot, so be sure to check them out. The map also features mini-bosses that you can fight for unique loot, so keep your eye out for them. Exploring Fjordur's unique features is a great way to discover new resources, tame powerful creatures, and uncover the secrets of the island. So get out there and start exploring! Just be careful, the island is full of dangers. Remember to always be prepared for anything, and never underestimate the power of the creatures that roam Fjordur.

Final Tips for Surviving on Fjordur

Okay, before you go off and conquer Fjordur, let me give you a few final tips to help you survive and thrive in this challenging environment. First and foremost, always be aware of your surroundings. Fjordur is full of dangers, from predators to environmental hazards. Keep an eye out for anything that could pose a threat, and be ready to react quickly. Don't be afraid to run away from danger. Sometimes, the best way to survive is to simply avoid a fight. If you're outnumbered or outmatched, don't hesitate to retreat and regroup. Tame a flying mount as soon as possible. Flying mounts provide you with a safe and efficient way to explore the island and escape from danger. Argies, Pteranodons, and Tapejaras are some good options for early game flying mounts. Learn the map. Familiarize yourself with the different biomes, resource locations, and dangerous areas. The more you know about the map, the better equipped you'll be to survive. Join a tribe. Playing with friends or other players can make the game much easier and more enjoyable. Tribes can share resources, build bases together, and help each other defend against threats. Don't be afraid to ask for help. The ARK community is generally very helpful and welcoming to new players. If you're struggling with something, don't hesitate to ask for advice on forums or in-game chat. Experiment with different strategies. There's no one right way to play ARK: Survival Evolved. Experiment with different taming methods, building designs, and combat tactics to find what works best for you. Most importantly, have fun! ARK: Survival Evolved can be a challenging game, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Don't get discouraged by setbacks, and remember to enjoy the journey. So there you have it, a beginner's guide to surviving on Fjordur. With these tips and tricks, you'll be well on your way to taming dinosaurs, building epic bases, and conquering the island. Good luck, and happy surviving!