Ark: Survival Evolved is all about, unsurprisingly, survival. Players need the most basic tools to eke out an existence in one of the harshest digital worlds available. To unlock more tools and lengthen their survival rate, players must level up. This gets them Engrams, which allows them to craft better items. However, it’s not all about farming experience. This guide explains the best ways to level up fast in Ark: Survival Evolved, so players can compete with the environment and more advanced opponents in no time at all.
Related: What order to complete maps in Ark: Survival Evolved
Tips to Level up Fast in Ark: Survival Evolved
Below, we’ve outlined the best tips for players to use to level up fast in Ark: Survival Evolved. Some won’t be applicable until later in the game, but there are tips here for all players to use. Regardless of whether someone is just starting out in the game or has been playing for years, there’s something to boost their leveling in this article.
- How to use Explorer Notes to Level up Fast
- How to use Crafting to Level up Fast
- How to use the Broth of Enlightenment to Level up Fast
- How to use a Shotgun and Spinos to Level up Fast
Find Explorer Notes on Official Ark: Survival Evolved Maps
On the Official maps of Ark, players can find hidden boxes and terminals known as Explorer Notes. These are records left by previous Survivors detailing the different creatures they encountered and provide some backstory to the game. They’re only found on the following maps:
- The Island
- Scorched Earth
- Abberation
- Extinction
- Genesis Part 1
- Genesis Part 2
- Mobile
There are two kinds of Explorer Notes, each of which grant 100XP: Special and Normal Explorer Notes. The Special Notes give 4x Experience Gain and the Normal Explorer Notes give 2x Experience Gain. These effects stack, so hunting them down and farming XP between them will ensure a moves up several levels.
Related: Beginner’s guide to Ark: Survival Evolved
On the Fjordur map, while there are no Explorer Notes, players are able to find Runes. These floating red beams of light will grant the same 4x Experience Gain as the Special Explorer Notes. However, they are limited to a maximum of 200.
How to Level up Mounts Fast
If players open the Notes or access the Runes while riding their creature, they will also get the XP boost. Likewise, sitting on Tames when crafting or being near them while someone else is crafting will grant them passive XP gain. This is useful for helping mounts level up fast and providing other players will a little boost if a clan is out farming experience.
How to use Crafting to Level up Fast in Ark: Survival Evolved
While passively generating Experience is fine, most players will want to maximize their gains wherever possible. crafting can play into this, especially when combined with Explorer Notes. The best item for crafting in terms of cheap resources and maximum XP gains is Cooking Pots, or if players are on the Genesis Part 2 map, Canoes. Rafts are also a good option, but they’re pretty heavy. Players can craft these cheaply and reap the benefits in XP. Using an Explorer Note or Rune to boost Experience Gains will result in faster leveling wen crafting dozens of these items.
How to use the Broth of Enlightenment for Leveling up Fast in Ark: Survival Evolved
This works well if players have access to Base Veggies and have the patience to kill Wooly Rhinos for their horns. The Broth of Enlightenment will grant 50% increased XP gain over 20 minutes; once a player has crafted and consumed it, they should craft as many items as possible to maximize their XP gain. Players can use this in conjunction with a Tek Sleeping Pod while their Tribe Mates craft around the base. This will generate loads of experience and see players level up much faster than normal without doing much.
How to use a Shotgun and Spinos for Leveling up Fast in Ark: Survival Evolved
Once players have gathered as many Survivor Notes as possible and grown tired of looking for more, there’s a more violent option for leveling up fast. Using a Pump-Action Shotgun and heading over to the Extinction map to hunt Spinos in the Sulfur Wastes will reap much more experience than exploring and leveling up naturally on other maps. Killing Corrupt Dinos will also give players a lot of XP. It’s best to do this with a high-level Tame.
