Cave Walkthroughs

Navigate the darkest depths of the ARK to retrieve the artifacts required to summon the Guardians.

The Holy Trinity of Caving

For 90% of the land caves on The Island, you should rely on three dinosaurs: The Baryonyx (excellent swimmer and thin enough to fit through gaps), the Thylacoleo (can climb walls and deals bleed damage), and the Megatherium (immune to Araneo webs and gets a huge buff in the Swamp Cave).

The Island Caves

  • Lower South Cave (Hunter)
    Lat: 80.3 | Lon: 53.5

    The easiest cave. Bring a raptor or Baryonyx. Watch out for Mega Rabies from the Megalania and Onycs. Always carry Medical Brews.

  • Lava Cave (Massive)
    Lat: 70.6 | Lon: 86.1

    Extreme heat and jumping puzzles over instant-death lava. Leave your dinos at the entrance jumps. Use Grappling Hooks or a Thylacoleo if cryopods are allowed. Bring Calien Soup to survive the heat.

  • Swamp Cave (Immune)
    Lat: 62.7 | Lon: 37.3

    The air is toxic. You MUST wear a Gas Mask or full SCUBA gear, otherwise you die in seconds. The cave is packed with high-level Meganeuras and Leeches. A Megatherium is mandatory here.

  • Caverns of Lost Faith (Brute)
    Lat: 53.7 | Lon: 10.4 (Underwater)

    An underwater cave full of Electrophorus and Cnidaria (Jellyfish) that will dismount and stun-lock you. You must ride a Basilosaurus, which is completely immune to electric shocks.

  • Snow Cave (Strong)
    Lat: 29.1 | Lon: 31.8

    The hardest cave in the game. It is freezing cold (requires Fur Armor + Fria Curry) and is packed with level 300+ Purlovias, Polar Bears, and Yetis. The entrances are too small for large dinos. Bring highly mutated Thylacoleos or a swarm of Dimorphodons.

  • Caverns of Lost Hope (Cunning)
    Lat: 45.9 | Lon: 88.9 (Underwater)

    The second underwater cave. Deep, dark, and filled with Alpha Mosasaurs and Alpha Tusoteuthis. Bring a massive squad of mutated Megalodons or a high-level imprinted Tusoteuthis.

  • North West Cave (Skylord)
    Lat: 19.3 | Lon: 19.0

    A very narrow ice cave filled with instant-death pits. You cannot bring any dinosaurs inside. You must navigate it on foot using Grappling Hooks and shotguns.

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