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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: 85.2 | Lon: 54.2

    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: 74.1 | Lon: 92.2

    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: 64.8 | Lon: 35.1

    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: 54.4 | Lon: 3.8 (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: 26.0 | Lon: 29.1

    The hardest cave in the game. It is freezing cold (requires Fur Armor + Fria Curry) and is packed with Purlovias, Polar Bears, and Yetis that spawn at levels 120 to 340 on default settings. 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: 14.0 | Lon: 13.8

    A very narrow ice cave filled with instant-death pits. Only small shoulder pets and carried creatures fit inside; no mount can enter. You must navigate it on foot using Grappling Hooks and shotguns.

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