All Hidden Caves & Secret Locations in Ark: Survival Evolved

Locate all hidden caves and secret areas in Ark: Survival Evolved. Find artifacts and rare resources crucial for boss summoning and advanced progression.

Each Ark map is a treasure trove of hidden caves and secret locations, offering a blend of danger, valuable resources, and unique gameplay experiences. These subterranean and often submerged environments are crucial for advanced progression, housing everything from essential artifacts for boss summoning to rare resources and unique cave-dwelling creatures. While the thrill of discovery is paramount, venturing into these areas unprepared can lead to swift demise. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to conquer Ark's most elusive challenges.

Why Explore Caves? The Rewards Await

Caves are not merely dark tunnels; they are vital hubs for end-game progression and resource acquisition. Here's what you can expect to find:

• Artifacts: Essential for summoning bosses at Obelisks. Each cave typically holds one specific artifact.
• Rare Resources: High concentrations of metal, crystal, obsidian, oil, and sometimes even element shards (on aberration maps).
• Explorer Notes: Lore-rich collectibles that grant experience bonuses upon discovery.
• Unique Creatures: Many caves are home to creatures not found elsewhere on the surface, or mutated versions of common creatures. Examples include:
  • Araneo (Cave Spiders): Often found in large numbers, capable of slowing players with webs.
  • Onyc (Cave Bats): Agile flyers that can inflict rabies.
  • Megalania: Found clinging to cave ceilings, capable of inflicting rabies with their bite.
  • Dung Beetle: Passive creatures that can be tamed to produce oil and fertilizer.
  • Titanoboa: Large, aggressive snakes that can inflict torpor.
  • Scorpions (Pulmonoscorpius): Capable of inflicting torpor with their sting.
  • Arthropluera: Acid-spitting arthropods with high armor penetration.
• Chitin/Keratin Farming: Many cave creatures drop significant amounts of chitin, useful for crafting armor and saddles.
• High-Level Loot Crates: Often found at the end of challenging caves, containing blueprints for powerful gear.

General Cave Exploration Strategies

Before diving into specific caves, understanding general preparation and tactics is crucial:

1. Preparation is Key

• Light Source: Always bring multiple light sources.
  • Mining Helmet: Hands-free light, highly recommended.
  • Torch: Basic, but essential. Can be used as a weapon.
  • Glowstick: Disposable light source, useful for marking paths.
  • Shoulder Pet (Bulbdog, Featherlight, Glowtail, Shinehorn): Provides passive light and can detect high-level creatures/enemies. Essential on Aberration.
• Armor: Flak armor is generally preferred for its damage reduction. SCUBA gear is mandatory for underwater caves. Ghillie armor can help with stealth in some situations.
• Weapons:
  • Melee: High-quality sword or pike for close combat.
  • Ranged: Shotgun (especially pump-action) is excellent for clearing swarms. Assault Rifle or Fabricated Sniper Rifle for larger threats. Crossbow for underwater combat.
• Consumables:
  • Medical Brews: Crucial for healing. Bring plenty.
  • Fria Curry/Calien Soup: For temperature regulation.
  • Lazarus Chowder: For increased oxygen and stamina regeneration in underwater caves.
  • Bug Repellant: Can make some creatures passive or less aggressive, allowing for easier passage.
  • Food & Water: Standard survival supplies.
• Tames: The choice of tame depends heavily on the cave.
  • Small, Agile Tames: Direwolf, Sabertooth, Baryonyx (excellent for land and water), Thylacoleo (for climbing).
  • Aquatic Tames: Basilosaurus (immune to jellyfish stings), Megalodon, Ichthyosaurus (for speed).
  • Utility Tames: Daeodon (healer), Yutyrannus (courage roar/fear roar).
• Building Supplies: Sometimes, a few foundations and walls can create a safe spot or block off chokepoints.

2. Navigation and Awareness

• Online Maps: While this guide provides general information, specific cave layouts and artifact locations are best viewed on detailed community-made maps (e.g., Ark Wiki maps, Dododex maps).
• Marking Paths: Use glowsticks, torches, or even temporary structures to mark your way, especially in labyrinthine caves.
• Sound Cues: Listen carefully for creature sounds – they often indicate threats before you see them.
• Environmental Hazards: Be aware of lava pits, poisonous gas, extreme temperatures, and fall damage.

3. Combat Tactics

• Chokepoints: Utilize narrow passages to funnel enemies, making them easier to manage.
• Hit and Run: For powerful enemies, use ranged weapons and retreat to safety to heal.
• Tame Management: Set your tames to "aggressive" or "attack target" as needed. Be mindful of friendly fire.
• Rabies (Mega Rabies): A common and dangerous debuff in caves, inflicted by Onyc and Megalania. Bring antidotes or be prepared to manage health loss.

Types of Caves and Their Challenges

1. Land Caves

These are the most common type, ranging from simple tunnels to complex multi-level dungeons. They often feature:

• Creatures: Araneo, Onyc, Pulmonoscorpius, Titanoboa, Megalania, Arthropluera, Megaloceros, Direwolf, Sabertooth, and occasionally larger predators like Carnos or Rexes (especially in entrance zones).
• Hazards: Fall damage, poisonous gas (e.g., Swamp Cave on The Island), extreme temperatures.
• Recommended Tames: Direwolf, Sabertooth, Thylacoleo, Baryonyx. A Daeodon can be invaluable for healing.
• Example: The Island - Lower South Cave (Artifact of the Hunter)
  • Location: Lat 80.0, Lon 53.5.
  • Difficulty: Easy to Medium.
  • Creatures: Araneo, Onyc, Pulmonoscorpius, Titanoboa.
  • Strategy: Relatively straightforward. Bring a good melee weapon and a shotgun. A strong Direwolf or Sabertooth can clear it easily. Watch out for large groups of Onyc.
  • Rewards: Artifact of the Hunter, high-level loot crates.

2. Underwater Caves

These caves require specialized gear and tames due to the aquatic environment. They are often dark and disorienting.

• Creatures: Megalodon, Manta, Anglerfish, Electrophorus, Cnidaria (Jellyfish), Mosasaur, Plesiosaur, Tusoteuthis.
• Hazards: Drowning, Electrophorus stings (paralysis), Cnidaria stings (paralysis), deep-sea pressure (can damage players without SCUBA).
• Recommended Gear: Full SCUBA gear (mask, tank, leggings, flippers), Lazarus Chowder.
• Recommended Tames:
  • Basilosaurus: Immune to Electrophorus and Cnidaria stings, provides warmth. Excellent choice.
  • Megalodon: Good combat mount, but vulnerable to stings.
  • Mosasaur/Plesiosaur: Powerful, but often too large for tighter cave passages.
  • Ichthyosaurus: Fast for scouting, but poor combat.
• Example: The Island - North East Underwater Cave (Artifact of the Strong)
  • Location: Lat 14.7, Lon 85.5.
  • Difficulty: Medium to Hard.
  • Creatures: Megalodon, Manta, Electrophorus, Cnidaria, Mosasaur.
  • Strategy: Bring a high-level Basilosaurus. Clear the entrance of aggressive creatures. The cave itself is a series of tunnels. Be wary of Electrophorus and Cnidaria swarms. Use a crossbow for ranged underwater combat.
  • Rewards: Artifact of the Strong, deep-sea loot crates.

3. Aberration-Specific Caves (Radioactive Zones, Element Regions)

Aberration introduces unique environmental challenges and creatures, making its caves particularly dangerous.

• Creatures: Ravager, Basilisk, Rock Drake, Reaper, Nameless, Glowtail, Featherlight, Bulbdog, Shinehorn, Karkinos, Spino.
• Hazards: Radiation (requires Hazard Suit), Element Sickness, extreme heat/cold, fall damage, aggressive Nameless swarms.
• Recommended Gear: Full Hazard Suit (for radioactive zones), high-quality weapons, plenty of medical brews.
• Recommended Tames:
  • Rock Drake: Essential for navigating vertical terrain and gliding.
  • Spino: Excellent combat mount, especially in water.
  • Karkinos: Good for carrying items and tanking damage.
  • Light Pets: Crucial for warding off Nameless and detecting Reapers.
• Example: Aberration - Element Region (Artifact of the Shadows)
  • Location: Deep within the Element Region, often requiring a Rock Drake to navigate.
  • Difficulty: Very Hard.
  • Creatures: Nameless, Rock Drakes, Reapers, Basilisk.
  • Strategy: A full Hazard Suit is mandatory. Bring a high-level Rock Drake and a light pet. The cave is a maze of tunnels and vertical drops. Be prepared for constant Nameless attacks. The artifact is usually guarded by powerful creatures.
  • Rewards: Artifact of the Shadows, Element Shards, high-tier loot.

Common Pitfalls and Missables

• Forgetting a Light Source: Easily leads to disorientation and surprise attacks.
• Underestimating Creature Numbers: Caves often feature dense populations of aggressive creatures.
• Ignoring Environmental Hazards: Lava, gas, radiation, and deep-sea pressure can kill faster than creatures.
• Not Bringing Bug Repellant: Can turn a manageable cave into a nightmare of swarming insects.
• Getting Lost: Without marking paths, it's easy to lose your way in complex cave systems.
• Overburdening Tames: Be mindful of your tame's weight limit, especially when collecting heavy resources.
• Not Having a Backup Plan: Always consider how you'll retrieve your gear if you die.

By understanding the unique challenges and rewards of Ark's hidden caves and secret locations, and by meticulously preparing for each expedition, you can transform these dangerous environments into lucrative opportunities for progression and discovery. Happy exploring, Survivor!