While surviving on the dry land of ARK Survival Ascended is one challenge, navigating the water requires a different approach, especially in terms of weapons. One essential tool for underwater exploration and survival is the Harpoon Launcher, a must-have in your inventory before venturing into The Island's deadly waters.
This weapon is highly effective for underwater traversal, and understanding how to craft and utilize it is pivotal for survival. This guide will walk you through the process of crafting the Harpoon Launcher and highlight its utility in the waters of ARK Survival Ascended.
How To Craft the Harpoon Launcher in ARK Survival Ascended
While the Harpoon Launcher proves to be a potent weapon underwater, its effectiveness on land is limited as its projectiles have a short travel distance. Nonetheless, its true value shines in aquatic environments, where it excels in underwater combat and is particularly useful for incapacitating sea creatures. If you're ready to craft this weapon for your aquatic endeavors, here's a breakdown of the resources required for Harpoon construction:
- 40 × Wood or Fungal Wood
- 60 × Fiber
- 25 × Hide
- 120 × Metal Ingot or Scrap Metal Ingot
- 60 × Cementing Paste or Achatina Paste
- 50 × Obsidian
- 30 × Polymer, Organic Polymer, or Corrupted Nodule
It's crucial to note that you'll need a Refining Forge to craft this weapon. If you haven't set one up yet, you can create it using basic ingredients: 125 × Stone, 5 × Flint, 65 × Hide, 20 × Wood or Fungal Wood, and 40 × Fiber. Now that you're aware of the Harpoon Launcher's crafting process, let's delve into its uses in the game and how it can be advantageous when navigating the perilous waters of the Island.
How To Use the Harpoon Launcher in ARK Survival Ascended
Operating the Harpoon Launcher is straightforward. The weapon uses Spear bolts (and their variants) as ammunition, loaded similarly to other weapons. As previously mentioned, the Harpoon Launcher excels underwater, delivering significantly higher damage against aquatic foes like the megalodon compared to primitive equivalents such as the crossbow.
A notable feature is the ability to retrieve fired bolts (if undamaged), enhancing the weapon's economy underwater. This proves valuable when clearing aggressive creatures and taming others. For example, firing Tranq spear bolts for taming and then recovering them for subsequent creatures makes it a highly viable option over single-use ammo from ranged weapons or bows.
Ultimately, the Harpoon Launcher stands as the optimal weapon for underwater combat and taming, providing a sustainable ammo supply that simplifies underwater exploration—one of the most perilous aspects of the game. Bring this weapon on your next underwater expedition in ARK Survival Ascended, and it will undoubtedly serve you well.