ARK Survival Ascended TEK Vacuum Compartments: What Are They& How To Use

Various TEK structures in ARK Survival Ascended offer extensive versatility and options for base building, with the TEK Vacuum Compartment standing out as one of the most practical structures for specific applications. Specifically designed for underwater scenarios, these compartments can contribute to intriguing builds beneath the waters of ARK if you understand how to craft and use them.

If you're curious to learn more about TEK Vacuum Compartments, including crafting methods and their functionality, continue reading. In this guide, we will comprehensively cover everything you need to know about TEK Vacuum Compartments in ARK Survival Ascended.

What Are TEK Vacuum Compartments in ARK Survival Ascended

TEK Vacuum Compartments are special cube TEK structures in the game that allow players to place them down in the water at any depth and then remove or vacuum out the water inside, enabling you to enter the cube and live within it.

This feature extends to other Vacuum Compartments, as you can place many of them next to each other (or above one another) and connect them to create a larger space inside. By removing the doors of each one, you can create a fully transparent space underwater.

These compartments are powered by TEK Generators, so be sure to check out our guide on TEK Generators if you don't have one already. The TEKgram for the TEK Vacuum Compartment is unlocked when you defeat the Dragon Boss in Beta or Alpha difficulty. Once unlocked, you can use the following items to craft it in the Replicator:

• 360 × Metal Ingot or Scrap Metal Ingot
• 136 × Polymer, Organic Polymer, or Corrupted Nodule
• 180 × Crystal or Primal Crystal
• 2 × Element
• 32 × Black Pearl

A few other things to note are that the Vacuum Compartment is treated as a Tek structure and can only be damaged by explosives, the Tek Rifle, Tek Saddles, an Arthropluera, a Titanosaur, or bosses. Finally, there is also the Vacuum Compartment Moonpool, which is a variant of the normal structure but with a hatch at the bottom for entering the water for direct swimming access.

Now that you know how the structure works, let's discuss some of its uses in the game, specifically for base building.

How To Use The Vacuum Compartments in ARK Survival Ascended

As mentioned previously, the Vacuum Compartment can be used for base building underwater, creating underwater bases that are extremely useful as they are hard to reach, hard to raid, and can be easily hidden from plain sight.

While you can build a giant square pocket of air in the ocean and have your dinos and crafting structures placed inside, some players have noted that building an entire base out of wood or stone inside the air pockets created by the Vacuum Compartments is a better option. 

This is because you can have more defensive options, like turrets set up (which will shoot through the water), and aggressive dinos watching the perimeter at all times. Additionally, you can hide your gear and equipment inside your home within the compartment area.

To see more of this in action, we suggest checking out the video on the topic by YouTuber Teachers Game Too, which we've embedded above. Now that you know how the TEK Vacuum Compartment works, you're all set to take on the new challenge of underwater building in ARK Survival Ascended.