Acquiring Your Chemistry Bench
ARK: Survival Evolved thrusts players into a prehistoric world teeming with dinosaurs and dangers. Survival hinges on mastering the game’s intricate crafting system. While early game crafting relies on simple tools and resources, progression towards the mid and late game heavily depends on advanced crafting stations. At the forefront of these stations stands the ARK Chemistry Bench, a powerhouse for creating potent resources and essential items.
The Chemistry Bench isn’t just another crafting station; it’s the gateway to crafting some of the most powerful items in the game. Mastering its use is key for any survivor aiming to thrive, whether that means taming formidable creatures, dominating in player versus player combat, or exploring the game’s most challenging environments. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the ARK Chemistry Bench, covering everything from obtaining it and understanding its interface to mastering its recipes and optimizing its placement.
The journey to unlocking the ARK Chemistry Bench begins with leveling up your survivor. You’ll need to reach a certain level before the Engram becomes available for purchase. Once you’ve reached the required level, you’ll need to invest Engram Points to unlock the recipe. These Engram Points are a valuable resource, so ensure you plan your spending carefully.
Once you have the Engram, you can’t just magically conjure up a Chemistry Bench. You’ll need to gather the necessary crafting resources. The recipe calls for a significant amount of Metal Ingots, Crystal, Oil, and Cementing Paste. Metal Ingots require smelting Metal Ore in a Refining Forge or Industrial Forge. Crystal can be found in caves and on mountain peaks. Oil is harvested from Oil Veins deep underwater or from Trilobites on the beaches. Cementing Paste requires combining Chitin or Keratin with Stone in a Mortar and Pestle or Chemistry Bench.
With all the required resources in hand, you’re ready to build. However, the Chemistry Bench itself can’t be crafted in your inventory. You’ll need access to a Smithy. The Smithy is an earlier crafting station that allows you to create more complex items. Access a Smithy, place the resources within, and begin crafting your ARK Chemistry Bench.
Understanding the Chemistry Bench: Interface and Functionality
Once built, the Chemistry Bench has a relatively straightforward interface. It displays the available recipes, the required ingredients, and a crafting progress bar. However, there’s a critical aspect to consider: the Chemistry Bench requires power to operate.
The Chemistry Bench is an electrical appliance, meaning it needs a generator to function. You’ll need a Generator, Gasoline to fuel it, and a connected electrical wiring system to bring power to the Chemistry Bench. Experiment with connecting the wires to the generator, then to the Chemisty Bench.
The Generator burns Gasoline to produce electricity. The rate at which it consumes fuel depends on the Generator’s type and how many appliances are connected to it. It’s always good to have backup gasoline to save your hard work!
One of the main advantages of the Chemistry Bench is its crafting speed. For certain recipes, it crafts significantly faster than other crafting stations. This is particularly valuable when crafting large quantities of items like Gunpowder or Narcotics.
Unlocking the Power: Key Recipes and Uses
The Chemistry Bench unlocks access to a range of powerful recipes that are essential for mid-to-late game progression. Here are some of the most important:
The Foundation of Firepower: Gunpowder
Gunpowder is the cornerstone of ammunition and explosives in ARK. Without it, you’ll be severely limited in your ability to defend yourself and your base. The ingredients for Gunpowder are Charcoal and Sparkpowder, both relatively easy to obtain. Charcoal is created by burning Wood in a Campfire or Refining Forge, and Sparkpowder is made by grinding Flint and Stone in a Mortar and Pestle.
Taming Titans and Subduing Survivors: Stimulants and Narcotics
These two contrasting substances play a vital role in taming creatures and player versus player combat. Stimulants, crafted from Stimberries and Gunpowder, provide a temporary boost of stamina and reduce torpor. Narcotics, on the other hand, crafted from Narcoberries and Spoiled Meat, significantly increase a creature’s torpor, making it easier to tame. Mastering the creation of both is essential for any survivor.
Fueling Your Future: Gasoline
Gasoline is the lifeblood of motorized vehicles and generators in ARK. Without it, you won’t be able to power your base or traverse the landscape efficiently. Gasoline is created by refining Oil and Hide in the Chemistry Bench. Keeping a steady supply of Oil is crucial for maintaining your Gasoline reserves.
Transcending Limitations: Element Conversion
Element is a highly sought-after resource used to craft Tek Tier items, the most advanced technology in ARK. The Chemistry Bench allows you to convert Element Shards, which are more readily available, into full Element. This conversion is vital for players looking to access the game’s endgame content.
Boosting Performance: Medical Brew
To increase your healing, use a medical brew! With Narcoberries and Tintoberries, you can heal up quickly when you’re in a pinch.
Energized Endurance: Energy Brew
With Stimberries and Amarberries, you can create an energy brew to help you keep going in long distance journeys or fights!
Battle Tartare
The Battle Tartare can give you a great head start when you are entering into combat! With cooked prime meat, longrass and citronal, this recipe is a must have in your bench!
Shadow Steak Saute
Need to become invisible? With the Shadow Steak Saute, you’ll be cloaked in the shadows as you sneak around.
Maximizing Efficiency: Tips and Tricks
To truly master the ARK Chemistry Bench, you need to optimize its placement, fuel consumption, and resource gathering. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Chemistry Bench:
Strategic Placement
Think carefully about where you place your Chemistry Bench. Ideally, it should be located near your generators and resource storage areas. This will minimize travel time when crafting. Placing it in a secure location protected from raids is also crucial.
Fuel Efficiency
Gasoline can be a valuable resource, so it’s important to use it efficiently. Consider investing in more efficient generators to minimize fuel consumption. Turning off the generator when not in use is another simple way to save fuel.
Resource Gathering Optimization
The Chemistry Bench requires a lot of resources, so developing efficient gathering strategies is essential. Taming creatures specialized in gathering specific resources, such as a Doedicurus for Stone or an Ankylosaurus for Metal, can significantly speed up the process.
Dedicated Storage Solutions
Designate storage containers specifically for the ingredients needed for Chemistry Bench recipes. This will allow you to quickly access the resources you need without having to rummage through your entire base.
Avoiding Pitfalls: Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting
Even experienced ARK players can make mistakes when using the Chemistry Bench. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid and how to troubleshoot them:
Fueling Fiascos
Forgetting to fuel the generator is a common mistake that can halt your crafting progress. Make it a habit to regularly check the generator’s fuel level and keep a supply of Gasoline readily available. Consider setting up an alarm or notification system to remind you when the fuel is running low.
Power Problems
Insufficient power can also prevent the Chemistry Bench from functioning. Make sure your generator is producing enough electricity to power all connected appliances. If necessary, upgrade your generator or add additional generators to increase your power output.
Recipe Riddles
Misunderstanding recipe requirements can lead to wasted resources. Always double-check the ingredients and quantities before starting a crafting process. Refer to the in-game recipe or consult a reliable online guide to ensure you have the correct ingredients.
Bench Glitches
Occasionally, the Chemistry Bench may encounter glitches that prevent it from functioning properly. If this happens, try picking up and replacing the bench, restarting your game, or verifying the game files to resolve the issue.
Conclusion
The ARK Chemistry Bench is more than just a crafting station; it’s a gateway to advanced technology, potent resources, and ultimately, survival in the harsh world of ARK: Survival Evolved. By understanding its functionality, mastering its recipes, and optimizing its use, you can unlock your full potential and conquer the challenges that lie ahead. The ARK Chemistry Bench gives you access to so many high-level crafting options, it’s something that needs to be prioritized. So, gather your resources, power up your generator, and embark on a journey to master the ARK Chemistry Bench. Your survival depends on it! Good luck, survivor!
