Arat, the new map in ARK 2, is Studio Wildcard's largest and most diverse map ever. It features eight distinct biomes, each with unique resources, creature spawns, environmental hazards, and base-building opportunities. This guide breaks down every biome with coordinates, resource density rankings, danger levels, and the best places to build within each region.
Southern Beaches
Coordinates: 70-90 Lat, 30-60 Lon • Danger Level: Low • Biome Tier: Starter
The Southern Beaches are the default spawn zone and the safest region on Arat. Flat terrain, abundant water access, low predator density (Dodos, Dilophosaurs, an occasional Raptor). Resources: plenty of thatch, wood, stone, fiber, and berries. Metal is scarce — you will need to venture inland for significant metal deposits.
Best for: new players, starter bases, early resource caching. The beach from (80, 40) to (85, 55) has the flattest terrain and closest proximity to the Southern River metal spawns. Build your 2x2 starter here, then establish a secondary metal base when you reach mid-game.
Jungle
Coordinates: 40-70 Lat, 30-60 Lon • Danger Level: Medium-High • Biome Tier: Early-Mid Game
The dense jungle covers the central-southern portion of the map. Dense tree coverage provides abundant wood and thatch. Berry bushes are everywhere. Predator density is high — Raptors, Carnotaurs, Titanoboa, and the occasional Allosaurus pack. The canopy blocks flyer visibility, making scouting difficult. Multiple cave entrances are hidden in the jungle cliffs.
Resources: moderate metal nodes along the western jungle edge, abundant crystal in the central jungle caves, and a few obsidian nodes near the waterfall at (55, 45). The jungle's main value is its cave systems — three artifact caves are accessible only through jungle entrances.
Base tip: Build on the jungle's elevated plateaus rather than the forest floor. The plateaus at (50, 50) and (60, 45) offer natural terrain defense with 360-degree views. The trade-off: no water access — you will need water tanks and pipes from a nearby river.
Swamp
Coordinates: 30-50 Lat, 55-75 Lon • Danger Level: High • Biome Tier: Mid-Game
The swamp is one of the most dangerous biomes on Arat. Slow movement through water, limited visibility due to tall mangrove trees, and aggressive native creatures including Sarcosuchus, Titanoboa, Leech, and the Kaprosuchus — which can grab you off your mount and drag you underwater. The swamp is also home to the only known location for rare mushrooms and leech blood (required for medical brews).
Resources: abundant wood, thatch, rare flowers, rare mushrooms, leech blood, and silica pearls in shallow water. No metal, limited stone. The swamp is a resource biome, not a base biome — visit for specific materials and leave.
Exploration tip: Traverse the swamp on a Baryonyx or Spinosaurus. Both move faster in water than on land, and their combat stats handle Sarcos and Kapros effectively. Never foot-traverse the swamp. Use a grappling hook to reach the high-value mushroom clusters on fallen logs and tree platforms.
Western Mountains
Coordinates: 50-70 Lat, 10-30 Lon • Danger Level: High • Biome Tier: Mid-Late Game
The Western Mountains are the premier metal, crystal, and obsidian farming zone. Rocky terrain with steep cliffs, frequent rock elemental spawns, and cold temperatures require fur armor or an otter for extended stays. Predators include Sabertooth, Dire Wolves, and occasional Giganotosaurus spawns at the highest peaks.
Resources: 15+ metal nodes at the main peak (60, 25), 5-6 crystal nodes along the ridge, 3-4 obsidian nodes near the summit. This is the richest single-location resource zone on the map. A well-organized tribe can fill an Argentavis with metal from the peak in under 20 minutes.
Base tip: The Cliffside Plateau at (60, 30) is the best PvP base location on the map. Two narrow approach paths, three metal spawns within 50 meters, and a 360-degree view of approaching raiders. Downside: no water, high winds lower structure HP over time, and the climb from the valley floor takes 2+ minutes on foot.
Northern Frozen Peaks
Coordinates: 15-35 Lat, 30-55 Lon • Danger Level: Very High • Biome Tier: Late Game
The snow biome is brutal. Constant cold drains your food and water meters 3x faster than temperate biomes. Blizzards reduce visibility to 15 meters and deal damage-over-time if you are not in a shelter or wearing full fur armor. Creatures include Dire Wolves, Yutyrannus, Mammoths, and the feared Yeti boss spawn.
Resources: moderate metal, abundant crystal (best crystal farming zone on the map), oil rocks on the surface, and organic polymer from Kairuku and Penguin kills. The frozen caves contain some of the highest-tier loot crates in the game.
Exploration tip: Always carry 5+ med brews and a stack of cooked meat. Blizzards last 3-5 minutes — if caught in one without shelter, build a quick 2x2 thatch hut with a campfire as emergency shelter. Fur armor is non-negotiable; cloth or hide will not protect you from hypothermia.
Desert
Coordinates: 15-35 Lat, 60-85 Lon • Danger Level: Medium • Biome Tier: Mid-Game
The desert biome spans the northeastern corner of Arat. High temperatures require ghillie armor or an egg incubator for taming. Sandstorms reduce visibility and apply the "sand-blasted" debuff, dealing minor damage-over-time. Creatures: Morellatops (desert equivalent of Parasaur), Thorny Dragon (wood gatherer), Mantis, and the rare Phoenix spawn.
Resources: abundant stone and flint, moderate metal at the desert's rocky outcroppings, rare flowers in the oasis areas, and silica pearls in shallow water pockets. The desert ruins contain several artifact cave entrances and high-level loot crates.
Base tip: The Oasis at (25, 70) is the only reliable water source in the desert. Build near it if you plan a desert base. The surrounding cliff walls offer natural defense. Desert bases are uncommon — most PvP players will not check the desert for raiding targets, giving you a stealth advantage.
Ocean
Coordinates: All deep water • Danger Level: High • Biome Tier: Late Game
The ocean covers roughly 30% of the map area. Underwater visibility is limited. Deep water zones have pressure thresholds requiring scuba gear. Creatures: Megalodon, Mosasaurus, Plesiosaur, Tusoteuthis, Anglerfish, Coelacanth, Trilobite, and Cnidaria (the "jellyfish of death").
Resources: abundant oil (underwater oil veins), silica pearls, metal (scattered underwater nodes), and rare black pearls from Eurypterid kills. The deep ocean trenches contain the highest-tier underwater loot crates.
Exploration tip: Always bring a baryonyx or mosasaurus for underwater travel. Carry multiple scuba tanks — one tank lasts about 20 minutes. The ocean floor at (30, 70) has the highest density of oil veins on the map. The deep trench at (60, 85) has 6+ underwater loot crate spawns.
Caves
Arat has 8 major cave systems, each with unique loot tables and artifact locations. Caves are always dangerous — tight spaces, limited mobility, high creature density. Always bring grappling hooks, medical brews, and a pump shotgun. The three artifact caves for the Broodmother (Hunter, Clever, Massive) are all in the jungle biome. The Megapithecus artifact caves are in the Western Mountains and Northern Frozen Peaks.
Biome Quick Reference Table
| Biome | Danger | Metal | Crystal | Oil | Base Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Beaches | Low | Minimal | None | None | Starter |
| Jungle | Medium-High | Low | Medium | None | Mid (Plateaus) |
| Swamp | High | None | None | None | Not Recommended |
| Western Mountains | High | Very High | High | None | Best (PvP) |
| Northern Frozen Peaks | Very High | Medium | Very High | High | Late Game |
| Desert | Medium | Low | None | None | Stealth Base |
| Ocean | High | Low | None | Very High | Not Recommended |
Use Cases
Scenario 1: Solo player establishing multiple outposts across biomes. Build a starter base on the Southern Beaches for safety. Establish a metal outpost at the Western Mountains (small 2x2 shack with bed, forge, and smithy). Place a hidden cache in the desert oasis. Keep a raft base for ocean resource runs. Three biomes covered, no single point of failure.
Scenario 2: Tribe controlling resource flow on a PvP server. Control the Western Mountain metal spawns by building a defensive outpost at the Cliffside Plateau. Assign one member to patrol the Swamp for rare mushrooms and leech blood. Set up a crystal farming route in the Northern Frozen Peaks. If you control these three biomes, you control the server's resource economy.
Tips
- Biome-appropriate armor saves lives — fur for snow, ghillie for desert/scouting, flak for combat, scuba for ocean. Dying because you wore cloth in the mountains is preventable.
- Learn cave layouts before artifact runs — each artifact cave has a unique layout and respawning creatures. Watch a community guide or scout the cave with a Pteranodon before bringing your boss rexes through.
- Desert and swamp bases are low-profile — most raiders check jungle and mountain bases first. If you want to avoid attention, build in low-traffic biomes.
- Cross-breeding across biomes — some resources (oil, polymer, electronics) are only efficiently farmed in specific biomes. Establish outposts rather than hauling everything across the map.
- Water crossings break scent trails — the sensory AI tracks scent through biomes. Crossing a deep river or ocean inlet resets your scent trail completely.