How to Make a Vegetable Cake in ARK: Survival Evolved – A Comprehensive Guide
In ARK: Survival Evolved, survival isn’t just about taming dinosaurs and building bases; it’s also about managing your creatures’ health and well-being. One crucial aspect of this is ensuring they have the proper nourishment, especially when it comes to the gentle giants – the herbivores. This is where the vegetable cake comes into play. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of how to make a vegetable cake in ARK, including the necessary ingredients, the crafting process, and its uses.
Why Vegetable Cakes are Essential in ARK
Vegetable cakes are not just a tasty treat for your herbivorous dinosaurs; they are vital for healing and taming certain creatures, most notably the Ovis (sheep). Ovis are a valuable source of wool and mutton, but taming them requires a unique approach, and vegetable cakes are the key. They are also an excellent source of healing for herbivores, making them a must-have item in any ARK survivor’s inventory.
Without a readily available supply of vegetable cakes, taming Ovis becomes significantly more difficult, and maintaining the health of your herbivore livestock can be a constant challenge. Therefore, understanding how to make a vegetable cake in ARK is a fundamental skill for any serious player.
Ingredients for a Vegetable Cake
Before you can start baking, you’ll need to gather the necessary ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to create a single vegetable cake:
- 2 Giant Bee Honey
- 4 Sap
- 20 Mejoberries
- 2 Rockarrot
- 2 Savoroot
- 2 Longrass
- 1 Water
Let’s break down where to find each of these ingredients:
Giant Bee Honey
Giant Bee Honey is harvested from wild beehives found in redwood forests and other areas. Approaching a beehive will aggro the Giant Bees, so be prepared for a fight. Wearing a Ghillie Suit can help you approach the hive with less risk. Once the bees are dealt with, you can access the honey. Be careful, as removing honey will also aggro the hive, so be ready to run or fight. Alternatively, using a tamed Direbear allows you to harvest honey without aggroing the bees.
Sap
Sap is obtained by tapping redwood trees using a Tree Platform and a Tap. Place the Tree Platform high up in a redwood tree, then attach the Taps to the tree trunk. Periodically, the Taps will generate Sap, which you can collect. Finding a reliable source of sap is crucial for consistent vegetable cake production.
Mejoberries
Mejoberries are the purple berries found on various bushes throughout the ARK landscape. They are relatively common and easy to gather by hand or with the help of a herbivore like the Triceratops or Stegosaurus.
Rockarrot, Savoroot, and Longrass
These are crops that must be grown in crop plots. You’ll need to find seeds for each of these plants. Rockarrot seeds are found by harvesting wild plants, particularly in grassy areas. Savoroot seeds are also found by harvesting wild plants, often in mountainous regions. Longrass seeds are harvested similarly, with a higher chance of finding them near water sources. Once you have the seeds, plant them in a Medium Crop Plot or larger, and provide them with water and fertilizer.
Water
Water is easily obtained by filling a Waterskin, Water Jar, or Canteen at a water source like a river or lake. You can also collect rainwater using a Rain Collector Tank.
Crafting the Vegetable Cake
Once you have gathered all the necessary ingredients, you’ll need a Cooking Pot to craft the vegetable cake. Place the Cooking Pot on a fire or industrial cooker, add the ingredients to the pot, and ensure that there is water in the pot. Turn on the fire or cooker, and the vegetable cake will begin to cook. The crafting process takes a short amount of time, and once it’s complete, you’ll have your delicious and nutritious vegetable cake.
It’s important to note that the Cooking Pot requires a water source. If you don’t have a water source connected, you will need to manually add water to the pot using a Waterskin, Water Jar, or Canteen. Make sure to keep an eye on the water level, as the crafting process will stop if the pot runs out of water.
Using the Vegetable Cake
Now that you know how to make a vegetable cake in ARK, let’s discuss its uses. The primary use of vegetable cakes is to heal herbivores. Placing a vegetable cake in a herbivore’s inventory will cause them to automatically consume it when they are injured, providing a significant healing boost. This is particularly useful during combat or when dealing with fall damage.
The second, and perhaps more important, use of vegetable cakes is for taming Ovis. When taming an Ovis, you must feed it vegetable cakes to increase its taming effectiveness. Ovis have a very low tolerance for other taming foods, making vegetable cakes the only reliable option. Without vegetable cakes, taming an Ovis is nearly impossible.
Tips and Tricks for Vegetable Cake Production
Here are some tips and tricks to optimize your vegetable cake production:
- Automate Crop Production: Invest in crop plots and irrigation systems to automate the production of Rockarrot, Savoroot, and Longrass. This will ensure a steady supply of these essential ingredients.
- Tame a Direbear: A tamed Direbear allows you to safely harvest Giant Bee Honey without aggroing the bees. This will significantly increase your honey production.
- Use Preserving Bins: Preserving Bins can extend the shelf life of your vegetable cakes, preventing them from spoiling too quickly.
- Dedicated Cooking Station: Create a dedicated cooking station with multiple Cooking Pots and a reliable water source. This will allow you to produce vegetable cakes more efficiently.
- Breed Ovis: Once you have tamed a pair of Ovis, you can breed them to create a sustainable source of wool and mutton.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Here are some common issues you might encounter when making vegetable cakes and how to resolve them:
- Ingredient Spoilage: Ingredients can spoil quickly, especially Giant Bee Honey. Use Preserving Bins or Refrigerators to extend their shelf life.
- Water Shortage: Ensure that your Cooking Pot has a reliable water source. If you are manually adding water, make sure to keep an eye on the water level.
- Seed Scarcity: Seeds for Rockarrot, Savoroot, and Longrass can be difficult to find. Explore different areas and harvest a variety of wild plants to increase your chances of finding seeds.
- Bee Aggression: Giant Bees can be dangerous. Wear a Ghillie Suit or use a tamed Direbear to safely harvest honey.
Conclusion
Mastering how to make a vegetable cake in ARK is essential for any survivor looking to thrive in the game. Whether you need to heal your herbivores or tame a fluffy Ovis, vegetable cakes are a valuable resource. By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a vegetable cake-baking expert. So, gather your ingredients, fire up your Cooking Pot, and get ready to bake your way to success in ARK: Survival Evolved.
Remember to always prioritize safety when gathering resources, especially when dealing with Giant Bees. Automate your crop production to ensure a steady supply of ingredients, and don’t forget to use Preserving Bins to extend the shelf life of your vegetable cakes. With a little practice and dedication, you’ll be churning out vegetable cakes like a pro in no time. Happy baking!
[See also: Taming Ovis in ARK: A Step-by-Step Guide]
[See also: Best Herbivores to Tame in ARK]
