Cerberus Additions
ARK: Survival Ascended has always thrived on its modding community, and Cerberus Additions is a fresh, ambitious project designed to reshape how you approach survival. While the mod is currently in its alpha phase, it already delivers a solid foundation of reusable equipment, admin-focused consumables, and quality-of-life improvements that can benefit any server, not just the cluster it was originally built for. If you are tired of constantly crafting new tools or managing cluttered inventories, this add-on is worth a closer look.
What Does Cerberus Additions Bring to Your ARK?
At its core, Cerberus Additions aims to introduce new harvesting and crafting resources, consumables, weapons, armor sets with bonuses, and various QoL features. The current alpha build focuses on two main pillars: reusable (infinite) tools and generic consumables. These items are designed with a specific game environment in mind, but the developer explicitly states that any servers are free to use the items however they like. This flexibility makes it a great choice for both public and private clusters looking to customize their gameplay loop.
Reusable Equipment: The Star of the Show
The most immediately useful additions are the reusable tools and weapons. Instead of burning through durability or consumable charges, these items are designed to last indefinitely. This is a massive time-saver for players who hate resource grinding just to keep their basic gear functional. Here is a breakdown of what you can currently spawn in:
- Reusable Grapplebow: A versatile tool for traversal and taming utility.
- Reusable Torch: Provides light and can even be used underwater, solving a common annoyance.
- Reusable Bola: Essential for early-game taming without the constant crafting cost.
- Reusable Electric Prod: A reliable melee option that also functions underwater.
- Reusable Flare Gun: Perfect for signaling or lighting up dark areas.
- Reusable Spear: A classic weapon that never breaks.
- Reusable Shovel: Requires the BTT mod but adds a much-needed tool for digging mechanics.
- Reusable Gas Mask: Negates poison projectiles, though swamp cave damage is a known issue being worked on.
- Reusable SCUBA Tank, Flippers, Goggles, and Pants: A full underwater set. Notably, the flippers do not reduce movement speed on land, which is a huge QoL win.
All of these reusables come with learnable engrams, making them easy to integrate into your progression. If you are an admin, you can target the engram entries directly (e.g., EngramEntry_ReusableTorch) to disable or adjust crafting costs.
Admin-Focused Consumables
For server administrators, Cerberus Additions provides a set of generic consumables that are intentionally left without active effects in this alpha. These are meant to be repurposed via admin commands as loot drops or quest rewards. The current list includes the Tome of Knowledge (XP Booster), Taming Concoction (Taming Booster), Harvesting Concoction (Harvesting Booster), and Fused Voidstone. They do not stack, which encourages admins to use them as unique, single-use items. The developer plans to add Elixirs with actual buffs for players and dinos in future updates, so stay tuned for those.
How to Install and Get Started
If you are wondering how to install this mod, the process is straightforward. Since Cerberus Additions is designed for ARK: Survival Ascended, you will need to ensure your game is updated to a compatible version. The mod is in alpha, so it is wise to check the mod page for the latest patch notes and known compatibility issues. For players using the foxygame.net launcher, the process is even smoother; the launcher's add-on catalog lets you search for Cerberus Additions directly and deploy it with a single click, ensuring version compatibility without manual file management.
To download Cerberus Additions, navigate to the Steam Workshop or your preferred mod repository for ARK: Survival Ascended. Once subscribed, the mod will appear in your mod list when you start the game. For server owners, you will need to add the mod ID to your server's mod list and restart. Remember that this is an alpha build, so expect some rough edges. The developer has already acknowledged known issues, such as the Reusable Gas Mask not mitigating swamp cave damage and the Reusable Torch having a visual glitch with the angler gel positioning.
Development Status and Future Plans
It is important to note that development is currently paused. The creator is focusing on the "Cerberus cluster" but has confirmed they will resume work soon to add more content. This is a passion project from a first-time modder, so the roadmap is ambitious. The immediate goals include adding Elixirs that provide different bonuses and buffs to players and dinos, which will significantly expand the mod's utility beyond the current admin-only consumables.
For those who enjoy supporting early-stage mods, this is a fantastic opportunity to provide feedback and shape the direction of the project. The developer has already credited a team of testers and mentors, indicating a collaborative approach to development. If you are running a cluster, you can easily integrate these items into your loot tables or admin commands, giving your players unique tools that they won't find in the base game.
Compatibility and Server Considerations
Cerberus Additions is built for ARK: Survival Ascended, and while it is designed with a specific cluster in mind, it is server-agnostic. This means you can use it on PvE, PvP, or dedicated RP servers without issue. The mod does not require any dependencies except for the Reusable Shovel, which needs the BTT mod. For players using the foxygame.net launcher, auto-updates are handled seamlessly, so you will always have the latest alpha build without needing to manually reinstall files. This is particularly useful given the frequent updates that alpha mods often undergo.
When spawning items, you will use standard admin commands. For example, to get the Reusable Grapplebow, you would use: cheat giveitem Blueprint'/CerberusAdditions/Weapons/Reusables/PrimalItemWeapon_ReusableGrappleBow.PrimalItemWeapon_ReusableGrappleBow' 1 0 0. Similar commands exist for all items listed above, making it easy to test or distribute gear.
Final Thoughts on Cerberus Additions
Cerberus Additions is a promising alpha mod that fills a specific niche: reducing the tedium of consumable tools while giving admins powerful new levers for server management. The reusable gear alone is worth the download, especially for players who hate crafting multiples of the same item. The lack of active effects on the consumables is a temporary limitation, but the potential for future Elixirs is exciting.
If you are ready to try it out, remember to check the known issues and be patient with the development timeline. The mod is free to use on any server, and the developer is open to feedback. Whether you are a solo player or a cluster admin, Cerberus Additions for ARK: Survival Ascended offers a fresh take on quality-of-life improvements that are worth exploring. Keep an eye on the mod page for updates, and happy surviving.