Custom Cosmetic: Avali
ARK: Survival Ascended is a game about survival, dinosaurs, and building empires, but sometimes you want to stand out from the crowd of generic survivors. That is where Custom Cosmetic: Avali comes in. This add-on transforms your character into an Avali, a chimeric, raptor-like creature with four sensitive ears, a feathered body, and an uncanny ability to express exactly how it feels. It is not just a simple skin swap; it is a full cosmetic overhaul that breathes life into your survivor with dynamic overlays, lifelike behaviors, and physics-driven body parts.
Whether you are a fan of the original Avali concept or just looking for a unique way to play, this mod offers a polished and highly optimized experience. The creator describes the Avali as a "chimeric abomination developed through unusual evolutionary processes," but in practice, it is one of the most charming and detailed cosmetics available for the game. The mod is designed to be lightweight, ensuring that your game's performance remains smooth even with multiple players wearing the cosmetic.
What Makes Custom Cosmetic: Avali Unique?
The Avali cosmetic goes far beyond a static model. It is packed with features that make the character feel alive. From conditional overlays that react to the environment to facial expressions that change based on your health, this mod is a masterclass in cosmetic design. Here are some of the standout features you can expect after you download Custom Cosmetic: Avali.
Conditional Overlays and Environmental Reactions
One of the most impressive aspects of this mod is how the Avali reacts to its surroundings. The creature visually becomes wet while standing in rain or swimming, and it slowly dries off when out of the water. If you find yourself caught in a sandstorm, the Avali will become covered in sand, which can be washed off by jumping into water or standing in the rain. Additionally, the cosmetic shows dirt, blood, scars, and cuts as you take damage, providing a visceral feedback loop that the base game lacks.
Lifelike Behaviors and Facial Expressions
The Avali is not just a static model; it has a personality. The mod includes a system that visually shows when the creature is in pain or hurt. Facial expressions change dynamically to reflect your condition, meaning you can tell at a glance if your health is low without looking at the UI. The eyes move and jitter randomly, breathing life into the fluffy fellow. Even the ears droop when your health is critical, adding another layer of immersion.
Physics-Based Body Features
The tail, ears, hair, feathers, and body all have physics enabled. This means they interact with the environment, colliding with structures, objects, and terrain around you. The result is a character that feels grounded in the world. Both male and female versions are available for most Avali, unless the specific author has chosen to gender lock them. The first-person view model also reflects the feather color and patterns of the third-person model, including the damage, wetness, and sanding overlays.
Performance and Optimization
A common concern with high-quality cosmetics is the impact on game performance. The creator of Custom Cosmetic: Avali for ARK: Survival Ascended has gone to great lengths to ensure this mod is as efficient as possible. All textures have been carefully optimized to keep texture memory usage at a minimum. In fact, all Avali variations together use less memory than just the male human model's single AO texture. This is a significant achievement, allowing you to enjoy the cosmetic without sacrificing frame rates.
The mod also keeps its file size small by compressing textures without losing quality. This means faster downloads and less storage space used. For those using the foxygame.net launcher, the process is even smoother. The launcher's add-on catalog allows you to find Custom Cosmetic: Avali quickly, and its one-click install feature ensures you are always running the latest version with automatic updates, eliminating the need to manually track changelogs.
Available Variations and Future Plans
The mod includes several different Avali variations, each with unique colors and patterns. This allows players to choose a look that fits their style. The current lineup includes a range of options, from more natural tones to vibrant and exotic patterns. The creator has also outlined future plans, including custom death animations, more variations, clothing, and weapon or item skins. This means the mod is continually evolving, offering new content for returning players.
Known Issues and Workarounds
As with any mod, there are a few known issues. All cosmetics with physics cast secondary capsule shadows onto nearby objects in both third and first person. The developer cannot prevent this due to limitations in the Devkit Blueprint. This can create overshadowing when prone and cause weird shadows in first person. However, you can disable capsule shadows via the console command r.CapsuleShadows 0. Since nothing in the game uses Unreal's physics in this way, it is safe to disable without any negative visual impact.
How to Install Custom Cosmetic: Avali
Installing this mod is straightforward. To get started, you need to download Custom Cosmetic: Avali from the mod database. The recommended method is to use the in-game mod browser. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to install the cosmetic:
- Open ARK: Survival Ascended and navigate to the main menu.
- Select the "Mods" option.
- Search for "Avali" and subscribe to the mod in-game.
- Restart your game completely after the mod has finished downloading and installing.
- It is required to restart every time the cosmetic updates, otherwise it will not show up.
- Once in the game, open your Inventory and select the "Cosmetics" tab at the top.
- Open the "Avali cosmetics" folder on the right side in the "Custom Cosmetics" section.
- "Use" or drag any Avali to the chest slot or use it directly.
It is worth noting that the mod is cross-platform as of version 15, making it accessible to a wider audience. The mod is compatible with the current version of ARK: Survival Ascended and does not conflict with other cosmetic mods, allowing you to mix and match as you see fit. If you are using the foxygame.net launcher, you can also find the mod in its catalog. The launcher handles version compatibility checks automatically, so you never have to worry about a broken update breaking your game. It is a convenient way to manage your add-ons, especially if you have multiple mods installed.
Changelog Highlights and Community Support
The mod has a rich history of updates, with each version bringing improvements and fixes. From fixing eye textures and animation bugs to adding new variations like the Neopolitan's Sundae and Barn Owl, the developer is actively maintaining the mod. Recent updates have focused on improving physics, fixing sandstorm overlays, and enhancing facial expressions. The developer also maintains a Discord server for community feedback and announcements, ensuring that players have a direct line of communication.
In conclusion, Custom Cosmetic: Avali is a standout add-on for ARK: Survival Ascended. It offers a level of detail and interactivity rarely seen in cosmetic mods. The combination of environmental overlays, lifelike behaviors, and physics-based features makes it a must-have for players looking to add a unique flair to their survival experience. With its focus on performance and a clear roadmap for future content, this is a mod that will keep you coming back for more. Whether you are a veteran survivor or a newcomer, adding this fluffy raptor to your roster is a decision you will not regret.