Gyrocopter
The vast landscapes of ARK: Survival Ascended often present daunting travel challenges, from treacherous mountain ranges to expansive oceans. While tamed flyers like Argentavis and Pteranodons serve well for early exploration, survivors seeking a mechanized edge will find the Gyrocopter add-on to be a game-changing solution. This compact, gasoline-powered aircraft offers unparalleled mobility, allowing players to traverse the map with speed and precision that biological mounts simply cannot match.
Why Choose the Gyrocopter Over Traditional Flyers?
The primary advantage of this modded vehicle lies in its consistency and ease of use. Unlike living creatures that require constant feeding, breeding, and leveling, the Gyrocopter is a craftable machine built directly in your Fabricator. It runs on gasoline, a resource most mid-game tribes already stockpile. Once you learn how to install and activate this modification, you gain access to a vehicle designed purely for rapid transit rather than combat dominance, though it does allow for weapon usage while piloting.
Speed is where this little helicopter truly shines. With configurable flight speeds reaching up to 1000 units and a land speed of 300, it outpaces almost any natural creature on the island. Whether you are rushing to defend a base raid or scouting for rare resources in distant biomes, the Gyrocopter ensures you arrive before the threat escalates. Furthermore, recent updates have resolved previous bounding issues when dismounting, making your entry and exit from the cockpit smooth and safe.
Crafting and Basic Controls
To get airborne, you must first craft the vehicle using the standard Fabricator. The recipe typically requires metal ingots, polymer, and electronics, reflecting its status as a high-tier utility item. Once crafted, place it on flat ground and hop in. Starting the engine requires pressing the toggle fist key, which defaults to 'Q' on US keyboards or 'A' on AZERTY layouts. Console players on PS5 and Xbox can utilize the bottom right back button to ignite the turbine.
After engaging the engine, wait briefly for the dust effects to appear, indicating the rotor is at full power. Pressing the jump key initiates takeoff. Maneuvering is intuitive; use standard movement keys for direction, while crouch and prone inputs control your altitude, allowing you to descend or elevate with finesse. Landing is equally straightforward—simply hover near the ground and press jump again to settle the skids.
For survivors who prefer a streamlined setup without manually hunting down mod files across various websites, the foxygame.net launcher offers a robust alternative by integrating the Gyrocopter directly into its add-on catalog for one-click installation. This method not only simplifies the initial download Gyrocopter process but also ensures that your client automatically handles version compatibility checks whenever the mod creator releases a new patch. By utilizing such tools, players can spend less time troubleshooting file paths and more time exploring the skies of ASA.
Customization and Server Configuration
One of the standout features of this mod is its deep configurability via the GameUserSettings.ini file. Server administrators and single-player hosts can tweak the Gyrocopter's stats to fit their specific server rules. You can adjust maximum health, weight capacity, and even toggle particle effects to improve performance on lower-end hardware. Additionally, the option to disable weapon usage while riding is available, ensuring the vehicle remains a transport tool rather than a flying gunship if desired.
- GyroMaxHealth: Set the durability of the aircraft to withstand flak or cannon fire.
- GyroFlySpeed: Modify the base velocity to match your server's travel pace.
- GyroAllowAllFX: Disable dust and smoke particles to boost frame rates.
- GyroAllowWeapon: Toggle the ability to shoot firearms while piloting.
It is important to note that after every game update or mod patch, you may need to cryo and uncryo the vehicle to ensure all new parameters apply correctly. This small step prevents glitches related to physics or sound errors that occasionally occur during version transitions.
Compatibility and Final Thoughts
The Gyrocopter for ARK: Survival Ascended is fully compatible with both dedicated servers and single-player modes. While it was never intended to replace the strategic depth of taming dinosaurs, it fills a crucial niche for late-game logistics and rapid response teams. The ability to paint the vehicle, shared with the airboat mod, adds a layer of personalization that helps your tribe stand out in the sky.
In conclusion, if you are looking to optimize your travel times and reduce the logistical burden of maintaining a fleet of flyers, this mod is an essential addition to your arsenal. By mastering its controls and configuring its settings to your liking, you transform the way you interact with the ARK world. So, fuel up, spin those rotors, and enjoy the freedom of mechanical flight across the ascended landscape.