No Decay Gateway Burrows
Few things in ARK: Survival Ascended are more frustrating than logging in to find your carefully placed gateway burrow has crumbled to dust. The decay timer is meant to keep servers clean, but for players who maintain long-term bases or play on quieter servers, it is a constant source of anxiety. The No Decay Gateway Burrows mod removes that worry entirely by disabling the decay timer that still appears after using the gateway burrow, without requiring you to touch a single line of configuration files.
Why Gateway Burrows Decay Is a Problem
Gateway burrows are a fantastic tool for creating hidden entrances or securing resource caches. However, the default decay mechanic can be punishing. Even when you think you have set things up correctly, the timer can tick down while you are offline or busy with other projects. The original workaround involved adding a specific ini option to your GameUserSettings.ini file under [ServerSettings]: DisableBurrowDecayTimers=True. While effective, this required manual configuration on every server you play on, and it did not always prevent the visual countdown timer from appearing on the structure itself.
What This Mod Actually Does
The No Decay Gateway Burrows mod for ARK: Survival Ascended goes a step further. It disables the decay timer that still appears after using the gateway burrow, and it also disables the other decay timer that affects the burrow itself. This means you no longer need to add the ini option at all. The mod handles everything in the background, giving you a clean, timer-free experience.
Important: New Creatures Only
One critical detail to understand is how the mod achieves this. It creates a new Burrowbuck and Burrowdoe in order to link the changed burrow behavior to these new creatures. As a result, the mod will not work on already existing or tamed creatures. You will need to tame or spawn the new versions for the no-decay effect to apply. This is a deliberate design choice to avoid breaking existing saves, but it is worth knowing before you install.
Installation and Setup
Getting started with No Decay Gateway Burrows for ARK: Survival Ascended is straightforward. You can download the mod from the Steam Workshop or your preferred mod manager. For those using the foxygame.net launcher, the process is even simpler: the launcher includes an add-on catalog where you can find No Decay Gateway Burrows and install it with a single click, with automatic updates handled for you. This is particularly useful if you manage multiple mods or play on several servers, as the launcher also checks version compatibility before applying the mod.
Step-by-Step Guide
If you are wondering how to install, follow these simple steps:
- Subscribe to or download the mod from your chosen source.
- If you are using a dedicated server, add the mod ID to your
modlistorGameUserSettings.ini. - Restart your server or client to load the mod.
- Tame or spawn a new Burrowbuck/Burrowdoe from the mod. Do not use existing creatures.
- Place your gateway burrow and verify that no decay timer appears.
Once installed, you can forget about decay entirely. The mod is lightweight and does not interfere with other gameplay mechanics.
Compatibility and Server Settings
The mod is designed for ARK: Survival Ascended and works with the current version of the game. It is compatible with most other mods that do not alter the Burrowbuck or Burrowdoe creatures. If you run a cluster, you will need to install the mod on each server. The mod does not require any additional configuration, and it respects existing server settings. The developer has also noted that they are exploring a future update that would apply the effect via a buff instead of creating new creature blueprints, which would allow the mod to work on existing tames. Until then, the current version remains the most reliable way to stop decay.
What About Existing Tames?
As mentioned, the mod will not affect creatures you already own. If you have a prized Burrowbuck, you will need to tame a new one from the mod's creature pool. This is a minor inconvenience but a necessary trade-off for the stability the mod provides. The developer has acknowledged this limitation and is actively working on a more elegant solution. In the meantime, the mod delivers exactly what it promises: no more decay timers on gateway burrows.
Final Thoughts
If you are tired of babysitting your burrows or constantly checking timers, No Decay Gateway Burrows is a must-have. It eliminates a tedious aspect of base management and lets you focus on the parts of ARK you actually enjoy. The installation is painless, the performance impact is negligible, and the peace of mind is invaluable. Whether you play solo or on a busy server, this mod deserves a spot in your load order.
For the best experience, download No Decay Gateway Burrows today and say goodbye to decay timers for good. Your future self will thank you when you return after a week away to find your gateway burrow exactly as you left it.