Pests Be Gone!
Every ARK survivor knows the frustration. You're deep in resource gathering, your tools are pristine, and then it happens—a swooping Ichthyornis steals your prized meat, or a pack of Troodons knocks you out right before a Rex ambushes you. For the tenth time. The anger is real, and so is the wear and tear on your weapons. But what if there was a way to deal with these nuisances without sacrificing your gear's durability? Enter Pests Be Gone!, a quality-of-life mod designed to handle ARK's most irritating creatures in a clean, efficient way.
What Does Pests Be Gone! Actually Do?
The core premise is beautifully simple. Instead of fighting back with clubs, guns, or your fists, this mod introduces a buff that kills specific creatures around your player character. The beauty lies in its selectivity. You won't be wiping out entire ecosystems; you'll only be targeting the pests you've chosen to eliminate. Once the creature is killed by the buff, you can still harvest its resources normally. No more wasted durability on a Piranha that nibbled your toe, and no more rage-quitting over a Pegomastax that ran off with your entire inventory.
Setting Up the Pest Be Gone Structure
To activate this power, you must first craft the Pest Be Gone structure. Once placed, interact with it via the multiuse menu and select "ON" to enable the effect. The effect is persistent, meaning it stays active as long as you don't manually switch it back to "OFF." This is a permanent toggle, not a timed buff, so you can focus on building, exploring, or taming without worrying about re-applying the effect every few minutes.
Which Creatures Are Affected?
The mod currently targets a specific list of creatures known for their annoyance factor. The default configuration includes:
- Ichthyornis
- Leedsichthys
- Troodon
- Piranha
- Pegomastax
- Seeker
- Nameless
- Revenant
- Titanomyrma
This list is not set in stone. The mod is still a work in progress, and the creator is open to feedback and requests. If you have a specific creature that drives you up the wall, you can contact the mod author to see if it can be added to the list.
Customizing via INI Settings
For server administrators and solo players alike, customization is key. The mod supports INI file configuration, allowing you to toggle each creature on or off individually. The default INI settings look like this:
[PestBeGone]
Ichthyornis=true
Leedsichthys=true
Troodon=true
Piranha=true
Pegomastax=true
Seeker=true
Nameless=true
Revenant=true
Titanomyrma=true
Simply set a value to "false" if you want to keep that creature alive in your world. This flexibility ensures that you can tailor the mod to your specific playstyle and server rules.
Compatibility and Installation
This mod is designed for ARK: Survival Ascended and supports the current official versions of the game. It is also compatible with most other mods, as it primarily works through a buff and structure mechanic rather than altering core game files. However, as with any mod, it is always wise to check for updates after a major game patch. The mod is still in a WIP state, so expect occasional tweaks and fixes based on player feedback.
If you are looking to streamline your mod management, the foxygame.net launcher offers a seamless experience. You can find Pests Be Gone! in its add-on catalog, and the launcher handles version compatibility checks automatically, so you don't have to worry about broken saves or mismatched updates. This is particularly useful for players who want to download Pests Be Gone! and jump straight into the action without fiddling with manual file placements.
How to Install the Mod
Installing the mod is straightforward. Whether you are playing on a dedicated server or in single-player, the process is the same. You can subscribe to the mod on the Steam Workshop or use a mod manager to handle the installation. For those asking "how to install," the simplest method is to find the mod page, click subscribe, and ensure the mod is enabled in your server's mod list. For single-player, it will automatically load with your saved game. If you are running a dedicated server, you will need to add the mod ID to your server configuration file.
Why You Need This Mod
ARK is a game about survival, but sometimes the survival mechanics cross the line into pure frustration. Having your weapons break because you had to fight off a swarm of Titanomyrma while trying to gather berries is not fun. Pests Be Gone! for ARK: Survival Ascended solves this by giving you a passive, persistent solution. It respects your time and your gear, allowing you to focus on the more enjoyable aspects of the game, like building your dream base or taming that high-level Spino.
The mod is a testament to the community's desire for quality-of-life improvements. It doesn't remove the challenge of the game; it simply removes the unfair durability penalties associated with dealing with minor annoyances. You still have to worry about the big threats, but the little pests are no longer a concern. The creator is active on Discord and welcomes feedback, so if you encounter any issues or have suggestions, don't hesitate to reach out.
In conclusion, if you are tired of losing resources and weapon durability to ARK's most hateable creatures, this is the mod for you. It is easy to install, highly configurable, and does exactly what it promises. Download Pests Be Gone! today and reclaim your sanity in the harsh world of ARK: Survival Ascended. Your weapons—and your blood pressure—will thank you.