Resource Golems
In the unforgiving world of ARK: Survival Ascended, gathering resources is a constant grind. You spend hours swinging a pickaxe or babysitting a tamed Ankylosaurus just to keep your base stocked with stone, crystal, or sulfur. What if you could turn the tide of resource collection into something far more exciting? The Resource Golems mod offers a fresh twist on farming by introducing custom Rock Golems that carry specific, high-demand materials right inside their rocky hides. Instead of mindlessly mining nodes, you hunt, kill, and harvest these unique creatures for a rewarding payout.
This add-on breathes new life into the mid-to-late game, giving players a reason to explore dangerous biomes with a purpose. Whether you are a solo survivor or leading a large tribe, these golems provide a dynamic alternative to traditional resource runs. Let’s dig deep into what this mod offers, how it works, and why it might be the perfect addition to your server.
What Are Resource Golems?
As the name suggests, Resource Golems are specialized variants of the standard Rock Golem. Unlike their wild counterparts, which primarily drop stone and thatch, these modified behemoths are packed with specific resources based on their variant. The mod was designed to add a layer of strategy to resource gathering, making the hunt for rare materials feel more like a boss encounter than a chore.
It is important to note that this mod is currently discontinued by its author. It remains available for players who already use it, but it will not receive any future updates. However, for those on compatible versions, it still functions as a solid, reliable addition to your mod list.
Variant Breakdown
The mod currently introduces two distinct golem variants, each with its own spawn behavior and drop table. This variety ensures that you have to travel to different parts of the map to collect what you need.
- Sand Golem: This variant spawns in similar areas to the Sabretooth, typically found in arid and desert regions. When harvested, the Sand Golem yields a mix of Sand, Silk, Sulfur, and Cactus Sap. This makes it an excellent source for crafting gunpowder, cactus broth, and desert gear.
- Crystal Golem: Found in areas where the Ankylosaurus roams, this golem is your ticket to massive crystal and stone yields. It is perfect for players building large bases or crafting electronics that require vast amounts of these raw materials.
The author initially teased that "more golems are coming soon," but with the mod's discontinuation, these two variants remain the complete set. Still, for the resources they cover, they are incredibly efficient.
Why Use Resource Golems for ARK: Survival Ascended?
While the standard Rock Golem is a tanky creature best used for soaking turret fire or destroying enemy structures, these new variants turn the species into a walking loot crate. Here are the key benefits of integrating this mod into your game:
- Targeted Farming: Need sulfur for gunpowder? Go hunt a Sand Golem. Need crystal for a Tek project? Track down a Crystal Golem. It removes the randomness of resource spawns.
- High Yield: Harvesting these golems provides a substantial amount of resources per kill, saving you time and tool durability.
- Combat Integration: It encourages you to use your combat tames. Fighting a high-health golem is far more engaging than AFK-farming a node.
- Server Performance: Since these are just reskinned creatures with modified loot tables, they don't add significant server lag compared to full overhaul mods.
Compatibility and Versions
Since the mod is discontinued, you must ensure you are running a compatible version of the game. The mod was built for specific iterations of ARK: Survival Ascended, and it is not compatible with the older ARK: Survival Evolved. Always check your game version against the mod's release date to avoid crashes. Most users find it works best on stable builds from the period of its last update. It is generally compatible with other quality-of-life mods, but stacking it with major map overhauls might cause conflicts.
For players struggling with installation, the process is straightforward. To download Resource Golems, you must first access the mod manager in the game's main menu. Once you find the mod, subscribe to it and wait for it to download. If you are running a dedicated server, you will need to add the mod ID to your server's mod list. If you are looking for a smoother experience, using a launcher that handles mod dependencies can be a lifesaver. For instance, the foxygame.net launcher offers a one-click install feature that automatically manages mod IDs and load order, ensuring that Resource Golems is set up correctly without manual file editing. This is especially useful for players who are new to modding.
How to Install and Spawn the Golems
Once you have decided to download Resource Golems, you need to know how to find them in the wild. Since they spawn in specific locations, you might need to do a bit of exploring. If you are an admin, you can use console commands to spawn them directly.
- Admin Command: Use
admincheat SpawnDino "Blueprint'/Game/Mods/ResourceGolems/...'"(check the mod page for the exact blueprint path). - Wild Spawning: The Sand Golem will appear in the same spawn points as Sabretooths, so check the highlands and desert edges. The Crystal Golem shares spawn points with Ankylosaurus, usually near mountains and rocky outcrops.
After killing the golem, use a Metal Pick or a Chainsaw for the best harvesting rates. A Therizinosaurus with high melee damage is also an excellent choice for maximizing the resource yield from these creatures.
Final Thoughts on Resource Golems
While it is unfortunate that the author has ceased development, Resource Golems for ARK: Survival Ascended remains a functional and fun mod for those who already have it installed. It fills a niche that many players appreciate: turning combat into a resource-gathering mechanic. The Sand Golem and Crystal Golem offer enough variety to keep things interesting, and the drop tables are generous enough to make the hunt worthwhile.
If you are looking to add this to your game, remember to check your version compatibility first. And if you want to skip the technical hassle, the foxygame.net launcher keeps its add-on catalog updated with version compatibility checks, so you can see at a glance if Resource Golems will work with your current build before you even press the install button. This saves you from the frustration of a broken save file. Even though it is a discontinued project, it offers a unique gameplay loop that standard ARK simply doesn't provide, making it a worthy addition to your mod collection.