Shaftys' Brain Farts
Every seasoned survivor in ARK: Survival Ascended knows the pain of a misallocated stat point or a skill tree that just doesn't fit the new taming meta. The vanilla mindwipe tonic offers a solution, but its cooldown and restrictions can grind your progression to a halt. Enter Shaftys' Brain Farts, a game-changing add-on that redefines character respecification by delivering a more powerful consumable with zero usage restrictions.
What Exactly Does Shaftys' Brain Farts Do?
At its core, this mod introduces the BrainFart consumable—a superior alternative to the standard mindwipe. Unlike the base game's tonic, which only resets your engram points and stats, the BrainFart also wipes your experience points clean. This means you can rebuild your survivor from the ground up, redistributing every single level you've earned. Crucially, the mod respects your boss fight achievements; you won't forget having killed bosses, only the earned XP is reset. This allows for a full re-spec without losing your hard-fought progression milestones.
Key Features That Set It Apart
- No Cooldown: The most significant departure from vanilla mechanics. Use the BrainFart as often as you need, without waiting for a timer.
- Full XP Reset: Unlike standard mindwipes, this resets your experience points, giving you back every level to reassign.
- Boss Memory Retained: Your achievements and boss kills are permanently recorded; only your leveling is reset.
- Unrestricted Usage: No hidden timers or limitations. If you need a fresh build for a new challenge, it's one click away.
Why You Need This Mod for Your Server
Whether you are running a hardcore PvP server where adaptability is survival, or a PvE world where you want to experiment with different builds, this add-on is invaluable. The vanilla mindwipe forces you to plan around its cooldown, often leaving you stuck with a suboptimal build for hours. With Shaftys' Brain Farts, you can pivot your strategy instantly. This is particularly useful when a new DLC drops, and you need to reallocate points for new engrams or when you discover a new taming strategy that requires a different stat distribution.
Compatibility and Supported Versions
This mod is designed specifically for ARK: Survival Ascended and is compatible with the current stable builds of the game. It is built to work seamlessly with other quality-of-life mods, but as with any mod, you should always check for updates after major game patches. The mod is lightweight and does not add heavy assets, ensuring minimal impact on server performance. For players looking to streamline their setup, the foxygame.net launcher offers a one-click install for Shaftys' Brain Farts, automatically managing version compatibility so you don't have to worry about manual updates breaking your game.
How to Install Shaftys' Brain Farts
Getting this mod onto your server or single-player world is straightforward. The process is identical to installing any other add-on for ASA. First, navigate to the mod browser in the main menu or on your server hosting panel. Search for "Shaftys' Brain Farts" and subscribe to it. Once downloaded, ensure it is activated in your mod list before launching the game. For dedicated servers, you will need to add the mod ID to your server's mod configuration file. If you are using a third-party launcher, the process is even simpler; the foxygame.net launcher's add-on catalog lets you find and deploy Shaftys' Brain Farts directly, with auto-updates ensuring you always have the latest version.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
- Open the ARK: Survival Ascended main menu.
- Select "Mods" and browse for Shaftys' Brain Farts.
- Click "Install" or "Subscribe" and wait for the download to complete.
- Restart the game to load the mod.
- In-game, craft the BrainFart consumable at a cooking pot or industrial cooker.
Once you have the item in your inventory, simply consume it to reset your character. The effects are immediate, and you will be prompted to redistribute your levels. Remember, the mod description warns to "use with caution" because there is no undo button. Once you eat the BrainFart, your XP is gone, and you must re-level from scratch. This is a powerful tool for min-maxers and players who love to theory-craft, but it is not for the faint of heart.
Final Thoughts on This Essential Add-On
In a game where min-maxing is often the difference between life and death, having a tool that removes the friction of respecification is a massive quality-of-life improvement. Shaftys' Brain Farts for ARK: Survival Ascended takes the core concept of the mindwipe and perfects it, stripping away the cooldowns and adding the full XP reset that veteran players crave. It is a must-have for any serious survivor looking to maintain peak efficiency. Whether you are a solo player or a server admin, this mod deserves a spot in your load order. The flexibility it offers ensures that your character build is never a permanent mistake, but rather a temporary strategy that can evolve with the game.