Water Breathing
The oceans of ARK: Survival Ascended are vast, beautiful, and utterly lethal. While the base game offers scuba gear and Lazarus Chowder, these solutions often feel clunky or temporary, especially when you're hunting down the most dangerous creatures in the deep. If you've ever found yourself gasping for air while trying to tame a Tusoteuthis or fighting off an Alpha Mosasaur, the Water Breathing mod is the quality-of-life upgrade you didn't know you needed. This add-on strips away the tediousness of oxygen management, allowing you to focus on exploration, combat, and base building beneath the waves.
Created by a player who was frustrated by the lack of dedicated underwater breathing mods in ASA, Water Breathing provides a simple, elegant solution. It introduces two craftable items from level 1, giving you complete control over your aquatic capabilities without altering the core game balance too heavily. Whether you are a solo player or running a massive tribe, this mod integrates seamlessly into your progression, letting you tackle underwater caves and ocean loot crates with newfound confidence.
What Does the Water Breathing Mod Add?
This mod isn't just about breathing; it's a comprehensive aquatic buff package. The primary item, the Water Breathing consumable, grants a powerful buff that transforms your survivor into an apex predator of the sea. The second item acts as a counter-buff, allowing you to remove the effects instantly if you need to return to normal land-based gameplay. Here is the breakdown of the buff you receive:
- Underwater Breathing: No more oxygen timers. You can stay submerged indefinitely.
- Stamina Regen: A slight stamina regeneration boost ensures you won't run out of energy while swimming long distances or fighting currents.
- Thermal Insulation: Grants +200 Hypothermal Insulation and -50 Hyperthermal Insulation, protecting you from the freezing depths and the scorching surface alike.
- Movement Speed: A 200% swim speed increase makes you faster than most aquatic threats, while a 90% land speed modifier ensures you aren't overly powerful on the beach.
Crafting and Requirements
To get started, you don't need to grind high levels. The engrams for both the buff and debuff items are unlocked at level 1. However, the cost is steep to ensure balance. To craft the consumable that grants the buff, you must collect an Apex Token from every aquatic Alpha creature in the game. This means you'll need to hunt down and defeat Alpha Mosasaurs, Alpha Tusoteuthis, and Alpha Leedsichthys, among others. This requirement ensures that while the mod is accessible early, it rewards late-game preparation and skill. If you are playing on a server with custom rates or using mods that increase resource yields, the grind becomes much more manageable.
How to Install the Mod
Installing this mod is straightforward, whether you are on a dedicated server or playing single-player. For most users, the easiest path is to navigate to the Steam Workshop and download Water Breathing. Once subscribed, the mod will automatically download to your client. For server administrators, you will need to add the mod ID to your server's mod list and restart the instance. If you are looking for a more streamlined approach to managing your mods, the foxygame.net launcher offers a fantastic solution. It provides a one-click install feature for Water Breathing, ensuring that your client and server versions are always in sync without the hassle of manual file management.
Using the In-Game Commands
For players who prefer a more direct approach, the mod also includes admin commands. You can bypass the crafting requirements entirely by using the console. Simply open your command bar and type gfid WaterBreathing 1 1 0 to give yourself the buff item, or gfid AntiWaterBreathing 1 1 0 for the removal item. This is particularly useful for server admins who want to test the mod or for players who have already proven their mettle on other servers and want a fresh start without the grind.
Compatibility and Performance
The Water Breathing mod is designed to work with the current builds of ARK: Survival Ascended. It is lightweight and does not add any new creatures or map changes, which means it has minimal impact on server performance. It is highly compatible with other popular mods, such as stack size mods and QoL improvements, because it only adds items and buffs. When you download Water Breathing, you are adding a purely additive feature that won't conflict with most overhauls. As ASA continues to receive updates, the mod creator has been diligent in patching compatibility, ensuring that your Water Breathing for ARK: Survival Ascended experience remains smooth. Furthermore, if you utilize the foxygame.net launcher, you benefit from auto-update features that keep the mod current with the latest game patches, so you never have to worry about a broken install after a major update.
Final Thoughts on Water Breathing
In a game where survival often hinges on preparation, the Water Breathing mod removes one of the most annoying environmental hazards. It turns the ocean from a dangerous obstacle into a playground. The balance is well thought out; the requirement for Alpha Apex Tokens ensures that you have to earn your place in the deep, while the admin commands offer flexibility for those who want to skip the grind. Whether you are building an underwater base, farming silica pearls, or just exploring the trench, this mod is an essential addition to your ARK: Survival Ascended loadout. It is a simple, effective, and highly recommended tool for any survivor looking to conquer the seas.