Ark: Survival Evolved is an action-adventure survival game that provides players with many collectible materials to help increase their chances of thriving in the inhospitable environment, including obsidian. In Ark: Survival Evolved, players must fend off hostile dinosaurs while gathering these resources, which can then be used to build shelters, advanced technology, or other tools. Important materials like obsidian or oil in Ark: Survival Evolved can be difficult to find, especially without an idea of where to look since simply searching will be a risky endeavor.
Gathering obsidian in Ark: Survival Evolved will allow players to build some modern technology for a distinct advantage to island living. Obsidian can also be crafted into a polymer to unlock further advanced options. It is an uncommon resource only found in specific locations, often at high peaks or underground. While obsidian is rare, it is renewable and will respawn eventually after being harvested.
Obsidian is obtained from mining glossy black rocks using picks or sending out capable tamed creatures in Ark: Survival Evolved. These obsidian-rich rocks will appear shiny and smooth when compared to other types of rock found in the game, making them relatively easy to spot. Obsidian deposits spawn on every map that is currently available but only in specific areas.
Obsidian Locations In Ark: Survival Evolved
The Island map in Ark: Survival Evolved contains obsidian deposits around its tallest peaks and through its cave systems, including The Caverns of Lost Hope and the Lava Cave. The Grand Hills commonly spawn obsidian deposits, especially around the northwestern face of the main mountain. Obsidian is also abundant toward the summit of Frozen Tooth and Far's Peak. The highest concentration of obsidian found on The Island will be in the northwestern corner of the map, surrounding Whitesky Peak along its shores and up the mountain face.
The main source of obsidian on The Center map will be the Lava Islands toward the north, similar to coal spawn locations in Volcanoids, with obsidian common here around the lava pools and throughout the extensive cave systems. The Swamp that surrounds the floating island of The Center will also provide players with obsidian, though the hazards found here may make this location too risky. Obsidian deposits are also reliably found on Skull Island and within the gulf of the southern tropical island. Further deposits can spawn around the base of the southern Snowy Mountain.
Obsidian deposits are more common on the Ark: Survival Evolved Aberration map, with deposits liberally spread across the surface at the northeast and northwest corners. Another large obsidian vein can be found on the surface in the southwestern portion of the map leading into The Overlook. Players still searching for obsidian would next want to check the Crystalline Swamps Fans of Skyrim's Blackreach and its big secret will feel right at home searching for obsidian in the Luminous Marshlands of Ark: Survival Evolved. The Grave of the Lost region of the map is another obsidian-rich zone, with deposits common through The Lost Roads, Hope's End, and The Spine. Players traveling further down may want to search the southeastern corner of Element Falls for obsidian.
Ragnarok has obsidian deposits in the South West Tropics of the map, with greater concentrations at higher altitudes. Obsidian deposits can also be found on Thunder Peak and the Deathsands but are much rarer. The best location for obsidian deposits on this map is toward the north. The rocky shores around the Redwoods are good places to look for obsidian, as well as the volcano's peak and the jungles and cliffs found at the northwest corner of Ragnarok's map.
Extinction contains obsidian in the highest concentrations at the north and south edges of its map, though deposits can be found throughout its entirety. The Sweeping Spires along the south have the most obsidian deposits of all the regions on this map. Obsidian deposits are sparse in Valguero, but they can be spotted along the northern Snow Mountains, much like obsidian deposits in Valheim, though obsidian won't spawn in the glacial portion of the Mountains in Ark: Survival Evolved. On Scorched Earth, players can find obsidian deposits along the World Scar and in the Northern West Mountains, as well as in the artifact caves and near the peaks of most mountains.
Obsidian can be found in four of the five zones of the Genesis: Part 1 map, available everywhere except the Bog. The Volcanic and Lunar biomes contain the most obsidian deposits for this map, though they are more sparse in the Lunar portion. Obsidian deposits in the Open Water region are rare but can be found mainly around the Secluded Atoll and the Shielded Atoll. Finally, the Arctic biome in Ark: Survival Evolved contains obsidian in abundance, though it becomes more scarce in the East Arctic.
Ark: Survival Evolved is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.