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Across every map

Every cave

One list, every mapped ARK. Useful when you want the easiest artifact run you have not done yet, wherever it happens to be.

Drawn from 12 of 13 maps. See the rest

Difficulty

84 caves0 cleared

  • Old Railway Cave

    Aberration

    Progression · Blue Zone

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the DepthsUnlocks Rockwell
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outA narrow crouch tunnel early on means whatever you walk in with has to be cryopodded through. Karkinos and Aberrant Carnotaurus hold the middle. Aberrant Arthropleura spit shreds armor. Take the right path after the first waterfall. This is also the best place on the map to tame a Glowtail.

  • Hidden Grotto

    Aberration

    Underwater · Blue Zone lake

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of the ShadowsUnlocks Rockwell
    UnderwaterHard, 4 of 5

    Watch outThe entrance is a vertical underwater shaft in the lake. Inside it alternates between long flooded tunnels full of Electrophorus, Cnidaria and Baryonyx, and sheer climbs. Time your climbs around earthquakes, because falling back into the water at the wrong moment is usually fatal. A swarm of Seekers guards the artifact itself.

  • Blue Obelisk Surface Exit

    Aberration

    Progression · Surface

    Brutal
    No artifact
    Brutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outThe way up to the Blue Obelisk surface area. Daylight on the Aberration surface kills unprotected survivors quickly, and Reaper Queens and Nameless roam it. Go at night, take the artifact-free route seriously, and know which hole you came out of before you need it.

  • Elemental Vault

    Aberration

    Progression · Red Zone

    Brutal
    Artifact Artifact of the StalkerUnlocks Rockwell
    Brutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outThe hardest cave on Aberration. Radiation the whole way, insane hostile density, deep ravines, and elemental water that deals 200 damage a second and destroys your suit. Follow the blue crystals along the ceiling on a Drake. Helena Note #30 is on the ground at a small crossroad at 87.2, 46.6.

  • Green Obelisk Surface Exit

    Aberration

    Progression · Surface

    Brutal
    No artifact
    Brutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outOne of two routes up to the Green Obelisk surface area. Same rules as the rest of the surface: lethal daytime heat, Nameless swarms and Reapers. The paired return entrance is a short distance away and is not the one you came out of.

  • Red Obelisk Surface Exit

    Aberration

    Progression · Surface

    Brutal
    No artifact
    Brutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outThe climb out to the Red Obelisk surface area, from the deepest and most hostile part of the map. Lethal daylight, Reapers below and Nameless above.

  • Bee Cave

    Crystal Isles

    Progression · Northern Islands

    Challenging
    No artifact
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outAn enormous hive built as a cave, and the best honey source on the map by a wide margin. Giant Worker Bees swarm anything that gets close to a hive node, and Dire Bears wander the floor. There is no artifact and no puzzle, just a farm run that punishes carelessness.

  • Dragon Temple

    Crystal Isles

    Progression · Apotheosis

    Challenging
    No artifact
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outA ruin among the floating islands, close to where the Artifact of the Pack spawns. The danger is the altitude rather than anything living in it.

  • Ice Cave

    Crystal Isles

    Progression · Tundrafalls

    Challenging
    No artifact
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outFour entrances scattered across the northern tundra lead into the same cold system. The cold is the constant, and the layout makes it easy to lose track of which entrance you came in through.

  • Sky Cave

    Crystal Isles

    Progression · Apotheosis

    Challenging
    No artifact
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outSet among the Apotheosis floating islands, so every mistake is a very long drop. A known bug lets you fall straight through the smaller islands. The Artifact of the Pack sits nearby in a ruin next to a large dragon statue, not inside the cave itself.

  • Underwater Tunnels

    Crystal Isles

    Underwater · Northwest Coast

    Challenging
    No artifact
    UnderwaterChallenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outFive entrances scattered along the northwest coast open into a linked flooded system. Drowning and getting turned around are the whole risk; nothing in here is exotic. Good for pearls and oil.

  • The UnderForest

    Extinction

    Progression · Sunken Forest

    Challenging
    No artifact
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outThe sunken forest layer under the city, and the route you take to reach the Forest Cave. Corrupted creatures push in from the surface and the ceiling collapses hem you in, so it is easy to get cornered on the way through.

  • Desert Cave

    Extinction

    Progression · Wasteland

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of ChaosUnlocks Desert Titan
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outEnormous, high-ceilinged, and full of dead ends with nowhere to recover. It is common to meet a pack of Onyc, two Rubble Golems, Titanoboas, Mantis and Arthropleura at the entrance at the same time. The deep water hides Kaprosuchus and Piranhas. Fight at chokepoints. Seven crate spots exist but only about three are live at once.

  • Forest Cave

    Extinction

    Progression · Sunken Forest

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of the GrowthUnlocks Forest Titan
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outA long winding tunnel into a huge final cavern. Creatures here have unusually large aggro range, and the artifact chamber holds packs of Allosaurus, Therizinosaurus and Rex at once. Microraptors, Kaprosuchus and Purlovia will knock you off your mount. Meks only fit about 60 percent of the way. The Forest Titan terminal is in the same chamber.

  • Ice Cave

    Extinction

    Progression · Snow Dome

    Brutal
    Artifact Artifact of the VoidUnlocks Ice Titan
    Brutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outUntameable polar creatures up to level 300, well above the map's normal cap. Attack one Purlovia and every buried one nearby pounces, which can stun you off your mount into the pack. Bring a normal flyer in and it dismounts you almost instantly. The Ice Titan terminal is deeper still at 6.7, 85.8.

  • Caverns of Time

    Fjordur

    Progression · Balheimr

    Easy
    No artifact
    Easy, 1 of 5

    Watch outReached through a portal in the water on the east side of Balheimr. Gravity is switched off inside, so you drift rather than walk. No hostile creatures at all, just the four glow pets and a good spread of Aberration-style resources.

  • Lindbjord Cave

    Fjordur

    Progression · Vannaland

    Easy
    No artifact
    Easy, 1 of 5

    Watch outLarge, peaceful and around 20C, with tameable creatures throughout. Dire Bears are the only real danger and only if you crowd them. The Dimorphodon density is abnormally high, so a stray swing is the usual way a quiet visit goes wrong.

  • The Hidden Worlds

    Fjordur

    Progression · Vannaland

    Easy
    No artifact
    Easy, 1 of 5

    Watch outNot a fight, a transport hub. The terminals inside teleport you to Asgard, Jotunheim and Vanaheim. On PvE official, in singleplayer, or with the traversal buff enabled you can skip it and hold reload on foot instead.

  • Hidden Grotto

    Fjordur

    Underwater · Vannaland

    Moderate
    No artifact
    UnderwaterModerate, 2 of 5

    Watch outYou swim in through a tunnel at 39.75, 31.63 and surface inside a small circular cavern at a comfortable 25C. Aberrant Megalosaurus and Megalania are the only real threat. Four gas veins and most basic resources make it a quiet, well-hidden base spot.

  • Hidden Snowcave

    Fjordur

    Underwater · Snaerheimr Mountains

    Moderate
    No artifact
    UnderwaterModerate, 2 of 5

    Watch outA small cave you can only reach by diving. Short swim, nothing exotic waiting, and the cold outside is more of a problem than anything inside.

  • The Golden Caverns

    Fjordur

    Progression · Vannaland volcano

    Moderate
    No artifact
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outA small volcanic cave with an unusually good density of loot drops for its size, which is why players bother with it. No artifact and no puzzle.

  • The Overgrown Grave

    Fjordur

    Progression · Vannaland

    Moderate
    No artifact
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outA short descent that exists mainly to reach the Broodmother Lysrix terminal at 54.5, 65.3. The cave itself is unremarkable; the thing at the bottom is not.

  • Bear Caverns

    Fjordur

    Progression · Vannaland

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the StrongUnlocks Megapithecus
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outLarge, multi-level and mostly lit by glowing crystals and skylights. Dire Bears are the name and the problem. One side room holds harvestable bee hives guarded by Araneo and Titanoboa, and past it a crouch-only chamber with no spawns and a good pile of crates.

  • Drengrheimr

    Fjordur

    Progression · Snaerheimr Mountains

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the HunterUnlocks Broodmother Lysrix
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outThe entrance is a temple in the mountains and the way down is a well you jump into. The whole cavern is lit, so visibility is fine, but the fall damage at the bottom is not. Piranha, Megalosaurus and Onyc inside, and a Sarco can rarely spawn in the entry pool.

  • Molten Caverns

    Fjordur

    Progression · Vannaland

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifacts of the Clever and the PackUnlocks Broodmother Lysrix and Megapithecus
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outTwo artifacts in one lava-filled chain of chambers. Onyc are the main threat and the lava is the main killer. The first room is the awkward one; everything after it opens out. Look for the big orange crystals at the entrance, they are easiest to spot at night.

  • Mount Doom Caverns

    Fjordur

    Progression · Balheimr

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the ImmuneUnlocks Dragon
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outStructurally the easiest artifact cave on Fjordur, with a wide entrance and a direct route. The catch is level: creatures here spawn far above the map average, and the Desmodus population makes getting dismounted a real risk.

  • The Forgotten Caverns

    Fjordur

    Underwater · Vardiland

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the CunningUnlocks Beyla
    UnderwaterChallenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outYou swim in, surface in a basin, and walk the rest. The short tunnel to the artifact at 73.8, 71.6 is trapped with a spiked trench and then pressure plates that fire darts. Megalosaurus, Titanoboa and Araneo hold the main chambers.

  • Mariana Caverns

    Fjordur

    Underwater · Northwest Ocean

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of the DevourerUnlocks Hati and Skoll
    UnderwaterHard, 4 of 5

    Watch outA long single tunnel, so you cannot get lost, but it is packed with creatures that reach level 300 and the cold is constant. Electrophorus and Megalodon are the most common problems, with Cnidaria and Dunkleosteus behind them.

  • The Frozen Fortress

    Fjordur

    Progression · Snaerheimr Mountains

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of the SkylordUnlocks Dragon
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outMostly a straight path with a nasty tail. Past the main chamber comes a series of jumps where missing one is instant death in the pits below. Purlovia ambush from the floor and Dire Polar Bears and Direwolves patrol. Drops off the main path can be reached but not walked back up.

  • The Snakepit

    Fjordur

    Progression · Bolbjord

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of the BruteUnlocks Steinbjorn
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outToxic air plus 40C heat, so the gas mask is not optional. Leeches infest the mushroom area, Electrophorus own the connecting water tunnel and Arthropleura are everywhere. Keep left at the only fork; the right branch is a water tunnel with runes and crates but no artifact.

  • The Throat of Flames

    Fjordur

    Progression · Balheimr Trench

    Hard
    No artifact
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outAt the far bottom of the Balheimr Trench, inside the volcano, and inhabited by Fire Wyverns. The heat alone will kill you in poor armor. The reason to come is the Magmasaur nests.

  • Nidisheim Depths

    Fjordur

    Underwater · Vardiland

    Brutal
    Artifact Artifact of the MassiveUnlocks Fenrisulfr
    UnderwaterBrutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outFour phases: an underwater entrance, a long vertical climb, a fighting chamber, then a maze. The maze has two sections, each with four coloured statues carrying numbers that give the order to press the buttons at the end. Get the order wrong and it spawns a trap. Pressure plates and instant-death pitfalls run throughout.

  • Lava Cave

    Genesis Part 1

    Progression · Volcanic Biome

    Hard
    No artifact
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outThe only proper cave on Genesis Part 1, tunnelled under the volcanic biome. No artifact and no boss, because Genesis has neither. Lava and heat do most of the killing, with Magmasaur nests deeper in. The volcanic biome also floods and erupts on a timer, so watch the biome warning before you commit.

  • Tumash Cave

    Lost Island

    Progression · Northwest Peninsula

    Easy
    Artifact Artifact of the HunterUnlocks Dinopithecus King
    Easy, 1 of 5

    Watch outSmall and simple, walkable on foot. The entrance is halfway down a tunnel in the cliff face at sea level on the northwest peninsula. A choke point lets small mounts in but not back out, so cryopod anything you bring. The artifact is behind a low crawl.

  • Shoola Hollow

    Lost Island

    Underwater · Northern Lost Island

    Moderate
    Artifact Artifact of the Clever
    UnderwaterModerate, 2 of 5

    Watch outUnderwater entrance with Sarco, Hesperornis and Piranha in the water outside. Inside is standard cave fare. The Artifact of the Clever spawns here but the Dinopithecus King does not need it, so this is an optional stop.

  • The Twisted Vine

    Lost Island

    Progression · Central Highlands

    Moderate
    Artifact Artifact of the PackUnlocks Dinopithecus King
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outThree entrances, two tunnels and one waterfall opening a flyer can reach. Araneo and Arthropleura are the whole threat, so armor durability is what you actually lose here.

  • Boskar Cave

    Lost Island

    Progression · Southern Interior

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the SkylordUnlocks Dinopithecus King
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outUntameable wildlife throughout, with Megalosaurus and Megalania as the real problems; the Megalosaurus hit far harder at night. Plenty of metal to gather while you are in there.

  • Lost Ark Grotto

    Lost Island

    Progression · Southeast Coast

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the CunningUnlocks Dinopithecus King
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outA medium to large cave at sea level built around a shipwreck. The layout is vertical enough that a grappling hook is mandatory rather than a convenience. Standard cave insects and snakes otherwise.

  • Shoola Falls Cave

    Lost Island

    Progression · Northern Arctic

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the StrongUnlocks Dinopithecus King
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outThe entrance is behind a waterfall running down out of the arctic. Traversable on foot or on a small to medium mount. Part of the cave is an Aberration pocket with Ravagers, Seekers and Ferox, which is unlike anything else on the map. Watch for Alpha Carnotaurus.

  • Sunset Cave

    Lost Island

    Progression · Southeast Cliffs

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the BruteUnlocks Dinopithecus King
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outThe entrance hides behind a waterfall in the far southeast, with a second way in at 88.8, 80.7. Mantis and Titanoboa are the danger; Mantis wielding weapons will chew through mid-tier armor.

  • Zaunaloa Depths

    Lost Island

    Progression · Volcano

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of the ImmuneUnlocks Dinopithecus King
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outInside the volcano, and the only Lost Island cave where the environment is as dangerous as the wildlife. Magmasaur and X-Rock Elemental spawn alongside the usual insects, and neither goes down to a crossbow.

  • Gloom Grove Temple

    Lost Island

    Progression · Southern Swamp

    Brutal
    Artifact Artifacts of the Devious and the MassiveUnlocks Dinopithecus King
    Brutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outThe hardest run on Lost Island despite having no level multiplier, because it is a trap puzzle rather than a fight. Discoloured bricks are pressure plates that spawn creatures on top of you, pipes on the walls are dart traps, and there are poison and smoke grenade triggers. Hug the pipes so they cannot hit you and crouch near plates. Dive between the five stones at 62.4, 46.2 to find the entrance.

  • Fallen Redwood Cave

    Ragnarok

    Progression · Redwoods

    Easy
    Artifact Artifact of the Brute
    Easy, 1 of 5

    Watch outAlmost no danger. The cave has no creature spawns of its own, though Terror Birds and their prey blunder in through the three entrances. The Artifact of the Brute sits on a pedestal here purely as decoration; Ragnarok's arena does not need it.

  • Pirate Cave

    Ragnarok

    Progression · Ruinous Jungle

    Easy
    No artifact
    Easy, 1 of 5

    Watch outEffectively safe. No creature spawns, a hole in the roof for light, and Sabertooth Salmon for easy food. Close to an obelisk, which is why it is one of the most contested base spots on the map.

  • Lair of The Mask

    Ragnarok

    Underwater · Blue Obelisk seabed

    Moderate
    No artifact
    UnderwaterModerate, 2 of 5

    Watch outKnown to most players as the Mushroom Cave. Nothing spawns inside, but Tusoteuthis and Mosasaurus patrol the water around the entrance, which hides behind seagrass under a natural underwater bridge and is very easy to swim straight past.

  • Metal Cave

    Ragnarok

    Progression · Northern Highlands

    Moderate
    No artifact
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outOne of the best metal and obsidian yields on Ragnarok. The entrance sits behind harvestable rocks, so bring a tool just to get in. You cannot build here.

  • The Monkey's Puzzle

    Ragnarok

    Progression · Northern Desert

    Moderate
    Artifact Artifact of the StrongUnlocks Dragon and Manticore
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outA short stone tomb lined with ape statues, marked above ground by an unlit torch that glows white at night. Mine the rocks at the back right to open the passage. Easily the gentlest artifact run on Ragnarok.

  • The Water Tunnels

    Ragnarok

    Underwater · Viking Bay

    Challenging
    No artifact
    UnderwaterChallenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outFlooded passages linking Viking Bay to the Carnivorous Caverns. Drowning and getting lost are the whole danger. There is a T-junction halfway; the lower branch doubles back above itself and going straight there dead-ends. Watch for Eurypterids hiding in the weeds at the entrances.

  • Carnivorous Caverns

    Ragnarok

    Progression · Freyja Plains

    Hard
    Artifact Artifacts of the Cunning and the ImmuneUnlocks Dragon and Manticore
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outAn enormous, foggy cave system packed with Megalosaurus, which are far more aggressive at night. Easy to get turned around. There are lit safe havens at 19.1, 43.3 and 19.0, 41.7 where you can regroup and check the time of day through the skylight.

  • Frozen Dungeon

    Ragnarok

    Progression · Blizzard Peak

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of the PackUnlocks Dragon and Manticore
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outGrappling hooks do not work in here, so plan your climbs. Dire Bears up to around level 500 guard the first section and will flatten a weak mount. Past them it is on foot or with very small tames. The Iceworm Queen arena and the red crates sit deepest in.

  • Jungle Dungeon

    Ragnarok

    Progression · Ruinous Jungle

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of the HunterUnlocks Dragon and Manticore
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outPressure plates at the land entrance fire tranq darts at you. The first stretch is almost pitch black and the lava kills anything that touches it, gear included. Swarms of cave creatures come at you constantly, and the Lava Elemental arena sits at the end.

  • Life's Labyrinth

    Ragnarok

    Progression · Northern Desert

    Hard
    Artifact Artifacts of the Skylord, the Devious, the Massive and the CleverUnlocks Dragon and Manticore
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outFour artifacts behind an actual puzzle. The entrance only admits a crouching human or a Dodo. In the first room you press buttons spelling GRATA in order, then sprint to the opening before the floor closes again. Spike traps, dart traps and pressure plates run through the rest, and the Oasis at the end holds two spirit bosses.

  • Grave of the Tyrants

    Scorched Earth

    Progression · Northwest Mountains

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the CragUnlocks Manticore
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outEasy to get lost in and full of water you do not want to be knocked into, since Rubble Golems can sit at the bottom. Heat drains you the whole time. Helena Note #7 is inside.

  • Old Tunnels

    Scorched Earth

    Progression · Central Canyons

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the GatekeeperUnlocks Manticore
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outPart way in you have to crawl, which means most tames cannot follow you past that point or get back out. Past the crawl the spawn rate climbs sharply. Near the artifact there are jumps along a narrow rock path with a long drop underneath. Rockwell Record #7 is inside.

  • Ruins of Nosti

    Scorched Earth

    Progression · Southeastern Dunes

    Brutal
    Artifact Artifact of the DestroyerUnlocks Manticore
    Brutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outThe most dangerous cave on Scorched Earth. Jumps cross a bottomless void that deals 500,000 damage to anything that falls in, and the swarms of Onyc and Mantis are relentless. Ignore the loot crate on the ledge past the jumps, it kills you before you reach it. The entrance is inside the ruined church building. Rockwell Record #4 is inside.

  • Cliffside Cavern

    The Center

    Progression · Edge of the World

    Easy
    Artifact Artifact of the CunningUnlocks Megapithecus
    Easy, 1 of 5

    Watch outBarely a cave. It is a lit ecosystem under the Snowy Grasslands with an ice palace in the middle, and the artifact sits in a river inside that palace. The real risk is the ride out over the Edge of the World, which is a very long fall.

  • Lava Oasis Cave

    The Center

    Progression · Western Lava Biome

    Moderate
    Artifact Artifact of the HunterUnlocks Broodmother Lysrix
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outDespite the name there is no lava. Players call it Pearl Cave. Ravines drop into shallow water right at the entrance and tall cave grass hides whatever is about to bite you.

  • The Center Cave

    The Center

    Progression · Floating Island

    Moderate
    Artifact Artifact of the DeviousUnlocks Megapithecus
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outThe cave runs through the inside of the Floating Island, so every mistake is a long drop into a sea of Megalodons. Enter at 40.3, 31.1 on a flyer and you can take the artifact without a fight.

  • Jungle Cave

    The Center

    Progression · Southern Jungle Island

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the ImmuneUnlocks Broodmother Lysrix
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outFive entrances, and picking the wrong one turns a one-minute run into a fight. Drowning and long falls do most of the killing. This cave is famous for overspawning, so expect packed groups of creatures and heavy lag near it.

  • South Ice Cave

    The Center

    Progression · Southern Snow Biome

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the SkylordUnlocks Megapithecus
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outMassive and maze-like. Yetis knock you off ledges and there are dangerous falls almost everywhere, which is a bad combination. Follow the tunnel past the frozen Rex to reach the ice bridge with the artifact.

  • Underground World

    The Center

    Progression · Underground World

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the PackUnlocks Megapithecus
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outA whole hidden ecosystem with six well-hidden entrances. The lava entrance at 34.9, 65.8 has narrow stone bridges over molten drops and heavy creature density. The artifact sits at the end of the Jumping Puzzle, where the falls are what kill you.

  • LavaCave

    The Center

    Progression · Eastern Lava Biome

    Hard
    Artifact Artifacts of the Massive and the StrongUnlocks Broodmother Lysrix
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outOne of the hardest caves on The Center. Extreme heat, and jumps over lava that a parachute will not save you from. Anything you bring in is stuck unless it flies or you have a cryopod. Keep flying past the first chamber on official servers and the game dismounts you, often over the lava.

  • North Ice Cave

    The Center

    Progression · Northern Snow Biome

    Hard
    Artifact Artifacts of the Clever and the DevourerUnlocks Broodmother Lysrix and Megapithecus
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outTwo artifacts down two submerged passages. The Devourer route is the wide upper one and is manageable. The Clever route ends at a sheer drop you cannot walk back out of, so anything you take down there stays down there unless it flies.

  • Southeastern Trench

    The Center

    Underwater · Eastern Trench

    Brutal
    Artifact Artifact of the BruteUnlocks Megapithecus
    UnderwaterBrutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outThe Eastern Trench runs the entire eastern edge of the map and is pitch black. Large deep-sea predators find you long before you see them, and unlike other maps a gas mask or Tek suit does not clear up the water here. The artifact is tucked in a small cave along the southern stretch.

  • Lower South Cave

    The Island

    Progression

    Easy
    Artifact Artifact of the HunterUnlocks Broodmother Lysrix
    Easy, 1 of 5

    Watch outOnyc bats that can give you Mega Rabies, Araneo, Titanoboa, and Kaprosuchus near the water. Tight squeezes and no room for a mount, but it is the friendliest starter cave on the map.

  • Central Cave

    The Island

    Progression

    Moderate
    Artifact Artifact of the CleverUnlocks Broodmother Lysrix
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outLong vertical drops that will kill you outright, Onyc swarms, Pulmonoscorpius, and piranha-filled water crossings. Bring patience for the climbing.

  • North East Cave

    The Island

    Progression

    Moderate
    Artifact Artifact of the DevourerUnlocks Megapithecus
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outThe cave itself is mild, mostly bats and spiders. The danger is outside: Carno Island's Rexes and Carnos camp the entrance, so land on the rocks above it.

  • North West Cave

    The Island

    Progression

    Moderate
    Artifact Artifact of the SkylordUnlocks Dragon
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outOnyc, Araneo, Pulmonoscorpius and Titanoboa in numbers, but nothing exotic. Best loot-to-danger ratio on the map, so it is a great early crate-farming target.

  • Lava Cave (Southeast)

    The Island

    Progression

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the MassiveUnlocks Broodmother Lysrix
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outLava is instant death, so one missed jump ends the run. Carnivores and bats wait between the ledges.

  • Upper South Cave

    The Island

    Progression

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the PackUnlocks Megapithecus
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outArthropleura acid spit wrecks weapon and armor durability fast. Titanoboa, scorpions, bats, and pitch-black winding tunnels.

  • Caverns of Lost Faith

    The Island

    Underwater

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of the BruteUnlocks Megapithecus
    UnderwaterHard, 4 of 5

    Watch outFully underwater. Electrophorus guard the entrance, Cnidaria swarm inside, and the water is cold enough to matter. In ASA the entrance moved to 54.4, 3.8.

  • Swamp Cave

    The Island

    Progression

    Hard
    Artifact Artifact of the ImmuneUnlocks Dragon
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outToxic air drains health straight through normal armor. High-level Arthropleura, Titanoboa, leeches carrying Swamp Fever, and giant bees, all in sweltering heat. One of the best crate farms on the map if you survive it.

  • Caverns of Lost Hope

    The Island

    Underwater

    Brutal
    Artifact Artifact of the CunningUnlocks Dragon
    UnderwaterBrutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outThe hardest cave on the map. Overlevelled Mosasaurs, Plesiosaurs and Tusoteuthis, Megalodon packs that stack bleed, extreme cold, and long stretches with no air.

  • Snow Cave

    The Island

    Progression

    Brutal
    Artifact Artifact of the StrongUnlocks Dragon
    On foot onlyBrutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outFreezing temperatures, chain-aggro Yetis that hit like trucks, Purlovia ambushing out of the floor, Direwolves, and an icy swim. No rideable mount fits, so it is a foot cave, and wild levels run very high.

  • Tek Cave

    The Island

    Ascension

    Brutal
    No artifactUnlocks Overseer
    Needs boss tributesBrutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outVolcano summit. The door takes 5 minutes to open and then you have 60 minutes to reach the Overseer. Lava pits everywhere and untameable wild dinos from level 195 to 620, Gigas included. This is the endgame run, so do not bring anything you cannot lose. There are no standard loot crates inside; the payoff is ascension, Tek engrams and boss element.

  • Teruki Falls Cave

    Valguero

    Progression · Eastern Jungle

    Easy
    No artifact
    Easy, 1 of 5

    Watch outA small waterfall cave in the jungle with no artifact and no real threat. Worth knowing about as a shelter or a small base spot rather than a run.

  • Crag Artifact Cave

    Valguero

    Progression · White Cliffs

    Moderate
    Artifact Artifact of the CragUnlocks Manticore
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outA short unnamed cave under the chalk country holding one of the three Manticore artifacts. Nothing here is unusual for Valguero, which makes it one of the easier tribute runs on the map.

  • Cunning Artifact Cave

    Valguero

    Progression · Northwest Highlands

    Moderate
    Artifact Artifact of the CunningUnlocks Dragon
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outAnother short unnamed artifact cave, this one in the northwest. The artifact sits a little way in at 14.5, 26.3. Standard cave wildlife, no traps and no environmental damage.

  • The Emerald Forest

    Valguero

    Progression · Emerald Forest

    Moderate
    No artifact
    Moderate, 2 of 5

    Watch outA large underground forest that looks and behaves like Aberration, and the reason Aberrant creatures exist outside that map. Safe by Valguero standards. It is also the doorway to The Unknown, so do not wander too deep without a hazard suit.

  • The Great Trench

    Valguero

    Progression · Northern Wyvern Trench

    Challenging
    Artifact Artifact of the SkylordUnlocks Dragon
    Challenging, 3 of 5

    Watch outThe surface trench is frozen and full of Ice Wyverns. Drop into the cave system at either end and it flips to 32-52C with lava running through it and Fire Wyverns nesting. The artifact is on a small island at the bottom of the largest chamber.

  • The Abyss

    Valguero

    Underwater · The Abyss

    Hard
    No artifact
    UnderwaterHard, 4 of 5

    Watch outA huge underground ocean with the usual deep-sea roster and almost no visibility, so things reach you before you see them. The deep-sea crates are the reason to go. Building down here counts as a cave, so structures take 5x damage.

  • The Lair

    Valguero

    Progression · Southern Redwoods

    Hard
    Artifact Artifacts of the Strong, the Immune and the PackUnlocks Broodmother Lysrix
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outPlayers call it Spider Cave. A Broodmother nests on the ramp outside the entrance, though you can slip past her into the trench. Wild levels run at triple the usual cap, up to about 450 on default settings. Two chokepoints split the cave, and most mounts cannot get past the second one.

  • The Lost Temple

    Valguero

    Progression · Eastern Jungle

    Hard
    Artifact Artifacts of the Brute and the DevourerUnlocks Megapithecus
    Hard, 4 of 5

    Watch outLong rather than lethal, until the last chamber. The pits around the Artifact of the Devourer deal 1000 damage a second to anything that falls in, and the climbing sections there are finicky enough that a slip is usually a death plus an unrecoverable corpse. Budget an hour and a half for a first run.

  • The Unknown

    Valguero

    Progression · Aberration Trench

    Brutal
    Artifact Artifact of the GatekeeperUnlocks Manticore
    Brutal, 5 of 5

    Watch outYou reach it through the Emerald Forest, and the entrances are genuinely hard to find; 38, 57 is the one that admits most tames. Part of the underground is clean and part is irradiated, and there is no warning line between them. Creature density is low but everything you do meet wants to kill you.