The Island
Caves
Everything you need to pick your next run, without opening the map. Sort by difficulty, then work down the list.
11 caves0 cleared
- Easy
Lower South Cave
Progression
Artifact Artifact of the HunterUnlocks Broodmother LysrixEasy, 1 of 5Watch 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.
- Moderate
Central Cave
Progression
Artifact Artifact of the CleverUnlocks Broodmother LysrixModerate, 2 of 5Watch outLong vertical drops that will kill you outright, Onyc swarms, Pulmonoscorpius, and piranha-filled water crossings. Bring patience for the climbing.
- Moderate
North East Cave
Progression
Artifact Artifact of the DevourerUnlocks MegapithecusModerate, 2 of 5Watch 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.
- Moderate
North West Cave
Progression
Artifact Artifact of the SkylordUnlocks DragonModerate, 2 of 5Watch 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.
- Challenging
Lava Cave (Southeast)
Progression
Artifact Artifact of the MassiveUnlocks Broodmother LysrixChallenging, 3 of 5Watch outLava is instant death, so one missed jump ends the run. Carnivores and bats wait between the ledges.
- Challenging
Upper South Cave
Progression
Artifact Artifact of the PackUnlocks MegapithecusChallenging, 3 of 5Watch outArthropleura acid spit wrecks weapon and armor durability fast. Titanoboa, scorpions, bats, and pitch-black winding tunnels.
- Hard
Caverns of Lost Faith
Underwater
Artifact Artifact of the BruteUnlocks MegapithecusUnderwaterHard, 4 of 5Watch 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.
- Hard
Swamp Cave
Progression
Artifact Artifact of the ImmuneUnlocks DragonHard, 4 of 5Watch 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.
- Brutal
Caverns of Lost Hope
Underwater
Artifact Artifact of the CunningUnlocks DragonUnderwaterBrutal, 5 of 5Watch outThe hardest cave on the map. Overlevelled Mosasaurs, Plesiosaurs and Tusoteuthis, Megalodon packs that stack bleed, extreme cold, and long stretches with no air.
- Brutal
Snow Cave
Progression
Artifact Artifact of the StrongUnlocks DragonOn foot onlyBrutal, 5 of 5Watch 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.
- Brutal
Tek Cave
Ascension
No artifactUnlocks OverseerNeeds boss tributesBrutal, 5 of 5Watch 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.