Ark: Survival Evolved (2017) Game Icons Banners Guide

Ark: Survival Evolved is a survival game set in a prehistoric world filled with dinosaurs, mythical creatures, and various other hazards. One of the key aspects of the game is the ability to customize your base and territory with banners and icons, which can represent your tribe, achievements, or simply add aesthetic value to your structures. This guide will delve into the various types of banners and icons available in the game, how to create and customize them, and their strategic uses.

Understanding Banners and Icons

In Ark: Survival Evolved, banners and icons are visual elements that can be crafted and placed around your base or on your tamed creatures. They serve multiple purposes:

1. Tribe Identification: Banners and icons can be used to represent your tribe, making it easy for allies and enemies to recognize your territory.
2. Aesthetic Customization: They enhance the visual appeal of your base, adding a personal touch to your structures.
3. Communication: Icons and banners can convey messages, such as warnings, welcome signs, or directions within your base.
4. Achievements: They can commemorate significant achievements or events, serving as trophies or reminders of your tribe’s history.

Types of Banners and Icons

1. Tribe Banners: Large flags that display your tribe’s emblem and colors. These are typically placed at the entrance of your base or strategic points to mark territory.
2. Small Flags: Smaller versions of tribe banners that can be placed on walls, fences, or other structures for additional decoration or communication.
3. Dino Flags: Banners that can be attached to saddles of tamed creatures, identifying them as part of your tribe.
4. Personal Banners: Smaller banners that individual players can place near their personal areas within a tribe base.

Crafting Banners and Icons

To craft banners and icons in Ark: Survival Evolved, you need to gather the following resources:

• Fiber: Gathered from plants using a sickle or by hand.
• Hide: Obtained from killing and harvesting animals.
• Wood: Collected from trees using tools like hatchets.

Crafting Steps

1. Gather Resources: Collect the required amount of fiber, hide, and wood.
2. Access a Smithy or Crafting Table: These are required to craft more advanced items, including banners and icons.
3. Select the Banner/Icon Blueprint: In the crafting menu, choose the type of banner or icon you want to create.
4. Craft the Item: Once you have the necessary materials, craft the banner or icon.

Customizing Banners and Icons

Customization is where the creativity of Ark players shines. Follow these steps to personalize your banners and icons:

1. Design Your Emblem:
   • Use image editing software to create a custom emblem. The game accepts images in the .pnt file format.
   • Ensure your design is simple and clear, as intricate details might not translate well onto the banner.
2. Upload Your Design:
   • Transfer the .pnt file to the game’s directory (typically located in the “MyPaintings” folder within the Ark game files).
   • In the game, approach the banner or icon and access its inventory.
   • Select “Load Paints from This Type” and choose your design.
3. Paint Your Banner/Icon:
   • Use dyes created in the Cooking Pot or Industrial Cooker to paint your banner.
   • You can manually paint your design using the Paintbrush tool, applying colors directly onto the banner.

Strategic Uses of Banners and Icons

Defensive Strategies

1. Marking Territory: Place tribe banners at the boundaries of your territory to warn potential intruders.
2. Strategic Locations: Use icons to mark key locations such as storage rooms, workshops, and dino pens within your base.
3. Warning Signs: Place banners with warning symbols near traps or dangerous areas to prevent accidental injuries to tribe members.

Offensive Strategies

1. Psychological Warfare: Use intimidating designs and colors on your banners to instill fear in your enemies.
2. Raiding Marks: Place banners on enemy structures you plan to raid, marking them for future attacks or to signal other tribe members.

Examples of Creative Banner and Icon Uses

1. Event Decorations: Customize banners for in-game events like tournaments, races, or festivals, enhancing the atmosphere.
2. Role-Playing: Create banners that reflect the lore and story of your tribe, adding depth to role-playing experiences.
3. Memorials: Design banners to commemorate fallen tribe members or significant victories, creating a sense of history and continuity.

Tips for Effective Banner and Icon Use

1. Visibility: Place banners in highly visible locations to ensure they serve their purpose, whether for identification or decoration.
2. Simplicity: Keep designs simple and bold for maximum impact and readability.
3. Color Coordination: Use colors that contrast well with the environment to make your banners stand out.
4. Regular Updates: Regularly update your banners and icons to reflect changes in your tribe, such as new members, achievements, or shifts in strategy.

Conclusion

Banners and icons are more than just decorative elements in Ark: Survival Evolved; they are tools for communication, strategy, and self-expression. By understanding the different types of banners and icons, learning how to craft and customize them, and strategically placing them around your base, you can enhance your gameplay experience and strengthen your tribe’s presence in the game world. Whether you’re marking your territory, celebrating achievements, or adding a personal touch to your structures, banners and icons are a vital part of life in Ark.