Cheats & Secrets

Overview

ARK: Survival Evolved is a game that heavily supports modding and admin commands, but it also contains numerous built-in cheats, secrets, and Easter eggs that are part of the official game. This guide covers every known cheat code (admin console commands), unlock codes (special item IDs, color IDs), hidden features (Explorer Notes, Terminals, secret caves), Easter eggs (tributes, references, visual gags), and developer-intended hidden content (Tek items, ascension fights, secret missions). All content listed is legitimately accessible without mods or external tools, and none rely on glitches or exploits.

Admin Commands (Cheat Codes)

ARK has a powerful admin command system accessible via the console (press Tab on PC, or use admin command on consoles). These commands require you to be in singleplayer, on a dedicated server with admin privileges, or in a non-dedicated session with cheats enabled. To enable cheats on a singleplayer session, use the console command `enablecheats <adminpassword>` (default password is blank or set in server settings).

Basic Administrative Commands

Item Spawning Commands

Use `cheat giveitemnum <blueprint_path> <quantity> <quality> <force_bp>` or `cheat gfi <blueprint_path> <quantity> <quality>`. The easiest is `cheat giveitem`. Examples:

• Spawn a Rocket Launcher: `cheat giveitemnum 1 1 100 0` (quality 100)


• Spawn a Metal Sword: `cheat giveitem "Blueprint'/Game/PrimalEarth/Weapons/Sword/PrimalItem_WeaponSword.PrimalItem_WeaponSword'" 1 0 false`


• Spawn Max Level Creature: `cheat spawndino "Blueprint'/Game/PrimalEarth/Dinos/Rex/Rex_Character_BP.Rex_Character_BP'" 1 1 0 200` (level 200 Rex)

Known Blueprint Paths:

Teleport Commands

• `cheat tp` – Teleports to your cursor location.


• `cheat teleport` – Teleports player to coordinates: `cheat teleport x y z`.


• `cheat setplayerpos x y z` – Sets player position (relative to map origin).


• `cheat teleporttoactor <actor_id>` – Teleports to a specific actor (e.g., a dino).




Dino-Related Commands




• `cheat forcetame` – Tames the dinosaur you are looking at (instant).


• `cheat dotame` – Same as forcetame but lower level.


• `cheat kill` – Kills the target creature.


• `cheat hurtme` – Damages target creature by 500.


• `cheat addexperience <amount> 0 1` – Adds XP to your mount.


• `cheat setimprintquality <0-1>` – Sets imprint percentage on baby dinos.


• `cheat setbabyage <0-1>` – Sets age of baby dino.




Map Change Commands




• `cheat setlevel` – Sets level (but not recommended – use XP commands).


• `cheat exec <command>` – Executes server commands.


• `cheat teleporttome <player_id>` – Teleports a player to you.




Unlock Codes





Player Color IDs


Use `cheat setplayercolor <color_id>` to change your body region colors (0-60). Example: `cheat setplayercolor 1 0` changes region 1 to color 0 (usually black). Full list available on ARK wiki.



Dino Color Commands



• `cheat setdinocolors <target_id> <region> <color_id>` (must target a dino).


• Alternative: `cheat forcetame` then `cheat setdinocolors`.




Skin & Cosmetic Codes



• `cheat giveitem "Blueprint'/Game/PrimalEarth/Items/PrimalItemConsumable_Skin_Unid.Skin_Unid'" 1 0 false` – gives random skin.


• `cheat giveitem "Blueprint'/Game/PrimalEarth/Items/PrimalItemConsumable_Skin_BionicRex.Skin_BionicRex'" 1 0 false` – Bionic Rex skin.


• Specific skins for events (e.g., Easter, Halloween) can be spawned via their blueprints.




Unlock All Engrams


`cheat giveengrams` – unlocks all engrams for the player.



Hidden Features





Explorer Notes


ARK features hundreds of Explorer Notes scattered across all maps. They provide lore and can be collected by interacting. They are not hidden but many are in hard-to-reach places. Collecting all notes on a map grants a special skin (e.g., Note of the Survivor).



Obelisks & Supply Crates


The three Obelisks (Red, Green, Blue) are central to boss fights and terminal functions. Supply crates drop periodically; red drops are highest level. Hidden deep-sea crates contain Tek items.



Secret Caves


Many maps have hidden caves: on The Island, there's the "Swamp Cave" (underwater entrance), "Ice Cave" (hidden behind waterfall), "Lava Cave" (under volcano). These require artifacts for boss fights.



Boss Fights


Bosses are hidden behind summoning terminals (at Obelisks or specific locations). Required artifacts and tributes are often in hard-to-reach caves. Broodmother, Megapithecus, Dragon, and Manticore are standard.



Ascension


After defeating all three Island bosses (Gamma, Beta, Alpha), you can ascend on the Island and unlock Tek engrams. Ascension also provides a new character level cap and unlocks "The Center" or "Scorched Earth" endgame teleport.



Tek Items


Unlockable only after defeating bosses or using admin commands. Spawnable with `cheat giveitem` and blueprint paths; e.g., Tek Rifle: `"Blueprint'/Game/Extinction/Tek/Rifle/PrimalItem_WeaponTekRifle.PrimalItem_WeaponTekRifle'"`.



Easter Eggs





The ARK Logo in the Sky


On The Island, during certain times, the ASCII-art ARK logo appears above the Obelisks (visible only from specific angles). This is a developer signature.



Tributes to Jurassic Park



• The bridge on The Center resembles the Jurassic Park bird cage.


• Certain rock formations mimic the "Welcome to Jurassic Park" scene.


• Dino AI sometimes causes raptors to open doors (a reference to the kitchen scene).




Dossiers


Each creature has a dossier with humorous text and sketches. Collecting all dossiers on a map gives a special dossier item (no in-game effect).



Hidden Underwater City


On "The Center" map, there is an abandoned underwater city structure with no loot but eerie atmosphere. It's a reference to Atlantis.



The "Manticore" Boss Easter Egg


In Scorched Earth, the Manticore boss drops a unique item called "Manticore's Fang" which references the Greek myth.



Bob's Path


On "Ragnarok", there is a hidden path called Bob's Trail marked with signs. It leads to a cliff with a view and a note from a developer.



Developer Homes


On maps like "Ragnarok" and "Valguero", there are developer-built structures (e.g., a castle, a treehouse) that are accessible but not part of any quest.



The "Giga" Egg Exploit (Not an Exploit)


The Giganotosaurus is normally untamable via normal means, but an Easter egg allows you to tame a baby Giga by stealing its egg from a nest in the Wyvern trench on Scorched Earth. This is intended behavior.



The "Equus" (Horse) Dance


Taming an Equus allows you to perform a special dance emote (hold E while mounted). This is a developer inside joke.



"ARK" VR Hidden Content


In the Steam version, the game includes a separate VR mode (ARK Park) that is a tie-in, not a secret.



Developer-Intended Secrets





The "Tek Cave" and Overseer


On The Island, the Tek Cave is a hidden underground area accessible only after collecting all artifacts. It leads to the Overseer boss fight and ascension. This is the ultimate endgame secret.



The "Rockwell" Boss (Aberration)


On Aberration, Rockwell is a secret boss fought in the "Element Chamber". It requires energy elements and is the map's true ending.



The "King Titan" (Extinction)


On Extinction, the King Titan spawns in the Forbidden Zone after a global event. Defeating him rewards the highest tier Tek and allows ascension to Genesis.



Genesis Missions


Genesis Part 1 & 2 have hidden missions that unlock upon meeting conditions (e.g., defeating all biomes' bosses). Some missions have secret locations, like the "Hunt" missions which lead to rare creature spawns.



Secret Dino Colors


Certain wild dinos have extremely rare color mutations (e.g., Pink Dodo, Teal Rex). These are not guaranteed but can be force-spawned with `cheat setdinocolors`.



Important Notes




• All admin commands are cheat-enabled and do not disable achievements on PC (unless you use `cheat` in singleplayer – achievement lock is removed). On consoles, using cheats disables trophies/achievements for that session.


• Using `cheat` commands in multiplayer without permission is considered griefing and bannable.


• The game receives updates that may change blueprint paths or command syntax; always check the ARK Wiki for the latest.


• Many Easter eggs are hidden on DLC maps; explore thoroughly.