Calculate Your ARK Cloning Costs and Time
Input your creature's details to determine the Element Shards and time needed for cloning.
ARK Cloning Cost & Time Trend
This chart visualizes the total Element Shards and Time required for increasing numbers of clones based on your current inputs.
Detailed Cloning Breakdown
| # Clones | Total Shards | Total Element | Total Time (Hours) |
|---|
A) What is an ARK Cloning Calculator?
The world of ARK: Survival Evolved is harsh and unforgiving. To survive and thrive, survivors often rely on powerful creatures. Sometimes, you need more than one of that perfectly tamed, high-level creature – perhaps for a boss fight, a breeding project, or simply to replace losses. This is where the ARK Cloning Chamber comes in, and by extension, the ARK Cloning Calculator.
An ARK Cloning Calculator is an essential tool for any serious survivor. It helps you accurately predict the significant resources and time investment required to duplicate your prized dinosaurs using the Tek Cloning Chamber. Without such a calculator, you might find yourself short on precious Element Shards or waiting far longer than anticipated for your clones to finish.
Who Should Use This ARK Cloning Calculator?
- Alpha Tribes & Breeders: For mass production of high-stat creatures.
- PvP Players: To quickly replace war mounts or build up an army.
- PvE Players: To acquire multiple boss-fighting creatures or unique utility tames.
- Resource Managers: To plan Element Shard farming and power generation.
- New Players: To understand the costs involved before investing in a Tek Cloning Chamber.
Common Misunderstandings
Many players confuse "Element" with "Element Shards." The Cloning Chamber consumes Element, but Element is crafted from Element Shards at a 1:100 ratio (1 Element = 100 Element Shards). Our ARK Cloning Calculator primarily shows costs in Element Shards for clarity, as these are the raw materials you gather. Another common point of confusion is server multipliers, which can drastically alter cloning times but not resource costs.
B) ARK Cloning Calculator Formula and Explanation
The cost and time for cloning in ARK are determined by a few key factors, primarily the creature's type and level. The core formulas used by this ARK Cloning Calculator are:
Element Shard Cost Formula:
Total Element Shards = (Base Element Cost per 100 Levels * (Creature Level / 100)) * 100 * Number of Clones
- Base Element Cost per 100 Levels: This is a fixed value specific to each creature type, reflecting its size and utility. Larger or more powerful creatures have a higher base cost.
- Creature Level: The current level of the creature being cloned. The cost scales linearly with level.
- Multiplier of 100: Converts the Element cost into Element Shards (1 Element = 100 Shards).
- Number of Clones: The total number of copies you wish to make.
Cloning Time Formula:
Total Cloning Time (Minutes) = (Base Time per Clone (Minutes) / Server Cloning Speed Multiplier) * Number of Clones
- Base Time per Clone: A fixed duration for each creature type.
- Server Cloning Speed Multiplier: A server setting (e.g., `CloningSpeedMultiplier` in `Game.ini`) that directly affects how fast cloning progresses. A value of 2.0 would halve the cloning time.
- Number of Clones: The total number of copies you wish to make.
Variables Table for ARK Cloning Calculator
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creature Type | The specific species of dinosaur or creature being cloned. | Unitless | Dodo, Rex, Giga, etc. |
| Creature Level | The current level of the creature. | Unitless | 1 - 450 (official servers) |
| Number of Clones | How many copies you want. | Unitless | 1 - 100+ |
| Server Cloning Speed Multiplier | A server setting affecting cloning speed. | Unitless | 0.1 - 10.0 (Official: 1.0) |
| Base Element Cost per 100 Levels | Creature-specific base cost. | Element | 100 - 500 |
| Base Time per Clone | Creature-specific base cloning duration. | Minutes | 20 - 120 |
C) Practical Examples Using the ARK Cloning Calculator
Let's look at a couple of real-world scenarios to demonstrate how this ARK Cloning Calculator can help you plan your cloning projects.
Example 1: Cloning a High-Level Rex for Boss Fights
You've bred a perfect, high-level Rex (say, Level 300) for a boss fight and need 5 copies to fill out your team. Your server has standard cloning speed (1.0).
- Inputs:
- Creature Type: Rex
- Creature Level: 300
- Number of Clones Desired: 5
- Server Cloning Speed Multiplier: 1.0
- Results (using the calculator):
- Shards per Clone: Approximately 6,000 Element Shards
- Time per Clone: 40 Minutes
- Total Element Shards: 30,000 Element Shards
- Total Cloning Time: 3 Hours 20 Minutes (200 Minutes)
This tells you that you'll need to gather a substantial amount of Element Shards and allocate a few hours for the cloning process, ensuring your Tek Generator has enough fuel.
Example 2: Rapidly Cloning Multiple Raptors on a Boosted Server
You're on a boosted server with a Cloning Speed Multiplier of 5.0 and want to quickly clone 10 Raptors (Level 150) for a fun PvP raid.
- Inputs:
- Creature Type: Raptor
- Creature Level: 150
- Number of Clones Desired: 10
- Server Cloning Speed Multiplier: 5.0
- Results (using the calculator):
- Shards per Clone: Approximately 1,500 Element Shards
- Time per Clone: 5 Minutes (25 base / 5 multiplier)
- Total Element Shards: 15,000 Element Shards
- Total Cloning Time: 50 Minutes
With a boosted server, your cloning project becomes much faster, allowing you to get your army ready in under an hour, provided you have the Element Shards.
D) How to Use This ARK Cloning Calculator
Our ARK Cloning Calculator is designed for ease of use. Follow these simple steps to get your cloning estimates:
- Select Creature Type: From the dropdown menu, choose the species of creature you intend to clone. This sets the base cost and time.
- Enter Creature Level: Input the exact level of the creature. This is crucial for accurate Element Shard cost calculation.
- Specify Number of Clones: Enter how many copies you wish to create.
- Adjust Server Cloning Speed Multiplier: If you play on a custom server, enter its specific cloning speed multiplier. For official servers, leave it at 1.0.
- Choose Display Time Unit: Select whether you want the total cloning time displayed in Minutes, Hours, or Days.
- Click "Calculate Cloning Costs": The calculator will instantly process your inputs and display the results.
- Interpret Results:
- The large, prominent number indicates the Total Element Shards needed.
- Intermediate results show costs/time per clone and total Element/time.
- Review the "Cloning Formula Used" for a quick reminder of the logic.
- Copy Results: Use the "Copy Results" button to quickly save your calculations to your clipboard for sharing or record-keeping.
E) Key Factors That Affect ARK Cloning
Understanding the variables that influence cloning can help you optimize your base and resource management for efficient duplication of your creatures. This ARK Cloning Calculator takes these into account:
- Creature Type: As seen in the formulas, different creatures have different base Element and time requirements. A Dodo is much cheaper and faster to clone than a Giganotosaurus.
- Creature Level: The most significant factor for Element cost. A level 450 creature costs significantly more Element than a level 150 creature of the same species. There is a direct linear relationship between level and Element cost.
- Server Cloning Speed Multiplier: This server setting directly impacts the time it takes to clone. A higher multiplier reduces cloning time, making it faster to produce multiple creatures. It does not affect Element Shard costs.
- Availability of Element Shards: Element Shards are a precious resource, primarily found in Aberration, Extinction, Genesis, and as drops from Tek creatures or boss fights. Consistent farming is essential for large-scale cloning operations.
- Cloning Chamber Power: The Tek Cloning Chamber requires a significant amount of power, typically supplied by a Tek Generator. Ensure you have a stable and sufficient power supply, as the chamber will stop if power is lost, pausing any ongoing cloning processes.
- Cryopods: While not a direct cost of the cloning process itself, you will need Cryopods to store the cloned creatures once they are complete, especially if you are cloning many at once or transporting them.
- Time Management: Large cloning projects can take many hours or even days. Planning when to start and finish, especially on servers with limited online time, is crucial.
F) ARK Cloning Calculator FAQ
Q: What's the difference between Element and Element Shards in ARK?
A: Element is the refined resource used by Tek structures, including the Cloning Chamber. Element Shards are the raw, unrefined form. 100 Element Shards can be crafted into 1 Element at a Tek Replicator or in your inventory. Our ARK Cloning Calculator provides the cost in Element Shards, as that's what you'll typically be gathering.
Q: How do server multipliers affect ARK cloning?
A: Server multipliers, specifically the `CloningSpeedMultiplier`, directly affect the *time* it takes to complete a clone. A multiplier of 2.0 means cloning is twice as fast (half the time). However, these multipliers *do not* affect the Element Shard cost, which remains constant regardless of server settings.
Q: Can I clone any creature in ARK?
A: Almost all creatures can be cloned. Exceptions typically include Titans, Bosses, and certain unique creatures like the Corrupted Master Controller. Most tamed dinosaurs and even some wild creatures can be cloned.
Q: What happens if my Cloning Chamber runs out of power during a clone?
A: If the Tek Cloning Chamber loses power, any ongoing cloning processes will pause. They will resume automatically once power is restored. However, prolonged power loss could delay your cloning project significantly.
Q: Is cloning worth the Element Shard cost?
A: This depends on your goals. For creating armies of high-stat creatures for boss fights or PvP, cloning is invaluable as it bypasses the lengthy breeding process for exact copies. For common utility creatures, taming or breeding might be more resource-efficient. The ARK Cloning Calculator helps you weigh these costs.
Q: How long does a Tek Cloning Chamber last?
A: Tek structures, including the Cloning Chamber, have very high durability. Unless actively damaged by enemies or players, they will last for a very long time (many real-world weeks) before needing repairs or replacement.
Q: Does creature size matter for cloning costs?
A: Yes, implicitly. Larger, more powerful creatures (like a Giganotosaurus) have a higher "Base Element Cost per 100 Levels" and "Base Time per Clone" compared to smaller creatures (like a Dodo or Raptor). This is factored into the calculator when you select the creature type.
Q: Does Mutagel affect ARK cloning?
A: Typically, Mutagel is not consumed by the standard Tek Cloning Chamber for most creatures. Mutagel is primarily used for specific crafting recipes or for mutating creatures like the Shadowmane or Voidwyrm. The primary resource for cloning is Element (or Element Shards).
G) Related ARK Tools and Resources
Enhance your ARK: Survival Evolved gameplay with these other useful tools and guides:
- ARK Breeding Calculator: Plan your creature breeding projects, including gestation, incubation, and maturation times.
- ARK Taming Calculator: Estimate food, narcotics, and time needed to tame your next dino.
- ARK Resource Gatherer Guide: Discover the best ways and locations to farm essential resources across different maps.
- ARK Tek Generator Guide: Learn how to power your Tek structures efficiently and manage Element fuel.
- ARK Element Farming Guide: Strategies and tips for gathering Element and Element Shards quickly.
- ARK Mutagel Guide: Everything you need to know about finding and using Mutagel.