ARK Clone Calculator
Input your creature's level and its associated cloning costs to determine the total Element Shards and time required for a successful clone.
Element Shards vs. Creature Level
What is an ARK Clone Calculator?
The ARK Clone Calculator is an essential tool for players of ARK: Survival Evolved who engage in the game's advanced breeding and creature management mechanics. It helps you determine the precise amount of Element Shards and the total time required to clone a creature using the Cloning Chamber. In ARK, cloning allows players to duplicate their tamed creatures, including those with desirable mutations or high stats, without the lengthy process of breeding from scratch. This can be critical for building powerful armies, replacing lost tames, or creating specialized creatures for specific tasks.
This calculator is designed for any ARK survivor, from solo players to large tribes, who wants to optimize their resource management and time investment in cloning. It helps prevent common misunderstandings, such as underestimating the Element Shard cost for high-level creatures or miscalculating the time needed, which can lead to wasted resources or missed opportunities. Understanding the cost breakdown is key to efficient gameplay.
ARK Clone Calculator Formula and Explanation
The core of the ARK clone calculator relies on a straightforward formula that accounts for a creature's base cloning cost and its per-level cost. This allows for accurate predictions of the Element Shards needed and the subsequent cloning time.
The Formula:
Total Element Shards = Base Element Cost + ((Creature Level - 1) * Element Cost per Level)
Once the total Element Shards are calculated, the cloning time is derived based on a consistent in-game rate:
Cloning Time (seconds) = Total Element Shards * 12
This formula ensures that the calculation for any creature level is precise, reflecting the linear scaling of Element Shard costs.
Variable Explanations:
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creature Level | The final level of the creature you want to clone. | Unitless | 1 - 450 (or higher on unofficial servers) |
| Base Element Cost | The initial Element Shard cost for cloning a Level 1 version of the creature. This varies by creature species. | Element Shards | 50 (Dodo) - 10,000 (Titanosaur) |
| Element Cost per Level | The additional Element Shard cost incurred for each level above 1. This also varies by creature species. | Element Shards/Level | 0.5 (Dodo) - 10 (Giga, Titanosaur) |
| Total Element Shards | The sum of base and level-up costs, representing the total Element Shards needed. | Element Shards | Varies widely |
| Cloning Time | The duration the creature will spend in the Cloning Chamber. | Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days | Varies widely |
Practical Examples of Using the ARK Clone Calculator
Let's look at a couple of real-world scenarios to see how the ARK clone calculator can be applied effectively.
Example 1: Cloning a High-Level Rex
- Inputs:
- Creature Level: 300
- Base Element Cost: 500 Element Shards (typical for Rex)
- Element Cost per Level: 5 Element Shards/Level (typical for Rex)
- Calculation:
- Level-Up Cost = (300 - 1) * 5 = 299 * 5 = 1495 Element Shards
- Total Element Shards = 500 + 1495 = 1995 Element Shards
- Cloning Time (minutes) = 1995 * 0.2 = 399 minutes
- Cloning Time (hours) = 399 / 60 = 6.65 hours
- Results: To clone a Level 300 Rex, you would need 1995 Element Shards, and it would take approximately 6 hours and 39 minutes.
Example 2: Cloning a Giganotosaurus (Giga)
- Inputs:
- Creature Level: 250
- Base Element Cost: 1000 Element Shards (typical for Giga)
- Element Cost per Level: 10 Element Shards/Level (typical for Giga)
- Calculation:
- Level-Up Cost = (250 - 1) * 10 = 249 * 10 = 2490 Element Shards
- Total Element Shards = 1000 + 2490 = 3490 Element Shards
- Cloning Time (minutes) = 3490 * 0.2 = 698 minutes
- Cloning Time (hours) = 698 / 60 = 11.63 hours
- Results: Cloning a Level 250 Giganotosaurus would cost 3490 Element Shards and take around 11 hours and 38 minutes. This highlights the significant investment required for apex predators.
These examples demonstrate how the ARK clone calculator provides clear, actionable data for your ARK breeding guide and resource gathering efforts.
How to Use This ARK Clone Calculator
Using our ARK Clone Calculator is straightforward and designed for quick, accurate results:
- Enter Creature Level: Input the desired level of the creature you intend to clone into the "Creature Level" field. This is the level the creature currently possesses, including any wild levels and tamed levels.
- Input Base Element Shard Cost: Find the "Base Element Cost" for your specific creature species. This is the cost for a Level 1 clone. Common values are provided in the helper text and the table above.
- Input Element Shard Cost Per Level: Enter the "Element Shard Cost Per Level" for your creature. This is the additional cost for each level above Level 1. Again, helper text and the table offer guidance.
- Select Time Unit: Choose your preferred unit for the cloning time display (Minutes, Hours, or Days) from the dropdown.
- Click "Calculate Clone Cost": The calculator will instantly display the "Total Element Shards Required" as the primary result, along with the breakdown of base and level-up contributions, and the total cloning time in your chosen unit.
- Interpret Results: The primary highlighted result gives you the crucial Element Shard count. Intermediate values show how much of that cost comes from the base creature and how much from its levels. The cloning time helps you manage your in-game schedule.
- Copy Results: Use the "Copy Results" button to quickly save the output to your clipboard for easy sharing or record-keeping.
The calculator updates in real-time as you adjust inputs, making it dynamic and easy to experiment with different scenarios for your ARK creature stats planning.
Key Factors That Affect ARK Cloning Costs and Time
While the formula is fixed, several in-game factors influence the overall strategy and resources required for cloning in ARK: Survival Evolved:
- Creature Species: This is the most significant factor. Different creatures have vastly different base Element Shard costs and Element Shard costs per level. Apex predators like Gigas or Titans will always be more expensive than a Dodo or Raptor.
- Creature Level: As the calculator demonstrates, higher-level creatures cost more Element Shards and take longer to clone. This exponential scaling means that cloning a heavily mutated, high-level creature can be a massive investment.
- Server Rates/Mods: While official server rates are consistent, unofficial servers may have modified cloning costs or speeds. Always verify if your server has custom settings that might alter the calculator's accuracy.
- Element Shard Availability: Element Shards are a valuable endgame resource, primarily obtained from boss fights, Element veins on Aberration/Extinction, or by crafting Element Dust. Your ability to gather these resources directly impacts your cloning capacity.
- Cloning Chamber Durability: The Cloning Chamber itself consumes durability with each use. While not a direct Element Shard cost, it's an indirect resource cost (metal, electronics) to maintain the chamber.
- Cryopod/Cryofridge Management: Creatures decay in cryopods over time. Cloning a creature to replace one that might be nearing its cryo-sickness threshold or decay limit adds urgency to the cloning process. This ties into efficient ARK taming calculator and ARK mutation breeding explained strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about ARK Cloning
Q: What are Element Shards and how do I get them?
A: Element Shards are a crucial resource in ARK, primarily used for crafting Tek-tier items and cloning. They are obtained by defeating bosses, harvesting Element veins on maps like Aberration and Extinction, or by processing Element Dust in a Grinder or Industrial Grinder.
Q: Does the cloning cost change if the creature has mutations?
A: No, the Element Shard cost and cloning time are solely based on the creature's current level and species. Mutations do not directly increase or decrease the cloning cost, though mutated creatures are often high-level, which indirectly increases the cost.
Q: Can I clone creatures from different ARK maps?
A: Yes, as long as you have a Cloning Chamber and the necessary Element Shards, you can clone any creature, regardless of its origin map. The costs remain consistent with its species and level.
Q: Why is my in-game cloning time different from the calculator's?
A: The calculator uses official server rates (12 seconds per Element Shard). If you are playing on an unofficial server, the server owner might have modified the cloning speed. Check your server's specific settings if there's a discrepancy.
Q: What happens if the Cloning Chamber loses power during cloning?
A: If the Cloning Chamber loses power (e.g., generator runs out of fuel), the cloning process will pause. It will resume once power is restored, picking up from where it left off. No progress is lost, but the overall time will be extended.
Q: Is there a maximum creature level for cloning?
A: On official servers, creatures typically cannot exceed level 450 (or 500 for certain creatures like Rockwell's Drakes). The calculator supports levels up to 450, but you should always check your server's specific level cap.
Q: Can I clone creatures with unique abilities or skins?
A: Yes, the cloned creature will be an exact replica of the original, including its stats, mutations, colors, and any special abilities or cosmetic skins it may have had.
Q: How does this ARK clone calculator handle different units for time?
A: Our calculator provides a convenient dropdown to switch between Minutes, Hours, and Days for the cloning time display. Internally, all calculations are done in seconds for accuracy, then converted to your preferred display unit.
Related ARK Tools and Internal Resources
Enhance your ARK: Survival Evolved experience with these other valuable resources:
- ARK Breeding Guide: Learn the intricacies of creature breeding, mutations, and stat inheritance.
- ARK Resource Management: Optimize your gathering and crafting for all your in-game needs.
- ARK Server Hosting Guide: Find the best options for running your own ARK server.
- ARK Creature Stats Guide: Understand how creature stats work and how to maximize their potential.
- ARK Taming Calculator: Plan your tames with precision, calculating food, time, and narcotics.
- ARK Mutation Breeding Explained: Dive deep into the mechanics of achieving powerful mutations.