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Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
ARK does not have an official “Expert” server preset. The term usually describes a manually edited server configuration. In ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA, Steam app 2399830), most advanced options are in GameUserSettings.ini, while deeper gameplay rules are in Game.ini. Difficulty override instructions commonly labeled for “expert” servers apply to ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE, Steam app 346110) and should not be copied to ASA without checking the current server build.
This guide shows where the files live, how the sections work, which settings are commonly changed, how to apply changes safely, and why a setting can appear to do nothing.
What “Expert” means in ARK server hosting
“Expert” is a hosting description, not a documented ARK preset or switch. A host may use it for a server that exposes raw INI files instead of a simplified control panel. The practical difference is control: you can set individual multipliers, survival drains, passwords, cryopod rules, breeding values, engrams, loot and per-level statistics rather than choosing one difficulty profile.
Because the game has two editions and several server implementations, always identify the edition before editing anything:
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| Edition | Steam app | Relevant focus | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARK: Survival Ascended | 2399830 | GameUserSettings.ini for basics and most rates; Game.ini for deeper rules |
Max player count is reportedly supplied as the -WinLiveMaxPlayers launch parameter, not as an INI value. |
| ARK: Survival Evolved | 346110 | Hosting guides commonly place difficulty keys in GameUserSettings.ini under [ServerSettings] |
Difficulty ranges and level formulas cited by hosting guides are not confirmed against current official documentation. |
A value that works in ASE may be ignored by ASA, and a panel may rewrite a file when the server stops. Treat every setting as edition-specific until your host confirms otherwise.
Where ARK stores advanced settings
ASA Windows server
Hosting guides report the Windows configuration directory as:
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ASA or ASE Linux server
The reported Linux directory is:
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/Use the directory that matches the server executable and host documentation. Do not assume that a similarly named local single-player folder controls a dedicated server.
Which file does what?
| File | Typical contents | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
GameUserSettings.ini |
[ServerSettings] basics and most rates |
XP, taming, harvesting, food and water drains, passwords and several server-access rules |
Game.ini |
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode] gameplay rules |
Breeding and imprinting, per-level stat gains, engrams, loot and other deeper rules |
The section header matters as much as the key. A correctly spelled setting under the wrong section is usually ignored. Keep a backup before every edit and change one value at a time.
Safe editing procedure
- Identify the edition. Confirm whether the server is ASA or ASE and record the game build and host panel.
- Stop the server completely. Editing while the process is running can leave an in-memory copy that overwrites your changes during shutdown.
- Back up both files. Copy
GameUserSettings.iniandGame.iniwith a date in the filename. - Open the correct file. Put basic rates and access values in
GameUserSettings.ini; put deeper gameplay rules inGame.ini. - Find or create the section. Use one
[ServerSettings]section in the user-settings file. InGame.ini, use[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]for the rules reported by hosting guides. - Add one key and value. Use the exact capitalization and an equals sign, with no quotation marks unless a host explicitly requires them.
- Save as plain text. Ensure the editor has not changed the filename to
.txtor introduced smart quotes. - Start the server and test. Join with a new character or a controlled test item, then check the log or panel for parse errors.
- Record the result. Keep a change log containing the date, key, old value, new value and observed behavior.
If the host provides an “expert settings” editor, compare its saved files with your manual edits after one restart. Some panels regenerate the files and remove unknown or misplaced lines.
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Core rate settings in GameUserSettings.ini
The following keys are commonly reported under [ServerSettings]. They are rate multipliers: a value of 1.0 is generally the baseline, while higher or lower values change the pace. The exact gameplay result can vary by edition and server build.
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[ServerSettings]
XPMultiplier=2.0
TamingSpeedMultiplier=3.0
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0
XP: XPMultiplier
XPMultiplier changes experience gain globally. For example, 2.0 is intended as twice the baseline rate. It affects how quickly players and relevant creatures reach levels, but it does not itself change the level cap or per-level stat gains.
Taming: TamingSpeedMultiplier
TamingSpeedMultiplier changes the speed of taming. Raising it shortens the waiting period; it does not automatically make a creature accept a different food type or remove all effectiveness loss. Test a complete tame because server settings, creature species and food quality interact.
Harvesting: HarvestAmountMultiplier
HarvestAmountMultiplier changes the amount received when resources are gathered. It is separate from resource respawn behavior and tool or creature bonuses. A high value can make weight limits, storage and crafting progression the new bottleneck.
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One hosting guide lists separate kill, harvest and craft XP keys in Game.ini, rather than GameUserSettings.ini. This is a single-source placement claim, so verify the key names and section against your host’s current documentation before relying on it. If a per-source value has no effect, remove it and test the global XPMultiplier first.
Survival pacing: food and water drains
Food and water drain values are also reported under [ServerSettings]:
[ServerSettings]
PlayerCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=0.5
PlayerCharacterWaterDrainMultiplier=0.5
Lower values slow the rate at which a player loses food or water; higher values make those meters fall faster. These are player-character settings, not a universal switch for every dinosaur or environmental process. A change may be difficult to notice while standing still, so test over a measured period with a full meter and the same activity pattern.
Passwords and administrative access
[ServerSettings]
ServerPassword=choose-a-player-password
ServerAdminPassword=use-a-long-private-admin-password
Player password
ServerPassword restricts joining. Give it only to intended players and change it if it has been shared beyond the group.
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Admin password
ServerAdminPassword authenticates in-game administrator commands. Keep it private, do not reuse it elsewhere, and treat a leaked value as compromised. A player who can authenticate as an administrator may be able to alter the world, inventory or server state.
Cryopod and cryofridge rules
Some advanced cryopod controls are reported under [ServerSettings]. The frequently used example is:
[ServerSettings]
DisableCryopodEnemyCheck=True
When enabled, this setting is reported to ignore enemy player, structure and creature checks when cryopods are used. Related keys govern cryofridge placement and release rules. Because these controls can change raid defenses and creature deployment, confirm the exact key names supported by your ASA build before enabling them, and test on a copy or low-risk area first.
Player-count limits in ASA
For ARK: Survival Ascended, one hosting guide reports that the maximum player count is not configured in the INI files. Instead, it is supplied as a launch parameter:
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-WinLiveMaxPlayers=<number>Replace the angle-bracketed value with the intended limit in the host’s startup command or launch-parameter field. Do not add this line to GameUserSettings.ini. The parameter name and host support should be verified for the current ASA server build; a panel may expose the same setting under a player-count control rather than showing the raw command.
Deeper gameplay rules in Game.ini
Hosting guides place breeding, imprinting, per-level stat gains, engrams and loot rules in Game.ini under:
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
These rules are more sensitive than simple rate multipliers. A typo can make the server ignore a line, while an extreme value can damage progression or existing saves. Add one rule, restart, and verify the behavior before adding another. Keep the original file so you can revert without reconstructing a long configuration.
Breeding and imprinting
Breeding settings affect mating intervals, egg or gestation timing, maturation and imprint opportunities. They are not interchangeable: increasing maturation without adjusting imprint timing can make full imprinting impossible. Test an entire lifecycle, not only the first percentage of maturation.
Per-level stat gains
Per-level settings change how much a player or creature receives when a level is assigned. They are distinct from XP speed. A server can grant levels quickly while retaining default stat gains, or grant slower levels with larger gains. Document which entity and stat each rule targets.
Engrams and loot
Engram and loot rules can remove, alter or add progression options. Make a backup before changing them, because an incorrect entry can leave players unable to learn expected recipes or can produce unexpected supply-crate contents.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Changing difficulty in ARK: Survival Evolved
Difficulty override guidance in the available hosting material is for ARK: Survival Evolved, not a confirmed ASA procedure. The reported keys belong under [ServerSettings] in GameUserSettings.ini:
[ServerSettings]
DifficultyOffset=1.0
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=2.0
What the two keys are reported to do
DifficultyOffsetis reported with a range of 0.2 to 1.0, although exact offset defaults conflict between guides and are not verified here.OverrideOfficialDifficultyis reported with a range of 1.0 to 10.0.- Most guides keep the offset at 1.0 and vary the official-difficulty override.
One guide reports a maximum wild-dinosaur level of 30 at an override of 1.0 and 60 at 2.0, and suggests dividing a desired maximum level by 30 to choose the override. Treat that as a hosting-guide rule of thumb, not a guaranteed formula for every map, mode or server version.
Why difficulty changes appear not to work
Existing wild creatures retain the cap under which they spawned. New difficulty values become visible gradually as old creatures are killed or tamed and the world repopulates. A 2018 community forum discussion suggested a wild-dinosaur wipe to accelerate replacement; wiping is destructive, so back up the save and understand the command before using it.
ARK Server Manager reportedly places the option in its Rules section as “Difficulty Override.” One user reported that saving through the client reset DifficultyOffset to 1. If you use a management tool, inspect the resulting INI after saving and after the next shutdown.
Why a setting does nothing
Wrong file or section
The most common failure is placing a key in the wrong file or outside the required section. Move basic rates to [ServerSettings] in GameUserSettings.ini, and deeper rules to the documented Game.ini section.
The server overwrote your edit
Some hosts write configuration during shutdown or when a panel saves. Stop the server before editing, restart once, and inspect the file again. If your line vanished, use the panel’s expert field or disable automatic regeneration if the host permits it.
Editing the wrong installation
Windows and Linux use different configuration directories. A 2023 community report about a tame limit remaining at 100 received a reply recommending a path check. Confirm the active server instance, not merely a similarly named backup or test installation.
Testing an old world state
Difficulty changes do not retroactively raise levels on existing wild creatures. For rates, use a controlled new action; for difficulty, allow replacement or follow a carefully planned wipe procedure.
Conflicting values
Difficulty offset and override values interact. Change one value at a time, restart, and record the result. Do not attempt to troubleshoot several multipliers and difficulty keys simultaneously.
Verification checklist before opening the server
- Edition identified as ASA or ASE.
- Correct Windows or Linux server path confirmed.
- Each key is in the correct file and section.
- Backup contains the last known-good files and save.
- Passwords are not posted in community channels or scripts.
- One change has been tested before the next is added.
- Difficulty tests account for old creatures retaining their previous levels.
- ASA player limits use the supported launch-parameter field rather than an invented INI key.
- Management software has been checked for automatic rewrites.
How to choose a maintainable configuration
Start with the smallest change that solves the problem. If players need shorter progression, adjust XP, taming or harvesting separately instead of raising every multiplier. If survival feels too demanding, lower food and water drains rather than changing unrelated combat or resource rules. Reserve Game.ini edits for a specific breeding, stat, engram or loot goal, and keep a comment in your change log describing the intended outcome.
For a shared server, publish the effective rules to players: rates, password policy, wipe policy, cryopod behavior and whether difficulty changes apply only to newly spawned creatures. Clear documentation prevents players from mistaking a deliberate rule for a bug and makes rollback decisions much easier.
Limits of the available setting information
Key names and locations above come from hosting guides and community reports. The cited material did not include a retrieved official ARK wiki page or Studio Wildcard configuration reference, and it contained no independently attributed performance statistics or official quotations. Verify syntax, supported ranges and edition compatibility against the current server build before applying a production change.
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