If we're farming serious blueprints on The Island, this cave is one of the best places to check regularly in ARK Survival Ascended. It has multiple loot drop spawns, including red drops, and the route becomes pretty simple once we know where to turn.

The cave can feel confusing on the first run, mostly because of the branching paths and environmental damage. But with a Baryonyx, a few pieces of scuba gear, and a simple left-wall route, we can turn it into a reliable loot farm instead of a messy corpse run.

Cave Location and Entrance

The cave entrance is around 65 Lat / 35 Lon on The Island. It is built into the cliffside, so it's easy to miss if you come in from the wrong angle.

A simple way to find it is to fly toward the small island landmark nearby, then turn toward the eastern side of the map and look for a dark opening in the rock wall.

This cave is worth marking on your map because it can become part of a regular loot farming loop.

Best Gear for This Loot Cave

The main thing to know before entering is that this cave can damage your character over time. If you go in with normal armor and ignore it, your health will keep dropping while you fight.

From our runs, the easiest setup is a Baryonyx plus three scuba pieces. Ghillie can reduce the damage, but scuba pieces can stop it completely, which makes the run much cleaner.

A decent Baryonyx does not need to be perfect, but we'd avoid bringing a fresh low-level tame. In one practical run, a Baryonyx can lose around 2,000 health while clearing enemies, so give yourself a safety buffer.

If your mount is taking too much damage before you reach the red drops, leave, heal, and improve the saddle or stats first. A dead Baryonyx deep in a cave is ARK's way of billing you for overconfidence.

Fast Route to the Loot Drops

The route is much easier if we follow one simple rule: keep hugging the left wall. That keeps us from getting turned around and leads us through the important loot areas.

Step 1: Enter and Take the First Left

Once inside, move forward and take the first left. Expect bugs and other cave creatures if the cave has not been cleared.

If enemies are still alive, pull them in small groups. Do not sprint into the deeper rooms, because you can easily drag too many creatures at once.

Step 2: Reach the Open Area and Turn Left Again

After the first section, you'll reach a larger open area. Take another left, then go through the smaller opening.

From there, take a right to reach the first main loot drop.

Step 3: Check the Yellow Drops

The first important drop is usually a yellow drop around 63 Lat / 38 Lon. These can give solid blueprints, weapons, and saddles.

There may also be another yellow drop nearby. It is quick to check, so it's usually worth grabbing before heading deeper.

Yellow drops are not always amazing, but they are close enough to the main route that skipping them usually isn't necessary.

Red Drop Section: Main Reason to Farm This Cave

After the yellow drops, continue forward while staying close to the left wall. Eventually, you'll reach the mushroom and water section. This is where the cave gets interesting.

Red drops can spawn here, and these are the main reason this cave is so valuable.

Possible red drop rewards include:

• High-quality weapon blueprints
• Strong saddle blueprints
• Armor pieces
• Utility creature saddles
• Late-game crafting blueprints

If you find a strong saddle blueprint, consider leaving and storing it before pushing deeper. One extra crate is not worth losing a rare blueprint to a bad fight.

Extra Tips for Safer Farming

A good loot cave run is not about rushing. It is about making the route repeatable.

The biggest mistake is opening drops while enemies are still nearby. Loot menus are dangerous in caves because one bad moment can get you boxed in.

For steady farming, use this loop:

1. Enter with Baryonyx and scuba.

2. Clear enemies slowly.

3. Check yellow drops.

4. Move to the mushroom and water area.

5. Check red drops.

6. Grab the blue drop only if safe.

7. Exit and store valuable loot.

This keeps the cave efficient without turning every run into a gamble.

FAQ

Where is the best loot cave on The Island in ARK Survival Ascended?

The entrance is around 65 Lat / 35 Lon. Look for a cave opening in the cliffside near the small island landmark.

What mount should we use for this cave?

A Baryonyx is the best practical choice. It handles tight paths well, fights reliably, and performs better than most mounts in water sections.

Why do we take damage inside the cave?

The cave has environmental damage. Use three scuba pieces to prevent it, or ghillie armor to reduce it.

Are red drops guaranteed to spawn?

No. Loot drops are random, and spawn availability depends on your server and timing. The cave is still worth farming because it has multiple strong drop locations.

Is this cave good for boss preparation?

Yes. The red drops can provide high-quality saddle blueprints, weapon blueprints, and armor pieces, all of which can help with boss progression.

Can beginners run this cave?

Yes, but only with preparation. Bring a solid Baryonyx, scuba gear, healing items, and avoid rushing into large enemy groups.

Summary

This cave is one of the best loot farms on The Island because it has a strong mix of yellow, red, and blue drop spawns. The entrance is around 65 Lat / 35 Lon, and the main route becomes simple once we follow the left wall through the cave.

For the cleanest run, use a Baryonyx, wear three scuba pieces, clear enemies before looting, and prioritize the red drops near the mushroom and water area. If you pull a great blueprint, bank it early. That one habit saves more gear than any just one more drop decision ever will.