Charcoal is one of those resources we never seem to have enough of once we start crafting gunpowder, ammo, explosives, or advanced gear in ARK Survival Ascended. Burning wood works, but it is slow, and when we need thousands of charcoal quickly, waiting on forges is not exactly thrilling gameplay.

The fastest current method is simple: harvest burnt trees with a Mantis holding a pickaxe. If you do not have a Mantis yet, a strong pickaxe on a high-melee character is the next best option. Older methods like Wyverns and Megatheriums are no longer worth relying on for serious charcoal farming.

Best Charcoal Farming Methods

The main thing to understand is that burnt trees can be harvested directly for charcoal. These are the blackened, scorched-looking trees found in certain areas, especially around volcanic or burned zones.

In our testing on official-style rates, a Mantis with a pickaxe gave the best return by far, reaching roughly 400–450 charcoal from a strong burnt tree. A player with a good pickaxe and melee build can still pull around 300 charcoal from a good tree.

If you need charcoal right now, farm burnt trees. If you are planning long-term, keep wood burning at base while you actively farm outside.

Where to Find Burnt Trees

One reliable charcoal farming area is on Ragnarok, near the Wyvern scar. A tested spot is around 25.9 Lat / 61.5 Lon.

You are looking for trees with dark, burnt bark and a scorched texture. Not every tree gives the same amount, so if one tree gives a weak return, move to the next one.

If you find yourself harvesting normal wood instead of charcoal, you are probably hitting the wrong tree type.

Best Setup: Mantis with a Pickaxe

The Mantis is the best charcoal farmer because it can hold tools. Put your best pickaxe in its hands, then harvest burnt trees for large charcoal returns.

For best results, level the Mantis mainly into weight. Charcoal gets heavy fast, and the whole point of this method is to stay out farming instead of running back to unload every minute.

If you notice the Mantis sometimes does not fully harvest a tree, reposition and hit again. Burnt tree harvesting can feel a little inconsistent, but the yield is still strong enough to make this the best method.

Backup Method: Player with Pickaxe

If you do not have a Mantis, use your character with the best pickaxe you can craft or loot.

A high-melee build can perform surprisingly well, especially with buffs like Battle Tartare. This setup is not as convenient as a Mantis, but it is still far faster than waiting for wood to burn.

If you are farming by hand, bring a weight tame, shoulder pet, or storage nearby. Otherwise, you will fill up quickly.

Methods We Would Avoid

Some older charcoal methods used to be decent, but they are not efficient anymore.

Wyvern

Wyverns are great for travel, but poor for charcoal harvesting now. Even with high melee, the charcoal return is too low compared with a Mantis or pickaxe.

Megatherium

Megatheriums used to gather charcoal well from burnt trees, but that value is no longer reliable. For current farming, we would not build a charcoal route around them.

This matters because bad methods waste time. If we are farming charcoal for ammo or explosives, speed is the whole point.

Simple Charcoal Farming Loop

A good charcoal run should be quick, repeatable, and easy to unload.

The best routine is to combine both methods: farm burnt trees actively and burn spare wood at base passively. That way, we get immediate charcoal and a steady backup supply.

FAQ

What is the fastest way to farm charcoal in ARK Survival Ascended?

The fastest method is using a Mantis equipped with a pickaxe on burnt trees. A strong tree can give around 400–450 charcoal on official-style settings.

Where can we farm charcoal from burnt trees?

A good location is on Ragnarok near the Wyvern scar, around 25.9 Lat / 61.5 Lon. Look for dark, scorched trees.

Can we farm charcoal without a Mantis?

Yes. A player with a strong pickaxe and high melee can farm burnt trees well, usually around 300 charcoal from a good tree with a strong setup.

Is burning wood still worth doing?

Yes, but mostly as passive production. It is reliable, but much slower than harvesting burnt trees directly.

Are Wyverns good for charcoal farming?

No. Wyverns are useful for flying to the farming area, but their charcoal harvest amount is too low to be efficient.

Is Megatherium still good for charcoal?

No. Megatheriums are no longer a dependable charcoal farming option, so we would skip them for this job.

What stats should we level on a charcoal Mantis?

Level mostly weight, because charcoal fills inventory quickly. Add stamina only if you feel your Mantis runs out too often.

Summary

The best way to farm charcoal in ARK Survival Ascended is to harvest burnt trees with a Mantis holding a pickaxe. It is fast, direct, and can produce around 400–450 charcoal from a strong tree on official-style settings.

If you do not have a Mantis, use a high-melee character with a strong pickaxe. Avoid relying on Wyverns or Megatheriums for charcoal, since their current returns are not worth the time.

For steady results, farm burned tree zones such as Ragnarok's Wyvern scar around 25.9 / 61.5, level your Mantis into weight, and keep wood burning at base as backup. This gives us fast charcoal now and a reliable supply later.