ARK: Survival Ascended moved mod hosting from Steam Workshop to CurseForge, which changed how mods are found, installed and managed. Here is everything you need to know about modding your ARK:SA server in 2026.
Where to find ARK:SA mods
Unlike ARK: Survival Evolved, which used Steam Workshop, ARK:SA uses CurseForge as its official mod platform. All mods are downloaded and managed through CurseForge. The in-game mod browser also pulls from CurseForge.
How to install mods on your server
- Find the mod on CurseForge and note its Mod ID (the numerical ID in the URL or on the mod page).
- Open your server's
GameUserSettings.inifile. - Under
[ServerSettings], add or update the line:ActiveMods=ModID1,ModID2,ModID3 - The server downloads mods automatically on the next start. This can take several minutes for large mods.
- Players need to install the same mods through CurseForge on their clients.
Best quality-of-life mods
- Structures Plus (S+) - the essential building mod. Adds snapping improvements, pulling from nearby inventories, advanced structures and the ability to pick up placed structures. Almost every unofficial server runs this.
- Awesome SpyGlass - shows detailed information about dinos when looking through the spyglass: level, stats, colors, torpor. Makes taming much less guesswork.
- Super Spyglass - similar to Awesome SpyGlass with a slightly different UI. Pick whichever your players prefer.
- Dino Storage v2 - store dinos in items (similar to Pokeballs). Reduces server lag from hundreds of idle dinos.
Best content mods
- ARK Additions - adds new dinosaurs with custom animations and abilities. High quality and lore-friendly.
- Primal Fear - overhaul mod that adds tiered creatures from celestial to demonic. Designed for progression-focused servers.
- Castles, Keeps and Forts - medieval building pieces that integrate with ARK's building system. Popular on RP servers.
- Shiny! Dinos - adds rare shiny variants of all dinos with boosted stats. Gives players a collecting goal.
Best admin mods
- Lethal Reusables - makes bolas, grappling hooks and other consumables reusable. Reduces grind without changing balance dramatically.
- Cross-cluster Chat - links chat across multiple ARK servers in a cluster.
Performance considerations
ARK:SA is already demanding. Each mod adds load time and memory usage. A server with 10 to 15 mods typically needs 2 to 4 GB more RAM than vanilla. Large total conversion mods like Primal Fear can double resource usage. Monitor your server's performance after adding mods and increase RAM if needed.
Mod load order
The order of mod IDs in ActiveMods matters. Mods listed first take priority when conflicts occur. Put total conversion mods first, then content mods, then quality-of-life mods. Structures Plus should load after content mods so it can interact with their structures.
Do mods cause more crashes?
Some do. ARK:SA's modding tools are still maturing. If your server crashes after adding a mod, remove it and check the mod's comments on CurseForge for known issues. Update mods promptly when new versions release.
Can mods break my save?
Removing a mod that added structures, dinos or items to your world will cause those objects to disappear. The save itself stays intact, but anything from the removed mod is gone. Always test mods on a separate save first.
How do mod updates work?
The server downloads mod updates automatically on restart. Players need to update through CurseForge before connecting. Mismatched mod versions cause connection failures.
Run your modded ARK:SA server on HostValues ARK hosting with automatic mod updates.
