ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) supports mods via CurseForge. Mods add new dinosaurs, items, maps and gameplay elements to your server. This guide explains how to install and manage mods.
Step 1: Find mod IDs
- Go to curseforge.com and search for ARK: Survival Ascended mods.
- Open the mod page of the desired mod.
- Note the Project ID (found on the mod page). This is the number you need.
Step 2: Add mods to your server
- Open your server in the game panel and go to the Startup tab.
- Find the Mods or Active Mods field.
- Enter the mod IDs, separated by commas. For example:
900062,928988. - Restart the server. The mods are automatically downloaded on startup.
Load order
The order of mod IDs matters:
- Mods that require other mods (dependencies) should be listed first.
- Map mods usually go first.
- Cosmetic and small mods go at the end.
- In case of conflicts, the mod listed earlier takes priority.
Memory impact
Mods increase your server's RAM usage:
- Each mod adds approximately 200 MB to 1 GB of memory usage.
- Large total-conversion mods can require 2 GB or more extra.
- Monitor your RAM usage after adding mods and upgrade if necessary.
Updating mods
Mods are usually updated automatically on server restart. If that is not the case:
- Stop the server.
- Delete the cached mod files in the mod folder.
- Restart the server so the latest versions are downloaded.
Connecting players
Players need to have the same mods installed. In most cases, the game downloads the mods automatically when a player connects to the server.
Common issues
- Server does not start: check that all mod IDs are correct and that the mods are compatible with the current version of ARK: SA.
- Crash after adding mods: add mods one by one to identify which is causing the problem.
- Incompatible mods: check the mod pages for known conflicts.
Tip: at HostValues you can rent an ARK server with mod support.