ARK Valguero: Map, Deinonychus, Aberration Valley & Base Building

On June 18, 2019, a new, free expansion for ARK: Survival Evolved launched: Valguero. After the tech-heavy ruins of Extinction, this map brought the game back to its roots – to nature, discovery, and adventure. Valguero is a tribute to the classic ARK feeling: the thrill of stepping into the unknown, where every landscape, every creature, and every sunrise promises something new.

While Extinction was dark, monumental, and apocalyptic, Valguero is bright, vast, and alive. It’s a return to the wild – a world that recalls the beauty of The Island, yet is more refined and organic in every detail. With Valguero, Studio Wildcard proved that ARK could return to its foundations after years of experimentation without losing depth.

The map was originally created by a team of talented modders before being officially integrated into the game by the developers. As with The Center and Ragnarok, it was a community project – and that’s exactly what gives it its distinctive character.

ARK Valguero Map: Biomes, Contrasts, and Aberration Valley

Valguero is a map of contrasts. Across roughly 63 km², you’ll find green plains, rugged mountains, dense forests, salt flats, deep caves, and icy snow regions. But at the center lies what makes it unique: the massive Aberration Valley, a vast subterranean world glowing with bioluminescence, reminiscent of the underground regions from the DLC of the same name.

This blend of surface and underworld makes Valguero one of the most varied maps in the game. While you tame dinosaurs peacefully or tend fields on the surface, a second, dangerous world lurks below.

Transitions between these layers are seamless. A fissure in the ground can lead into an endless cave system, and a calm lake can suddenly drop into depths inhabited by strange creatures. Valguero invites exploration – not because it has to, but because it compels you to.

Valguero Biomes in Detail: White Cliffs, Snow Region, and the South

Every region on Valguero has its own character. The expansive central plains are ideal for large bases and taming projects. To the west lie the White Cliffs, a bright, open plateau with dramatic rock formations and waterfalls. This region is visually spectacular and also dangerous, roamed by flying predators and aggressive herds.

In the north, the snowy mountains rise, where blizzards, mammoths, and direwolves set the tone. The south, by contrast, is fertile, green, and peaceful – a haven for new players.

But the true heart of the map beats underground. The Aberration Valley is a labyrinth of caves, mushroom forests, and glowing rock formations. It’s not as deadly as the original Aberration, but it’s just as fascinating. Here you’ll find rare resources, dangerous creatures, and an atmosphere that feels almost alien.

Valguero plays with the sense of discovery. Every hill, every ravine, and every cave hides a secret – and that’s exactly what has always defined ARK.

ARK Valguero Creatures: Deinonychus, Wyvern, Rock Drake & Reaper

Valguero doesn’t introduce entirely new creatures, but instead brings together fan favorites from earlier DLCs on a single map. The result is a kind of “Best of ARK.” You’ll encounter raptors, rexes, argentavis, and spinosaurus alongside wyverns, rock drakes, and reaper queens.

A special highlight is the Deinonychus, introduced exclusively on this map. These feathered predators are smaller than raptors but faster and more dangerous. They can climb walls, pounce on prey, and even hold enemies in place with their claws. The Deinonychus quickly became a community favorite, perfectly blending agility and aggression.

The boss arenas also revisit classic opponents. Valguero’s final showdown combines the Broodmother, Megapithecus, and Dragon into a single, massive fight – a finale that brings together the strengths of earlier maps.

Base Building and Resources in ARK Valguero: Spots & Farm Routes

Valguero offers countless locations for base building. Whether on the cliffs of the White Cliffs, in the valleys of the mountain regions, or deep within the Aberration caves – each zone offers different pros and cons.

The map is designed so that key resources are distributed evenly. Metal, crystal, oil, and obsidian are found at various elevations. The caves and valleys in the north are particularly rich, though often guarded by dangerous creatures.

Water is also crucial. Numerous rivers, lakes, and underground bodies of water make Valguero one of the most water-rich maps in ARK. This is ideal for players who want to build aquariums or underwater bases.

Pro tips:

• Build high up in the White Cliffs to control sightlines and flight paths.
• Use caves as protected industrial hubs, but secure entrances with traps and turrets.
• Combine resource routes: surface metal + Aberration mushroom biomes for rare materials.

Together with its calm atmosphere and stable climate zones, Valguero is one of the most comfortable maps for long-term projects.

Valguero Cave Guide: Dungeons, Boss Entrances, and Aberration

Valguero is crisscrossed with caves, tunnels, and hidden passages. The developers made sure these aren’t just decorative, but functional gameplay spaces.

Some caves are natural dungeons with boss entrances, while others are perfect hideouts for clans. The variety ranges from sprawling sandstone caverns to crystal grottos and mushroom forests.

A notable example is the “Cave of the Hidden Valley,” a vast cavern with open light shafts, waterfalls, and floating platforms. It unites beauty and danger in a single space and symbolizes what Valguero stands for – a balance between challenge and serenity.

Atmosphere and Ecology of the Valguero Map: Immersion & Danger

Unlike the apocalyptic worlds of Extinction or the hostile zones of Scorched Earth, Valguero feels like a respite. It’s a world back in balance – a place where nature and survival exist side by side in harmony.

The lighting is softer, the colors more natural, the transitions smoother. Mist rolls over meadows, sunbeams break through treetops, and the wind whispering through the mountains creates a sense of peace.

But that calm is deceptive. Let your guard down and you’ll be surprised by raptors or flying predators. Valguero reminds you that survival remains dangerous, even amid beauty.

The soundscape reinforces the sense of vastness. Bird calls, rushing water, and distant thunder create an acoustic depth that makes exploration even more immersive.

ARK Valguero Performance & Servers: Stability and PvP/PvE

Valguero is still regarded as one of the most technically stable maps in ARK. Thanks to community dedication and subsequent polishing by Studio Wildcard, it offers excellent performance, short loading times, and high server stability.

The map is ideal for dedicated servers and large multiplayer groups, offering both compact building zones and expansive PvP areas. Its balance of resources, space, and accessibility makes it a great foundation for long-term server projects.

Many players call Valguero the “perfect all-round map” – accessible for newcomers, exciting for veterans, and stable for server admins.

Valguero in the ARK Community: Popularity and Server Meta

Valguero quickly became a community favorite. It’s a symbol of how well community ideas and developer craftsmanship can come together.

Many servers run this map exclusively, as it blends classic survival gameplay with modern features. Players praise its atmosphere, variety, and the feeling of exploring a real world again – not just a level, but a living environment.

For many, Valguero is where they made their best ARK memories – from their first tamed Deinonychus to epic battles in the boss arenas.

Conclusion on ARK Valguero: Rebirth of Adventure

With Valguero, Studio Wildcard returned to the roots of ARK: Survival Evolved. It’s a place that unites everything that made the game great – exploration, freedom, community, and the allure of the unknown.

Valguero is not a world of destruction or madness, but of rediscovery. It reminds us why players fell in love with ARK in the first place: the unpredictable beauty of a world bigger than yourself.

On your own ARK server from 4Netplayers, Valguero unfolds its full potential. Build bases along the slopes of the White Cliffs, launch expeditions into the Aberration Valley, or roam forests and blizzards with friends. With stable performance, flexible management, and limitless room for adventure, Valguero becomes the perfect stage for new stories in the world of ARK.

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