Best ARK Survival Ascended Ranged Weapons Ranked

In your pursuit of survival on the ARK Survival Ascended island, the game equips you with a diverse array of weapons, neatly categorized into two groups i.e melee and ranged. While melee weapons serve their purpose, it can be argued that ranged weapons are among the most crucial for your survival, especially as you progress into the mid-late game.

If you're aiming to expand your arsenal with more ranged weapons and find yourself uncertain about which ones stand out as the best (given the considerable variety available), worry not – we've got you covered. Below, you'll find a comprehensive overview of our top picks for the best-ranged weapons you should consider investing in when playing ARK Survival Ascended.

The Very Best Ranged Weapons In Ark Survival Ascended

In ARK Survival Ascended, the effectiveness of ranged weapons is determined by various factors such as ammunition availability, reload speeds, magazine sizes, and, most importantly, damage output. However, some weapons tend to outperform others in general. In this list, we will analyze and rank them based on their overall usefulness for players of all skill levels. 

It's important to note that TEK ranged weapons won't be included in this list due to their reliance on rare and late-game resources. Instead, our focus will be on the ranged weapons commonly used before reaching that stage. Let's now delve into our ranked list.

6. Longneck Rifle

• Damage: 280
• Ammo Types: Simple Rifle Ammo, Tranquilizer Dart, Shocking Tranquilizer Dart, Pheromone Dart
• Crafting Materials: 95 × Metal Ingot or Scrap Metal Ingot, 20 × Wood or Fungal Wood, 25 × Hide.

Commencing this compilation with one of the most potent armaments available, the Longneck Rifle stands out as a powerhouse, albeit with a couple of drawbacks. Possessing a moderate durability of 70, along with a sluggish reload speed and rate of fire, it can pose a challenge for new or inexperienced players. However, despite these limitations, its cost is only 35 Metal Ingots more than the Simple Pistol, offering significantly higher damage, solid headshot damage, and excellent accuracy.

5. Fabricated Sniper Rifle

• Damage: 165
• Ammo Type: Advanced Sniper Bullet
• Crafting Materials: 115 × Polymer, Organic Polymer, or Corrupted Nodule, 80 × Metal Ingot or Scrap Metal Ingot, 110 × Cementing Paste or Achatina Paste

The Fabricated Sniper Rifle serves as the advanced counterpart to the Longneck Rifle. While it may have a slightly weaker damage output, it compensates with enhanced utility and user-friendliness. With the ability to fire eight times before requiring a reload, it boasts the most cost-effective ammunition among fabricated weapons. Moreover, the rifle comes with an integrated scope and proves effective at all ranges, making it an ideal choice for sharpshooters.

4. Assault Rifle

• Damage: 47
• Ammo Type: Advanced Rifle Bullet
• Crafting Materials: 60 × Polymer, Organic Polymer, or Corrupted Nodule, 35 × Metal Ingot or Scrap Metal Ingot, 50 × Cementing Paste or Achatina Paste

As mentioned earlier, the Assault Rifle can be pricey to maintain due to its expensive ammo. Given its high rate of fire and a clip size of 40, each Advanced Bullet at 100% base damage deals 47 damage per shot, with headshots reaching 141 damage. Though the ammo cost can be daunting, the weapon's firepower and rapid fire rate offset this drawback, making it a formidable choice.

3. Rocket Launcher

• Damage: 700
• Ammo Types: Rocket Propelled Grenade, Rocket Homing Missile
• Crafting Materials: 80 × Polymer, Organic Polymer, or Corrupted Nodule, 50 × Metal Ingot or Scrap Metal Ingot, 60 × Cementing Paste or Achatina Paste

Why bother with knocking when you can obliterate doors? This encapsulates the Rocket Launcher, which may not have the most economical ammo costs, reload speeds, or accuracy (unless using homing missiles). However, it excels in sheer damage, making it ideal for PvP scenarios and providing a definitive edge in raiding or defending your base.

2. Compound Bow

• Damage: Varies
• Ammo Types: Stone Arrow, Flame Arrow, Tranquilizer Arrow, Metal Arrow
• Crafting Materials: 95 × Polymer, Organic Polymer, or Corrupted Nodule, 85 × Metal Ingot or Scrap Metal Ingot, 75 × Cementing Paste or Achatina Paste

Beating out the conventional bow or crossbow, the Compound Bow offers a comprehensive package. With cost-effective ammo manufacturing (depending on the arrows chosen) and a user-friendly design with a reasonable draw time, it stands out. When paired with Metal Arrows, the Compound Bow excels at penetrating heavily armored foes. Although its damage output is lower than the crossbow with stone arrows, the Compound Bow's silent and easy-to-use nature provides greater value.

1. Pump Action Shotgun

• Damage: 46 per bullet (14 bullets per fire) = 644 if all shots land
• Ammo Type: Simple Shotgun Ammo
• Crafting Materials: 30 × Metal Ingot or Scrap Metal Ingot, 55 × Polymer, Organic Polymer, or Corrupted Nodule, 45 × Cementing Paste or Achatina Paste

Claiming the top spot is everyone's favorite, the Pump Action Shotgun. Despite its lengthy reload speed, where all ammunition is loaded at once, its pros outweigh the cons. Cost-effective to craft and with even cheaper ammunition, it can be easily stockpiled in the mid-late game. The shotgun's staggering damage output exceeds 1,900 in a single shot if all pellets connect, making it remarkably flexible, especially at medium range where it can still inflict substantial damage. This makes it the preferred weapon for most players with access to it.

In conclusion, this brief overview highlights the best-ranked ranged weapons in ARK Survival Ascended. Be sure to watch your back and ammo reserves, as managing your resources carefully will ensure these weapons serve you well as you navigate the perils of the island.