“Expert” is not a documented ARK server preset or INI switch. It is best understood as a server configured beyond the basic sliders. In practice, advanced settings are split between GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini, and the correct file, section and game edition determine whether a change works.
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This guide separates ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA, Steam app 2399830) from ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE, Steam app 346110), shows where the files live, explains the common advanced keys, and gives a cautious method for changing difficulty and rates without losing your settings.
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What “expert server settings” means in ARK
ARK does not provide an official preset called Expert. The term is a useful description for manually edited server configuration: progression rates, survival drain, access controls, cryopod rules and deeper gameplay rules that are not exposed by a simple in-game slider.
Edition matters. Most of the rate and utility examples below are documented by hosting guides for ASA. Difficulty override instructions are associated with ASE hosting guides and should not be copied blindly into an ASA installation. If a key is not documented for your exact server build, treat it as unverified rather than assuming the server will ignore it safely.
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Choose the correct configuration files
GameUserSettings.ini
This file contains basic server options and most commonly adjusted rates. Hosting guides place it in the following folders:
- Windows ASA:
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/ - Linux ASA:
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/
The file may not exist on a new installation. Create it only after the server has generated its configuration directory, and preserve the exact filename. Before editing, stop the server and make a dated backup. A shutdown can overwrite in-memory settings, so editing while the process is running risks losing the change.
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Deeper gameplay rules are generally placed in Game.ini in the same WindowsServer or LinuxServer directory. Hosting guides commonly use the section header [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode] for breeding, imprinting, per-level stat gains, engrams and loot rules. These categories are not interchangeable with the rate keys in GameUserSettings.ini.
One guide lists per-source experience keys in Game.ini rather than GameUserSettings.ini. Because that placement is based on a single source, verify the key and section against the current server build before relying on it.
Why the section header matters
ARK reads a key in the expected section. A correctly spelled value in the wrong file or below the wrong header can appear to save normally while having no effect. Keep each setting beneath the section required by the guide for your edition, and do not duplicate a key in multiple sections while troubleshooting.
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Common advanced rates in ASA
These examples are reported for ASA under the [ServerSettings] section of GameUserSettings.ini. The values shown are illustrative syntax, not recommended balance settings; choose numbers that fit your community and test one change at a time.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches| Setting | File and section | What it changes | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
XPMultiplier |
GameUserSettings.ini, [ServerSettings] |
Overall experience gain rate. | Use the key supported by your ASA build; no universal default or tested value is established for this setting. |
TamingSpeedMultiplier |
GameUserSettings.ini, [ServerSettings] |
Taming speed. | Changing it alters the time required to tame creatures; no official balance target is established here. |
HarvestAmountMultiplier |
GameUserSettings.ini, [ServerSettings] |
Amount harvested from resource nodes. | Test on the resources your players use most, because a rate change affects the entire server. |
PlayerCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier |
GameUserSettings.ini, [ServerSettings] |
How quickly player food decreases. | Lower values slow hunger drain. |
PlayerCharacterWaterDrainMultiplier |
GameUserSettings.ini, [ServerSettings] |
How quickly player water decreases. | Lower values slow thirst drain. |
A minimal block has this form:
[ServerSettings]
XPMultiplier=...
TamingSpeedMultiplier=...
HarvestAmountMultiplier=...
PlayerCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=...
PlayerCharacterWaterDrainMultiplier=...Replace the ellipses with values you have deliberately selected; do not leave punctuation from the example in the live file. If the file already contains [ServerSettings], add the keys under that existing header instead of creating a second header.
Passwords and administrator access
Player password
ServerPassword is an access control key under [ServerSettings]. It is intended to require a password before a player joins. Give the password only to people who should have access, and change it if it has been shared beyond that group.
Administrator password
ServerAdminPassword is also placed under [ServerSettings]. It authenticates in-game administrator commands. Treat it as a secret: do not post it in community chat, screenshots, support tickets or public configuration repositories.
After changing either password, restart the server and test with a non-administrator account where possible. A password that appears in the file but does not work is usually a sign that the wrong edition, path or active configuration file is being edited.
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Cryopod-related rules in ASA
ASA hosting guides list DisableCryopodEnemyCheck=True as a cryopod option. It bypasses the enemy player, enemy structure and enemy creature checks that normally affect cryopod use. Related keys govern cryofridge placement and creature-release rules.
Because this setting changes the protections around storing and releasing creatures, decide the rule before advertising the server. Add it to the appropriate ASA server-settings section, restart, and test in a controlled location with the exact structures and creatures that matter to your players. If the behavior does not change, remove the key while you verify the file path and section rather than stacking additional cryopod keys at random.
Setting the ASA player limit
For ASA, one hosting guide reports that the maximum player count is not set in the INI. Instead, it is supplied as the launch parameter -WinLiveMaxPlayers. That means adding a similarly named line to GameUserSettings.ini is not a reliable way to change capacity.
Add the parameter through the server’s launch command or hosting control panel, then restart the process. Confirm that the panel has not removed or replaced the argument when it regenerates the command. No universal default, supported range or separate INI key for ASA capacity is established, so use the value and syntax accepted by your current server build.
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DifficultyOffset and OverrideOfficialDifficulty are hosting-guide settings for ARK: Survival Evolved, not a confirmed ASA procedure. They are added under [ServerSettings] in GameUserSettings.ini. The reported Linux location is /ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer; Windows hosts use the corresponding WindowsServer directory.
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Reported ranges and their limits
Hosting material reports a DifficultyOffset range of 0.2 to 1.0 and an OverrideOfficialDifficulty range of 1.0 to 10.0. Those ranges are not confirmed against current official documentation, and another guide describes The Island’s default offset as approximately 0.2 rather than a 1.0 baseline. Treat the exact offset figures as unverified. Most guides leave the offset at 1.0 and vary the override, but that is a convention, not a guarantee for every map or build.
Example configuration syntax
[ServerSettings]
DifficultyOffset=1.0
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=2.0The example uses values commonly shown in hosting instructions; it is not a universal recommendation. Change one value at a time, restart, and verify the resulting wild-creature levels before making another adjustment.
Estimating a target maximum level
One guide reports a maximum wild-dino level of 30 at an override of 1.0 and 60 at 2.0, then suggests dividing a desired maximum level by 30 to estimate the override. This relationship is a guide-derived rule of thumb, not an official formula. Map settings, difficulty offset and server version can alter the result, so confirm in-game rather than treating the calculation as proof.
Why existing creatures do not change immediately
Changing difficulty does not retroactively rewrite every creature already spawned. Existing wild creatures retain their old cap and are replaced gradually as they are killed or tamed. A 2018 community forum discussion suggested a wild-dino wipe to accelerate replacement; that is a destructive administrative action, not a required part of the configuration change. If you choose a wipe, announce it, back up the save and understand that it removes wild spawns across the map.
Using ARK Server Manager for ASE difficulty
In ARK Server Manager, the difficulty control is reported under the Rules section. Enable Difficulty Override, enter the intended value, save and restart the server. One user report says that saving through the client reset DifficultyOffset to 1, so inspect the generated INI after every save. If the manager and hand-edited file disagree, the manager may overwrite the manual value on shutdown or regeneration; make one system authoritative and keep a backup.
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Deeper rules in Game.ini
Use Game.ini for rules that change how the game behaves rather than how quickly a general activity progresses. Hosting guides place breeding and imprinting controls, per-level stat gains, engrams and loot rules beneath [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode].
These settings are especially easy to misapply because a key can be valid in one edition and ignored in another. Introduce one rule, restart, and test the exact mechanic it affects. Keep a change log with the date, edition, file, section and previous value so you can roll back a single rule without restoring an entire save.
A reliable editing and testing workflow
- Identify the edition. Write down ASA or ASE before touching a file. Do not use ASE difficulty instructions as if they were ASA settings.
- Stop the server cleanly. Wait for the process to finish saving so the shutdown routine cannot overwrite your edit.
- Locate the active configuration directory. Check the WindowsServer or LinuxServer path used by the running instance, not a similarly named backup or local single-player folder.
- Back up both INI files and the save. Give each copy a date and keep the untouched version separate from the working directory.
- Confirm the section. Put rate, password and related server keys under
[ServerSettings]; put deeper rules under the section required by the relevant Game.ini instruction. - Change one value. A single-variable test tells you whether the key was read and prevents interactions from masking the result.
- Restart fully. Do not rely on a panel’s “save” indicator; verify that the game server process has restarted with the edited files.
- Test the mechanic. Check an experience event, harvest node, hunger or thirst drain, password prompt, cryopod behavior or wild-creature levels, depending on the key changed.
- Record the result. Note the observed behavior and retain the prior value so you can revert quickly.
When a setting does nothing
Wrong file or section
This is the most common failure. Recheck whether the key belongs in GameUserSettings.ini or Game.ini, then verify that it sits below the exact section header. For ASE difficulty, confirm that both keys are under [ServerSettings].
Wrong edition
ASE and ASA do not share a guaranteed configuration schema. A key documented for ASE may be ignored by ASA, while ASA launch arguments may not affect ASE. Confirm the Steam app and server build before troubleshooting syntax.
Shutdown overwrite
If a panel or server manager regenerates files, your manual edit may disappear when the server stops. Compare the file before and after shutdown. If the value reverts, change it through the manager’s supported field or disable automatic regeneration, then restart and inspect again.
Old creatures or cached world state
Difficulty changes are gradual because existing wild creatures keep their old levels. Allow time for replacement or, if your community approves, schedule a backed-up wild-dino wipe. Do not interpret unchanged creatures immediately after a restart as proof that the INI was ignored.
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Conflicting values
Difficulty offset and override interact, and a manager may rewrite one while saving the other. Remove duplicate keys, restore the backup, add one value, and test before proceeding.
Unexpected tame-limit behavior
A 2023 community report described a tame limit remaining at 100 after suggested keys were added; the reply advised checking the file path. This illustrates the general diagnostic rule: verify the active directory and section before assuming a key is unsupported.
Quick Recap
Practical safeguards for a public server
- Publish the rates and access rules players will experience, especially XP, taming, harvesting, hunger and thirst.
- Keep administrator credentials out of screenshots, tickets and public repositories.
- Use a staging or temporary world to test destructive changes such as wild-dino wipes.
- Back up before changing Game.ini breeding, imprinting, loot or stat rules.
- When documentation conflicts, label the value as build-dependent and test on the exact server version rather than presenting an unverified range as official.
Quick reference
| Goal | Edition | Location | Key or method |
|---|---|---|---|
| XP, taming or harvest rate | ASA guide coverage | GameUserSettings.ini → [ServerSettings] |
XPMultiplier, TamingSpeedMultiplier, HarvestAmountMultiplier |
| Slower hunger or thirst | ASA guide coverage | GameUserSettings.ini → [ServerSettings] |
PlayerCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier, PlayerCharacterWaterDrainMultiplier |
| Join and admin passwords | ASA guide coverage | GameUserSettings.ini → [ServerSettings] |
ServerPassword, ServerAdminPassword |
| Ignore cryopod enemy checks | ASA guide coverage | Server settings section | DisableCryopodEnemyCheck=True |
| Maximum player count | ASA | Launch command, not INI | -WinLiveMaxPlayers |
| Difficulty override | ASE hosting guides | GameUserSettings.ini → [ServerSettings] |
DifficultyOffset, OverrideOfficialDifficulty; reported ranges are unverified |
| Breeding, imprinting, stats, engrams or loot | Guide coverage varies by edition | Game.ini → [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode] |
Use the key documented for the exact build; verify before deployment |
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