The Tool Desk
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The setting that controls wild dino levels
ARK calculates the level range for wild creatures from an effective difficulty value. The practical control for a custom maximum is OverrideOfficialDifficulty in GameUserSettings.ini, inside the [ServerSettings] section. With DifficultyOffset=1.0, use this rule for standard common wild spawns:
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OverrideOfficialDifficulty = desired maximum common-wild level / 30
The documented default is DifficultyOffset=1.0 with OverrideOfficialDifficulty=0.0, where zero means the explicit override is disabled. A value of 5.0 allows common creatures to spawn up to level 150. A value of 10.0 targets level 300.
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| Desired maximum common wild level | OverrideOfficialDifficulty |
|---|---|
| 120 | 4.0 |
| 150 | 5.0 |
| 180 | 6.0 |
| 210 | 7.0 |
| 240 | 8.0 |
| 270 | 9.0 |
| 300 | 10.0 |
For a target that is not a multiple of 30, divide it by 30 and use the resulting decimal value, then confirm the actual level pattern with fresh common spawns. Wild levels are generated in increments governed by the effective difficulty, so the displayed maximum and the intervals between levels are related. This relationship is a rule of thumb for ordinary common creatures. Special creatures and map-specific spawning systems can use different level rules, so one exceptional creature is not proof that the server-wide setting failed.
How ARK decides which difficulty wins
Three configuration paths can determine the final difficulty. They are evaluated in this order:
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteMaxDifficulty=True: When enabled inGame.iniunderShooterGameMode_Options, ARK forces difficulty 5.0 and ignores the other related difficulty settings. That means a planned level-300 server can silently behave like a level-150 server.OverrideOfficialDifficulty: If maximum difficulty is not forcing 5.0, this value supplies the final difficulty. It is the preferred setting for a deliberate custom cap.DifficultyOffsetplus the map default: If no explicit override is active, the game derives difficulty from the offset and the map’s base difficulty. The same offset can therefore produce different caps on different maps.
The ARK Official Community Wiki lists a base map difficulty of 4.0 for The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration and Genesis: Part 2. Several other maps use a base difficulty of 5.0. Because those defaults differ, relying only on DifficultyOffset does not give a portable maximum across every map. An explicit override avoids that ambiguity.
This precedence also explains why changing several settings at once can make diagnosis difficult. If MaxDifficulty=True remains in the active Game.ini, changing the offset or setting OverrideOfficialDifficulty=10.0 will not produce level-300 common creatures. Check the highest-priority setting first, then evaluate the lower-priority values.
Before editing: protect the save and stop writes
Configuration changes are safest while the server is stopped. A running process or host panel can rewrite the files when it shuts down, erasing a manual edit.
- Back up both configuration files. Copy the current
GameUserSettings.iniandGame.inito a separate location. Keep a copy of the world save as well if your host exposes a save-download option. The backup gives you a way to restore the prior difficulty and undo a formatting mistake. - Stop or pause the server. Use the host panel’s stop control or stop the dedicated-server process cleanly. Do not edit while the server is actively saving. A full stop is preferable to merely disconnecting from the console.
- Identify the active profile and map. Some panels maintain separate profiles for different maps or instances. Make sure the files you open belong to the instance players actually join. If the panel has an online editor and a raw-file editor, verify that both point to the same profile.
- Record the existing values. Note the current offset, override and maximum-difficulty entries before replacing them. This makes it easier to compare the old and new behavior and to restore a known configuration.
Step-by-step: set a level-150, level-300 or custom cap
1. Edit GameUserSettings.ini
Open GameUserSettings.ini and locate the [ServerSettings] header. Add the lines below if they are absent, or replace existing values:
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DifficultyOffset=1.0
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0Replace 5.0 with the desired maximum divided by 30. For example, use 4.0 for a target of 120, 6.0 for 180, 7.0 for 210, 8.0 for 240, 9.0 for 270, or 10.0 for 300. Keep the spelling and capitalization exactly as shown. The key must be in GameUserSettings.ini, not in Game.ini.
Do not delete the section header or place the entry above it. Keep one active line for each key so you do not have to guess which duplicate a host parser will use. If the panel already generated a value, edit that value rather than creating a second competing line. Leave DifficultyOffset=1.0 in place when using the standard calculation; the explicit override is the setting that establishes the custom final difficulty.
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2. Check Game.ini for MaxDifficulty
Open Game.ini and inspect the ShooterGameMode_Options section. If it contains MaxDifficulty=True, remove that entry or change it to MaxDifficulty=False when you want a custom value above or below 5.0. A true value has priority and forces difficulty 5.0, regardless of the override in GameUserSettings.ini.
Do not move MaxDifficulty into GameUserSettings.ini as a workaround. It is a separate option with its own section and priority. If the host panel has a checkbox labeled maximum difficulty, clear it and then inspect the raw file to confirm that it did not recreate MaxDifficulty=True on the next save.
3. Save and restart
Save both files, close the editor, and start the server again. Host panels label this control differently, and file locations vary by provider, but the underlying keys and precedence are the same. Wait for the server to finish loading before testing. If the panel offers only a restart button, make sure it performs a full stop and launch; a configuration reload while the process remains alive may not apply these values.
4. Remove old wild creatures
Changing the configuration does not recalculate creatures already present in the world. With administrator access, run:
DestroyWildDinosSome panels provide a button that runs the same command. This removes wild creatures only; it does not reset tamed animals, wipe player structures, or grant extra tame levels. The map must then repopulate with new wild spawns using the effective difficulty. Warn players before running it, because currently visible wild creatures disappear and the map may look empty until spawning resumes.
5. Verify fresh spawns
Allow time for the map to repopulate and inspect several newly spawned common creatures in more than one area. Do not judge the result from a single animal. Wild levels appear in increments governed by the effective difficulty, and special creatures can have separate rules. Write down the levels you see and compare them with the expected cap rather than relying on a creature that may have spawned before the wipe.
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ARK stores a wild creature’s level when that creature spawns. Editing the INI changes the rules for future spawns; it does not modify existing entities. Consequently, a level-90 creature can remain level 90 after you set a level-150 cap, and a level-150 creature does not become level 300 after you increase the setting.
A restart loads the new configuration, but it does not by itself clear the existing population. Run DestroyWildDinos after the restart, then wait for the normal respawn process. Tamed creatures are not affected by this command. If players report that “nothing changed,” first ask whether they are looking at the same old animals that survived the configuration edit.
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Wild spawn caps and tame levels are different systems
The maximum wild level determines the levels at which creatures enter the world. It does not automatically increase the number of levels a tamed creature can gain after taming. These are separate progression systems, so a level-300 wild cap does not by itself give an existing tame additional post-tame levels.
Additional player or tame levels are configured through LevelExperienceRampOverrides, documented in the server-configuration reference. The setting can be supplied once for player progression and a second time for tame-creature progression. Each occurrence must enumerate every intended level in the ramp; it is not a single number that simply adds levels to an existing creature.
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Treat that as a separate, advanced configuration task. Back up the files before changing it, and preserve the complete level sequence required by the configuration format. Make one change at a time and test on a noncritical save if possible. If your goal is only higher wild spawns, do not add a level-ramp override: it solves a different problem and can change progression for players or tames unexpectedly.
Common targets and what to expect
Level 150
Set OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0 with DifficultyOffset=1.0. This is the commonly documented cap for standard common wild creatures at difficulty 5.0. The ARK Official Community Wiki states that “A value of 5.0 will allow common creatures to spawn up to level 150.” If the server has MaxDifficulty=True, the result is also difficulty 5.0, but that forced setting will prevent any other custom cap.
Level 300
Set OverrideOfficialDifficulty=10.0 and ensure MaxDifficulty is not forcing 5.0. Restart, wipe existing wild spawns, and verify new common creatures. A level-300 target does not mean every species, variant or special creature will use exactly the same maximum. Use several ordinary species as your baseline before investigating exceptions.
An intermediate cap
Divide the desired maximum by 30 and use the resulting value. For a level-180 target, use 6.0; for level 210, use 7.0; for level 240, use 8.0. Apply the same restart and wild-spawn wipe procedure as for the standard targets. If the map uses a different base difficulty, the explicit override still gives you a consistent intended difficulty instead of leaving the result to the map default.
A managed-hosting workflow
On a managed ARK server, the same settings may be exposed through a control panel rather than a file manager. Look for a configuration editor, an advanced INI section, or a “difficulty” field. A panel can also keep separate controls for GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini, so check both locations. The useful search terms are ARK server hosting, managed ARK server and ARK server control panel.
Before applying a panel preset, compare its generated values with the raw files. A preset that enables maximum difficulty may insert MaxDifficulty=True and defeat a level-300 override. After saving through the panel, stop and restart the instance, then confirm that the desired lines remain present. Panel documentation is edition- and provider-dependent, particularly between ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended.
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Troubleshooting when the cap appears unchanged
The key is misspelled or in the wrong file
Check that the entry is spelled OverrideOfficialDifficulty, including capitalization. It belongs under [ServerSettings] in GameUserSettings.ini. An entry placed in Game.ini, outside the section header, or with a missing character is ignored. Remove duplicate or commented-out lines that make the active value unclear.
MaxDifficulty is overriding the value
Search Game.ini for MaxDifficulty=True under ShooterGameMode_Options. That setting has priority, sets difficulty to 5.0 and ignores the other related difficulty values. The wiki describes the behavior this way: when maximum difficulty is enabled, “Difficulty is set to 5.0 and all other related settings are ignored.” Disable it when the intended cap is not the level-150 result associated with difficulty 5.0.
The server was not restarted after saving
Many hosts do not reload these settings during gameplay. Stop the server, confirm the files were saved, and start it again. If the panel has separate start and restart actions, use the action that fully stops and launches the process rather than merely reconnecting to the console. Reopen the file after startup if the panel can rewrite it, and verify that your values survived.
Existing creatures were not wiped
Run DestroyWildDinos with admin access after the restart. Then wait for repopulation and test multiple fresh common creatures. Seeing old low-level animals immediately after editing is expected until those entities are removed. A wipe affects wild creatures, not tames, so it is safe to distinguish this procedure from a tame-level reset.
The panel edited the wrong instance
Confirm that the host panel is editing the active server profile and the correct map. Multi-instance hosts can expose several copies of GameUserSettings.ini; changing an inactive profile has no effect on the server your players join. Check the server name, port, map selection and last-started timestamp before repeating the edit.
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Repopulation is incomplete
After a wipe, not every region repopulates at once. Give the server time, travel to several spawn areas, and compare multiple newly created common creatures. One low-level spawn is not enough evidence that the override failed. If only low levels appear initially, continue checking after the normal spawn cycle has had time to refill the map.
You tested a special creature
Special creatures can follow their own level rules. Verify the setting with ordinary common species first, then interpret special-spawn results separately. Map-specific systems can also alter what appears in a particular region, so compare more than one location.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Edition and hosting differences
ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended can expose different control panels, file paths and restart workflows. The keys described here are the configuration concepts to check, but a panel may rename an editor, maintain separate map profiles or restrict direct file access. Confirm the instructions for your specific edition and host before changing a live server.
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Regardless of the interface, the operational sequence remains: edit the active [ServerSettings] values, remove a conflicting MaxDifficulty=True, save, perform a full restart, destroy existing wild spawns and verify fresh common creatures. Keep a copy of the working files so a host migration or map change does not force you to reconstruct the settings from memory.
Final verification checklist
DifficultyOffset=1.0is present under[ServerSettings].OverrideOfficialDifficultyequals the desired common-wild maximum divided by 30.- The entry is in
GameUserSettings.ini, notGame.ini. MaxDifficulty=Trueis absent or set toFalsewhen a custom difficulty is required.- The active map profile and server instance were edited.
- The server was fully stopped and restarted after the files were saved.
DestroyWildDinoswas run after the restart.- Several newly spawned common creatures were checked after repopulation.
- Special creatures were not used as the only test.
- You are not confusing the wild cap with tame progression configured through
LevelExperienceRampOverrides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I put in GameUserSettings.ini for level 150 dinos?
Under [ServerSettings], use DifficultyOffset=1.0 and OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0. Restart the server and run DestroyWildDinos so new common wild creatures use the setting.
How do I make level 300 dinos spawn?
Set OverrideOfficialDifficulty=10.0 in GameUserSettings.ini, make sure MaxDifficulty=True is not forcing 5.0 in Game.ini, restart, wipe existing wild spawns and test several fresh common creatures.
Why are dinos still spawning at the old levels?
Usually the server was not fully restarted, old wild creatures were not removed, the wrong server profile was edited, or MaxDifficulty=True is overriding the custom value. Check each item in that order.
Does DestroyWildDinos reset tamed creatures?
No. It removes wild creatures so the map can repopulate under the new difficulty. It does not reset tames, player progression or structures.
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Can I change the maximum tame level with OverrideOfficialDifficulty?
No. The wild spawn cap and post-tame progression are separate. Use the advanced LevelExperienceRampOverrides configuration for additional player or tame levels.
Why does DifficultyOffset alone give different results on different maps?
Without an explicit override, ARK combines the offset with the map’s base difficulty. The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration and Genesis: Part 2 are listed with base difficulty 4.0, while several other maps use 5.0, so the same offset can produce different caps.
Do all creatures reach the configured maximum?
No. The formula describes standard common wild creatures. Special creatures and map-specific spawning systems can use different level rules, so verify with several ordinary species first.
Should I edit Game.ini or GameUserSettings.ini?
Put OverrideOfficialDifficulty and DifficultyOffset under [ServerSettings] in GameUserSettings.ini. Check Game.ini separately for MaxDifficulty=True, which can force difficulty 5.0.
The Bottom Line
For a consistent custom wild-dino cap, edit GameUserSettings.ini under [ServerSettings], keep DifficultyOffset=1.0, and set OverrideOfficialDifficulty to the desired common-wild maximum divided by 30. Remove any conflicting MaxDifficulty=True, fully restart the correct server instance, run DestroyWildDinos, and verify several fresh common spawns. Higher wild levels do not automatically add tame levels; that requires a separate LevelExperienceRampOverrides setup.
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