Metal Farming Efficiency?

[O.M.E.G.A]

So most websites will tell you that using an Ankylosaurus to farm metal is more efficient than using a metal pickaxe. But what if your character has a really high melee damage stat? Or what about if you're using higher quality metal pickaxes like Apprentice or Journeyman?

Is there a calculator or something to help someone determine if they should use an Ankylosaurus or not?

[Myst?c]

how about trips needed due to weight, or how about uping its weight and melee

[Myst?c]

or that a pickaxe needs repairs

[Jork]

anky's have a higher base melee damage than the player. unless you're level 80 and spammed every point in melee damage the anky's gonna be better. and even so a mid-level anky would blow that out of the water too

trust me, anky's good. i just got one and he helps a lot. slow as ♥♥♥♥ though which is annoying but whatever

dont really use him for metal much though since i have a base on the volcano and metal rocks spawn up there like candy but i digress

[Ryker]

Originally posted by O.M.E.G.A:

So most websites will tell you that using an Ankylosaurus to farm metal is more efficient than using a metal pickaxe. But what if your character has a really high melee damage stat? Or what about if you're using higher quality metal pickaxes like Apprentice or Journeyman?

Is there a calculator or something to help someone determine if they should use an Ankylosaurus or not?

Depends on a lot of factors, I use the pick axe, because its journeyman and decent damage, and yes weight is an issue but I run around with 250 weight. Plus I have forges near by the mining area, on pillars which doesn't stop growth.

Anky is good for more metal/weight but I just hate unloading it. (kinda lazy)

[Calthaza]

In any case, would you farm faster with the Anky. A 1000% melee anky 1shot moost rocks, and a 2000% give even more metal per swing. No chance in hell to keep up with even a mastercraft hatchet, which will in time break down and need alot of resources to repair. GO anky !!

[Defektiv]

With a 180 pickaxes I can harvest each metal node for as much quantity as a 800-1k dmg ank. But because of the problems blade mentioned, and more, the ank still wins by a lot. You have to swing several times each node to harvest and have a smaller carry capacity as well. The big problem with the ank is that its super slow and has horrible weight/stamina usually. As a result, I find a lot of luck in using a Quetzal as a mobile forge and either carrying a mated pair of anks to the site for harvesting or just keeping them there in a shack. Then I just refine on site and save myself half the weight on the return trip.

[Fogno]

Ankys are definitely more efficient for metal IF they have a high melee damage stat. Even if your character has high melee and a mastercraft or better pick, a good Anky is FASTER. It can break rocks with 1-2 swings and get the same amount of metal, while it would take a player several swings to break the same rock.

The drawback for the Anky is its low weight stat, so you need to have a beast of burden ready to go. I recommend a Quetzal or 2-3 Argents ready to fill up and fly out. A mammoth would work too but flying is easier.

It's a good idea to have an enclosed base for your Anky stationed up on a mountain so it will be safe when you fly home with all your metal :)

[di eshor ribly]

I live on Herbivore Island, and as most people do, I have an ankylo. But, I almost never use her for metal mining. The island is small enough, I have enough carry weight, and my Ascendant Pickaxe (happy about that one, lemme tell ya) gets me slightly more metal than my ankylo. Please note that my ankylo was really low level when I tamed her (like... level 3 I think. I just wanted a berry harvester on site so I wouldn't have to do it myself.)

In terms of efficiency though, even my crappy ankylo is far, far better than my pickaxe just because I dont have to spend 135 metal ingots, 100 wood, and 1100 hide to repair her from fully broken. She can also carry more than me, but not by a whole lot (500 vs 300. Yeah, I'm a packmule). It's a matter of return investment for matters of efficiency. 0 repair cost = 100% efficiency after all.

[Myst?c]

Originally posted by di eshor ribly:

I live on Herbivore Island, and as most people do, I have an ankylo. But, I almost never use her for metal mining. The island is small enough, I have enough carry weight, and my Ascendant Pickaxe (happy about that one, lemme tell ya) gets me slightly more metal than my ankylo. Please note that my ankylo was really low level when I tamed her (like... level 3 I think. I just wanted a berry harvester on site so I wouldn't have to do it myself.)

In terms of efficiency though, even my crappy ankylo is far, far better than my pickaxe just because I dont have to spend 135 metal ingots, 100 wood, and 1100 hide to repair her from fully broken. She can also carry more than me, but not by a whole lot (500 vs 300. Yeah, I'm a packmule). It's a matter of return investment for matters of efficiency. 0 repair cost = 100% efficiency after all.

ive got my ank up to 900 carrry weight, and i just haul a bronto with me to carry more, my pic would break by the time i finished filling them

[Buster]

High level ankys can get you loaded up on metal/crystal/obsidian for weeks with one trip. Not to mention a small group of tamed ones can wreck even alphas that cause trouble.

[Sminky]

As others have said, time for time, and pound for pound the Ank is for more effective. You'll have to spend longer farming but what you bring back in the end will overall save you a lot of time

[builder680]

Quetzal specced weight fly to the saturated nodes with pickaxe, dump the stone. Haul back 1400+ metal every 20 minutes. I have tried every other method, this is the best and simplest.

[Myst?c]

Originally posted by builder680:

Quetzal specced weight fly to the saturated nodes with pickaxe, dump the stone. Haul back 1400+ metal every 20 minutes. I have tried every other method, this is the best and simplest.

carry an ank over

[builder680]

Originally posted by blade.blaster56745:

Originally posted by builder680:

Quetzal specced weight fly to the saturated nodes with pickaxe, dump the stone. Haul back 1400+ metal every 20 minutes. I have tried every other method, this is the best and simplest.

carry an ank over

That would be slower, I have tried it.