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

On June 18, 2019, a new, free expansion called Valguero was released for ARK: Survival Evolved. After the tech-heavy ruins of Extinction, this map brought the game back to its roots—nature, discovery, and adventure. Valguero is a love letter to classic ARK: the thrill of stepping into an unknown world where every landscape, every creature, and every sunrise feels like a promise.

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

The map was originally developed by a group of talented modders before being officially integrated into the game by the developers. As with The Center and Ragnarok, it was a community creation—and that’s exactly what gives it its unmistakable character.

ARK Valguero Map: Biomes, Contrasts, and the Aberration Valley

Valguero is a map of contrasts. Spanning roughly 63 km² (about 24 sq mi), it features green plains, rugged mountains, dense forests, salt flats, deep caves, and frigid snow regions. But at the heart of the map lies what makes it unique: the massive Aberration Valley, a vast subterranean world glowing with bioluminescence that evokes the underground regions of the DLC of the same name.

This mix of surface and underworld makes Valguero one of the most varied maps in the entire game. While you’re taming dinosaurs or tending fields on the surface, a second, dangerous world lurks below.

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

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

Every area on Valguero has its own character. The expansive plains in the center 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 packs.

In the north, the snowy mountains rise, where blizzards, Mammoths, and Direwolves set the tone. The south, by contrast, is fertile, green, and calm—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 isn’t as deadly as the original Aberration, but it’s just as fascinating. You’ll find rare resources, dangerous creatures, and an atmosphere that feels almost alien.

Valguero plays with the feeling 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 brings together fan-favorite creatures from earlier DLCs on a single map. The result is a “best of ARK” feeling. You’ll encounter Raptors, Rex, Argentavis, and Spinosaurus alongside Wyverns, Rock Drakes, and Reaper Queens.

A particular 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 pin enemies with their claws. The Deinonychus quickly became a community favorite, perfectly blending agility and aggression.

The boss arenas also revisit classic foes. Valguero’s final showdown combines the Broodmother, Megapithecus, and the Dragon into a single, massive fight—a finale that unites 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 mountain valleys, or deep in the Aberration caverns—each zone comes with its own pros and cons.

The map is designed so the key resources are spread evenly. Metal, Crystal, Oil, and Obsidian can be found at different elevations. The caves and valleys in the north are especially rich but often guarded by dangerous creatures.

Water also plays an important role. Numerous rivers, lakes, and underground waters make Valguero one of the water-richest maps in ARK—ideal for players who want aquariums or underwater bases.

Pro tips:

• Build elevated in the White Cliffs to control lines of sight 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.

Combined with its calm atmosphere and stable climates, Valguero is one of the most pleasant maps for long-term projects.

Valguero Cave Guide: Dungeons, Boss Access, and Aberration

Valguero is interlaced with caves, tunnels, and secret passages. The developers placed special emphasis on making them not just decoration, but functional gameplay spaces.

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

A remarkable example is the “Cave of the Hidden Valley,” a vast cavern with open shafts of light, waterfalls, and floating platforms. It combines beauty and danger in a single space and symbolizes what Valguero is all about—a balance between challenge and tranquility.

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 coexist in harmony.

The lighting is softer, the colors more natural, the transitions smoother. Mist drifts across meadows, sunbeams pierce the treetops, and the wind across the mountains conveys a sense of peace.

But that calm is deceiving. Let your guard down and Raptors or flying predators will catch you unaware. Valguero is a reminder that survival in beauty is still dangerous.

The soundscape underscores the sense of vastness. Birds calling, water rushing, and occasional distant thunder create an acoustic depth that makes exploration even more immersive.

ARK Valguero Performance & Servers: Stability and PvP/PvE

Valguero is still considered one of ARK’s most stable maps from a technical standpoint. Thanks to the community’s efforts and Studio Wildcard’s subsequent refinements, it offers excellent performance, short load times, and high server stability.

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

Many players call Valguero the “perfect all-round map”—approachable 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 work can come together.

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

For many, Valguero is the map 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 isn’t a world of destruction or madness, but of rediscovery. It reminds players why they 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 reaches its full potential. Build bases along the slopes of the White Cliffs, launch expeditions into the Aberration Valley, or trek with friends through forests and blizzards. With stable performance, flexible management, and endless room for adventure, Valguero becomes the ideal stage for new stories in the world of ARK.

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