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In ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE), engram control is split between two configuration files. Put level-by-level engram-point awards and individual engram changes in Game.ini under [/script/shootergame.shootergamemode]. Put the global unlock switch, when supported by your server build, in GameUserSettings.ini. Save the files, restart the server, and test with a fresh level-up or a character that has not already learned the affected engram.
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The syntax below is the format reported for ASE servers. Hosting panels may expose the same settings through forms, and game updates can change class names or behavior, so back up the files and verify each change after an update.
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What ARK engram server settings actually control
Engrams are the recipes a survivor can learn with engram points. Server administrators can change how many points players receive, alter the cost or level requirement of one recipe, hide a recipe, remove its prerequisites, or unlock every recipe automatically. These controls are not interchangeable: a points schedule changes the budget players receive at level-up, while an engram override changes the rule for a particular entry.
For ASE, the normal file split is:
- Game.ini: per-level engram-point awards and named or indexed engram overrides.
- GameUserSettings.ini: the reported
bAutoUnlockAllEngrams=Trueswitch for unlocking all engrams automatically.
Use the ASE layout for an ASE server. ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) uses similar-looking override syntax in some guides, but it is a different game with different builds and content. Copying an ASA example into ASE without checking the current ASE configuration documentation can produce a setting that is ignored or affects the wrong entry.
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Before editing: identify the right files and make a backup
Find the configuration files
Every host names its folders differently, but the files themselves are normally the server’s Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini. A control panel may provide separate text areas for each file instead of showing the physical path. Confirm which field writes to which file before pasting a setting.
- Stop the ARK server cleanly from the host panel or service manager.
- Download or copy both configuration files as a backup. Keep a dated copy so you can restore a known-working version.
- Open the files as plain text. Do not use a word processor that inserts smart quotes or rich-text formatting.
- Check that the section header in
Game.iniis spelled exactly[/script/shootergame.shootergamemode].
Some panels regenerate files when a server starts. If a line disappears after a restart, edit the panel’s configuration field or its template rather than only the generated file.
Keep the engram block at the end of Game.ini
Community configuration guides report that the engram override list should be the last content in Game.ini. Place the section header and its engram lines after other game-mode entries, then leave the block at the end. This is especially important for OverrideNamedEngramEntries; a later duplicate section or a panel-generated value can override what you entered.
ARK engram points per level Game.ini
OverridePlayerLevelEngramPoints controls the number of engram points awarded at each level-up. Add one line for each level, beginning with level 2. The first value is therefore the award when a player advances to level 2, the second value is for level 3, and so on. There is no level number in the line itself; the order of the repeated lines is the level mapping.
Example points schedule
[/script/shootergame.shootergamemode]
OverridePlayerLevelEngramPoints=0
OverridePlayerLevelEngramPoints=8
OverridePlayerLevelEngramPoints=8
OverridePlayerLevelEngramPoints=10In this reported example, the first entry corresponds to level 2, followed by level 3, level 4, and level 5. A zero gives no points at that level. Continue the sequence for every level you want to define; do not assume that a short list automatically describes all later levels.
Designing a schedule
- Even progression: repeat the same award when you want a predictable budget at every level.
- Milestone progression: use larger values at selected levels and smaller or zero values between them.
- Restricted progression: set selected levels to zero, then grant a larger award at a later level.
Calculate the total points across the complete level range before publishing the configuration. The total must be large enough for the engrams you expect players to learn, but a very generous schedule changes the survival progression substantially.
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About the single-value 10,000 example
Forum discussions also show a line such as OverridePlayerLevelEngramPoints=10000, described as a different use from the normal one-line-per-level schedule. Because the reported examples conflict on how a lone value is interpreted, do not treat it as a universal “10,000 points every level” command. Use the explicit sequence approach when you need a predictable level-by-level result, and test the actual behavior on a nonproduction server.
OverrideNamedEngramEntries example
OverrideNamedEngramEntries changes one engram at a time. Add one parenthesized line per entry under the same game-mode header. The line can identify an entry by its class name or, in reported forum examples, by a numeric engram index.
Class-name example
[/script/shootergame.shootergamemode]
OverrideNamedEngramEntries=(EngramClassName="EngramEntry_WoodChair_C",EngramHidden=false,EngramPointsCost=8,EngramLevelRequirement=10,RemoveEngramPreReq=false)This reported example makes the wood-chair entry visible, sets its cost to 8 points, requires player level 10, and leaves its prerequisites in place. The class name must match an entry in the game build running on the server; names can change or become unavailable after updates.
Numeric-index example
OverrideNamedEngramEntries=(EngramIndex=529,EngramHidden=False,EngramPointsCost=38,EngramLevelRequirement=91,RemoveEngramPreReq=True)The numeric form is also reported in community examples. An index is more fragile than a verified class name because indexes can differ when content or ordering changes. If you use one, confirm that the index resolves to the intended engram in the exact map and build you run.
Field reference
| Field | Effect | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
EngramClassName |
Identifies the engram by its class name. | Prefer this when you have a current, verified class name. |
EngramIndex |
Identifies the engram by numeric index. | Use only when the index has been checked against the running build. |
EngramHidden |
Controls whether the entry is shown in the engram list. | Set True to hide an entry; set False to show it. |
EngramPointsCost |
Sets the number of points needed to learn the entry. | Use zero for a free engram if the build accepts that value. |
EngramLevelRequirement |
Sets the survivor level required to learn it. | Raise it to gate an item; lower it to make the item available earlier. |
RemoveEngramPreReq |
Removes the entry’s prerequisite requirement. | Set True only when the engram should not require earlier recipes. |
Reported practice treats field names, capitalization, commas, parentheses, equals signs, and quotation marks as significant. Keep the spelling and structure exact. Use ordinary straight double quotes around a class name, and do not add a trailing comma before the closing parenthesis.
Combining several overrides
Use a separate complete line for each engram. For example:
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- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Gather Resources, Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes and style of everything from the walls of your home, to your character's armor, weapons and more
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[/script/shootergame.shootergamemode]
OverrideNamedEngramEntries=(EngramClassName="EngramEntry_WoodChair_C",EngramHidden=False,EngramPointsCost=8,EngramLevelRequirement=10,RemoveEngramPreReq=False)
OverrideNamedEngramEntries=(EngramClassName="EngramEntry_SomeOtherItem_C",EngramHidden=True,EngramPointsCost=0,EngramLevelRequirement=1,RemoveEngramPreReq=True)Do not merge two entries into one set of parentheses. Keep every override in the final engram block at the end of the file, and remove accidental duplicate lines while troubleshooting so you know which value the server is reading.
How to hide engrams ARK server settings
To hide a recipe while retaining its configuration, set EngramHidden=True on that entry’s override line. Hiding affects visibility in the engram list; it is not the same as deleting the recipe from the game or revoking an engram a player has already learned.
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OverrideNamedEngramEntries=(EngramClassName="EngramEntry_WoodChair_C",EngramHidden=True,EngramPointsCost=8,EngramLevelRequirement=10,RemoveEngramPreReq=False)After the restart, check the engram menu with a character that has not learned the entry. If a player already knows the recipe, hiding it does not necessarily remove that learned ability; use a separate character or reset process when you need to test visibility rather than learned state.
ARK unlock all engrams server setting
The reported automatic-unlock switch is separate from per-level points and named overrides. Add it to GameUserSettings.ini as:
bAutoUnlockAllEngrams=TrueThis setting is intended to unlock all engrams automatically, so players do not spend points on individual recipes. It does not provide a selective cost, level, or visibility rule for one engram. If you need exceptions, use the named-entry controls instead and verify how your current server build resolves the combination.
Because this switch is reported by a server guide rather than confirmed here against the current official configuration reference, treat it as build-dependent. If the server ignores it, check the exact file field exposed by your host, confirm the spelling and capitalization, and inspect the startup log for configuration errors.
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Rank #4
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
Step-by-step: configure engrams on an ASE server
1. Stop and back up
Stop the server, copy both configuration files, and record the original contents. A backup is the fastest recovery if a malformed line prevents startup or a panel overwrites the file.
2. Decide which control matches the goal
- Need a different point budget at level-up? Use
OverridePlayerLevelEngramPointsinGame.ini. - Need to change one recipe’s cost, level, prerequisites, or visibility? Use
OverrideNamedEngramEntriesinGame.ini. - Need every recipe unlocked automatically? Try
bAutoUnlockAllEngrams=TrueinGameUserSettings.ini.
3. Add the correct section and lines
For the two override types, use [/script/shootergame.shootergamemode] in Game.ini. Add the repeated point lines in level order, then the complete named-entry lines. Keep that engram block last. Put the auto-unlock line in GameUserSettings.ini, not in the game-mode section.
4. Save as plain text
Check for curly quotes, hidden formatting, copied bullet characters, and accidental line breaks inside an override. A line should begin with the setting name and end with its final value or closing parenthesis.
5. Start the server and inspect the result
Start the server and allow it to finish loading. Check the startup or server log for parse errors. Join with a test survivor, gain the relevant level, and inspect the engram menu. For a cost or prerequisite change, use a character that has not already learned the recipe.
6. Change one variable at a time
If the result is wrong, restore the backup or remove the last line, restart, and test again. Changing the point schedule, auto-unlock switch, and several entry overrides simultaneously makes it difficult to identify the failing setting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Per-level points versus per-engram overrides
| Approach | File | Scope | Best for | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OverridePlayerLevelEngramPoints |
Game.ini |
Every level-up in the defined sequence | Rebalancing the total learning budget | Incorrect line order shifts every later level’s award |
OverrideNamedEngramEntries |
Game.ini |
One identified engram per line | Changing cost, level, visibility, or prerequisites selectively | Wrong class name or index causes the line to affect nothing or the wrong entry |
bAutoUnlockAllEngrams=True |
GameUserSettings.ini |
All engrams, according to the reported setting | Servers that want recipes available without spending points | It removes selective progression and may be ignored by a build or panel |
Choose one model deliberately. A server built around earned engram points usually should not enable automatic unlocking as well, because the two approaches represent different progression rules.
engram override not working ARK: troubleshooting
The server starts, but nothing changes
- Confirm the line is in
Game.ini, notGameUserSettings.ini, for named and per-level overrides. - Verify the exact section header and place it before the lines.
- Ensure the engram block is the final content in the file.
- Check that the server was fully restarted; changing a file while the process is running does not apply the new values.
- Test with a new or unaffected survivor. A character that already learned an engram may not show a changed cost or prerequisite.
A recipe is still visible after setting EngramHidden
Check capitalization, the class name or index, and whether another duplicate override appears later in the file. Confirm that you are testing the same map and build for which the identifier was obtained. Visibility can also be cached in the client until you reconnect.
The wrong recipe changed
Numeric indexes are particularly vulnerable to content-order changes. Replace the index with a current, verified EngramClassName when possible. Remove all duplicate lines, restart, and test only that one entry.
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Set RemoveEngramPreReq=True on the exact entry and verify that the field is inside the same parenthesized expression as the other fields. This removes the prerequisite rule for that override; it does not automatically grant the engram unless the player can otherwise learn it under the server’s progression rules.
The auto-unlock line is ignored
Confirm that bAutoUnlockAllEngrams=True is in GameUserSettings.ini and not in the game-mode section. Check the host panel’s documentation or raw-file view, because some panels expose this as a toggle and overwrite manual text. If the line is present and correctly placed but has no effect, the current build may not support the reported behavior.
The setting works on one map but not another
Forum reports conflict about engram overrides on alternate maps. The behavior is therefore not established as universal. Reproduce the test on the exact map, with the same server build and mod list, and compare the startup log and generated configuration. Do not assume that a successful result on the default map proves that every alternate map will honor the override.
ASE and ASA: keep the instructions separate
ASA guides often show an OverrideNamedEngramEntries structure that resembles ASE’s syntax. Similar punctuation does not make the files interchangeable. Class names, available engrams, map behavior, and host-panel paths can differ. Identify the game edition in the server control panel first, then use documentation for that edition and build. The examples in this article are framed for ASE and should not be treated as tested ASA commands.
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- Game edition identified as ASE.
- Server stopped and both configuration files backed up.
- Per-level lines counted from level 2 in the intended order.
- Named entries use a verified class name or a checked index.
- Every named-entry line contains all five reported fields.
Game.inicontains the game-mode header and ends with the engram block.bAutoUnlockAllEngrams=True, if used, is inGameUserSettings.ini.- Files saved as plain text with straight quotes and balanced parentheses.
- Server fully restarted and a fresh test survivor used.
- Changes tested again after game, map, mod, or host-panel updates.
These checks make the configuration reversible and isolate the most common causes of an ignored override: wrong file, wrong section, malformed syntax, stale character state, or an identifier that no longer matches the running build.
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