How to Change the Spawn Rate on Your ARK: Survival Ascended Server

Creature spawn rates control how frequently dinosaurs and other wildlife appear across the map on your ARK: Survival Ascended server. Whether you want a quieter experience with fewer predators or a packed world teeming with life, you can adjust these settings directly from the RiverHosting panel without editing any files by hand.

Before you start

• Make sure your server is running or that you are ready to start it after making changes.
• Changes to spawn rates require a server restart to take effect.
• Existing creatures already spawned into the world will not be affected until the server repopulates. A fresh map or a server restart with DestroyWildDinos run from the console will clear old spawns.

1. Open the Server Config page

1. Log in to the RiverHosting panel at panel.riverhosting.com.
2. Click your ARK: Survival Ascended server from the server list.
3. In the left-hand menu, click Server Config.

The Server Config page is a built-in editor that lets you change your server's settings without needing to open or edit configuration files directly. All common ARK server options are available here.

2. Adjust the spawn rate multipliers

1. On the Server Config page, look for the spawn-related multiplier settings. The two main values that control creature population are:
   • DinoCountMultiplier: Controls the overall number of creatures that spawn across the map. A value above 1.0 increases spawns, and a value below 1.0 reduces them.
   • MatingIntervalMultiplier: Affects breeding frequency, which is separate from wild spawns but related to overall creature population over time.
2. Find the DinoCountMultiplier field and enter your preferred value.
   • The default value is 1.0.
   • Try 1.5 for more creatures or 0.5 for fewer.
3. When you are happy with the values, click Save to apply your changes.

3. Restart your server to apply the changes

1. After saving, go back to the main server page.
2. Click Restart to reboot your server.
3. Once the server is back online, new spawns will use your updated settings.

Troubleshooting

• Creatures are not respawning at the new rate: Make sure you saved your changes in Server Config and fully restarted the server. A simple stop and start is enough.
• Spawn rates seem unchanged after restart: Run DestroyWildDinos from the Console page to clear old creatures. They will respawn over the next few minutes using the new multiplier.
• The value I entered is not sticking: Double-check you clicked Save on the Server Config page before restarting. If the field reverted, try entering the value again and saving once more.
• Server is crashing after the change: Very high DinoCountMultiplier values can strain server performance. Try lowering the value to something more moderate such as 1.2 or 1.5 and restart again.

Need help?

If you are unsure which values to use or something is not working as expected, the RiverHosting support team is happy to help. Visit the support page and open a ticket and the team will take a look.