Parachute

A one-use brake for long falls

The Parachute is a survival tool in ARK: Survival Evolved that turns a dangerous drop into a slow descent. The in-game text explains the basics: "Use this while falling to slow your fall. Jump while parachuting to deactivate it." A Parachute is gone after a single use, so anyone who flies a lot or explores high ground should keep spares.

Crafting and carrying spares

The engram unlocks at level 22 for 6 engram points. Each Parachute is made from:

• 40 Thatch
• 20 Fiber
• 10 Hide

Crafting takes 5 seconds and earns 2.9 XP. A finished Parachute weighs 3, and up to 20 fit in one stack, which then weighs 60. The ARK Wiki notes that the ingredients for one weigh just 1.1, less than half of the crafted item, so carrying the materials instead keeps the load down.

Opening it in mid-air

Nothing happens automatically. During a fall, use the Parachute from the inventory and hold the backwards movement key to slow down; because it never opens on its own, the wiki recommends a hotbar slot for it whenever a fall is likely. The jump key closes it again. Steering works only slowly, as a direction has to be held for some time before the glide shifts. Drifting into a cliff face closes the canopy and can end in a fatal drop, and floating down onto a dangerous enemy is another risk the wiki warns about.

Cliffs, raids and long glides

Common uses are getting down a cliff, dropping into an enemy base without fall damage, or saving yourself after coming off a flying creature by accident. It has a limit: after building up too much downward speed, even a Parachute may not prevent a lethal landing. For that case the wiki suggests a Grappling Hook: attach it without reeling in and let go once the line goes tight.

From a high starting point and with good movement speed, a Parachute even serves as transport. Horizontal speed is kept almost entirely after it opens while the height loss stays small, so sprinting off a mountain peak and opening at once can carry a survivor across rough terrain without a trained flyer. Pack a reserve, as overshooting is easy; to lose height quickly, close the chute with jump and open a fresh one closer to the ground.

Maps and loot

Our records place it on 14 maps, from The Island and Scorched Earth to Genesis Part 2 and Fjordur. Loot is another source, with 55 crate types that can contain one, for example Aberration White on Aberration and Valguero, Fjordur Green and Genesis Cyan.