Set up a cluster (CrossArk travel)

An ARK cluster lets a player travel between several maps (The Island, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok…) while keeping their character, dinos and items. Everything relies on a shared Cluster folder and a common cluster id.

Cause / The problem

Without a shared folder or matching -clusterid, the obelisk shows “No Obelisk Data” or “Cluster not found”. The servers run but stay isolated, and dino transfers fail silently.

Solution

1. Same engine version: every server in the cluster must run the same ARK version (same Steam branch). Mixing Survival Evolved and Ascended is not supported.
2. Add the cluster parameters to each server in the panel (Startup):

   -NoTransferFromFiltering -clusterid=MyClusterUS

   -clusterid must be identical on every server in the cluster; -NoTransferFromFiltering allows transfers from any map.
3. Share the Cluster folder. ARK creates ShooterGame/Saved/<clusterid>/; all servers must read/write to the same physical folder (network mount or shared volume on the same node). Otherwise travel data stays local.
4. Enable transfers in GameUserSettings.ini if needed:

   NoTributeDownloads=False
   PreventTribeAlliances=False

   Keep NoTributeDownloads=False to allow downloading dinos and items.
5. Travel in-game: walk up to an obelisk, deposit your character/dinos/items into “Charge Data”, then load the destination map and retrieve your elements at the obelisk.
6. Troubleshooting:
   • “No cluster” → check that -clusterid matches and the Cluster folder is actually shared.
   • Dino cannot be retrieved → the clusterid differs or the engine versions don’t match.
   • Items lost → do not leave the server until the upload is confirmed at the obelisk.

Always save (cheat saveworld) before any transfer to avoid loss in case of a crash.