Change Max Dino Level on Ark Server

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide explains how to change the maximum wild dino level on your own ARK: Survival Evolved server, whether it’s a dedicated server, a non-dedicated session, or a rented server. By adjusting a few settings in the game’s configuration files, you can make wild dinosaurs spawn at higher levels, which increases the challenge and gives you access to better stats and better tames. You’ll need access to your server’s files, either through a hosting control panel or directly on the machine running the server.

What You’ll Need

Access to your ARK server’s configuration files (usually Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini).
A text editor like Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code (or the built-in editor in your hosting panel).
For non-dedicated or single-player, you can use the in-game settings menu, but the same file edits work.

Step-by-Step

Locate your server’s configuration files. On a dedicated server, they are typically in the ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ or WindowsServer/ folder. On a rented server, use your hosting provider’s file manager. For a non-dedicated session, they are in your local ARK installation folder under ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsNoEditor/.
Open Game.ini. This is the file where you’ll add the override settings. If the file doesn’t exist, create it.
Add the difficulty override. Under the [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode] section (create it if it doesn’t exist), add the line:
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0
The number is the difficulty multiplier. The official value is 5.0, which makes dinos spawn up to level 150 (on The Island). To increase the max level, use a higher number. For example, OverrideOfficialDifficulty=10.0 will allow up to level 300.
Set the max level for wild dinos. Add the line:
MaxWildLevel=300
This caps the level at the value you set. It should be at least as high as the difficulty multiplier × 30 (the official formula). For difficulty 10, max level would be 300, so set it to 300 or higher.
Save and close Game.ini.
Open GameUserSettings.ini. Look for the [ServerSettings] section.
Set the difficulty offset. Add or change the line:
DifficultyOffset=1.0
This tells the server to use the override you set. A value of 1.0 means full override. If you omit this, the override may not apply.
Save and close GameUserSettings.ini.
Restart your server. For a dedicated server, stop and start it. For a non-dedicated session, exit to the main menu and reload your save.
Wipe wild dinos (optional but recommended). Existing dinos will not respawn at new levels unless they are killed. To force new spawns, run the admin command DestroyWildDinos in the server console or in-game chat (with admin privileges). This will remove all wild dinos and new ones will spawn at the new levels.

Common Mistakes

Editing the wrong file. Make sure you are editing Game.ini and not GameUserSettings.ini for the override lines. The override lines must be in Game.ini.
Missing the section header. The [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode] line must be exactly as shown, and the override lines must be under it.
Setting DifficultyOffset to 0. If you set it to 0, the override is ignored. Use 1.0.
Forgetting to restart. Changes won’t take effect until the server restarts.
Not wiping old dinos. If you don’t destroy wild dinos, you’ll still see old low-level spawns until they naturally die.
Setting MaxWildLevel too low. If you set it lower than the difficulty multiplier × 30, you’ll cap levels unnecessarily. For example, with difficulty 10, max level 150 would prevent level 300 dinos.

Tips

Use a difficulty that matches your desired max level. The formula is: Max Level = Difficulty × 30. So for max level 300, use difficulty 10; for max level 450, use difficulty 15.
Consider the DLC maps. Some maps have different level distributions. For example, on Genesis Part 2, the max level is already 150 with difficulty 5, but the override works the same way.
Test with a small change first. If you’re new to this, try difficulty 6 (max level 180) to see if it’s too easy or too hard before jumping to extreme levels.
Back up your files. Before editing, copy Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini to a safe place. If something goes wrong, you can restore them.
Use a server manager. If you use a tool like Ark Server Manager, it has a GUI for these settings, but the underlying files are the same.

Troubleshooting

Dinos still spawn at old levels. Check that you added both lines correctly and that DifficultyOffset=1.0 is in GameUserSettings.ini. Restart the server again and run DestroyWildDinos.
The game crashes on startup. This is usually a syntax error in Game.ini. Check for missing brackets, typos, or extra spaces. Make sure the section header is exactly [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode].
Changes only apply to new spawns, not existing ones. That’s expected. Use DestroyWildDinos to clear existing dinos.
Levels are still capped at 150 even with difficulty 10. This can happen if the server is using a different config file (e.g., for a modded server). Ensure you’re editing the correct Game.ini in the active config folder.
You’re on a rented server and can’t find the files. Contact your hosting provider’s support for the exact file path, or use their file manager to browse the server directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this affect tamed dino levels?

No, this only affects wild dino spawns. Tamed dino levels are determined by the wild level and the taming effectiveness, so higher wild levels will lead to higher tamed levels after taming.

Can I set a different max level for each map?

Yes, you can have different Game.ini files for different maps if you run separate servers. On a single server, the setting applies to all maps.

Will this increase the difficulty too much?

Higher level dinos have more health, damage, and torpor, so yes, the game becomes harder. You can compensate by adjusting other settings like PlayerDamageMultiplier or DinoDamageMultiplier in GameUserSettings.ini.

Do I need to wipe my save to apply the change?

No, you don’t need to wipe the entire save. Just destroy wild dinos with the admin command. Your structures, tames, and character will remain.

Is there a maximum value for OverrideOfficialDifficulty?

Technically, you can set it to any positive number, but extremely high values (like 1000) may cause performance issues or bugs. A reasonable range is 1 to 20.

Can I use this on an official server?

No, this only works on servers you control. Official servers have fixed settings that cannot be changed.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.