How to Cluster Your ARK Servers

Updated June 10, 2026 · By Host Havoc Technical Support Team

Clustering links several ARK: Survival Evolved maps so players move characters, dinos, and items between them through the obelisk transfer system. You need one server per map, and every server in the cluster has to sit on the same Host Havoc account. Players still connect to each map individually using our joining your ARK server guide.

Before you start: A cluster needs one server per map. Two maps means two servers, three maps means three. If servers are on different accounts, transfer them onto one account first.

Set up the cluster

  1. Make sure every server you want clustered is on the same Host Havoc account.
  2. On each server, create and Select a custom command line with that server's map. See loading a map or DLC for the map names.
  3. With the command lines selected, our automatic cluster system links them. There is no manual cluster ID to set.

Note: Clustering is handled in the backend by our system when your command lines are selected. Setting a clusterID yourself does not properly cluster the servers, so contact support if you set one up manually.

Troubleshooting cluster travel

If you cannot see another clustered server at the obelisk:

  1. Confirm the servers were clustered by our system, not just given a matching clusterID.
  2. Make sure you can directly connect to every server in the cluster. Allow 5 to 10 minutes for each map to fully load.
  3. Check the obelisk server browser filters. Options like Show Passworded Servers can hide the rest of your cluster.
  4. Test without mods. Some mods block clustered servers from listing or break cross-map travel.

Add cross-server chat (optional)

To share chat across the cluster, install Cross ARK Chat from the Non-Workshop Mods panel on each server, then open _configuration.json in the text editor and fill in the Servers section for every server with Active set to True. Start it once from More > Start/Restart Cross ARK Chat Daemon on a single server. If it does not start, paste _configuration.json into a JSON validator to check the formatting.