TEK Vacuum Compartment Guide: Complete ARK Underwater Base Tutorial
After spending 200+ hours building underwater bases in ARK, I’ve learned that TEK Vacuum Compartments are game-changers for ocean living. These end-game structures let you create massive air-filled domes beneath the waves, perfect for hidden bases or stunning aquatic showcases.
TEK Vacuum Compartments are end-game structures in ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended that create air-filled underwater bases. When placed underwater and powered by a TEK Generator, they vacuum out all water, allowing you to build, breathe, and live beneath the ocean surface without scuba gear or oxygen consumption.
For open world games like ARK, few features offer the same creative freedom as underwater base building. In this guide, I’ll cover everything from unlocking the engram to advanced building techniques.
What Are TEK Vacuum Compartments?
TEK Vacuum Compartments are part of the TEK Tier building system in ARK. They function as domed structures that displace water when powered, creating a breathable air pocket at any depth. This eliminates oxygen consumption and allows normal building inside.
Think of them as invisible force fields that keep water out while letting you move freely. Multiple compartments can snap together to form massive underwater complexes, limited only by your Element supply and imagination.
The compartments feature transparent walls by default, giving you panoramic ocean views from inside your base. You can customize wall visibility through the radial menu, which we’ll cover in detail later.
TEK Tier: The highest technology tier in ARK, unlocked by defeating bosses. TEK structures require Element to craft and often need a TEK Generator to function.
How to Unlock TEK Vacuum Compartments?
Unlocking Vacuum Compartments requires defeating specific bosses and obtaining the Tekgram. Here’s exactly what you need to do.
Step 1: Defeat Required Bosses
You must defeat one of the following bosses to unlock the Vacuum Compartment Tekgram:
- Crystal Wyvern Queen (Beta or Alpha difficulty)
- Dragon (Beta or Alpha difficulty)
In my experience, the Crystal Wyvern Queen is the easier option for most players. Her fight is more predictable and doesn’t require heat or cold protection like the Dragon. However, if you’re already geared for Dragon arenas, that fight works just as well.
Step 2: Receive the Tekgram
Upon defeating either boss at Beta or Alpha difficulty, you’ll automatically receive the Tekgram. This unlocks the engram in your crafting menu. Gamma difficulty fights do NOT reward the Vacuum Compartment Tekgram.
Time Saver: Check your engram panel immediately after the boss fight. If the Tekgram doesn’t appear, you may have been on Gamma difficulty or the fight didn’t register properly.
Step 3: Unlock the Engram
Open your inventory, navigate to the Tekgram tab, and unlock the Vacuum Compartment engram. This costs nothing but requires you to be at the appropriate level (typically level 90+ depending on server settings).
Boss Comparison Table
| Boss | Difficulty Required | Recommended Gear | Difficulty Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Wyvern Queen | Beta or Alpha | Flak Armor, Riot Shield, Shotgun | 7/10 |
| Dragon | Beta or Alpha | Flak Armor, Medical Brews, Ride Rex | 8.5/10 |
Crafting Requirements and Materials
Crafting Vacuum Compartments requires significant resources, especially rare materials like Element. Here’s the complete breakdown.
Crafting Station
You must use a Tek Replicator to craft Vacuum Compartments. Regular crafting stations cannot process TEK blueprints. The Tek Replicator itself is unlocked by defeating the Broodmother Lysrix or Megapithecus.
Materials Needed
| Material | Quantity | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Ingot / Scrap Metal Ingot | 360 | Scrap Metal Ingot (Gen2) |
| Polymer / Organic Polymer | 136 | Organic Polymer, Corrupted Nodule (Gen2) |
| Crystal / Primal Crystal | 180 | Primal Crystal (from wild Crystal Wyverns) |
| Element | 2 | No alternative |
| Black Pearl | 32 | No alternative |
Crafting takes 5 seconds and yields one compartment. For a substantial base, plan to craft 10-20 compartments minimum.
Resource Farming Tips
Element: This is the bottleneck. You’ll need to farm bosses or hunt Corrupted Creatures on Extinction. I recommend stocking at least 100+ Element before starting your underwater base project.
Black Pearls: Use an Angler to farm deep-sea deposits, or harvest Eurypterids on Aberration. A high-level Angler can gather 50-100 pearls per trip.
Polymer: Organic Polymer from penguins on Extinction or Kairuku on The Island saves resources. It spoils, so craft close to when you need it.
How to Use TEK Vacuum Compartments: Step-by-Step
Using Vacuum Compartments effectively requires understanding placement, power, and the radial menu system. Let me walk you through the process.
Step 1: Place Your TEK Generator
Before placing any compartments, you need power. Craft and place a TEK Generator within range of your planned base location. The generator needs Element Shards to run and powers all TEK structures in a large radius.
- Craft TEK Generator at Tek Replicator
- Place generator on a platform or nearby land structure
- Fill with Element Shards (not full Element)
- Turn on using radial menu (E key, hold or double-tap)
Pro Tip: Place your TEK Generator on a raft or platform saddle for easy repositioning. You can adjust power coverage without rebuilding your entire base.
Step 2: Place the First Vacuum Compartment
With power active, equip your Vacuum Compartment and find your underwater location. Look for the green placement indicator showing the compartment is within power range.
- Equip the compartment from your hotbar
- Find suitable depth – compartments can be placed at any depth
- Look for green highlight indicating valid placement
- Click to place – water will immediately drain from inside
The compartment creates an instant air pocket. You can swim inside and breathe normally without any scuba equipment.
Step 3: Use the Radial Menu
This is where Vacuum Compartments really shine. Looking at any wall and activating the radial menu (hold E on PC, hold Y/B on Xbox, hold Triangle/Circle on PlayStation) reveals several options:
- Remove Wall: Deletes that wall section, opening the compartment to surrounding water (stops vacuum effect)
- Freeze Wall: Makes the wall opaque instead of transparent
- Replace Wall: Restores a removed wall
Important: Removing walls breaks the vacuum seal. Water will flood in, and you’ll need to replace walls and wait for the compartment to re-vacuum. The freezing option is purely cosmetic and doesn’t affect functionality.
Step 4: Connect Multiple Compartments
Vacuum Compartments snap together seamlessly. Place a second compartment adjacent to the first, and they’ll merge into a larger air space. No doors or special connections needed.
I’ve built bases with 30+ connected compartments. Each additional compartment extends your air space but doesn’t require additional power – one TEK Generator can power dozens of compartments.
Step 5: Building Inside Your Compartment
Once your compartments are connected and powered, you can build normally inside. Place foundations, walls, crafting stations, storage, and decorative items as if you were on land.
Quick Summary: Vacuum Compartments create air-filled underwater spaces when powered by a TEK Generator. Place them, connect them, and build anything inside – from bedrooms to industrial factories to turret towers.
Building Inside Vacuum Compartments
Yes, you can build virtually anything inside Vacuum Compartments. This is where the real creativity happens.
Secondary Base Strategy
Many players build a complete secondary base inside their Vacuum Compartments. This offers several advantages:
- Added Defense: Enemy players must breach your Vacuum Compartment AND your inner base walls
- Turret Stacking: Place turrets on your inner base for layered defense
- Organization: Separate living quarters from industrial areas
- Insulation: Stone or metal inner structures provide protection against extreme temperatures
Personally, I’ve found that building a stone or metal base inside creates a more defensible position in PvP. The Vacuum Compartment acts as an outer shell, while my inner base holds the valuables.
Turret Placement
Turrets placed inside Vacuum Compartments can target through the transparent walls. This makes them excellent for underwater defense:
- Auto Turrets: Can target players and creatures approaching from outside
- Ballista Turrets: Excellent for underwater mounts and saddle protection
- Plant Species: Can be placed for additional defense
Structure Limits
Be mindful of your server’s structure limit. Each piece of your inner base counts toward the limit, including foundations, walls, and ceilings. Large bases can easily cap out in high-traffic areas.
Vacuum Compartment Moonpool Variant
The Vacuum Compartment Moonpool is a specialized variant with a hatch opening at the bottom. This variant serves a specific purpose.
What Makes It Different?
The Moonpool features an opening at its base that allows creatures to swim in and out. Unlike standard compartments that are fully enclosed, the Moonpool maintains its vacuum seal even with the bottom hatch open.
Best Uses for Moonpools
- Creature Entry Points: Let your tamed marine life enter your base
- Submarine Docking: Park underwater mounts or vehicles
- Easy Access: Swim in and out without using doors
In my builds, I typically use 1-2 Moonpools as creature entrances and fill the rest of my base with standard compartments. This gives me the best of both worlds.
Damage Mechanics and How to Destroy
Vacuum Compartments have 50,000 health but are vulnerable to specific damage types. Understanding these mechanics is crucial for both offense and defense.
Damage Weaknesses
Vacuum Compartments are TEK structures, meaning they take increased damage from:
- Explosives: Rockets, C4, and Rocket Turrets deal bonus damage
- TEK Weapons: TEK Rifles and other TEK weaponry are highly effective
- TEK Saddles: Creatures with TEK Saddles deal increased damage
- Arthropluera: This creature’s spit destroys TEK structures quickly
- Titanosaur: Can damage TEK structures when ridden
- Boss Creatures: Bosses, Titans, and the DodoRex deal massive damage
Defense Strategy
For PvP bases, consider these defensive measures:
- Layered Defense: Build inner base compartments with turrets
- Deep Placement: Deeper bases are harder to find and reach
- Hidden Locations: Build inside underwater caves or behind rock formations
- Alarm Systems: Use Tek Surveillance to detect incoming raids
Admin Commands and GFI Codes
For server admins and single players wanting to bypass the unlock process, here are the admin commands:
GFI Code
cheat gfi UnderwaterBase 1 0 0
Full Spawn Command
cheat giveitem "Blueprint'/Game/PrimalEarth/CoreBlueprints/Items/Structures/BuildingBases/PrimalItemStructure_UnderwaterBase.PrimalItemStructure_UnderwaterBase'" 1 0 0
Unlock Engram Command
cheat unlockengram "Blueprint'/Game/PrimalEarth/CoreBlueprints/Items/Structures/BuildingBases/PrimalItemStructure_UnderwaterBase.PrimalItemStructure_UnderwaterBase'"
Frequently Asked Questions
What boss unlocks TEK Vacuum Compartments?
Crystal Wyvern Queen (Beta or Alpha) or Dragon (Beta or Alpha). Defeating either of these bosses at the required difficulty awards the Vacuum Compartment Tekgram. Gamma difficulty fights do not reward the engram.
Do Vacuum Compartments need power to work?
Yes, Vacuum Compartments require an active TEK Generator within range. Without power, the compartments won’t vacuum out water and will remain flooded. One TEK Generator can power multiple compartments.
Can you build inside Vacuum Compartments?
Absolutely. You can place any structure inside – foundations, walls, crafting stations, storage, turrets, and decorations. Most PvP players build a secondary inner base for added defense and turret stacking.
How do you destroy Vacuum Compartments?
Vacuum Compartments are vulnerable to explosives, TEK weapons, TEK Saddles, Arthropluera spit, Titanosaur attacks, boss damage, and Titans. They have 50,000 base health but take bonus damage from TEK-specific sources.
How many Element for Vacuum Compartment?
Each Vacuum Compartment costs 2 Element to craft. For a large base with 15-20 compartments, plan to spend 30-40 Element. The TEK Generator also requires Element (or Element Shards) to operate.
Do turrets work through Vacuum Compartments?
Yes, Auto Turrets and Ballista Turrets placed inside Vacuum Compartments can target and fire through the transparent walls. This makes them excellent for underwater base defense and turret stacking strategies.
What’s the difference between Vacuum Compartment and Moonpool?
The Vacuum Compartment Moonpool has an opening hatch at the bottom that allows creatures to swim in and out while maintaining the vacuum seal. Standard compartments are fully enclosed. Use Moonpools for creature access points.
Final Thoughts
Building my first underwater base with TEK Vacuum Compartments changed how I play ARK. The security of a hidden ocean base, combined with the stunning views through transparent walls, creates an experience that surface bases can’t match.
Whether you’re a PvE player seeking creative building opportunities or a PvP raider looking for the ultimate hidden base, Vacuum Compartments are worth the effort to unlock. The Element cost is significant, but the strategic advantages and visual appeal are unmatched.
With ARK 2 upcoming survival game on the horizon, mastering these advanced building techniques now will give you an edge when the sequel launches. Get out there, defeat those bosses, and start building your underwater empire.
