What arguments does the StartNearestHorde command take?

The StartNearestHorde command takes 2 arguments: crate / element type: horde drop, difficulty type: horde difficulty. See the Arguments section on this page for what each one does.

Can I run the StartNearestHorde command over RCON?

Yes. Send cheat StartNearestHorde through RCON or your control-panel console. If the connection already runs with admin context, omit the leading "cheat". It works the same on hosted, self-hosted, and RCON setups.

What is the syntax for the StartNearestHorde command?

The syntax is cheat StartNearestHorde . Open the admin console, paste it, replace any with real values, and press Enter. Verified against the current ARK: ASA build as of June 28, 2026.

How do I enable admin commands to run StartNearestHorde?

In single-player, cheats are on by default. On a dedicated or hosted server, log in as admin with enablecheats first, then run cheat StartNearestHorde . Without admin access the console rejects it.

Which game is the StartNearestHorde from?

The StartNearestHorde is from ARK: Survival Ascended. Every ID, code, and command on this page is specific to ARK: Survival Ascended and its current live build.

How current is the StartNearestHorde info?

The StartNearestHorde entry was last verified on GameServersCodex on June 28, 2026. We track the live ARK: ASA build, so the details here reflect the current patch.

ARK · COMMAND

StartNearestHorde

Command

Spawns the nearest Orbital Supply Drop or Element Node with a specified difficulty level, useful for testing horde mechanics or spawning loot quickly.

The StartNearestHorde is just the start. Join the GameServersHub Discord for the full playbook on running your server. As of Friday, August 14th, 2026.

Syntax

Console syntax

cheat StartNearestHorde <Crate / Element> <Difficulty>

Arguments

crate / element type: horde drop: Specify 'Crate' (without quotes) here to spawn an Orbital Supply Drop. Specify 'Element' (without quotes) here to spawn an Element Node.
difficulty type: horde difficulty: Specify a number between 1 and 4 here for difficulty: * 1 - Easy (10,000 Health) * 2 - Medium (50,000 Health) * 3 - Hard (100,000 Health) * 4 - Legendary (100,000 Health)

About

StartNearestHorde triggers a horde encounter at the closest spawn point to your character. Use it to test Orbital Supply Drop or Element Node spawns without waiting for natural events or traveling across the map.

The first argument selects what spawns: Crate for an Orbital Supply Drop, or Element for an Element Node. The second argument sets difficulty from 1 to 4, higher numbers increase health and loot quality. Difficulty 1 (Easy) grants 10,000 health; difficulties 2 and 3 grant 50,000 and 100,000 health respectively; difficulty 4 (Legendary) also provides 100,000 health with better rewards.

This command is useful for rapid iteration during server setup, event testing, or when you need to spawn high-level loot without the delay of natural horde spawns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What arguments does the StartNearestHorde command take?: The StartNearestHorde command takes 2 arguments: crate / element type: horde drop, difficulty type: horde difficulty. See the Arguments section on this page for what each one does.
Can I run the StartNearestHorde command over RCON?: Yes. Send cheat StartNearestHorde <Crate / Element> <Difficulty> through RCON or your control-panel console. If the connection already runs with admin context, omit the leading "cheat". It works the same on hosted, self-hosted, and RCON setups.
What is the syntax for the StartNearestHorde command?: The syntax is cheat StartNearestHorde <Crate / Element> <Difficulty>. Open the admin console, paste it, replace any <placeholders> with real values, and press Enter. Verified against the current ARK: ASA build as of June 28, 2026.
What is the StartNearestHorde used for?: StartNearestHorde triggers a horde encounter at the closest spawn point to your character. Use it to test Orbital Supply Drop or Element Node spawns without waiting for natural events or traveling across the map.
How do I enable admin commands to run StartNearestHorde?: In single-player, cheats are on by default. On a dedicated or hosted server, log in as admin with enablecheats <AdminPassword> first, then run cheat StartNearestHorde <Crate / Element> <Difficulty>. Without admin access the console rejects it.
Which game is the StartNearestHorde from?: The StartNearestHorde is from ARK: Survival Ascended. Every ID, code, and command on this page is specific to ARK: Survival Ascended and its current live build.
What is the StartNearestHorde?: Spawns the nearest Orbital Supply Drop or Element Node with a specified difficulty level, useful for testing horde mechanics or spawning loot quickly.
How current is the StartNearestHorde info?: The StartNearestHorde entry was last verified on GameServersCodex on June 28, 2026. We track the live ARK: ASA build, so the details here reflect the current patch.