How do I breed for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and careful management of mutations. Knockback damage is primarily determined by the melee damage stat of a creature, as higher melee damage increases the knockback effect when attacking. To achieve this, you will need to focus on breeding creatures with high melee damage stats and potentially introduce mutations to further enhance this stat. Below is a detailed guide on how to achieve this goal.
First, you need to understand the mechanics of breeding and stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring inherits stats from either parent. Each stat, including melee damage, has a 55% chance to be inherited from the higher-stat parent. This means that if one parent has a significantly higher melee damage stat, there is a good chance the offspring will inherit it. To maximize this, you should start by taming or breeding creatures with naturally high melee damage stats. For example, creatures like the Rex, Spino, or Therizinosaurus are excellent candidates due to their naturally high base melee damage.
Once you have a pair of creatures with high melee damage stats, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two creatures close together and enable mating. After mating, the female will either lay an egg (for egg-laying species) or become pregnant (for mammals). Ensure you have a safe and controlled environment for this process, as both the parents and the offspring will be vulnerable during this time. For egg-laying species, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating structures.
After the egg hatches or the baby is born, you will need to care for it until it reaches adulthood. This involves feeding it the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. During this time, you can also imprint on the baby by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the creature's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat. To maximize imprinting, ensure you are available to interact with the baby during its growth stages.
To further enhance the melee damage stat, you can introduce mutations. Mutations are random and can affect either the creature's stats or its colors. Each mutation increases a stat by two levels and can stack up to 20 times per stat. However, the total number of mutations per creature is capped at 20 for stats and 20 for colors. To increase the chances of getting a mutation in the melee damage stat, you should breed multiple generations of creatures and carefully track their stats. Keep the creatures with the desired mutations and continue breeding them with other high-stat creatures.
Resource management is crucial during the breeding process. You will need a steady supply of food, such as raw meat or berries, to feed both the parents and the offspring. Additionally, you will need materials for building structures like air conditioners, feeding troughs, and enclosures to protect your creatures. If you are playing in a tribe, coordinate with your tribe members to share the workload and resources. If you are playing solo, plan your breeding projects carefully to avoid being overwhelmed by the resource demands.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to track stat inheritance, failing to imprint on the baby, and not providing a safe environment for the creatures. It is also important to avoid over-mutating, as this can lead to diminishing returns and make it harder to manage your breeding lines. Always keep detailed records of your creatures' stats and mutations to ensure you are making progress toward your goal.
Advanced techniques include using breeding calculators to predict stat inheritance and mutation outcomes. These tools can help you plan your breeding lines more effectively and save time. Additionally, you can use cryopods to store and transport your creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding projects. Cryopods also allow you to pause the growth of a baby creature, giving you more time to prepare for its care.
In summary, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved requires a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and mutation management. Start by taming or breeding creatures with high melee damage stats, then carefully manage the breeding process to ensure the offspring inherit the desired stats. Introduce mutations to further enhance the melee damage stat and use imprinting to increase the creature's effectiveness. With careful planning and resource management, you can create powerful creatures with high knockback damage that are well-suited for combat and other tasks.
First, you need to understand the mechanics of breeding and stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring inherits stats from either parent. Each stat, including melee damage, has a 55% chance to be inherited from the higher-stat parent. This means that if one parent has a significantly higher melee damage stat, there is a good chance the offspring will inherit it. To maximize this, you should start by taming or breeding creatures with naturally high melee damage stats. For example, creatures like the Rex, Spino, or Therizinosaurus are excellent candidates due to their naturally high base melee damage.
Once you have a pair of creatures with high melee damage stats, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two creatures close together and enable mating. After mating, the female will either lay an egg (for egg-laying species) or become pregnant (for mammals). Ensure you have a safe and controlled environment for this process, as both the parents and the offspring will be vulnerable during this time. For egg-laying species, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating structures.
After the egg hatches or the baby is born, you will need to care for it until it reaches adulthood. This involves feeding it the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. During this time, you can also imprint on the baby by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the creature's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat. To maximize imprinting, ensure you are available to interact with the baby during its growth stages.
To further enhance the melee damage stat, you can introduce mutations. Mutations are random and can affect either the creature's stats or its colors. Each mutation increases a stat by two levels and can stack up to 20 times per stat. However, the total number of mutations per creature is capped at 20 for stats and 20 for colors. To increase the chances of getting a mutation in the melee damage stat, you should breed multiple generations of creatures and carefully track their stats. Keep the creatures with the desired mutations and continue breeding them with other high-stat creatures.
Resource management is crucial during the breeding process. You will need a steady supply of food, such as raw meat or berries, to feed both the parents and the offspring. Additionally, you will need materials for building structures like air conditioners, feeding troughs, and enclosures to protect your creatures. If you are playing in a tribe, coordinate with your tribe members to share the workload and resources. If you are playing solo, plan your breeding projects carefully to avoid being overwhelmed by the resource demands.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to track stat inheritance, failing to imprint on the baby, and not providing a safe environment for the creatures. It is also important to avoid over-mutating, as this can lead to diminishing returns and make it harder to manage your breeding lines. Always keep detailed records of your creatures' stats and mutations to ensure you are making progress toward your goal.
Advanced techniques include using breeding calculators to predict stat inheritance and mutation outcomes. These tools can help you plan your breeding lines more effectively and save time. Additionally, you can use cryopods to store and transport your creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding projects. Cryopods also allow you to pause the growth of a baby creature, giving you more time to prepare for its care.
In summary, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved requires a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and mutation management. Start by taming or breeding creatures with high melee damage stats, then carefully manage the breeding process to ensure the offspring inherit the desired stats. Introduce mutations to further enhance the melee damage stat and use imprinting to increase the creature's effectiveness. With careful planning and resource management, you can create powerful creatures with high knockback damage that are well-suited for combat and other tasks.