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 creature's melee damage stat, 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 one parent and a 45% chance from the other. This means you need to start with a pair of creatures that have high melee damage stats. To maximize your chances, tame multiple creatures of the same species and check their stats after taming. Look for individuals with naturally high melee damage, as these will serve as the foundation for your breeding program.
Once you have identified creatures with high melee damage, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two selected creatures in a secure breeding area, such as a fenced-off pen or a dedicated breeding room in your base. Ensure they are set to wander or enable mating in their behavior settings. Keep them well-fed with the appropriate food, as breeding consumes a significant amount of stamina and food. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items.
When the baby hatches or is born, it will have a combination of its parents' stats. Check the baby's melee damage stat to see if it has inherited the desired high value. If it has, you can use this baby as part of your breeding line. If not, you may need to breed the parents again or introduce new individuals with higher stats. Over time, you will create a lineage of creatures with increasingly high melee damage stats.
Mutations play a crucial role in further enhancing your creatures' stats. Mutations can occur randomly during breeding and can increase a stat by up to two points. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per stat per baby. To maximize your chances of getting a mutation in the melee damage stat, you will need to breed many generations of creatures. Keep track of your breeding lines and note any mutations that occur. If a mutation increases the melee damage stat, use that creature in future breeding to pass on the mutation.
One important consideration is the mutation cap. Each creature can have a maximum of 20 mutations on each side (maternal and paternal). Once this cap is reached, no further mutations can occur on that side. To avoid hitting the cap too quickly, focus on stacking mutations on one side while keeping the other side clean. This can be achieved by breeding mutated creatures with non-mutated ones.
Resource management is critical when breeding for high knockback damage. Breeding requires a steady supply of food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. You will also need a secure base with adequate space for breeding pens and baby care. Air conditioners or other temperature-regulating items are essential for incubating eggs, and you may need to stockpile resources like polymer, metal, and electronics to craft these items. Additionally, imprinting the baby creatures requires specific resources, such as kibble or other preferred foods, to maximize their stats and loyalty.
For tribes, breeding for high knockback damage can be a collaborative effort. Tribe members can work together to tame high-stat creatures, gather resources, and care for babies. This division of labor can speed up the breeding process and make it more efficient. Solo players will need to manage all aspects of breeding on their own, so careful planning and resource management are even more critical.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to check the stats of tamed creatures before breeding, failing to maintain a secure breeding environment, and not keeping track of mutations. It is also important to avoid over-mutating one side of the breeding line, as this can lead to hitting the mutation cap prematurely. Additionally, ensure that you have enough resources to sustain the breeding process, as running out of food or other essentials can halt progress.
Advanced techniques include using external tools or spreadsheets to track breeding lines and mutations. This can help you visualize the inheritance patterns and plan future breedings more effectively. Another advanced strategy is to use cryopods to store and manage your breeding stock, allowing you to quickly swap out creatures and optimize your breeding program.
In summary, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved requires a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and mutation management. By carefully selecting high-stat creatures, managing resources, and tracking mutations, you can create powerful creatures with devastating knockback damage. Whether playing solo or as part of a tribe, patience and planning are key to achieving your breeding goals.
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 one parent and a 45% chance from the other. This means you need to start with a pair of creatures that have high melee damage stats. To maximize your chances, tame multiple creatures of the same species and check their stats after taming. Look for individuals with naturally high melee damage, as these will serve as the foundation for your breeding program.
Once you have identified creatures with high melee damage, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two selected creatures in a secure breeding area, such as a fenced-off pen or a dedicated breeding room in your base. Ensure they are set to wander or enable mating in their behavior settings. Keep them well-fed with the appropriate food, as breeding consumes a significant amount of stamina and food. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items.
When the baby hatches or is born, it will have a combination of its parents' stats. Check the baby's melee damage stat to see if it has inherited the desired high value. If it has, you can use this baby as part of your breeding line. If not, you may need to breed the parents again or introduce new individuals with higher stats. Over time, you will create a lineage of creatures with increasingly high melee damage stats.
Mutations play a crucial role in further enhancing your creatures' stats. Mutations can occur randomly during breeding and can increase a stat by up to two points. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per stat per baby. To maximize your chances of getting a mutation in the melee damage stat, you will need to breed many generations of creatures. Keep track of your breeding lines and note any mutations that occur. If a mutation increases the melee damage stat, use that creature in future breeding to pass on the mutation.
One important consideration is the mutation cap. Each creature can have a maximum of 20 mutations on each side (maternal and paternal). Once this cap is reached, no further mutations can occur on that side. To avoid hitting the cap too quickly, focus on stacking mutations on one side while keeping the other side clean. This can be achieved by breeding mutated creatures with non-mutated ones.
Resource management is critical when breeding for high knockback damage. Breeding requires a steady supply of food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. You will also need a secure base with adequate space for breeding pens and baby care. Air conditioners or other temperature-regulating items are essential for incubating eggs, and you may need to stockpile resources like polymer, metal, and electronics to craft these items. Additionally, imprinting the baby creatures requires specific resources, such as kibble or other preferred foods, to maximize their stats and loyalty.
For tribes, breeding for high knockback damage can be a collaborative effort. Tribe members can work together to tame high-stat creatures, gather resources, and care for babies. This division of labor can speed up the breeding process and make it more efficient. Solo players will need to manage all aspects of breeding on their own, so careful planning and resource management are even more critical.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to check the stats of tamed creatures before breeding, failing to maintain a secure breeding environment, and not keeping track of mutations. It is also important to avoid over-mutating one side of the breeding line, as this can lead to hitting the mutation cap prematurely. Additionally, ensure that you have enough resources to sustain the breeding process, as running out of food or other essentials can halt progress.
Advanced techniques include using external tools or spreadsheets to track breeding lines and mutations. This can help you visualize the inheritance patterns and plan future breedings more effectively. Another advanced strategy is to use cryopods to store and manage your breeding stock, allowing you to quickly swap out creatures and optimize your breeding program.
In summary, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved requires a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and mutation management. By carefully selecting high-stat creatures, managing resources, and tracking mutations, you can create powerful creatures with devastating knockback damage. Whether playing solo or as part of a tribe, patience and planning are key to achieving your breeding goals.