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 mutation mechanics. 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 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. Capture or tame multiple creatures of the same species and check their stats. Select the ones with the highest melee damage to begin your breeding program.

Once you have your breeding pair, place them in a secure and controlled environment, such as a breeding pen. Ensure they are set to wander or enable mating in their behavior settings. Keep them well-fed with the appropriate food to maintain their health and stamina. When they mate, they will produce an egg or a live baby, 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.

After the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. Baby creatures need to be fed regularly, and you must ensure they have enough food in their inventory to avoid starvation. As the baby grows, you will have the opportunity to imprint on it. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals, such as feeding it or taking it for walks. Successful imprinting increases the creature's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat. Imprinting bonuses also apply to melee damage, so this is a crucial step in maximizing knockback damage.

To further enhance the melee damage stat, you can introduce mutations into your breeding line. Mutations are random and can affect either a stat or the creature's color. When a mutation occurs, the affected stat increases by two levels, which can significantly boost melee damage. However, mutations are rare, so you will need to breed multiple generations to increase your chances of getting a mutation in the melee damage stat. Keep track of your breeding lines to ensure you are making progress toward your goal.

One common mistake to avoid is neglecting other stats while focusing solely on melee damage. While high melee damage is important for knockback, you also need to consider health, stamina, and weight stats to ensure your creature is well-rounded and capable of surviving in combat. Additionally, avoid inbreeding, as this can lead to negative mutations and weaker offspring. Always introduce new bloodlines into your breeding program to maintain genetic diversity.

Advanced techniques include stacking mutations and combining the best stats from multiple generations. To stack mutations, you need to breed a mutated creature with a non-mutated one to reset the mutation counter. This allows you to introduce additional mutations without hitting the mutation cap. Combining the best stats involves selectively breeding creatures with high melee damage, health, and other desirable stats to create a super creature with optimal performance.

Resource requirements for breeding include a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, depending on the species. You will also need a secure base with a breeding pen, incubators, and temperature control devices. If you are playing solo, consider automating some of the processes, such as using feeding troughs to keep your creatures fed. In a tribe, coordinate with other members to share the workload and resources.

Specific examples include breeding Rexes or Therizinos for high knockback damage. Both creatures have high base melee damage and are excellent choices for combat. Start by taming multiple Rexes or Therizinos and selecting the ones with the highest melee damage. Breed them, care for the offspring, and introduce mutations to further enhance their stats. With careful planning and execution, you can create a powerful creature capable of delivering devastating knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved.