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 has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means if one parent has a high melee damage stat and the other has a lower one, the baby has a good chance of inheriting the higher stat. To maximize this, you should start by taming multiple creatures of the same species and checking their stats after taming. Look for individuals with naturally high melee damage stats, 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 close to each other and enable mating. Make sure they are well-fed and in a safe environment. After mating, the female will either lay an egg (for egg-laying species) or become pregnant (for mammals). The egg or baby will inherit stats from both parents, so it is crucial to track which stats are being passed down. If the baby does not inherit the desired high melee damage stat, you may need to breed the parents again or introduce new individuals with better stats into the breeding pool.
Mutations can play a significant role in enhancing the melee damage stat. Mutations are random and can occur during breeding, providing a +2 level increase to a stat and sometimes altering the creature's color. To increase the chances of a mutation, you should breed as many creatures as possible. However, keep in mind that each creature has a mutation counter, and once it reaches 20 mutations on either the maternal or paternal side, further mutations become much less likely. To avoid hitting this limit, you can use unmutated creatures as breeders to reset the mutation counter.
Resource management is critical during the breeding process. You will need a steady supply of food to keep the parents and babies healthy. For carnivores, this means stocking up on raw meat or cooked meat, while herbivores will require berries or crops. Additionally, you will need a safe and secure base to house your breeding creatures and protect the babies from predators. Consider building a dedicated breeding area with feeding troughs, air conditioners (for egg incubation), and walls or turrets for defense.
Imprinting is another important aspect of breeding. When a baby is born or hatched, you can interact with it periodically to imprint on it. Imprinting increases the creature's stats and makes it more loyal to you. To maximize the benefits of imprinting, you should aim for 100% imprinting by fulfilling the baby's requests, such as feeding it specific foods or taking it for walks. A fully imprinted creature will have significantly higher stats, including melee damage, compared to a non-imprinted one.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to track stat inheritance, over-mutating a single breeding line, and failing to provide adequate care for the babies. It is easy to lose track of which creatures have the best stats, so consider using a spreadsheet or notes to keep track of your breeding lines. Over-mutating can lead to diminishing returns, so it is better to focus on a few high-quality mutations rather than trying to stack too many. Finally, babies require constant attention, so make sure you have the time and resources to care for them until they reach adulthood.
Advanced techniques include using multiple breeding pairs to increase the chances of mutations and combining stats from different lines. For example, you could have one breeding pair focused on melee damage and another focused on health, then breed the offspring of these pairs to create a creature with both high melee damage and high health. This approach requires careful planning and tracking but can result in highly specialized creatures.
Tribe and solo considerations also play a role in breeding. In a tribe, multiple players can share the workload of breeding and caring for babies, making the process more manageable. However, in solo play, you will need to manage everything yourself, so it is essential to plan your breeding schedule carefully and ensure you have the necessary resources.
In conclusion, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved is a complex but rewarding process. By focusing on stat inheritance, mutations, and imprinting, you can create powerful creatures with high melee damage. Proper resource management, base building, and careful planning are essential to success. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, following these strategies will help you achieve your breeding goals and create formidable creatures for combat and other tasks.
First, you need to understand the mechanics of breeding and stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means if one parent has a high melee damage stat and the other has a lower one, the baby has a good chance of inheriting the higher stat. To maximize this, you should start by taming multiple creatures of the same species and checking their stats after taming. Look for individuals with naturally high melee damage stats, 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 close to each other and enable mating. Make sure they are well-fed and in a safe environment. After mating, the female will either lay an egg (for egg-laying species) or become pregnant (for mammals). The egg or baby will inherit stats from both parents, so it is crucial to track which stats are being passed down. If the baby does not inherit the desired high melee damage stat, you may need to breed the parents again or introduce new individuals with better stats into the breeding pool.
Mutations can play a significant role in enhancing the melee damage stat. Mutations are random and can occur during breeding, providing a +2 level increase to a stat and sometimes altering the creature's color. To increase the chances of a mutation, you should breed as many creatures as possible. However, keep in mind that each creature has a mutation counter, and once it reaches 20 mutations on either the maternal or paternal side, further mutations become much less likely. To avoid hitting this limit, you can use unmutated creatures as breeders to reset the mutation counter.
Resource management is critical during the breeding process. You will need a steady supply of food to keep the parents and babies healthy. For carnivores, this means stocking up on raw meat or cooked meat, while herbivores will require berries or crops. Additionally, you will need a safe and secure base to house your breeding creatures and protect the babies from predators. Consider building a dedicated breeding area with feeding troughs, air conditioners (for egg incubation), and walls or turrets for defense.
Imprinting is another important aspect of breeding. When a baby is born or hatched, you can interact with it periodically to imprint on it. Imprinting increases the creature's stats and makes it more loyal to you. To maximize the benefits of imprinting, you should aim for 100% imprinting by fulfilling the baby's requests, such as feeding it specific foods or taking it for walks. A fully imprinted creature will have significantly higher stats, including melee damage, compared to a non-imprinted one.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to track stat inheritance, over-mutating a single breeding line, and failing to provide adequate care for the babies. It is easy to lose track of which creatures have the best stats, so consider using a spreadsheet or notes to keep track of your breeding lines. Over-mutating can lead to diminishing returns, so it is better to focus on a few high-quality mutations rather than trying to stack too many. Finally, babies require constant attention, so make sure you have the time and resources to care for them until they reach adulthood.
Advanced techniques include using multiple breeding pairs to increase the chances of mutations and combining stats from different lines. For example, you could have one breeding pair focused on melee damage and another focused on health, then breed the offspring of these pairs to create a creature with both high melee damage and high health. This approach requires careful planning and tracking but can result in highly specialized creatures.
Tribe and solo considerations also play a role in breeding. In a tribe, multiple players can share the workload of breeding and caring for babies, making the process more manageable. However, in solo play, you will need to manage everything yourself, so it is essential to plan your breeding schedule carefully and ensure you have the necessary resources.
In conclusion, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved is a complex but rewarding process. By focusing on stat inheritance, mutations, and imprinting, you can create powerful creatures with high melee damage. Proper resource management, base building, and careful planning are essential to success. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, following these strategies will help you achieve your breeding goals and create formidable creatures for combat and other tasks.