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 management. 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 low 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. Look for individuals with naturally high melee damage stats, as these will serve as the foundation for your breeding line.

Once you have identified creatures with high melee damage, you can begin the breeding process. Pair the creatures with the best stats together and hatch or raise the offspring. Check the stats of the baby to see if it inherited the high melee damage. If it did, you can use this baby as part of your breeding line. If not, you may need to try again with the same parents or find new parents with better stats. This process can take time, as you are relying on RNG (random number generation) to determine which stats are inherited.

Mutations are another key factor in breeding for high knockback damage. Mutations can increase a creature's stats or change its colors, and they are rare, with only a small chance of occurring during breeding. Each mutation adds two levels to a stat, which can significantly boost melee damage over time. However, mutations are random, so you will need to breed many creatures to increase your chances of getting a mutation in the melee damage stat. Keep in mind that each creature can only have 20 mutations total, so you will need to carefully manage your breeding lines to avoid hitting this cap.

To optimize your breeding process, you should set up a dedicated breeding area in your base. This area should have plenty of space for creatures to move around, as well as feeding troughs to keep them fed. You will also need a steady supply of food for the babies, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. Additionally, you should have a system in place for quickly checking the stats of new babies, such as a spreadsheet or notes to track which creatures have the best stats.

One common mistake to avoid is breeding creatures with low stats into your line. Even if a creature has a mutation, if its base stats are low, it will not be useful for your breeding goals. Always prioritize creatures with high base stats, and only introduce mutations if they improve those stats. Another mistake is neglecting imprinting. Imprinting increases a creature's stats and makes it more effective in combat, so you should always aim for 100% imprinting on your bred creatures. This involves interacting with the baby during its growth stages and providing it with the requested items or actions.

Advanced techniques for breeding include stacking mutations and using clean males. Stacking mutations involves breeding mutated females with a clean male (a male with no mutations) to continue adding mutations to the line. This allows you to bypass the 20-mutation cap on individual creatures, as the mutations are spread across multiple generations. Clean males are important because they do not contribute to the mutation count, allowing you to continue adding mutations without hitting the cap.

Resource requirements for breeding include a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, as well as materials for building a breeding area and incubators for eggs. You will also need a lot of time, as breeding and raising creatures can take several hours or even days, depending on the species. If you are playing solo, this process can be even more time-consuming, so you may want to adjust your game settings to speed up breeding and maturation times. In a tribe, you can divide the workload among members to make the process more efficient.

Specific examples of creatures that benefit from high knockback damage include the Rex, Spino, and Therizinosaurus. These creatures have high base melee damage and can be further enhanced through breeding. For example, a Rex with a high melee damage stat can deal significant knockback to enemies, making it a powerful choice for both PvE and PvP. By following the steps outlined above, you can create a line of Rexes with exceptionally high melee damage, allowing them to dominate in combat.

In conclusion, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, patience, and attention to detail. By focusing on high melee damage stats, managing mutations, and optimizing your breeding process, you can create powerful creatures that excel in combat. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, the rewards of a well-bred creature are well worth the effort.