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 you need to start with a pair of creatures that have high melee damage stats. For example, if you are breeding Rexes, you would want to find wild Rexes with naturally high melee damage stats. Tame these creatures and use them as the foundation for your breeding line.

Once you have your initial breeding pair, you will need to breed them multiple times to produce offspring with the desired stats. The goal is to combine the best stats from both parents into a single creature. For example, if one parent has high health and the other has high melee damage, you want to breed until you get an offspring that inherits both high health and high melee damage. This process can take several generations, so patience is key.

Mutations play a crucial role in enhancing stats further. Mutations can increase a stat by 2 points and also change the creature's color. However, mutations are random and rare, so you will need to breed many creatures to increase your chances of getting a mutation in the melee damage stat. Each creature can have up to 20 mutations on the maternal and paternal sides combined, but after 20 mutations, the chance of getting additional mutations decreases significantly. To maximize your chances, focus on breeding creatures that already have high melee damage stats, as this will give you a better chance of getting a mutation in that stat.

When breeding for mutations, it is important to keep track of your breeding lines. Use a spreadsheet or a notebook to record the stats and mutations of each creature. This will help you identify which creatures to breed together to achieve the best results. For example, if you have a male with a melee damage mutation and a female with high health, you can breed them to produce offspring with both high health and increased melee damage.

Baby care and imprinting are also important aspects of breeding. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby creature during its growth stages to increase its stats and loyalty. Proper imprinting can significantly enhance the creature's effectiveness in combat. To imprint, you will need to feed the baby its preferred food and perform specific actions, such as walking or cuddling. Imprinting bonuses can increase the creature's stats by up to 20%, so it is worth the effort to fully imprint your creatures.

Resource management is crucial when breeding for high knockback damage. Breeding requires a significant amount of food, time, and resources. Make sure you have a steady supply of meat, berries, and other necessary items to keep your creatures fed and healthy. You will also need a secure base with plenty of space for your breeding creatures and their offspring. Consider building a dedicated breeding area with feeding troughs, air conditioners for egg incubation, and plenty of storage for resources.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to track your breeding lines, not imprinting your creatures, and failing to manage your resources effectively. It is also important to avoid over-mutating your creatures, as this can lead to diminishing returns and make it harder to achieve further mutations. Focus on quality over quantity, and only breed creatures with the best stats and mutations.

Advanced techniques include using multiple breeding pairs to increase your chances of getting mutations and combining stats from different creatures. For example, you can breed a creature with high melee damage and another with high health to produce offspring with both stats. You can also use cryopods to store and transport your creatures, making it easier to manage your breeding lines.

Tribe and solo considerations are also important. If you are part of a tribe, you can divide the workload among tribe members, with some focusing on breeding and others on resource gathering and base defense. If you are playing solo, you will need to manage all aspects of breeding and resource management on your own. Consider using automation tools, such as feeding troughs and air conditioners, to make the process easier.

In conclusion, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, patience, and resource management. By focusing on high melee damage stats, introducing mutations, and properly imprinting your creatures, you can create powerful creatures with significant knockback damage. Keep track of your breeding lines, avoid common mistakes, and use advanced techniques to optimize your breeding process. With dedication and effort, you can achieve your goal of breeding creatures with high knockback damage.