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 that if one parent has a higher melee damage stat, there is a better chance the offspring will inherit that higher stat. To maximize the chances of getting high melee damage, you should start by taming multiple creatures of the same species and selecting the ones with the highest melee damage stats. This will serve as the foundation for your breeding line.

Once you have identified the creatures with the highest melee damage stats, you can begin the breeding process. Place the selected creatures in a secure breeding area, such as a fenced-off pen or a dedicated breeding room in your base. Ensure that the creatures are set to wander or enable mating in their behavior settings. Keep in mind that breeding requires a lot of food, so make sure you have a steady supply of the appropriate food for the species you are breeding. For example, carnivores will need raw meat, while herbivores will need berries or crops.

After the breeding process begins, the female will lay an egg (for egg-laying species) or become pregnant (for live-bearing species). Once the egg is laid, you will need to incubate it by maintaining the correct temperature. This can be done using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating structures. For live-bearing species, you will need to ensure the pregnant creature is well-fed and protected until the baby is born.

Once the baby hatches or is born, it will require constant care. Baby creatures need to be fed regularly, and their food consumption rate is very high. You will need to have a large supply of food on hand to keep the baby alive. Additionally, you should interact with the baby to imprint on it. Imprinting increases the creature's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat. To imprint, you will need to follow the baby's requests, which may include feeding it specific foods or taking it for a walk.

As the baby grows, you will need to monitor its stats to see if it has inherited the high melee damage stat from its parents. If it has, you can continue to breed it with other high melee damage creatures to further enhance the stat. If not, you may need to breed the parents again to produce another offspring with the desired stat.

Mutations can also play a key role in achieving high knockback damage. Mutations are random and can affect a creature's stats or colors. When a mutation occurs, it can increase a stat by a small amount, which can be beneficial if it affects the melee damage stat. However, mutations are rare, so you will need to breed many generations of creatures to increase the chances of getting a mutation. It is important to note that each creature can have a maximum of 20 mutations on the maternal and paternal sides combined, so you will need to carefully manage your breeding lines to avoid hitting this limit.

One common mistake to avoid is neglecting the other stats of the creature. While focusing on melee damage is important, you should also ensure that the creature has decent health, stamina, and weight stats. A creature with high melee damage but low health will not be very effective in combat, as it will be easily killed. Therefore, it is important to balance the stats to create a well-rounded creature.

Advanced techniques for optimizing your breeding process include using external tools or spreadsheets to track the stats of your creatures and their offspring. This can help you identify which creatures to breed together to achieve the best results. Additionally, you can use cryopods to store and transport your creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding operations.

Resource requirements for breeding can be significant, especially if you are breeding multiple generations of creatures. You will need a steady supply of food, as well as materials for building and maintaining your breeding area. It is also important to have a secure base to protect your creatures from predators or other players in PvP settings.

For tribes, breeding for high knockback damage can be a collaborative effort. Tribe members can work together to tame and breed creatures, share resources, and protect the breeding area. In solo play, you will need to manage all aspects of the breeding process on your own, so it is important to plan ahead and ensure you have the necessary resources and infrastructure in place.

In conclusion, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, selective breeding, and attention to detail. By focusing on the melee damage stat, managing mutations, and balancing other stats, you can create powerful creatures with high knockback damage. With the right strategies and resources, you can achieve your breeding goals and create a formidable army of creatures for combat or other tasks.