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 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 high knockback damage, 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.
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. You can check a creature's stats by looking at its inventory screen. Once you have identified creatures with high melee damage, you can begin the breeding process.
To start, tame or find multiple creatures of the same species with high melee damage stats. For example, if you are breeding Rexes, you would want to find Rexes with high melee damage. Place these creatures in a secure breeding area, such as a fenced-off pen or a base with enough space for them to move around. Ensure they are well-fed and have the necessary resources to breed, such as the appropriate food for their species. For example, Rexes require raw meat or kibble to breed.
Once the creatures are ready, enable mating by setting them to "Enable Wandering" or using the "Enable Mating" option in their behavior settings. Keep an eye on them, as they will need to be close to each other to breed. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature. Use air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items to maintain the required temperature. For live-bearing creatures, simply wait for the gestation period to complete.
When the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. You will need to feed it regularly and protect it from predators. During this time, you can also imprint on the baby by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the baby's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat. To maximize knockback damage, focus on imprinting actions that boost melee damage.
As the baby grows, you will want to track its stats. If it inherits the high melee damage stat from its parents, you can use it in your next breeding cycle. If not, you may need to try again with different parents. Over time, you can create a breeding line with consistently high melee damage stats. To further enhance this, you can introduce mutations. Mutations are rare and random, but they can increase a creature's stats or change its colors. To increase the chances of a mutation, breed creatures that have not yet reached the mutation cap (20 mutations per stat).
Resource management is crucial during the breeding process. You will need a steady supply of food for both the parents and the babies. For carnivores, this means a lot of raw meat or kibble. For herbivores, you will need berries or vegetables. Additionally, you will need resources to build and maintain your breeding area, such as walls, gates, and temperature-regulating items. If you are playing solo, this can be time-consuming, so consider setting up automated systems like feeding troughs to make the process easier. In a tribe, you can divide tasks among members to speed up the process.
Common mistakes to avoid include not tracking stat inheritance, neglecting to imprint on babies, and not maintaining a secure breeding area. Predators can easily kill unprotected babies, so always ensure your breeding area is safe. Additionally, avoid over-mutating your creatures, as this can lead to diminishing returns and make it harder to manage your breeding lines.
Advanced techniques include using external tools or spreadsheets to track stat inheritance and mutations. This can help you plan your breeding lines more effectively. You can also use cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding operations. Finally, consider breeding creatures with other useful stats, such as health or stamina, to create a well-rounded combatant.
In summary, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and patience. By focusing on high melee damage stats, introducing mutations, and properly imprinting on babies, you can create powerful creatures with devastating knockback effects. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, these strategies will help you achieve your breeding goals.
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. You can check a creature's stats by looking at its inventory screen. Once you have identified creatures with high melee damage, you can begin the breeding process.
To start, tame or find multiple creatures of the same species with high melee damage stats. For example, if you are breeding Rexes, you would want to find Rexes with high melee damage. Place these creatures in a secure breeding area, such as a fenced-off pen or a base with enough space for them to move around. Ensure they are well-fed and have the necessary resources to breed, such as the appropriate food for their species. For example, Rexes require raw meat or kibble to breed.
Once the creatures are ready, enable mating by setting them to "Enable Wandering" or using the "Enable Mating" option in their behavior settings. Keep an eye on them, as they will need to be close to each other to breed. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature. Use air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items to maintain the required temperature. For live-bearing creatures, simply wait for the gestation period to complete.
When the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. You will need to feed it regularly and protect it from predators. During this time, you can also imprint on the baby by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the baby's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat. To maximize knockback damage, focus on imprinting actions that boost melee damage.
As the baby grows, you will want to track its stats. If it inherits the high melee damage stat from its parents, you can use it in your next breeding cycle. If not, you may need to try again with different parents. Over time, you can create a breeding line with consistently high melee damage stats. To further enhance this, you can introduce mutations. Mutations are rare and random, but they can increase a creature's stats or change its colors. To increase the chances of a mutation, breed creatures that have not yet reached the mutation cap (20 mutations per stat).
Resource management is crucial during the breeding process. You will need a steady supply of food for both the parents and the babies. For carnivores, this means a lot of raw meat or kibble. For herbivores, you will need berries or vegetables. Additionally, you will need resources to build and maintain your breeding area, such as walls, gates, and temperature-regulating items. If you are playing solo, this can be time-consuming, so consider setting up automated systems like feeding troughs to make the process easier. In a tribe, you can divide tasks among members to speed up the process.
Common mistakes to avoid include not tracking stat inheritance, neglecting to imprint on babies, and not maintaining a secure breeding area. Predators can easily kill unprotected babies, so always ensure your breeding area is safe. Additionally, avoid over-mutating your creatures, as this can lead to diminishing returns and make it harder to manage your breeding lines.
Advanced techniques include using external tools or spreadsheets to track stat inheritance and mutations. This can help you plan your breeding lines more effectively. You can also use cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding operations. Finally, consider breeding creatures with other useful stats, such as health or stamina, to create a well-rounded combatant.
In summary, breeding for high knockback damage in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and patience. By focusing on high melee damage stats, introducing mutations, and properly imprinting on babies, you can create powerful creatures with devastating knockback effects. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, these strategies will help you achieve your breeding goals.