What are the best stats to focus on when breeding Argentavis in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding Argentavis in ARK: Survival Evolved is a rewarding process that can result in powerful flying mounts with enhanced stats. To achieve the best results, you need to focus on specific stats, understand the breeding mechanics, and follow a strategic approach. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you breed the best Argentavis.

First, letÔÇÖs discuss the stats you should focus on when breeding Argentavis. The most important stats for an Argentavis are Health, Stamina, Weight, and Melee Damage. Health is crucial for survivability, especially in combat or when carrying heavy loads. Stamina is important for long flights, as it determines how long your Argentavis can fly before needing to rest. Weight is essential for carrying resources, making the Argentavis a valuable pack mule. Melee Damage is useful for combat, allowing your Argentavis to defend itself or assist in fights. While other stats like Movement Speed and Food are less critical, they can still be useful in specific scenarios.

The breeding process begins with selecting two Argentavis with high stats in the areas you want to focus on. You can check their stats by looking at their inventory screen. Once you have a male and female with desirable stats, place them close to each other and enable the mating option. Make sure they are well-fed and in a safe environment. After mating, the female will lay a fertilized egg, which you need to incubate. Argentavis eggs require a warm environment to hatch, so you may need air conditioners, campfires, or torches to maintain the correct temperature.

Once the egg hatches, you will have a baby Argentavis. At this stage, you need to feed it regularly to keep it alive. Baby Argentavis have a high food consumption rate, so prepare plenty of raw meat or cooked meat in advance. As the baby grows, you will need to interact with it to imprint. Imprinting increases the babyÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat and other tasks. To imprint, follow the on-screen prompts, which may include actions like cuddling, walking, or feeding specific foods. Imprinting is time-sensitive, so make sure to check on the baby regularly.

One common mistake to avoid is neglecting the babyÔÇÖs food supply. If the baby runs out of food, it will starve and die. To prevent this, keep a large stockpile of meat and check the babyÔÇÖs inventory frequently. Another mistake is not planning for mutations. Mutations can introduce new stat boosts or color variations, but they are rare and random. To maximize the chances of mutations, breed multiple generations of Argentavis and track their stats carefully. Keep in mind that each creature can only have 20 mutations total, so plan your breeding lines accordingly.

Advanced techniques for breeding Argentavis include stacking mutations and combining the best stats from multiple generations. To stack mutations, breed a mutated Argentavis with a non-mutated one to pass down the mutation while keeping the mutation counter low. This allows you to continue introducing new mutations without hitting the 20-mutation limit. Combining stats involves breeding Argentavis with high stats in different areas to create offspring with the best of both parents. For example, breed an Argentavis with high Health and Stamina with one that has high Weight and Melee Damage to create a well-rounded mount.

Resource requirements for breeding Argentavis include a steady supply of meat, a safe and warm environment for incubation, and materials for building structures like air conditioners or feeding troughs. If you are playing solo, managing all these tasks can be challenging, so consider automating some processes. For example, use feeding troughs to store meat for the baby, and set up a system of air conditioners to maintain the correct temperature for incubation. If you are in a tribe, divide the responsibilities among members to make the process more efficient.

In conclusion, breeding the best Argentavis in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a good understanding of the breeding mechanics. Focus on Health, Stamina, Weight, and Melee Damage, and use advanced techniques like mutation stacking and stat combining to create powerful mounts. Avoid common mistakes like neglecting food supply or mismanaging mutations, and prepare the necessary resources in advance. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, following these strategies will help you breed the ultimate Argentavis for your needs.