What is the best way to breed for higher weight in a Basilosaurus in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for higher weight in a Basilosaurus in ARK: Survival Evolved involves understanding the game's breeding mechanics, stat inheritance, and mutation systems. The Basilosaurus is a unique aquatic creature known for its high health, stamina, and weight stats, making it a valuable asset for underwater resource gathering and transportation. To breed for higher weight, you need to focus on selective breeding, stat inheritance, and potentially mutations.

First, you need to tame multiple Basilosaurus with high weight stats. The weight stat is one of the key stats for Basilosaurus, as it determines how much the creature can carry. When taming, prioritize Basilosaurus with naturally high weight stats. Use Kibble or Prime Meat to ensure the highest possible taming effectiveness, as this will give you the best chance of starting with a high base weight stat. Once you have a few high-weight Basilosaurus, you can begin the breeding process.

Breeding in ARK involves pairing a male and female Basilosaurus. Place them close together in a safe, enclosed area, such as a water pen or underwater base, and enable the "Enable Wandering" option. This will allow them to mate. Keep in mind that Basilosaurus are passive tames, so you don't need to knock them out or use traps. Once they mate, the female will become pregnant, and after a gestation period, she will give birth to a baby Basilosaurus.

The baby Basilosaurus will inherit stats from its parents. Each stat, including weight, has a 55% chance to be inherited from either parent. This means you have a good chance of the baby inheriting the higher weight stat from one of its parents. To maximize the chances of getting a high-weight baby, breed Basilosaurus with the highest weight stats together. Over multiple generations, you can selectively breed the offspring with the highest weight stats to create a lineage of Basilosaurus with increasingly higher weight.

Mutations can also play a role in increasing the weight stat. Mutations are rare and random, but they can add up to two additional levels to a stat, including weight. Each mutation increases the stat by a small amount, so over time, you can accumulate mutations to further boost the weight stat. However, mutations are not guaranteed, and it may take many breeding attempts to get a mutation in the desired stat. Keep track of your breeding lines to ensure you are making progress.

Baby care is an important part of the breeding process. Once the baby Basilosaurus is born, it will require constant attention. You need to feed it regularly, as it cannot eat from a trough until it reaches the juvenile stage. Use Raw Fish Meat or Cooked Fish Meat to keep it fed. Additionally, imprinting is crucial for maximizing the baby's stats. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby during its growth stages by feeding it, cuddling it, or taking it on walks. Each imprinting interaction increases the baby's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat and other tasks.

Resource management is key when breeding Basilosaurus. You will need a steady supply of food, such as Raw Fish Meat or Cooked Fish Meat, to keep the baby fed. Additionally, you will need a safe environment for the baby to grow. Build a secure underwater pen or base to protect the baby from predators. Consider using turrets or other defensive structures to keep hostile creatures at bay.

Common mistakes to avoid include not having enough food for the baby, not imprinting regularly, and not keeping track of your breeding lines. It is easy to lose track of which Basilosaurus have the highest stats, so keep detailed records of each generation. Additionally, avoid breeding Basilosaurus with low weight stats, as this will dilute the gene pool and make it harder to achieve your goal.

Advanced techniques include using a breeding calculator to predict the stats of the offspring. This can help you plan your breeding lines more effectively. Additionally, consider using a mutation stacking strategy, where you focus on accumulating mutations in the weight stat over multiple generations. This can take time, but it can result in a Basilosaurus with an exceptionally high weight stat.

Tribe and solo considerations are also important. If you are in a tribe, coordinate with your tribe members to share the workload of breeding and caring for the Basilosaurus. If you are playing solo, be prepared for a time-intensive process, as breeding and raising a Basilosaurus requires a significant time investment.

In summary, breeding for higher weight in a Basilosaurus involves taming high-weight individuals, selectively breeding them over multiple generations, and potentially accumulating mutations. Proper baby care, resource management, and record-keeping are essential for success. With patience and careful planning, you can create a Basilosaurus with an exceptionally high weight stat, making it a powerful asset for underwater resource gathering and transportation.