How do I breed for higher crafting skill in a Maewing in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for higher crafting skill in a Maewing in ARK: Survival Evolved involves understanding the game's breeding mechanics, stat inheritance, and mutation systems. Crafting skill, also known as Crafting Speed, is a stat that affects how quickly a creature can craft items in its inventory. While Maewings are not typically used for crafting, their Crafting Speed stat can still be improved through selective breeding. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

First, you need to understand how stat inheritance works. When two Maewings breed, the offspring has a 55% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each stat, including Crafting Speed. This means you need to start with Maewings that have high Crafting Speed stats. If you donÔÇÖt already have Maewings with high Crafting Speed, youÔÇÖll need to tame multiple Maewings and check their stats after taming. Use a tool like the ARK Smart Breeding app or manually check the stats in the game to identify the Maewings with the highest Crafting Speed.

Once you have identified Maewings with high Crafting Speed, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two selected Maewings in a secure breeding area, such as a fenced-off pen or a dedicated breeding room in your base. Ensure they are set to "Enable Wandering" or use a mating boost item like the Oviraptor to speed up the breeding process. When the Maewings mate, they will produce an egg. Pick up the egg and place it in an incubator or a room with air conditioners to maintain the correct temperature for hatching.

After the egg hatches, youÔÇÖll need to care for the baby Maewing. This involves feeding it the appropriate food, such as berries or meat, depending on its diet. Keep an eye on its food and health stats, as babies require constant attention. As the baby grows, youÔÇÖll have the opportunity to imprint on it by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the babyÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat or other tasks. While imprinting doesnÔÇÖt directly affect Crafting Speed, itÔÇÖs still beneficial for overall performance.

To increase the Crafting Speed stat further, you can introduce mutations into your breeding line. Mutations are random and can affect either a stat or the creatureÔÇÖs color. Each mutation adds 2 levels to a stat, which can be applied to Crafting Speed if youÔÇÖre lucky. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per breeding attempt. To maximize your chances, youÔÇÖll need to breed multiple generations of Maewings and carefully track their stats and mutations.

One advanced technique is to use a "clean" male Maewing with no mutations and multiple females. This setup allows you to breed the male with multiple females simultaneously, increasing the number of eggs and potential mutations. Keep track of the mutation count on the male, as each mutation adds to the overall mutation counter. Once the counter reaches 20 on either the paternal or maternal side, further mutations become much less likely. To avoid this, you can replace the male with a new clean male once the mutation count gets too high.

Resource management is crucial for successful breeding. YouÔÇÖll need a steady supply of food for both the parents and the babies, as well as materials for building and maintaining your breeding area. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, this can be time-consuming, so consider automating some tasks with feeding troughs and air conditioners. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities among members to make the process more efficient.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to check the stats of your Maewings before breeding, not keeping track of mutations, and failing to properly care for the babies. Always double-check the stats of your Maewings and keep detailed records of your breeding lines. Additionally, ensure your breeding area is secure to prevent wild creatures or other players from interfering.

In summary, breeding for higher Crafting Speed in a Maewing involves selecting parents with high Crafting Speed stats, carefully managing the breeding process, and introducing mutations to further enhance the stat. With patience and careful planning, you can create a Maewing with exceptional Crafting Speed, even if itÔÇÖs not the primary use for this creature. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or in a tribe, the key to success is attention to detail and efficient resource management.