What are the best creatures to breed for resource transportation in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding creatures for resource transportation in ARK: Survival Evolved is a highly effective strategy for optimizing your resource gathering and movement across the map. The process involves selecting the right creatures, understanding breeding mechanics, and ensuring the offspring are well-cared for to maximize their potential. Below is a detailed guide on how to achieve this, covering mechanics, strategies, tips, and more.

To begin, you need to choose the best creatures for resource transportation. Some of the top choices include the Argentavis, Ankylosaurus, and Mammoth. The Argentavis is excellent for air transportation due to its high weight capacity and ability to carry smaller creatures. The Ankylosaurus is ideal for gathering metal and other heavy resources, while the Mammoth is perfect for wood and thatch. Each of these creatures has unique strengths, so selecting the right one depends on the resources you need to transport.

The breeding process starts with finding two high-level creatures of the same species. Higher levels generally mean better stats, so aim for creatures with high weight and stamina stats. Once you have your pair, place them close together and enable the mating option in their behavior menu. Ensure they are well-fed and in a safe environment to avoid interruptions. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species.

For egg-laying creatures, you need to incubate the egg. This involves maintaining the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or campfires. Once the egg hatches, you will have a baby creature that requires constant care. For live-bearing creatures, the baby will be born directly and will also need immediate attention.

Baby care involves feeding the creature regularly. Baby creatures have a high food consumption rate, so stockpile plenty of food before breeding. Use a feeding trough to make this process easier, especially if you are breeding multiple creatures. As the baby grows, you will need to interact with it to imprint. Imprinting increases the creature's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in transportation tasks. Imprinting requires specific actions, such as cuddling, walking, or feeding, so be prepared to meet these demands.

Stat inheritance is a crucial aspect of breeding. Each stat has a chance to be inherited from either parent, so breeding multiple generations can help you combine the best stats into a single creature. For example, if one parent has high weight and the other has high stamina, you can breed them to create an offspring with both desirable stats. Mutations can also occur, providing additional stat boosts or unique colors. However, mutations are rare and random, so they require patience and careful planning.

Resource requirements for breeding include food, shelter, and time. Ensure you have a secure base with plenty of storage for food and resources. Breeding can take several hours or even days, depending on the species, so plan accordingly. Advanced techniques include using cryopods to store and transport creatures, which can save time and resources. Cryopods allow you to freeze creatures in stasis, making it easier to manage large breeding operations.

Tribe and solo considerations differ slightly. In a tribe, multiple players can share the workload, making it easier to manage breeding and imprinting. Solo players need to be more organized and may need to use automation tools like feeding troughs and air conditioners to manage the process efficiently. Regardless of your playstyle, communication and planning are key to successful breeding.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting baby care, insufficient food storage, and poor stat selection. Always monitor your baby creatures and ensure they have enough food. Plan your breeding lines carefully to avoid creating offspring with undesirable stats. Advanced optimizations include using breeding calculators to predict stat outcomes and focusing on specific stats like weight and stamina for transportation purposes.

In summary, breeding creatures for resource transportation in ARK: Survival Evolved involves selecting the right species, understanding breeding mechanics, and providing proper care for the offspring. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can create powerful and efficient creatures to enhance your resource gathering and transportation capabilities. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, careful planning and resource management are essential for success.