How do I breed for higher food stat in a Ovis in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for a higher food stat in an Ovis in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of understanding the game's breeding mechanics, careful planning, and patience. The Ovis is a passive creature that does not require traditional taming but instead needs to be fed Sweet Vegetable Cake to be tamed. Its food stat is particularly important because it directly affects how much Sweet Vegetable Cake is required to tame it and how much health it can regenerate when fed. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to breed for a higher food stat in an Ovis.

First, you need to understand the basics of breeding mechanics. When two Ovis are bred, the offspring inherits stats from both parents. Each stat, including food, has a 55% chance to be inherited from either parent. This means that if one parent has a higher food stat, thereÔÇÖs a good chance the baby will inherit that higher stat. However, the process is not guaranteed, so you may need to breed multiple generations to achieve the desired result.

To start, youÔÇÖll need at least two Ovis with different food stats. Ideally, one should have a significantly higher food stat than the other. You can find Ovis in the wild, but they are rare, so you may need to search extensively or use a tamed creature to help locate them. Once you have your Ovis, place them in a secure breeding area. This area should be enclosed to prevent them from wandering off and should have enough space for the baby Ovis to grow.

Next, enable mating on both Ovis. You can do this by accessing their radial menu and selecting the "Enable Mating" option. Once mating is enabled, the Ovis will begin the breeding process. Keep in mind that breeding has a cooldown period, so you wonÔÇÖt be able to breed the same pair repeatedly without waiting. After a successful mating, the female Ovis will become pregnant, and youÔÇÖll need to wait for the gestation period to complete. During this time, make sure the female Ovis is well-fed and safe from predators.

Once the baby Ovis is born, it will have a combination of stats from both parents. Check the babyÔÇÖs food stat to see if it has inherited the higher stat from one of the parents. If it has, you can use this Ovis in future breeding attempts to further increase the food stat. If not, you may need to try breeding the same pair again or find another Ovis with a higher food stat to introduce into your breeding line.

One important tip is to keep detailed records of your breeding attempts. This includes noting the food stats of each parent and the resulting offspring. This will help you track which pairs are producing the best results and allow you to make informed decisions about future breeding. Additionally, consider using a breeding calculator, which can help predict the outcomes of breeding pairs based on their stats.

Common mistakes to avoid include not having a secure breeding area, which can lead to the Ovis wandering off or being attacked by predators. Another mistake is not keeping track of the food stats, which can result in wasted breeding attempts. ItÔÇÖs also important to ensure that the Ovis are well-fed and healthy, as this can affect the success of the breeding process.

Advanced techniques involve introducing mutations into your breeding line. Mutations can randomly increase a stat, including food, by two points. However, mutations are rare, and there is a limit to how many mutations a creature can have. To maximize the chances of a mutation, you can breed multiple pairs of Ovis simultaneously. This increases the number of offspring and, consequently, the chances of a mutation occurring.

Resource requirements for breeding Ovis include Sweet Vegetable Cake, which is used to tame them, and a steady supply of food to keep them healthy. YouÔÇÖll also need a secure base with enough space for breeding and raising the offspring. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, this process can be time-consuming, so consider enlisting the help of a tribe if possible. Tribe members can assist with gathering resources, protecting the breeding area, and caring for the baby Ovis.

In conclusion, breeding for a higher food stat in an Ovis requires a combination of understanding breeding mechanics, careful planning, and patience. By selecting Ovis with high food stats, keeping detailed records, and using advanced techniques like mutations, you can gradually increase the food stat in your Ovis breeding line. With time and effort, youÔÇÖll be able to produce Ovis with significantly higher food stats, making them more efficient for taming and health regeneration.