How do I breed for high weight capacity in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for high weight capacity in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and careful management of mutations. Weight capacity is one of the key stats for creatures, especially for those used in resource gathering or transportation. To achieve a high weight capacity, you need to understand the mechanics of breeding, stat inheritance, and mutations, as well as how to optimize your breeding lines over multiple generations.

First, you need to start with a pair of creatures that have high weight stats. When breeding, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means if one parent has a weight stat of 30 and the other has 35, the baby has a 70% chance to inherit the 35 stat. To maximize weight capacity, you should focus on breeding creatures with the highest possible weight stats. This often involves taming multiple creatures of the same species and checking their stats after taming. Use the creature's inventory screen to see its base stats, as these are the stats that will be passed on to offspring.

Once you have a pair of creatures with high weight stats, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two creatures close to each other and enable mating. Make sure they are well-fed and in a safe environment. After mating, the female will either lay an egg (for egg-laying species) or become pregnant (for mammals). The egg or baby will inherit stats from both parents, so itÔÇÖs important to keep track of which stats are being passed down.

After the baby is born or hatched, you need to care for it until it reaches adulthood. This involves feeding it the appropriate food and ensuring it is safe from predators. During this time, you can also imprint on the baby by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the babyÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat or other tasks. For weight capacity, imprinting can provide a small boost, but the primary focus should be on breeding for high base stats.

Mutations can also play a role in increasing weight capacity. Mutations are rare and random, but they can provide a +2 boost to a stat and sometimes a unique color. To maximize the chances of a mutation, you should breed as many creatures as possible. However, mutations are not guaranteed, and it can take many generations to achieve a mutation in the desired stat. Keep in mind that each creature can have up to 20 mutations on each side (maternal and paternal), so plan your breeding lines carefully to avoid hitting the mutation cap.

One common mistake is neglecting to track the stats of your breeding creatures. Without proper tracking, it can be difficult to determine which creatures have the highest stats and which ones should be bred together. Use a spreadsheet or other tracking method to keep track of each creatureÔÇÖs stats and lineage. This will help you make informed decisions about which creatures to breed and which ones to cull.

Advanced techniques involve stacking mutations to further increase weight capacity. This requires careful planning and a large number of creatures. The goal is to breed a creature with multiple mutations in the weight stat, which can significantly increase its carrying capacity. However, this process can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, so itÔÇÖs important to be prepared with plenty of food, resources, and space for your breeding operation.

Resource requirements for breeding include food for the parents and babies, as well as materials for building a safe breeding area. You will also need a steady supply of resources for crafting items like preserving bins or refrigerators to store eggs and food. If you are playing solo, this can be challenging, but it is manageable with careful planning. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities among members to make the process more efficient.

Specific examples of creatures with high weight capacity include the Argentavis, Brontosaurus, and Quetzal. These creatures are commonly used for transporting large amounts of resources, so breeding them for high weight capacity can be very beneficial. For example, a high-weight Argentavis can carry more metal or stone, making resource gathering trips more efficient.

In conclusion, breeding for high weight capacity in ARK: Survival Evolved requires a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and careful management of mutations. By starting with high-stat creatures, tracking lineage, and optimizing your breeding lines, you can create powerful creatures with exceptional carrying capacity. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, careful planning and resource management are key to success in this aspect of the game.