What is the best way to breed for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Breeding for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of understanding the game's breeding mechanics, careful planning, and patience. Oxygen is a stat that determines how long a creature can stay underwater before needing to surface for air. While this stat is not always a priority for land-based creatures, it is crucial for aquatic tames like the Basilosaurus, Ichthyosaurus, or Megalodon, which are often used for underwater exploration and resource gathering. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to breed for high oxygen efficiency.
First, you need to understand the mechanics of stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means if one parent has a high oxygen stat and the other has a low one, the baby has a good chance of inheriting the higher stat. To maximize oxygen efficiency, you should start by taming or breeding creatures with naturally high oxygen stats. For example, the Ichthyosaurus has a high base oxygen stat, making it a good candidate for breeding.
Once you have two creatures with high oxygen stats, place them close together in a safe, enclosed area. Enable mating by setting them to "Enable Wandering" or using a mating pen. Keep in mind that breeding requires a lot of food, so ensure both parents are well-fed. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or, in the case of live-bearing creatures like the Basilosaurus, become pregnant. Eggs need to be incubated at the right temperature, so you may need air conditioners or campfires to maintain the correct environment.
After the egg hatches or the baby is born, youÔÇÖll need to care for it. Babies require constant feeding, so stockpile plenty of the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. During the baby stage, you can imprint on the creature by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the creatureÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, so itÔÇÖs worth the effort. For oxygen efficiency, imprinting can further boost the stat, making the creature even more effective underwater.
To optimize your breeding process, consider using mutations. Mutations can randomly increase a stat, including oxygen, by two levels. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per breeding attempt. To increase your chances, breed multiple pairs simultaneously. Keep track of mutations by naming your creatures or using a spreadsheet. If a mutation occurs in the oxygen stat, use that creature in future breeding attempts to pass on the mutation.
Resource management is crucial for successful breeding. YouÔÇÖll need a steady supply of food, especially for carnivores, as babies consume a lot of meat. Build a dedicated breeding area with feeding troughs to automate feeding. For egg incubation, ensure you have enough air conditioners or other temperature control methods. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, this process can be time-consuming, so plan accordingly. In a tribe, you can divide tasks, such as one person gathering food while another monitors the babies.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to prepare enough food, which can lead to the baby starving, and failing to maintain the correct temperature for eggs. Another mistake is not tracking mutations, which can result in losing valuable genetic traits. Always keep detailed records of your breeding lines to ensure youÔÇÖre making progress toward your goal.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations. After 20 mutations, the chance of further mutations decreases, but you can still breed mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to continue the process. This requires careful planning and a large number of creatures to maintain genetic diversity. Additionally, consider using cryopods to store and transport your breeding pairs, as this can save time and resources.
In summary, breeding for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved involves selecting creatures with high base oxygen stats, carefully managing the breeding process, and utilizing mutations to enhance the stat. Proper resource management, base setup, and attention to detail are essential for success. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, patience and planning will yield powerful aquatic tames capable of extended underwater exploration and resource gathering.
First, you need to understand the mechanics of stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means if one parent has a high oxygen stat and the other has a low one, the baby has a good chance of inheriting the higher stat. To maximize oxygen efficiency, you should start by taming or breeding creatures with naturally high oxygen stats. For example, the Ichthyosaurus has a high base oxygen stat, making it a good candidate for breeding.
Once you have two creatures with high oxygen stats, place them close together in a safe, enclosed area. Enable mating by setting them to "Enable Wandering" or using a mating pen. Keep in mind that breeding requires a lot of food, so ensure both parents are well-fed. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or, in the case of live-bearing creatures like the Basilosaurus, become pregnant. Eggs need to be incubated at the right temperature, so you may need air conditioners or campfires to maintain the correct environment.
After the egg hatches or the baby is born, youÔÇÖll need to care for it. Babies require constant feeding, so stockpile plenty of the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. During the baby stage, you can imprint on the creature by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the creatureÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, so itÔÇÖs worth the effort. For oxygen efficiency, imprinting can further boost the stat, making the creature even more effective underwater.
To optimize your breeding process, consider using mutations. Mutations can randomly increase a stat, including oxygen, by two levels. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per breeding attempt. To increase your chances, breed multiple pairs simultaneously. Keep track of mutations by naming your creatures or using a spreadsheet. If a mutation occurs in the oxygen stat, use that creature in future breeding attempts to pass on the mutation.
Resource management is crucial for successful breeding. YouÔÇÖll need a steady supply of food, especially for carnivores, as babies consume a lot of meat. Build a dedicated breeding area with feeding troughs to automate feeding. For egg incubation, ensure you have enough air conditioners or other temperature control methods. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, this process can be time-consuming, so plan accordingly. In a tribe, you can divide tasks, such as one person gathering food while another monitors the babies.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to prepare enough food, which can lead to the baby starving, and failing to maintain the correct temperature for eggs. Another mistake is not tracking mutations, which can result in losing valuable genetic traits. Always keep detailed records of your breeding lines to ensure youÔÇÖre making progress toward your goal.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations. After 20 mutations, the chance of further mutations decreases, but you can still breed mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to continue the process. This requires careful planning and a large number of creatures to maintain genetic diversity. Additionally, consider using cryopods to store and transport your breeding pairs, as this can save time and resources.
In summary, breeding for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved involves selecting creatures with high base oxygen stats, carefully managing the breeding process, and utilizing mutations to enhance the stat. Proper resource management, base setup, and attention to detail are essential for success. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, patience and planning will yield powerful aquatic tames capable of extended underwater exploration and resource gathering.