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 understanding the game's breeding mechanics, careful planning, and patience. Weight capacity is one of the key stats for many creatures, especially those used for resource gathering or transportation, such as the Argentavis, Ankylosaurus, or Brontosaurus. To breed for high weight capacity, you need to focus on stat inheritance, mutations, and imprinting. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you achieve this.

First, you need to understand how stat inheritance works. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 55% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means if one parent has a high weight stat and the other has a low one, thereÔÇÖs a good chance the baby will inherit the higher stat. To start, tame multiple creatures of the same species and check their stats. Look for individuals with naturally high weight stats. These will be your foundation for breeding. Keep in mind that wild creatures have random stats, so you may need to tame several to find the best candidates.

Once you have a pair with high weight stats, begin breeding them. The goal is to produce offspring that inherit the high weight stat from both parents. This may take several generations, as the inheritance is not guaranteed. Keep track of the stats of each offspring and use the ones with the highest weight stats for future breeding. Over time, you will create a lineage of creatures with increasingly higher weight capacity.

Mutations can also play a significant role in boosting weight capacity. Mutations are random and can increase a stat by two levels. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per stat per baby. To maximize your chances, breed as many creatures as possible. When a mutation occurs, check if it affects the weight stat. If it does, incorporate that mutated creature into your breeding line. Be aware that each creature can have up to 20 mutations on the maternal and paternal sides combined. After 20 mutations, further mutations become much harder to achieve.

Imprinting is another crucial aspect of breeding. When a baby is born or hatched, you can imprint on it by interacting with it during its growth stages. Imprinting increases the creatureÔÇÖs stats, including weight, and improves its loyalty and effectiveness. To maximize imprinting, ensure you are available to care for the baby during its growth. This includes feeding it the required food and performing the requested actions, such as walking or cuddling. A fully imprinted creature will have significantly better stats than a non-imprinted one.

Resource management is essential for successful breeding. Breeding requires a lot of food, especially for larger creatures. Make sure you have a steady supply of the appropriate food for both the parents and the babies. For example, carnivores will need a lot of meat, while herbivores will need berries or crops. Additionally, you will need a safe and controlled environment for breeding. Build a secure breeding pen to protect the parents and babies from predators and other threats. Include feeding troughs to keep the creatures fed and air conditioners or incubators to regulate temperature for eggs.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting imprinting, not tracking stats, and over-mutating. Imprinting is time-consuming but essential for maximizing stats. Failing to track stats can lead to confusion and wasted effort. Over-mutating, or exceeding the 20 mutation limit, can make further mutations nearly impossible. Always keep detailed records of your breeding lines and mutations.

Advanced techniques include stacking mutations and using multiple breeding pairs. Stacking mutations involves breeding mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to keep the mutation count low while still benefiting from the stat boosts. Using multiple breeding pairs increases your chances of getting the desired mutations and stats. This requires more resources and space but can significantly speed up the process.

Tribe and solo considerations differ slightly. In a tribe, multiple players can share the workload, making breeding and imprinting easier. Solo players will need to manage everything themselves, so efficient time management is crucial. Consider using timers or alarms to remind you of feeding and imprinting times.

Specific examples include breeding Argentavis for high weight capacity to carry more resources during flights or breeding Ankylosaurus for high weight to gather more metal. Each species has its own base weight stat, so the potential for improvement varies. For instance, a high-level Argentavis with a weight mutation and full imprinting can carry significantly more than a wild one, making it invaluable for resource transportation.

In conclusion, breeding for high weight capacity in ARK: Survival Evolved requires a deep understanding of stat inheritance, mutations, and imprinting. By carefully selecting and breeding creatures with high weight stats, managing resources, and avoiding common mistakes, you can create powerful creatures tailored to your needs. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, patience and planning are key to success.