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 creatures, especially for those used in resource gathering or transportation. To breed for high weight capacity, you need to focus on stat inheritance, mutations, and selective breeding over multiple generations. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you achieve this goal.

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, the baby has a good chance of inheriting the higher weight stat. To maximize this, you should start by taming multiple creatures of the same species and checking their stats. Look for individuals with naturally high weight stats, as these will serve as the foundation for your breeding program.

Once you have identified creatures with high weight stats, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two selected 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 or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature until it hatches. For live-bearing creatures, you will need to wait for the gestation period to complete.

After the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. This includes feeding it the appropriate food and ensuring it stays safe from predators. During this time, you should also focus on imprinting. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals to increase its stats and loyalty. Proper imprinting can significantly boost the creatureÔÇÖs weight capacity, making it even more effective for carrying resources.

Mutations are another important aspect of breeding for high weight capacity. Mutations can randomly increase a creatureÔÇÖs stats or change its colors. While mutations are rare, they can provide a significant boost to weight capacity if they occur in the right stat. To increase your chances of getting a mutation, you should breed as many creatures as possible. Keep in mind that each creature can only have 20 mutations total, so you need to carefully track which creatures have mutations and which do not.

One common mistake to avoid is neglecting the other stats of your creatures. While focusing on weight capacity is important, you should also ensure that your creatures have decent health, stamina, and other stats. This will make them more versatile and useful in various situations. Additionally, avoid inbreeding, as this can lead to weaker offspring with lower stats.

Advanced techniques for optimizing your breeding program include using external tools or spreadsheets to track stat inheritance and mutations. This can help you plan your breeding pairs more effectively and ensure you are making progress toward your goal. You can also use cryopods to store and transport your creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding populations.

Resource requirements for breeding include a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, depending on the species. You will also need a safe and secure base with enough space to house your breeding pairs and their offspring. Consider building a dedicated breeding area with feeding troughs and air conditioners to maintain the correct temperature for eggs.

Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, breeding for high weight capacity requires a significant time investment. In a tribe, you can divide the workload among members, making it easier to manage large breeding programs. Solo players will need to be more efficient with their time and resources, focusing on smaller, more manageable breeding populations.

A specific example of breeding for high weight capacity would be focusing on a creature like the Argentavis. Argentavis are excellent for transporting resources due to their high weight capacity and ability to carry smaller creatures. Start by taming multiple Argentavis and checking their stats. Identify the ones with the highest weight stats and begin breeding them. Over multiple generations, you can combine the best weight stats and introduce mutations to create an Argentavis with an exceptionally high weight capacity.

In conclusion, breeding for high weight capacity in ARK: Survival Evolved is a complex but rewarding process. By understanding stat inheritance, focusing on mutations, and carefully managing your breeding program, you can create creatures that are highly effective for resource gathering and transportation. With patience and careful planning, you can achieve your goal of breeding the ultimate weight-carrying creatures in the game.