What are the best creatures to breed for resource transportation in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding creatures for resource transportation in ARK: Survival Evolved is a key strategy for efficient gameplay, especially when dealing with large quantities of materials or long-distance travel. The process involves selecting the right creatures, understanding breeding mechanics, and optimizing your breeding lines to produce offspring with the best stats for carrying resources. Below is a detailed guide to help you achieve this.

First, you need to choose the best creatures for resource transportation. Some of the top choices include the Argentavis, Ankylosaurus, and Brontosaurus. The Argentavis is excellent for air transport due to its high weight capacity and ability to carry smaller creatures. The Ankylosaurus is ideal for gathering and transporting metal and other heavy resources, while the Brontosaurus is unmatched for its massive weight capacity, making it perfect for moving large quantities of materials over land.

To start breeding, you need two creatures of the same species, a suitable environment, and enough food to sustain them. Place the creatures close to each other and enable the "Enable Wandering" option. This will initiate the breeding process, and after a short time, they will produce an egg or a live baby, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you need to incubate the egg at the right temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items. For live births, ensure you have enough space and resources to care for the baby.

Once the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. This includes feeding it the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. Babies have a high food consumption rate, so make sure you have a steady supply of food. As the baby grows, you will need to interact with it periodically to imprint on it. Imprinting increases the creature's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat and other tasks. To imprint, follow the on-screen prompts, which may include feeding the baby, walking with it, or petting it.

Stat inheritance is a crucial aspect of breeding. Each stat, such as health, stamina, weight, and melee damage, has a chance to be inherited from either parent. To create a creature with high weight capacity, focus on breeding parents with high weight stats. Over multiple generations, you can combine the best stats from different parents to create a super transporter. Mutations can also play a role in enhancing stats, but they are rare and random. Mutations can affect a creature's stats, colors, or both, providing unique advantages. However, too many mutations can lead to negative effects, so it's important to track your breeding lines carefully.

Resource requirements for breeding include a steady supply of food, a safe and controlled environment, and the necessary items for incubation and imprinting. For solo players, this can be challenging due to the time and resource investment required. However, tribes can distribute the workload, making the process more manageable. Tribes can also share breeding lines and mutations, allowing for faster progress and more powerful creatures.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting baby care, failing to imprint, and not tracking breeding lines. Neglecting baby care can lead to the creature's death, while failing to imprint reduces its effectiveness. Not tracking breeding lines can result in wasted effort and resources, as you may lose track of which creatures have the best stats. Advanced techniques include using cryopods to store and transport creatures, which can save time and resources. Cryopods allow you to freeze creatures in stasis, making it easier to manage large breeding operations.

In summary, breeding creatures for resource transportation in ARK: Survival Evolved involves selecting the right species, understanding breeding mechanics, and optimizing your breeding lines. By focusing on high weight stats, proper baby care, and imprinting, you can create powerful transporters that make resource management more efficient. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, careful planning and resource management are key to success. With the right strategies and preparation, you can create a fleet of creatures capable of handling even the most demanding resource transportation tasks.