How do I breed for high crafting speed in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for high crafting speed in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a deep understanding of the game's breeding mechanics, stat inheritance, and mutation systems. Crafting speed is a stat that affects how quickly a creature can craft items in its inventory, and it is particularly useful for creatures like the Argentavis or the Beaver, which have crafting bonuses. To breed for high crafting speed, you need to focus on selectively breeding creatures with the desired stat and potentially introducing mutations to enhance it further.

The first step is to identify creatures with high crafting speed stats. Crafting speed is one of the seven stats a creature can have, and it is randomly distributed when a creature is tamed or born. You will need to tame multiple creatures of the same species and check their stats to find those with high crafting speed. Once you have identified a male and female with high crafting speed, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two creatures close to each other and enable mating. Ensure they are well-fed and in a safe environment, as breeding can take some time.

After the mating process, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. If an egg is laid, you will need to incubate it by maintaining the correct temperature. This can be done using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items. Once the egg hatches or the baby is born, you will need to care for it by feeding it the appropriate food. Babies require constant attention, so make sure you have a steady supply of food and a safe area for them to grow.

Stat inheritance is a key mechanic in breeding. Each stat of the offspring has a 55% chance to be inherited from either parent. This means that if both parents have high crafting speed, there is a good chance the offspring will also have high crafting speed. However, it is not guaranteed, so you may need to breed multiple generations to achieve the desired result. Keep track of the stats of each generation to ensure you are making progress.

Mutations can also play a role in breeding for high crafting speed. Mutations are rare and random, but they can increase a stat by two levels and change the creature's color. To maximize the chance of mutations, breed as many creatures as possible. Each mutation adds to a mutation counter, and once a creature has 20 mutations on either the maternal or paternal side, it can no longer receive new mutations. To avoid hitting this limit, you can breed mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to reset the counter.

Imprinting is another important aspect of breeding. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby creature during its growth stages to increase its stats and loyalty. Proper imprinting can significantly enhance the creature's effectiveness, including its crafting speed. To imprint, you will need to care for the baby by feeding it, cuddling it, and taking it on walks. Each imprinting action increases the imprint percentage, which boosts the creature's stats.

Resource management is crucial when breeding for high crafting speed. You will need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to keep the parents and babies fed. Additionally, you will need materials for incubating eggs and building a safe breeding area. Air conditioners, refrigerators, and feeding troughs are essential items to have on hand. If you are playing in a tribe, coordinate with your tribe members to share the workload and resources. Solo players will need to plan carefully to ensure they have enough resources to sustain the breeding process.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to check the stats of the parents, not keeping track of mutations, and failing to provide proper care for the babies. It is also important to avoid over-mutating a creature, as this can lead to hitting the mutation limit and preventing further improvements. Additionally, make sure to breed in a safe area to protect the creatures from predators and other threats.

Advanced techniques for breeding for high crafting speed include using stat calculators to predict the outcome of breeding pairs and selectively breeding creatures with complementary stats. You can also use cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding operations. Another advanced technique is to use mods or server settings to increase the breeding and mutation rates, although this may not be suitable for all players.

In conclusion, breeding for high crafting speed in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and a deep understanding of the game's breeding mechanics. By selectively breeding creatures with high crafting speed, introducing mutations, and properly imprinting the offspring, you can create powerful creatures with exceptional crafting abilities. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, the key to success is patience and attention to detail. With the right strategies and preparation, you can achieve your breeding goals and create the ultimate crafting creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved.