What are the benefits of imprinting on a creature in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Imprinting on a creature in ARK: Survival Evolved is a crucial aspect of breeding that provides significant benefits to the player. When you imprint on a baby creature, you increase its stats, improve its loyalty, and gain a rider bonus that enhances its performance when you are riding it. Imprinting is a process that requires careful attention and timing, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Here is a detailed explanation of how imprinting works, along with strategies, tips, and considerations to help you master this system.
Imprinting mechanics involve interacting with a baby creature during its growth stages. When a baby is born or hatched, it will periodically request care, such as being cuddled, walked, or fed a specific type of food. Each time you fulfill one of these requests, you gain a percentage of imprinting. The amount of imprinting gained depends on the creature's growth rate and the type of request. Once the imprinting percentage reaches 100%, the creature will have a permanent stat boost, increased loyalty, and a rider bonus that improves its damage and resistance when you are riding it.
To begin imprinting, you must first breed two creatures of the same species. Place them close together and enable mating in their behavior settings. Once the mating process is complete, the female will either lay an egg or give birth to a live baby, depending on the species. If the creature lays an egg, you will need to incubate it by maintaining the correct temperature. Use air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items to keep the egg at the right temperature until it hatches. If the creature gives birth to a live baby, you will need to immediately start caring for it.
Once the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. You must feed it the appropriate food, such as berries for herbivores or meat for carnivores, until it reaches the juvenile stage. During this time, the baby will periodically request care for imprinting. These requests can include cuddling, walking, or feeding a specific type of food. To fulfill a cuddle request, simply approach the baby and press the interaction button. For a walk request, you will need to ride the baby and walk it for a short distance. For a food request, you must feed the baby the specific item it asks for, such as a rare flower or a specific type of kibble.
Timing is critical when it comes to imprinting. The baby will request care at regular intervals, and you must fulfill these requests as soon as possible to maximize the imprinting percentage. If you miss a request, the imprinting percentage will not increase, and you may lose the opportunity to reach 100% imprinting. To avoid missing requests, set timers or alarms to remind you when the next request is due. You can also use a feeding trough to keep the baby fed while you wait for the next request.
One common mistake players make is not preparing enough resources before starting the breeding process. Imprinting requires a steady supply of food and other items, so make sure you have plenty of resources on hand before you begin. For example, if you are breeding a carnivore, stockpile a large amount of meat or prime meat. If you are breeding a herbivore, gather plenty of berries or vegetables. You should also have the specific items needed for imprinting requests, such as rare flowers or kibble.
Advanced techniques for imprinting include using a Maewing, a creature that can nurse babies and reduce the amount of food they need. This can make the imprinting process easier and more efficient. Another technique is to adjust the server settings to increase the imprinting interval or the amount of imprinting gained per request. This can be especially useful for solo players or small tribes who may not have the time or resources to constantly monitor the baby.
Tribe considerations are also important when it comes to imprinting. In a tribe, multiple players can share the responsibility of caring for the baby and fulfilling imprinting requests. This can make the process easier and more manageable, especially for larger creatures that require a lot of resources. However, it is important to communicate and coordinate with your tribe members to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the baby is properly cared for.
In conclusion, imprinting on a creature in ARK: Survival Evolved is a rewarding process that requires careful planning and attention. By understanding the mechanics, preparing the necessary resources, and using advanced techniques, you can maximize the benefits of imprinting and create powerful, loyal creatures that will serve you well in the game. Whether you are playing solo or as part of a tribe, imprinting is an essential part of breeding that should not be overlooked.
Imprinting mechanics involve interacting with a baby creature during its growth stages. When a baby is born or hatched, it will periodically request care, such as being cuddled, walked, or fed a specific type of food. Each time you fulfill one of these requests, you gain a percentage of imprinting. The amount of imprinting gained depends on the creature's growth rate and the type of request. Once the imprinting percentage reaches 100%, the creature will have a permanent stat boost, increased loyalty, and a rider bonus that improves its damage and resistance when you are riding it.
To begin imprinting, you must first breed two creatures of the same species. Place them close together and enable mating in their behavior settings. Once the mating process is complete, the female will either lay an egg or give birth to a live baby, depending on the species. If the creature lays an egg, you will need to incubate it by maintaining the correct temperature. Use air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items to keep the egg at the right temperature until it hatches. If the creature gives birth to a live baby, you will need to immediately start caring for it.
Once the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. You must feed it the appropriate food, such as berries for herbivores or meat for carnivores, until it reaches the juvenile stage. During this time, the baby will periodically request care for imprinting. These requests can include cuddling, walking, or feeding a specific type of food. To fulfill a cuddle request, simply approach the baby and press the interaction button. For a walk request, you will need to ride the baby and walk it for a short distance. For a food request, you must feed the baby the specific item it asks for, such as a rare flower or a specific type of kibble.
Timing is critical when it comes to imprinting. The baby will request care at regular intervals, and you must fulfill these requests as soon as possible to maximize the imprinting percentage. If you miss a request, the imprinting percentage will not increase, and you may lose the opportunity to reach 100% imprinting. To avoid missing requests, set timers or alarms to remind you when the next request is due. You can also use a feeding trough to keep the baby fed while you wait for the next request.
One common mistake players make is not preparing enough resources before starting the breeding process. Imprinting requires a steady supply of food and other items, so make sure you have plenty of resources on hand before you begin. For example, if you are breeding a carnivore, stockpile a large amount of meat or prime meat. If you are breeding a herbivore, gather plenty of berries or vegetables. You should also have the specific items needed for imprinting requests, such as rare flowers or kibble.
Advanced techniques for imprinting include using a Maewing, a creature that can nurse babies and reduce the amount of food they need. This can make the imprinting process easier and more efficient. Another technique is to adjust the server settings to increase the imprinting interval or the amount of imprinting gained per request. This can be especially useful for solo players or small tribes who may not have the time or resources to constantly monitor the baby.
Tribe considerations are also important when it comes to imprinting. In a tribe, multiple players can share the responsibility of caring for the baby and fulfilling imprinting requests. This can make the process easier and more manageable, especially for larger creatures that require a lot of resources. However, it is important to communicate and coordinate with your tribe members to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the baby is properly cared for.
In conclusion, imprinting on a creature in ARK: Survival Evolved is a rewarding process that requires careful planning and attention. By understanding the mechanics, preparing the necessary resources, and using advanced techniques, you can maximize the benefits of imprinting and create powerful, loyal creatures that will serve you well in the game. Whether you are playing solo or as part of a tribe, imprinting is an essential part of breeding that should not be overlooked.