How do I breed for fast travel creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for fast travel creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and careful management of mutations to create creatures optimized for speed and stamina. Fast travel creatures are typically those with high movement speed and stamina, such as the Argentavis, Pteranodon, or Thylacoleo, which are commonly used for traversing the map quickly. Below is a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

To begin, you need to understand the mechanics of breeding. Breeding involves pairing two creatures of the same species to produce an egg or live baby. The offspring will inherit stats from both parents, with each stat having a 55% chance to be inherited from either parent. This means you can selectively breed creatures to combine the best stats from both parents into a single offspring. For fast travel creatures, you want to focus on movement speed and stamina, as these are the most important stats for quick traversal.

Start by taming multiple creatures of the same species with high stats in movement speed and stamina. You can check a creature's stats after taming by looking at its inventory screen. Once you have a few high-stat creatures, place them in a breeding pen. Ensure the pen is secure and has enough space for the creatures to move around. You will also need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to keep the creatures fed during the breeding process.

To initiate breeding, set one creature to "Enable Wandering" and the other to "Enable Mating." The creatures will then attempt to breed, and if successful, 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 by placing it in a suitable environment. This usually involves maintaining the egg at the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating structures. For live-bearing creatures, the female will give birth after a gestation period, and you will need to care for the baby immediately.

Once the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. This includes feeding it regularly and ensuring it is protected from predators. During this time, you can also imprint on the baby by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the baby's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat and other tasks. For fast travel creatures, imprinting is particularly important as it can significantly boost their movement speed and stamina.

As you breed multiple generations, you can introduce mutations to further enhance your creatures. Mutations are rare and random, but they can provide significant stat boosts or unique color variations. To maximize the chances of mutations, breed creatures with high stats and keep track of their lineage. This will help you identify which creatures have the best stats and which ones are worth breeding further.

Resource management is crucial during the breeding process. You will need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to keep your creatures fed. You will also need materials for building and maintaining your breeding pen, such as wood, stone, and metal. Additionally, you will need resources for incubating eggs and caring for babies, such as air conditioners, standing torches, and feeding troughs.

For solo players, breeding can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. It is important to plan ahead and ensure you have enough resources to sustain your breeding efforts. For tribes, breeding can be a collaborative effort, with different members taking on specific roles, such as gathering resources, caring for babies, or managing the breeding pen.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to imprint on babies, failing to maintain the correct temperature for eggs, and not keeping track of stat inheritance. It is also important to avoid overbreeding, as this can lead to a surplus of creatures that are difficult to manage.

Advanced techniques include using stat calculators to predict the stats of offspring and selectively breeding for specific mutations. You can also use cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage your breeding lines.

In summary, breeding for fast travel creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved involves selective breeding, stat inheritance, and careful management of mutations. By focusing on movement speed and stamina, and using proper breeding techniques, you can create powerful and efficient creatures for traversing the map quickly. Proper resource management, planning, and attention to detail are key to success in this endeavor.