How do I breed for creatures with high oxygen levels in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding creatures with high oxygen levels in ARK: Survival Evolved involves understanding the game's breeding mechanics, stat inheritance, and mutation systems. Oxygen is one of the seven primary stats a creature can have, and breeding for high oxygen levels can be useful for aquatic creatures or for players who want to optimize their tames for underwater exploration. Below is a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

To start, you need two creatures of the same species that you want to breed. The first step is to ensure both creatures are tamed and have stats you want to pass on to their offspring. When breeding, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means if one parent has a high oxygen stat and the other has a low one, there is a good chance the baby will inherit the higher oxygen stat. However, this is not guaranteed, so you may need to breed multiple times to get the desired result.

Once you have selected your breeding pair, place them close together in a secure area, such as a fenced-off pen or a base with enough space. Enable the "Enable Wandering" option for both creatures, and they will begin the mating process. During this time, you must ensure they are well-fed and not disturbed. Once the mating process is complete, the female will either lay an egg (for egg-laying species) or become pregnant (for mammals). For egg-laying creatures, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items.

After the egg hatches or the baby is born, you must care for it during its maturation process. This involves feeding it the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores, and ensuring it is safe 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 makes it more loyal to you, which is especially important for high-oxygen creatures used in underwater exploration.

To increase the chances of getting a high oxygen stat, you can introduce mutations into your breeding line. Mutations are random and can affect a creature's stats or colors. Each mutation adds two levels to a random stat, and there is a small chance it will increase the oxygen stat. However, mutations are rare, and you may need to breed many generations to get the desired mutation. Keep in mind that each creature can have a maximum of 20 mutations on the maternal and paternal sides combined, so plan your breeding carefully to avoid hitting the mutation cap.

One common mistake players make is not tracking the stats of their breeding pairs. It is essential to keep a record of each creature's stats, including oxygen levels, to ensure you are making progress toward your goal. You can use external tools or in-game notes to track this information. Another mistake is neglecting the baby's care during the maturation process. Failing to feed the baby or protect it from predators can result in its death, wasting all your effort.

Advanced techniques for breeding high-oxygen creatures include stacking mutations and using stat calculators. Stacking mutations involves breeding creatures with multiple mutations to combine their effects. This can be time-consuming but is an effective way to maximize stats. Stat calculators are tools that help you predict the outcome of breeding pairs, allowing you to plan your breeding lines more efficiently.

Resource requirements for breeding include food for the parents and baby, materials for building a secure breeding area, and items for temperature regulation if you are hatching eggs. If you are playing solo, you will need to manage all these tasks yourself, which can be challenging. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities, making the process more manageable.

A specific example of breeding for high oxygen levels would be breeding a pair of Ichthyosaurs, which are fast aquatic creatures. Start by taming two Ichthyosaurs with high oxygen stats. Place them in a secure underwater pen and enable wandering to initiate breeding. Once the egg is laid, incubate it at the correct temperature using air conditioners or standing torches. After hatching, care for the baby by feeding it and imprinting on it. Repeat this process over multiple generations, introducing mutations as needed, until you achieve the desired high oxygen stat.

In conclusion, breeding for high oxygen levels in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and patience. By understanding the game's breeding mechanics, tracking stats, and using advanced techniques, you can create powerful aquatic creatures optimized for underwater exploration. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, the process can be rewarding and significantly enhance your gameplay experience.