What is the best way to breed for creatures with high crafting speed in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for creatures with 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, such as custom recipes or certain consumables. While crafting speed is not a stat that directly impacts combat or survival, it can be highly beneficial for players who rely on crafting for progression or resource management. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to breed for high crafting speed.

First, itÔÇÖs important to understand how stat inheritance works. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 55% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means that if one parent has a high crafting speed stat and the other has a low one, thereÔÇÖs a good chance the baby will inherit the higher stat. To maximize this, you need to start with a pair of creatures that already have high crafting speed stats. This can be achieved by taming multiple creatures of the same species and checking their stats after taming. Use a tool like the ARK Smart Breeding app or manually record the stats to identify the best candidates.

Once you have a pair with high crafting speed, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two creatures close together in a secure area, such as a breeding pen, and enable mating. Make sure they are well-fed and have enough food to sustain the process. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, youÔÇÖll need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items. For live-bearing creatures, simply wait for the gestation period to complete.

When the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. This includes feeding it the appropriate food, such as berries for herbivores or meat for carnivores. During this time, you can also begin the imprinting process. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals to increase its stats and loyalty. While imprinting doesnÔÇÖt directly affect crafting speed, it can improve other stats that make the creature more effective overall. To imprint, follow the on-screen prompts, which may include actions like cuddling, walking, or feeding specific items.

As you continue breeding, you may introduce mutations to further enhance the crafting speed stat. Mutations are rare and random, but they can provide significant boosts to stats or unique color patterns. Each mutation adds two levels to a stat, so if youÔÇÖre lucky, you can get a mutation that increases crafting speed. However, mutations are limited to 20 per stat, so plan your breeding lines carefully to avoid wasting mutations on less important stats. Keep track of your breeding lines using spreadsheets or breeding apps to ensure youÔÇÖre making progress toward your goal.

Resource management is crucial for successful breeding. YouÔÇÖll need a steady supply of food, such as meat, berries, or kibble, to keep your creatures fed during the breeding and raising process. Additionally, youÔÇÖll need materials for building a secure breeding area, such as walls, gates, and temperature-regulating devices. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, this can be time-consuming, so consider automating some tasks using feeding troughs or cryopods to store creatures when not in use. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities among members to make the process more efficient.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to check the stats of tamed creatures before breeding, which can result in offspring with subpar stats. Another mistake is over-mutating, which can lead to diminishing returns if you exceed the mutation limit. Additionally, failing to properly care for babies can result in their death, wasting time and resources. Always have a plan for feeding and imprinting before starting the breeding process.

Advanced techniques include stacking mutations by breeding mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to preserve the mutation count while continuing to improve stats. You can also use cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding operations. For optimal results, focus on breeding creatures with high base crafting speed stats and use mutations to further enhance this stat.

In summary, breeding for high crafting speed in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and a thorough understanding of the gameÔÇÖs breeding mechanics. By selecting the right creatures, managing mutations, and providing proper care, you can create a powerful breeding line with exceptional crafting speed. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or in a tribe, this process can be highly rewarding and provide a significant advantage in your ARK journey.