How do I breed for creatures with high melee damage in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for creatures with high melee damage in ARK: Survival Evolved is a complex but rewarding process that involves understanding the game's breeding mechanics, stat inheritance, and mutation systems. To achieve this, you will need to carefully select and breed creatures with desirable stats, manage mutations, and ensure proper care for the offspring. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process.

First, you need to understand the basics of stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 55% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each individual stat, including melee damage. This means that if one parent has a high melee damage stat and the other has a low one, the baby has a good chance of inheriting the higher stat. To maximize this, you should start by taming multiple creatures of the same species and checking their stats. Look for creatures with naturally high melee damage, as this will serve as the foundation for your breeding line.

Once you have identified creatures with high melee damage, you need to prepare for breeding. Breeding requires a suitable environment, such as a secure base with enough space for the creatures to move around. You will also need to ensure that the creatures are well-fed and have the necessary resources, such as food and a mating cooldown timer. To initiate breeding, set the creatures to "Enable Wandering" and keep them close together. Once they mate, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species.

After the egg is laid or the baby is born, you need to care for it properly. Eggs require specific temperature conditions to hatch, so you may need to use air conditioners, campfires, or other temperature-regulating items. Once the baby hatches or is born, it will require constant feeding and attention. You will need to provide the appropriate food for the baby, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. Additionally, you should interact with the baby to imprint on it, which will increase its stats and loyalty.

Imprinting is a crucial part of breeding for high melee damage. Each time you imprint on the baby, it gains a stat boost, including melee damage. To maximize this, you should aim for 100% imprinting, which requires consistent interaction with the baby during its growth stages. This can be time-consuming, but the stat boost is well worth the effort.

Mutations are another important aspect of breeding for high melee damage. Mutations can randomly occur during breeding and can affect a creature's stats or colors. Each mutation adds 2 levels to a stat, which can significantly increase melee damage if applied correctly. However, mutations are rare and random, so you will need to breed multiple generations to accumulate them. It is important to keep track of your breeding lines and mutations to ensure you are making progress toward your goal.

One common mistake to avoid is over-mutating. Each creature can have a maximum of 20 mutations on the maternal and paternal sides combined. Once this limit is reached, further mutations will not occur. To avoid this, you should carefully manage your mutations and focus on stacking them in the desired stat, such as melee damage. Additionally, you should avoid breeding creatures with low stats, as this can dilute your breeding line and make it harder to achieve your goal.

Advanced techniques for breeding include using a breeding calculator to track stats and mutations, as well as creating separate breeding lines for different stats. For example, you could have one line focused on melee damage and another on health, then combine the best stats from each line into a single creature. This requires careful planning and organization, but it can result in a highly optimized creature.

Resource requirements for breeding include food, temperature-regulating items, and a secure base. You will also need a steady supply of resources to care for the baby, such as meat, berries, and narcotics. If you are playing in a tribe, you can divide the workload among members to make the process more manageable. Solo players will need to be highly organized and prepared to dedicate significant time to breeding.

In conclusion, breeding for creatures with high melee damage in ARK: Survival Evolved is a detailed and time-consuming process that requires careful planning and management. By understanding the mechanics of stat inheritance, mutations, and imprinting, and by avoiding common mistakes, you can create powerful creatures with exceptional melee damage. With the right strategies and resources, you can achieve your breeding goals and dominate the game.