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

Breeding for creatures with high fortitude in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of careful planning, resource management, and understanding the game's breeding mechanics. Fortitude is a stat that increases a creature's resistance to environmental effects like extreme temperatures, torpor, and other status effects. While fortitude is not a stat that can be directly mutated or inherited in the same way as health or melee damage, you can still breed creatures with higher base fortitude by focusing on selective breeding and stat inheritance.

To start, you need to understand how stat inheritance works. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means if one parent has a higher fortitude stat, there is a good chance the baby will inherit it. However, fortitude is not a commonly prioritized stat, so you may need to tame multiple creatures of the same species to find ones with naturally high fortitude. Once you have a pair with high fortitude, you can begin the breeding process.

The first step is to tame or find creatures with high fortitude. This may require taming multiple individuals of the same species and checking their stats after taming. Use a tool like the ARK Smart Breeding app or manually record the stats of each creature to identify the ones with the highest fortitude. Once you have identified a male and female with high fortitude, place them in a secure breeding area. This area should be enclosed to prevent other creatures from interfering and should have enough space for the creatures to move around.

Next, enable mating on both creatures. You will need to keep them close together and ensure they are well-fed. Breeding consumes a lot of food, so stock up on the appropriate food for the species you are breeding. For example, carnivores will need raw meat, while herbivores will need berries or crops. Once mating begins, you will need to wait for the female to produce an egg or give birth, depending on the species. For egg-laying species, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature. Use air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature control methods to maintain the required temperature.

After the egg hatches or the baby is born, you will need to care for it. Baby creatures require constant feeding and attention until they reach the juvenile stage. Use a feeding trough to automate the feeding process, but be prepared to hand-feed the baby during its early stages. Imprinting is also crucial during this time. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals to increase its stats and loyalty. Each imprinting action will give you a choice of tasks, such as cuddling, walking, or feeding the baby a specific item. Completing these tasks will increase the baby's imprinting percentage, which boosts its stats and makes it more effective in combat or other tasks.

One common mistake is neglecting the baby's food supply. Babies consume food rapidly, and running out of food can lead to starvation. Always have a surplus of food on hand, and use feeding troughs to make the process easier. Another mistake is not paying attention to the imprinting timer. Missing an imprinting opportunity can reduce the overall imprinting percentage, which can significantly impact the creature's effectiveness. Set timers or alarms to remind yourself when it is time to interact with the baby.

Advanced techniques involve stacking mutations to further enhance the creature's stats. While fortitude itself cannot be mutated, you can breed for other desirable stats like health or melee damage while maintaining high fortitude. To do this, you will need to create separate breeding lines for each stat and then combine them through careful breeding. This process can take many generations, so patience is key. Use a spreadsheet or breeding app to track the stats and mutations of each generation.

Resource requirements for breeding include food, building materials for the breeding area, and temperature control items like air conditioners or torches. You will also need a steady supply of resources for crafting imprinting items, such as kibble or other specific foods. If you are playing in a tribe, coordinate with other members to share the workload. Breeding and raising babies can be time-consuming, so having multiple people involved can make the process more manageable.

In solo play, you will need to manage everything yourself, so prioritize efficiency. Use feeding troughs and automated systems to reduce the amount of manual work required. Consider breeding during times when you can be online for extended periods to ensure the baby's needs are met.

Specific examples include breeding a high-fortitude Rex for boss fights or a high-fortitude Argentavis for long-distance travel in extreme environments. In both cases, the increased fortitude will help the creature withstand environmental hazards and status effects, making it more effective in its role. By following these steps and strategies, you can successfully breed creatures with high fortitude in ARK: Survival Evolved, enhancing your survival and combat capabilities.