What is the best way to 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 a stat that determines how long a creature can stay underwater before needing to surface for air. While oxygen is not always a priority for land-based creatures, it is crucial for aquatic tames like the Basilosaurus, Ichthyosaurus, or Megalodon, as it directly impacts their underwater efficiency. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to breed for high oxygen levels.
First, 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 high oxygen 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 individuals with naturally high oxygen levels. These will serve as the foundation for your breeding line.
Once you have identified creatures with high oxygen stats, place them in a secure breeding area. This area should be safe from predators and have enough space for the creatures to move around. You will also need a steady supply of food to keep the parents healthy and to feed the baby once it hatches or is born. For aquatic creatures, consider building a pen in shallow water or using a platform saddle to create a mobile breeding area.
To initiate breeding, set the creatures to "Enable Wandering" or use the "Mate" option if you have the necessary structures like a mating pen. Keep in mind that breeding cooldowns apply, so you may need multiple pairs to speed up the process. Once the breeding process starts, you will either get an egg or a live baby, depending on the species. Eggs need to be incubated at the right temperature, so prepare air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature control methods. For live births, ensure you have enough food on hand to feed the baby immediately.
After the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. This includes feeding it regularly and ensuring it is safe from threats. During this time, you can also work on imprinting. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals to increase its stats and loyalty. While imprinting does not directly affect oxygen levels, it boosts other stats like health and melee damage, making the creature more effective overall.
To introduce mutations, you need to breed multiple generations. Mutations are random and can affect either stats or colors. Each mutation adds two levels to a stat, so if you get a mutation in oxygen, it will increase by two points. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per breeding attempt. To maximize your chances, breed as many creatures as possible and keep track of their stats. Use a spreadsheet or notes to monitor which creatures have the highest oxygen levels and which have mutations.
One common mistake is neglecting other stats while focusing solely on oxygen. While high oxygen is useful, especially for aquatic creatures, you should also aim for balanced stats like health, stamina, and melee damage. Another mistake is not preparing enough resources for baby care. Babies consume a lot of food, especially in the early stages, so stockpile meat, berries, or other appropriate food sources.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations and using clean breeding lines. Stacking mutations involves breeding mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to keep the mutation counter low while still passing on the desired stat. Clean breeding lines refer to maintaining a group of creatures with no mutations to serve as a baseline for comparison. This helps you track which mutations are beneficial and which are not.
Resource requirements for breeding include food, structures for temperature control, and a secure area. For aquatic creatures, you may also need underwater pens or platforms. If you are playing solo, consider automating some aspects of breeding, such as using feeding troughs to reduce the need for constant feeding. In a tribe, coordinate with other members to share the workload and resources.
For example, if you are breeding Megalodons for high oxygen, start by taming several with naturally high oxygen stats. Breed them to create offspring with even higher oxygen levels. Use imprinting to boost other stats and introduce mutations to further enhance oxygen. Over time, you will have a line of Megalodons with exceptional underwater endurance, making them ideal for ocean exploration or combat.
In summary, breeding for high oxygen levels in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and patience. Focus on stat inheritance, utilize mutations, and avoid common mistakes like neglecting other stats or underpreparing for baby care. With the right strategies, you can create powerful aquatic creatures that excel in their environment.
First, 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 high oxygen 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 individuals with naturally high oxygen levels. These will serve as the foundation for your breeding line.
Once you have identified creatures with high oxygen stats, place them in a secure breeding area. This area should be safe from predators and have enough space for the creatures to move around. You will also need a steady supply of food to keep the parents healthy and to feed the baby once it hatches or is born. For aquatic creatures, consider building a pen in shallow water or using a platform saddle to create a mobile breeding area.
To initiate breeding, set the creatures to "Enable Wandering" or use the "Mate" option if you have the necessary structures like a mating pen. Keep in mind that breeding cooldowns apply, so you may need multiple pairs to speed up the process. Once the breeding process starts, you will either get an egg or a live baby, depending on the species. Eggs need to be incubated at the right temperature, so prepare air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature control methods. For live births, ensure you have enough food on hand to feed the baby immediately.
After the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. This includes feeding it regularly and ensuring it is safe from threats. During this time, you can also work on imprinting. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals to increase its stats and loyalty. While imprinting does not directly affect oxygen levels, it boosts other stats like health and melee damage, making the creature more effective overall.
To introduce mutations, you need to breed multiple generations. Mutations are random and can affect either stats or colors. Each mutation adds two levels to a stat, so if you get a mutation in oxygen, it will increase by two points. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per breeding attempt. To maximize your chances, breed as many creatures as possible and keep track of their stats. Use a spreadsheet or notes to monitor which creatures have the highest oxygen levels and which have mutations.
One common mistake is neglecting other stats while focusing solely on oxygen. While high oxygen is useful, especially for aquatic creatures, you should also aim for balanced stats like health, stamina, and melee damage. Another mistake is not preparing enough resources for baby care. Babies consume a lot of food, especially in the early stages, so stockpile meat, berries, or other appropriate food sources.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations and using clean breeding lines. Stacking mutations involves breeding mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to keep the mutation counter low while still passing on the desired stat. Clean breeding lines refer to maintaining a group of creatures with no mutations to serve as a baseline for comparison. This helps you track which mutations are beneficial and which are not.
Resource requirements for breeding include food, structures for temperature control, and a secure area. For aquatic creatures, you may also need underwater pens or platforms. If you are playing solo, consider automating some aspects of breeding, such as using feeding troughs to reduce the need for constant feeding. In a tribe, coordinate with other members to share the workload and resources.
For example, if you are breeding Megalodons for high oxygen, start by taming several with naturally high oxygen stats. Breed them to create offspring with even higher oxygen levels. Use imprinting to boost other stats and introduce mutations to further enhance oxygen. Over time, you will have a line of Megalodons with exceptional underwater endurance, making them ideal for ocean exploration or combat.
In summary, breeding for high oxygen levels in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and patience. Focus on stat inheritance, utilize mutations, and avoid common mistakes like neglecting other stats or underpreparing for baby care. With the right strategies, you can create powerful aquatic creatures that excel in their environment.