What is the imprinting bonus and how does it work in ARK: Survival Evolved?
The imprinting bonus in ARK: Survival Evolved is a crucial mechanic in the breeding system that allows players to significantly enhance the stats and loyalty of their tamed creatures. When a baby creature is born or hatched, it enters a growth phase during which it requires constant care. During this phase, the player can interact with the baby to "imprint" on it, which provides permanent stat boosts and increases the creature's loyalty to the player. This process is essential for creating powerful, specialized creatures that excel in combat, resource gathering, or other tasks.
To begin the imprinting process, you must first breed two creatures of the same species. Once the baby is born or hatched, it will require food and care to survive. During its growth phase, the baby will periodically request specific interactions, such as being cuddled, walked, or fed a particular type of food. These interactions are known as "imprint requests." When you fulfill an imprint request, the baby gains a small percentage of imprinting progress. The amount of progress per interaction depends on the server settings, but on official servers, each successful imprint typically increases the imprinting percentage by around 8-10%.
The imprinting bonus provides several benefits. First, it increases the creature's stats, including health, stamina, weight, and melee damage. The exact stat boosts depend on the creature's base stats and the imprinting percentage. For example, a creature with 100% imprinting will receive a 20% boost to its health, stamina, weight, and melee damage. Additionally, the imprinting bonus increases the creature's loyalty to the player, which means it will take less damage from the player and deal more damage when ridden by the player.
To maximize the imprinting bonus, you need to carefully manage the baby's growth and imprinting requests. One important strategy is to ensure that you are available to fulfill imprint requests as soon as they appear. Imprint requests occur at regular intervals, and missing a request can delay the imprinting process. On official servers, imprint requests typically occur every 3-4 hours, so you may need to set alarms or coordinate with tribe members to ensure you don't miss any requests.
Another important consideration is the type of food required for imprinting. Some imprint requests require specific foods, such as kibble, berries, or meat. It's essential to have a steady supply of these foods on hand to fulfill imprint requests quickly. For example, if you are breeding carnivorous creatures, you should stockpile raw meat or kibble. For herbivores, you will need a supply of berries or vegetables. Preparing these resources in advance can save time and ensure you don't miss any imprint requests.
One common mistake players make is neglecting the baby's food supply during the imprinting process. Baby creatures have a high food consumption rate, and if they run out of food, they will starve and die. To avoid this, you should place a large amount of food in the baby's inventory or use a feeding trough to keep it well-fed. For carnivores, raw meat or kibble is ideal, while herbivores can be fed berries or vegetables. It's also a good idea to have a backup food supply in case the baby consumes its food faster than expected.
Advanced players can optimize the imprinting process by using specific strategies and tools. For example, using a Maewing, a creature introduced in the Genesis Part 2 DLC, can make the imprinting process easier. Maewings have a special ability that allows them to nurse baby creatures, reducing the need for constant feeding. Additionally, using a Cryopod to store the baby creature during its growth phase can help manage its food consumption and imprinting requests more efficiently. Cryopods allow you to pause the baby's growth, which can be useful if you need to take a break or focus on other tasks.
Resource requirements for imprinting can vary depending on the creature and the server settings. On official servers, you will need a steady supply of food, such as raw meat, kibble, berries, or vegetables, depending on the creature's diet. You may also need specific items for imprint requests, such as a saddle or a specific type of kibble. Preparing these resources in advance can save time and ensure you don't miss any imprint requests.
For solo players, imprinting can be challenging due to the time commitment required. However, with careful planning and preparation, it is possible to achieve 100% imprinting on your own. Setting alarms or reminders for imprint requests can help you stay on track. Additionally, using tools like Maewings or Cryopods can make the process more manageable.
In a tribe setting, imprinting can be more efficient, as tribe members can share the responsibility of caring for the baby. Coordinating with your tribe to ensure someone is always available to fulfill imprint requests can help you achieve 100% imprinting more easily. Additionally, tribe members can help gather the necessary resources, such as food or items for imprint requests.
In conclusion, the imprinting bonus is a powerful mechanic in ARK: Survival Evolved that allows players to enhance their creatures' stats and loyalty. By carefully managing the baby's growth, fulfilling imprint requests, and preparing the necessary resources, you can achieve 100% imprinting and create powerful, specialized creatures. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, with the right strategies and tools, you can master the imprinting process and take your breeding efforts to the next level.
To begin the imprinting process, you must first breed two creatures of the same species. Once the baby is born or hatched, it will require food and care to survive. During its growth phase, the baby will periodically request specific interactions, such as being cuddled, walked, or fed a particular type of food. These interactions are known as "imprint requests." When you fulfill an imprint request, the baby gains a small percentage of imprinting progress. The amount of progress per interaction depends on the server settings, but on official servers, each successful imprint typically increases the imprinting percentage by around 8-10%.
The imprinting bonus provides several benefits. First, it increases the creature's stats, including health, stamina, weight, and melee damage. The exact stat boosts depend on the creature's base stats and the imprinting percentage. For example, a creature with 100% imprinting will receive a 20% boost to its health, stamina, weight, and melee damage. Additionally, the imprinting bonus increases the creature's loyalty to the player, which means it will take less damage from the player and deal more damage when ridden by the player.
To maximize the imprinting bonus, you need to carefully manage the baby's growth and imprinting requests. One important strategy is to ensure that you are available to fulfill imprint requests as soon as they appear. Imprint requests occur at regular intervals, and missing a request can delay the imprinting process. On official servers, imprint requests typically occur every 3-4 hours, so you may need to set alarms or coordinate with tribe members to ensure you don't miss any requests.
Another important consideration is the type of food required for imprinting. Some imprint requests require specific foods, such as kibble, berries, or meat. It's essential to have a steady supply of these foods on hand to fulfill imprint requests quickly. For example, if you are breeding carnivorous creatures, you should stockpile raw meat or kibble. For herbivores, you will need a supply of berries or vegetables. Preparing these resources in advance can save time and ensure you don't miss any imprint requests.
One common mistake players make is neglecting the baby's food supply during the imprinting process. Baby creatures have a high food consumption rate, and if they run out of food, they will starve and die. To avoid this, you should place a large amount of food in the baby's inventory or use a feeding trough to keep it well-fed. For carnivores, raw meat or kibble is ideal, while herbivores can be fed berries or vegetables. It's also a good idea to have a backup food supply in case the baby consumes its food faster than expected.
Advanced players can optimize the imprinting process by using specific strategies and tools. For example, using a Maewing, a creature introduced in the Genesis Part 2 DLC, can make the imprinting process easier. Maewings have a special ability that allows them to nurse baby creatures, reducing the need for constant feeding. Additionally, using a Cryopod to store the baby creature during its growth phase can help manage its food consumption and imprinting requests more efficiently. Cryopods allow you to pause the baby's growth, which can be useful if you need to take a break or focus on other tasks.
Resource requirements for imprinting can vary depending on the creature and the server settings. On official servers, you will need a steady supply of food, such as raw meat, kibble, berries, or vegetables, depending on the creature's diet. You may also need specific items for imprint requests, such as a saddle or a specific type of kibble. Preparing these resources in advance can save time and ensure you don't miss any imprint requests.
For solo players, imprinting can be challenging due to the time commitment required. However, with careful planning and preparation, it is possible to achieve 100% imprinting on your own. Setting alarms or reminders for imprint requests can help you stay on track. Additionally, using tools like Maewings or Cryopods can make the process more manageable.
In a tribe setting, imprinting can be more efficient, as tribe members can share the responsibility of caring for the baby. Coordinating with your tribe to ensure someone is always available to fulfill imprint requests can help you achieve 100% imprinting more easily. Additionally, tribe members can help gather the necessary resources, such as food or items for imprint requests.
In conclusion, the imprinting bonus is a powerful mechanic in ARK: Survival Evolved that allows players to enhance their creatures' stats and loyalty. By carefully managing the baby's growth, fulfilling imprint requests, and preparing the necessary resources, you can achieve 100% imprinting and create powerful, specialized creatures. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, with the right strategies and tools, you can master the imprinting process and take your breeding efforts to the next level.