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

Breeding for crafting skill in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a deep understanding of the game's breeding mechanics, stat inheritance, and mutation systems. Crafting skill, also known as Crafting Speed, is a stat that affects how quickly a creature can craft items in its inventory, such as saddles or other crafted goods. This stat is particularly useful for creatures like the Argentavis, which can craft items on the fly, or the Beaver, which can craft items in its inventory. To breed for crafting skill, you need to focus on maximizing this stat through selective breeding and mutations.

First, let's break down the mechanics involved. When two creatures breed, the offspring inherits stats from both parents. Each stat, including crafting skill, has a 55% chance to be inherited from either parent. This means you need to start with parents that have high crafting skill stats. If neither parent has a high crafting skill, the offspring will not inherit it. Crafting skill is not a commonly prioritized stat, so you may need to tame multiple creatures of the same species and check their stats to find one with a high crafting skill. Once you have a creature with a high crafting skill, you can begin the breeding process.

To start, tame several creatures of the same species and check their stats. Look for one with a high crafting skill. If you find one, keep it as your breeding stock. If not, continue taming until you find one. Once you have a male and female with high crafting skill, place them in a secure breeding area. Ensure they are set to wander or enable mating in their behavior settings. Keep them well-fed with food appropriate for their species, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. 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. Eggs require specific temperatures to hatch, so you may need air conditioners or campfires to maintain the correct temperature. Once the baby hatches or is born, it will require constant feeding. Baby creatures have a high food consumption rate, so prepare a large amount of food in advance. As the baby grows, you can interact with it to imprint, which increases its stats and loyalty. Imprinting is crucial for maximizing the creature's effectiveness.

Now, let's discuss mutations. Mutations can randomly occur during breeding and can affect a creature's stats or colors. Each mutation increases a stat by two levels and can stack up to 20 times per stat. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per breeding. To maximize your chances of getting a mutation in crafting skill, breed your high crafting skill creatures repeatedly. Keep track of the mutations by naming the offspring or using a spreadsheet. If you get a mutation in crafting skill, use that creature as a parent for future breeding.

One common mistake is neglecting to check the stats of the offspring. Always check the stats of the baby to ensure it inherited the high crafting skill. If it did not, you may need to breed the parents again. Another mistake is not preparing enough food for the baby. Baby creatures can starve quickly, so have a large supply of food ready. Additionally, avoid inbreeding, as it can lead to stat degradation over time. Always introduce new bloodlines by taming new creatures with high stats.

Advanced techniques include using a breeding calculator to predict stat inheritance and mutation chances. These tools can help you plan your breeding lines more effectively. Another advanced technique is stacking mutations. Once you have a mutation in crafting skill, breed that creature with another high crafting skill creature to stack additional mutations. This can significantly increase the crafting skill stat over multiple generations.

Resource requirements for breeding include a secure breeding area, food for the parents and babies, and temperature control for eggs. If you are breeding in a tribe, coordinate with your tribe members to share the workload. Solo players will need to manage all aspects of breeding themselves, so plan accordingly.

In summary, breeding for crafting skill in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, stat tracking, and resource management. Start by taming creatures with high crafting skill, breed them to produce offspring with even higher stats, and use mutations to further enhance the stat. Avoid common mistakes like neglecting to check stats or not preparing enough food. Use advanced techniques like breeding calculators and mutation stacking to optimize your breeding lines. With patience and persistence, you can create creatures with exceptional crafting skill to aid you in your survival journey.