How do I breed for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and mutation management. Oxygen is a stat that determines how long a creature can stay underwater before needing to surface for air. While this stat is more relevant for aquatic creatures like the Ichthyosaurus or Basilosaurus, it can also be useful for land creatures that may need to traverse water or for players who want to optimize their tames for specific tasks. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to breed for high oxygen efficiency.

First, you need to understand the mechanics of stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 55% 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, thereÔÇÖs a good chance the baby will inherit 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 stats, as these will serve as the foundation for your breeding program.

Once you have identified creatures with high oxygen stats, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two selected creatures close to each other and enable mating. Make sure they are well-fed and in a safe environment. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, youÔÇÖll need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature. Use air conditioners, standing torches, or campfires to maintain the required temperature. For live-bearing creatures, simply wait for the gestation period to complete.

After the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. This includes feeding it the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. Babies have a high food consumption rate, so make sure you have plenty of resources on hand. As the baby grows, youÔÇÖll have the opportunity to imprint on it. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals, such as feeding it or taking it for a walk. Successful imprinting will increase the babyÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat or other tasks.

To further enhance the oxygen stat, you can introduce mutations into your breeding line. Mutations are rare and random, but they can provide significant boosts to a creatureÔÇÖs stats or change its appearance. Each mutation increases a stat by two levels and can also add a unique color to the creature. However, there is a limit of 20 mutations per stat, so itÔÇÖs important to plan your breeding program carefully. To maximize the chances of getting a mutation in the oxygen stat, you should breed creatures that already have high oxygen stats. This increases the likelihood that the mutation will affect the desired stat.

Resource management is crucial for a successful breeding program. YouÔÇÖll need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to keep your creatures fed. Additionally, youÔÇÖll need materials for building incubators, air conditioners, and other equipment. Make sure your base is well-stocked and that you have a reliable source of resources. If youÔÇÖre playing in a tribe, coordinate with your tribe members to share the workload. Breeding can be time-consuming, so having multiple people involved can make the process more efficient.

One common mistake to avoid is neglecting the other stats of your creatures. While focusing on oxygen efficiency, itÔÇÖs easy to overlook other important stats like health, stamina, or melee damage. Make sure your breeding program balances all relevant stats to create a well-rounded creature. Another mistake is not keeping track of your breeding lines. Use a spreadsheet or other tracking method to record the stats and mutations of each generation. This will help you identify which creatures to breed together to achieve your goals.

Advanced techniques include stacking mutations and using clean breeding lines. Stacking mutations involves breeding mutated creatures together to combine multiple mutations into a single creature. This can result in a creature with extremely high oxygen stats. Clean breeding lines involve breeding creatures without mutations to create a stable base population. This allows you to introduce mutations in a controlled manner and avoid unwanted stat combinations.

In conclusion, breeding for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and attention to detail. By understanding the mechanics of stat inheritance and mutations, and by following a structured breeding program, you can create creatures with exceptional oxygen stats. Whether youÔÇÖre playing solo or in a tribe, the key to success is patience and persistence. With the right approach, you can breed powerful and specialized creatures that excel in their designated roles.