What is the best way to breed for higher oxygen in creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Breeding for higher oxygen in creatures 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 a priority for most land-based creatures, it is crucial for aquatic or semi-aquatic creatures like the Ichthyosaurus, Megalodon, or Basilosaurus. Breeding for higher oxygen can make these creatures more efficient for underwater exploration, resource gathering, or combat.
To begin, you need two creatures of the same species with decent oxygen stats. The first step is to tame or acquire these creatures. Look for wild creatures with naturally high oxygen stats, as this will give you a better starting point. Once you have your breeding pair, place them in a secure and controlled environment, such as a fenced area or a breeding pen. Ensure they are close enough to each other and set to "Enable Wandering" or use a mating boost item like the Oviraptor to initiate breeding.
When the creatures mate, they will produce an egg (for egg-laying species) or a live baby (for mammals). The baby will inherit stats from both parents. Each stat, including oxygen, has a 55% chance to be inherited from the higher-stat parent and a 45% chance from the lower-stat parent. This means that if one parent has a higher oxygen stat, the baby is more likely to inherit that higher stat. However, there is still some randomness involved, so you may need to breed multiple generations to achieve the desired oxygen level.
Mutations can also play a role in increasing oxygen stats. Mutations are rare, random events that can increase a stat by two levels and sometimes change the creature's color. To maximize the chance of a mutation affecting oxygen, you need to breed many creatures and hope for the mutation to occur in the oxygen stat. Keep in mind that each creature has a mutation counter, and once it reaches 20 mutations on either the maternal or paternal side, the chance of further mutations decreases significantly. To avoid this, you can use a "clean" breeding pair (creatures with no mutations) to continue breeding for mutations.
One advanced technique is to create a breeding line specifically for oxygen. Start with a pair of creatures with high oxygen stats and breed them repeatedly. Keep the offspring with the highest oxygen stats and use them as the next generation's breeding pair. Over time, this selective breeding will increase the oxygen stat in your lineage. You can also introduce mutations into this line by breeding with creatures that have mutations in other stats, as long as the oxygen stat remains the focus.
Resource management is crucial for successful breeding. You will need a steady supply of food to keep the parents and babies fed. For egg-laying creatures, you may need air conditioners or standing torches to maintain the correct temperature for incubation. For live births, you will need to prepare a large amount of food, such as meat or berries, to feed the baby during its growth stages. Imprinting is another important aspect of breeding. By interacting with the baby during its growth, you can increase its stats and loyalty. Imprinting bonuses can further enhance the oxygen stat, making the creature even more effective.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting the baby's food supply, which can lead to starvation, and failing to protect the baby from predators or environmental hazards. Always monitor the baby's health and food levels, and keep it in a safe, enclosed area. Another mistake is over-mutating a breeding line, which can make it difficult to introduce new mutations later. Keep track of the mutation counters and use clean breeding pairs when necessary.
Tribe and solo considerations also play a role in breeding. In a tribe, multiple players can share the workload of breeding, feeding, and imprinting, making the process more efficient. Solo players will need to manage all aspects of breeding on their own, so it is important to plan ahead and allocate time for baby care. Using timers or alarms can help you keep track of feeding and imprinting schedules.
In summary, breeding for higher oxygen in ARK: Survival Evolved involves selecting creatures with high oxygen stats, breeding them selectively, and introducing mutations to further enhance the stat. Proper resource management, baby care, and imprinting are essential for success. By following these strategies and avoiding common mistakes, you can create powerful aquatic creatures with exceptional oxygen stats, making them ideal for underwater exploration and combat.
To begin, you need two creatures of the same species with decent oxygen stats. The first step is to tame or acquire these creatures. Look for wild creatures with naturally high oxygen stats, as this will give you a better starting point. Once you have your breeding pair, place them in a secure and controlled environment, such as a fenced area or a breeding pen. Ensure they are close enough to each other and set to "Enable Wandering" or use a mating boost item like the Oviraptor to initiate breeding.
When the creatures mate, they will produce an egg (for egg-laying species) or a live baby (for mammals). The baby will inherit stats from both parents. Each stat, including oxygen, has a 55% chance to be inherited from the higher-stat parent and a 45% chance from the lower-stat parent. This means that if one parent has a higher oxygen stat, the baby is more likely to inherit that higher stat. However, there is still some randomness involved, so you may need to breed multiple generations to achieve the desired oxygen level.
Mutations can also play a role in increasing oxygen stats. Mutations are rare, random events that can increase a stat by two levels and sometimes change the creature's color. To maximize the chance of a mutation affecting oxygen, you need to breed many creatures and hope for the mutation to occur in the oxygen stat. Keep in mind that each creature has a mutation counter, and once it reaches 20 mutations on either the maternal or paternal side, the chance of further mutations decreases significantly. To avoid this, you can use a "clean" breeding pair (creatures with no mutations) to continue breeding for mutations.
One advanced technique is to create a breeding line specifically for oxygen. Start with a pair of creatures with high oxygen stats and breed them repeatedly. Keep the offspring with the highest oxygen stats and use them as the next generation's breeding pair. Over time, this selective breeding will increase the oxygen stat in your lineage. You can also introduce mutations into this line by breeding with creatures that have mutations in other stats, as long as the oxygen stat remains the focus.
Resource management is crucial for successful breeding. You will need a steady supply of food to keep the parents and babies fed. For egg-laying creatures, you may need air conditioners or standing torches to maintain the correct temperature for incubation. For live births, you will need to prepare a large amount of food, such as meat or berries, to feed the baby during its growth stages. Imprinting is another important aspect of breeding. By interacting with the baby during its growth, you can increase its stats and loyalty. Imprinting bonuses can further enhance the oxygen stat, making the creature even more effective.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting the baby's food supply, which can lead to starvation, and failing to protect the baby from predators or environmental hazards. Always monitor the baby's health and food levels, and keep it in a safe, enclosed area. Another mistake is over-mutating a breeding line, which can make it difficult to introduce new mutations later. Keep track of the mutation counters and use clean breeding pairs when necessary.
Tribe and solo considerations also play a role in breeding. In a tribe, multiple players can share the workload of breeding, feeding, and imprinting, making the process more efficient. Solo players will need to manage all aspects of breeding on their own, so it is important to plan ahead and allocate time for baby care. Using timers or alarms can help you keep track of feeding and imprinting schedules.
In summary, breeding for higher oxygen in ARK: Survival Evolved involves selecting creatures with high oxygen stats, breeding them selectively, and introducing mutations to further enhance the stat. Proper resource management, baby care, and imprinting are essential for success. By following these strategies and avoiding common mistakes, you can create powerful aquatic creatures with exceptional oxygen stats, making them ideal for underwater exploration and combat.