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 particularly useful for aquatic creatures like the Ichthyosaurus, Mosasaurus, or Basilosaurus, it can also be beneficial for land creatures that may need to traverse water or participate in underwater activities. Below is a detailed guide on how to breed for high oxygen efficiency.
To begin, 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 that 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 oxygen efficiency, you should start by taming or breeding creatures with naturally high oxygen stats. For example, an Ichthyosaurus or a Basilosaurus often spawns with high oxygen stats, making them ideal candidates for breeding.
Once you have identified creatures with high oxygen stats, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two creatures close together in a safe, enclosed area, such as a breeding pen. Enable wandering or use the mating option to initiate breeding. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items. For live-bearing creatures, you simply need to 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. During this time, you can also begin the imprinting process. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals to increase its stats and loyalty. Each imprinting interaction provides a small boost to the creature's stats, including oxygen. To maximize oxygen efficiency, prioritize imprinting interactions that offer stat boosts.
Mutations can also play a significant role in breeding for high oxygen efficiency. Mutations are rare, random events that can increase a creature's stats or change its colors. Each mutation adds two levels to a stat, which can be a significant boost if applied to oxygen. However, mutations are random, so it may take many breeding attempts to achieve the desired result. To increase your chances, you can breed multiple generations of creatures, carefully selecting those with the highest oxygen stats and mutations for further breeding.
Resource management is crucial when breeding for high oxygen efficiency. You will need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to keep the baby fed during its growth stages. Additionally, you will need materials for building a breeding pen, incubating eggs, and maintaining the temperature. If you are playing solo, this can be a significant time investment, so it is important to plan ahead and gather resources before starting the breeding process. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities among members to make the process more efficient.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting the baby's food supply, failing to maintain the correct temperature for eggs, and not prioritizing imprinting interactions. It is also important to avoid over-mutating your creatures, as each mutation increases the creature's level, which can make it harder to manage and breed in the future. To avoid this, keep track of your breeding lines and only introduce mutations that provide significant benefits.
Advanced techniques for breeding high oxygen efficiency include using stat calculators to predict the outcome of breeding pairs and tracking mutations through spreadsheets or breeding logs. This allows you to make informed decisions about which creatures to breed and which mutations to keep. Additionally, you can use cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding operations.
In summary, breeding for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved involves careful selection of creatures with high oxygen stats, strategic breeding to maximize stat inheritance, and diligent care during the baby's growth stages. By understanding the mechanics of stat inheritance, mutations, and imprinting, and by managing resources effectively, you can create powerful creatures with exceptional oxygen efficiency. Whether you are playing solo or as part of a tribe, these strategies will help you achieve your breeding goals and enhance your gameplay experience.
To begin, 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 that 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 oxygen efficiency, you should start by taming or breeding creatures with naturally high oxygen stats. For example, an Ichthyosaurus or a Basilosaurus often spawns with high oxygen stats, making them ideal candidates for breeding.
Once you have identified creatures with high oxygen stats, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two creatures close together in a safe, enclosed area, such as a breeding pen. Enable wandering or use the mating option to initiate breeding. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items. For live-bearing creatures, you simply need to 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. During this time, you can also begin the imprinting process. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals to increase its stats and loyalty. Each imprinting interaction provides a small boost to the creature's stats, including oxygen. To maximize oxygen efficiency, prioritize imprinting interactions that offer stat boosts.
Mutations can also play a significant role in breeding for high oxygen efficiency. Mutations are rare, random events that can increase a creature's stats or change its colors. Each mutation adds two levels to a stat, which can be a significant boost if applied to oxygen. However, mutations are random, so it may take many breeding attempts to achieve the desired result. To increase your chances, you can breed multiple generations of creatures, carefully selecting those with the highest oxygen stats and mutations for further breeding.
Resource management is crucial when breeding for high oxygen efficiency. You will need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to keep the baby fed during its growth stages. Additionally, you will need materials for building a breeding pen, incubating eggs, and maintaining the temperature. If you are playing solo, this can be a significant time investment, so it is important to plan ahead and gather resources before starting the breeding process. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities among members to make the process more efficient.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting the baby's food supply, failing to maintain the correct temperature for eggs, and not prioritizing imprinting interactions. It is also important to avoid over-mutating your creatures, as each mutation increases the creature's level, which can make it harder to manage and breed in the future. To avoid this, keep track of your breeding lines and only introduce mutations that provide significant benefits.
Advanced techniques for breeding high oxygen efficiency include using stat calculators to predict the outcome of breeding pairs and tracking mutations through spreadsheets or breeding logs. This allows you to make informed decisions about which creatures to breed and which mutations to keep. Additionally, you can use cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding operations.
In summary, breeding for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved involves careful selection of creatures with high oxygen stats, strategic breeding to maximize stat inheritance, and diligent care during the baby's growth stages. By understanding the mechanics of stat inheritance, mutations, and imprinting, and by managing resources effectively, you can create powerful creatures with exceptional oxygen efficiency. Whether you are playing solo or as part of a tribe, these strategies will help you achieve your breeding goals and enhance your gameplay experience.