What is the best way to breed for higher melee damage in creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Breeding for higher melee damage in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of understanding stat inheritance, mutations, and careful planning. The goal is to create a lineage of creatures with progressively higher melee damage stats by selectively breeding the best individuals. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.
First, you need to understand the mechanics of stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each stat category, including melee damage. This means if one parent has a melee damage stat of 300 and the other has 250, the baby has a 70% chance to inherit the 300 stat. The remaining 30% chance is for the lower stat. This mechanic is crucial because it allows you to selectively breed creatures with higher stats over time.
To start, you need a pair of creatures with high melee damage stats. Tame multiple creatures of the same species and check their stats after taming. Look for individuals with naturally high melee damage. Once you have a few candidates, begin breeding them. The first step is to create a breeding pair with the highest melee damage stat you can find. This pair will serve as the foundation for your breeding line.
Next, focus on mutations. Mutations are random events that can occur during breeding, and they can increase a stat by 2 points or change the creatureÔÇÖs color. Each mutation adds to the creatureÔÇÖs mutation counter, and there is a limit of 20 mutations per stat per side (maternal and paternal). This means you can have up to 40 mutations total for a single stat. Mutations are rare, with a 2.5% chance per stat per baby, so breeding many creatures increases your chances of getting a mutation.
When a mutation occurs, check if it affects the melee damage stat. If it does, keep the mutated baby and use it in your breeding line. If the mutation affects another stat or only changes the color, you can choose to discard that baby or keep it for other purposes. Over time, you will accumulate mutations that increase melee damage, leading to stronger creatures.
One important tip is to keep track of your breeding lines. Use spreadsheets or notes to record the stats and mutation counts of your creatures. This helps you avoid inbreeding and ensures you are making progress toward your goal. Inbreeding can lead to wasted mutations and slower progress, so always introduce new bloodlines when possible.
Resource management is also critical. Breeding requires a lot of food, especially for raising babies. Prepare by stockpiling meat, berries, or other appropriate food for the species you are breeding. You will also need a safe and secure base to house your breeding pairs and raise the babies. Ensure your base has enough space and is well-defended to protect your valuable creatures.
For solo players, breeding can be time-consuming due to the need for constant care during the baby phase. Consider using feeding troughs and air conditioners to automate some of the care. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities, with some members focusing on breeding while others gather resources or defend the base.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations. To do this, breed a mutated creature with a non-mutated one to keep the mutation counter low on one side. This allows you to continue gaining mutations on the other side. For example, if you have a male with 10 mutations, breed it with a female with 0 mutations. The baby will have 10 mutations on the paternal side and 0 on the maternal side, leaving room for more mutations.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting imprinting. Imprinting increases the babyÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat. Always imprint your babies by interacting with them during their growth stages. Another mistake is over-mutating. Once you reach the mutation limit, further mutations will not increase the stat, so focus on other stats or traits.
In summary, breeding for higher melee damage involves selecting creatures with high stats, breeding them to combine the best stats, and accumulating mutations. Keep detailed records, manage resources carefully, and use advanced techniques like mutation stacking. With patience and planning, you can create powerful creatures with exceptional melee damage in ARK: Survival Evolved.
First, you need to understand the mechanics of stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each stat category, including melee damage. This means if one parent has a melee damage stat of 300 and the other has 250, the baby has a 70% chance to inherit the 300 stat. The remaining 30% chance is for the lower stat. This mechanic is crucial because it allows you to selectively breed creatures with higher stats over time.
To start, you need a pair of creatures with high melee damage stats. Tame multiple creatures of the same species and check their stats after taming. Look for individuals with naturally high melee damage. Once you have a few candidates, begin breeding them. The first step is to create a breeding pair with the highest melee damage stat you can find. This pair will serve as the foundation for your breeding line.
Next, focus on mutations. Mutations are random events that can occur during breeding, and they can increase a stat by 2 points or change the creatureÔÇÖs color. Each mutation adds to the creatureÔÇÖs mutation counter, and there is a limit of 20 mutations per stat per side (maternal and paternal). This means you can have up to 40 mutations total for a single stat. Mutations are rare, with a 2.5% chance per stat per baby, so breeding many creatures increases your chances of getting a mutation.
When a mutation occurs, check if it affects the melee damage stat. If it does, keep the mutated baby and use it in your breeding line. If the mutation affects another stat or only changes the color, you can choose to discard that baby or keep it for other purposes. Over time, you will accumulate mutations that increase melee damage, leading to stronger creatures.
One important tip is to keep track of your breeding lines. Use spreadsheets or notes to record the stats and mutation counts of your creatures. This helps you avoid inbreeding and ensures you are making progress toward your goal. Inbreeding can lead to wasted mutations and slower progress, so always introduce new bloodlines when possible.
Resource management is also critical. Breeding requires a lot of food, especially for raising babies. Prepare by stockpiling meat, berries, or other appropriate food for the species you are breeding. You will also need a safe and secure base to house your breeding pairs and raise the babies. Ensure your base has enough space and is well-defended to protect your valuable creatures.
For solo players, breeding can be time-consuming due to the need for constant care during the baby phase. Consider using feeding troughs and air conditioners to automate some of the care. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities, with some members focusing on breeding while others gather resources or defend the base.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations. To do this, breed a mutated creature with a non-mutated one to keep the mutation counter low on one side. This allows you to continue gaining mutations on the other side. For example, if you have a male with 10 mutations, breed it with a female with 0 mutations. The baby will have 10 mutations on the paternal side and 0 on the maternal side, leaving room for more mutations.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting imprinting. Imprinting increases the babyÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat. Always imprint your babies by interacting with them during their growth stages. Another mistake is over-mutating. Once you reach the mutation limit, further mutations will not increase the stat, so focus on other stats or traits.
In summary, breeding for higher melee damage involves selecting creatures with high stats, breeding them to combine the best stats, and accumulating mutations. Keep detailed records, manage resources carefully, and use advanced techniques like mutation stacking. With patience and planning, you can create powerful creatures with exceptional melee damage in ARK: Survival Evolved.