How do I breed for higher movement speed in creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for higher movement speed in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of understanding the game's breeding mechanics, careful planning, and patience. Movement speed is one of the stats that can be inherited or mutated, and while it is not directly visible in the creature's stat breakdown, it can be influenced through selective breeding and mutations. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

First, itÔÇÖs important to understand the basics of breeding mechanics. When two creatures of the same species are bred, the offspring inherits stats from both parents. Each stat, including movement speed, has a chance to be inherited from either parent. Movement speed is a hidden stat, meaning it doesnÔÇÖt show up in the creatureÔÇÖs stat points, but it is still passed down. To breed for higher movement speed, you need to start with parents that have high base movement speed. This can be determined by observing how fast the creatures move in the game.

To begin, youÔÇÖll need to tame multiple creatures of the same species and compare their movement speeds. This can be done by riding them or observing their movement in the wild. Once youÔÇÖve identified the fastest individuals, you can start breeding them. ItÔÇÖs important to note that movement speed is not a stat that can be leveled up after taming, so the base speed is crucial.

Next, youÔÇÖll need to set up a breeding area. This should be a secure location with enough space for the creatures to move around and for you to manage the breeding process. YouÔÇÖll also need a steady supply of food to keep the parents and the offspring fed. Kibble is the most efficient food for breeding, but meat or berries can also be used depending on the species.

Once you have your breeding pair, place them close together and enable mating. This will start the breeding process, and after a certain amount of time, the female will lay an egg or give birth to a live baby, depending on the species. The egg will need to be incubated at the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, campfires, or other temperature control methods. For live births, youÔÇÖll need to ensure the baby is kept warm and fed immediately.

After the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. This includes feeding it regularly and ensuring it is safe from predators. During this time, you can also imprint on the baby by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the babyÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat or other tasks. Imprinting can also slightly increase movement speed, so itÔÇÖs important to maximize imprinting bonuses.

Mutations are another key factor in breeding for higher movement speed. Mutations can occur randomly during breeding and can affect stats or colors. While mutations are rare, they can provide significant boosts to movement speed. To increase the chances of mutations, you can breed multiple generations of creatures and keep track of their stats. ItÔÇÖs important to note that each creature can only have a maximum of 20 mutations on each side (maternal and paternal), so careful planning is needed to avoid hitting this limit.

One common mistake to avoid is breeding creatures with low base movement speed. Since movement speed cannot be leveled up after taming, starting with slow creatures will make it difficult to achieve high speeds in the offspring. Another mistake is neglecting imprinting, as this can significantly enhance the creatureÔÇÖs overall effectiveness, including movement speed.

Advanced techniques include using stat calculators to track the stats of your breeding lines and predict the outcomes of future breedings. This can help you identify the best pairs to breed and maximize the chances of getting high movement speed offspring. Additionally, using cryopods can help manage your breeding population by storing creatures when they are not needed, freeing up space in your breeding area.

Resource requirements for breeding include a steady supply of food, materials for building a secure breeding area, and resources for temperature control. If youÔÇÖre playing in a tribe, coordination with other members can help manage the breeding process more efficiently. Solo players will need to be more self-sufficient and may need to focus on smaller breeding projects.

In summary, breeding for higher movement speed in ARK: Survival Evolved involves selecting fast base creatures, setting up a secure breeding area, managing the breeding and imprinting process, and utilizing mutations. By carefully planning your breeding lines and avoiding common mistakes, you can create creatures with significantly higher movement speed, giving you an advantage in the game.