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 in creatures, and while it is not a stat that can be leveled up manually after taming, it can be improved through selective breeding and mutations. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

First, you need to understand the basics of breeding. To breed creatures, you need a male and a female of the same species. Place them close to each other and enable the "Enable Wandering" option. This will initiate the mating process, and after a set amount of time, the female will either lay an egg or give birth to a live baby, depending on the species. Once the baby is born or the egg hatches, you will need to care for it by feeding it the appropriate food and ensuring it stays safe.

When it comes to breeding for higher movement speed, the key is to focus on stat inheritance and mutations. Each creature has a set of stats that are determined by its level and the points allocated to each stat. When two creatures breed, the baby has a chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means if one parent has a higher movement speed stat, there is a chance the baby will inherit that higher stat. Over multiple generations, you can selectively breed creatures to combine the best stats into a single creature.

Mutations are another way to increase movement speed. Mutations can randomly occur during breeding and can affect either the creature's stats or its colors. Each mutation adds two levels to a stat, which can include movement speed. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per stat per baby. To maximize the chances of getting a mutation, you need to breed a large number of creatures. This is where having a well-organized breeding setup is crucial. You should have multiple females and a single male to increase the number of eggs or babies produced per breeding cycle.

One important tip is to keep track of your breeding lines. Use a spreadsheet or a notebook to record the stats of each creature, including movement speed. This will help you identify which creatures have the best stats and which ones to breed together. ItÔÇÖs also important to note that each creature can have up to 20 mutations on each side (maternal and paternal). Once a creature reaches 20 mutations on one side, it can no longer produce new mutations from that side. To avoid this, you can use a clean, unmutated female with a mutated male to continue the mutation process.

Resource management is another critical aspect of breeding. You will need a steady supply of food to keep your breeding creatures and their offspring fed. Kibble is the best food for raising babies, as it provides the most nourishment and reduces the time between feedings. You will also need a safe and secure base to house your breeding creatures and their offspring. This includes having enough space, proper temperature control for eggs, and defenses to protect against predators or other players in PvP.

Common mistakes to avoid include not keeping track of mutations and breeding creatures with too many mutations on one side. This can limit your ability to continue improving stats. Another mistake is not having enough resources to sustain the breeding process. Breeding can be resource-intensive, so make sure you have a steady supply of food and other necessary items before starting.

Advanced techniques include using a breeding calculator to predict the stats of offspring and optimize your breeding lines. You can also use cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding operations. Additionally, consider using a dedicated breeding server or a private server with boosted breeding rates to speed up the process.

In terms of tribe versus solo considerations, breeding can be more manageable in a tribe due to the shared workload and resources. However, solo players can still achieve success by focusing on smaller breeding operations and being efficient with their time and resources.

Specific examples include breeding Raptors for higher movement speed. Start by taming multiple Raptors and selecting the ones with the highest movement speed stats. Breed them together and keep the offspring with the highest movement speed. Continue this process over multiple generations, introducing mutations when they occur. With patience and careful planning, you can create a Raptor with significantly higher movement speed than its wild counterparts.

In conclusion, breeding for higher movement speed in ARK: Survival Evolved requires a deep understanding of the game's breeding mechanics, careful planning, and resource management. By focusing on stat inheritance, mutations, and efficient breeding practices, you can create creatures with exceptional movement speed that will give you an edge in the game.