What is the best way to breed for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of understanding the game's breeding mechanics, careful planning, and patience. Oxygen is a stat that determines how long a creature can stay underwater before needing to surface for air. While this stat is not always a priority for land-based creatures, it is crucial for aquatic tames like the Basilosaurus, Ichthyosaurus, or Mosasaurus, which spend most of their time underwater. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to breed for high oxygen efficiency.

First, you need to understand the mechanics of stat inheritance and mutations. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent. This means if one parent has a high oxygen stat and the other has a low one, the baby is more likely to inherit the higher stat. Mutations, which are rare, can further increase a stat by 2 points and may also change the creature's color. However, mutations are random, so you cannot control which stat gets boosted. To maximize oxygen efficiency, you need to start with parents that already have high oxygen stats.

To begin, tame multiple creatures of the same species with high oxygen stats. This increases your chances of getting a baby with an even higher stat. Once you have a pair with desirable stats, place them in a safe, enclosed area to prevent them from wandering or being attacked. Enable mating by setting them to "Enable Wandering" or using a mating pen. Keep in mind that breeding has a cooldown period, so you may need to wait before breeding the same pair again.

After the egg is laid or the baby is born, you must care for it until it reaches adulthood. For eggs, you need to maintain the correct temperature, which can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items. For live births, ensure the baby has enough food to survive. During this time, you can imprint on the baby by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the creature's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat or other tasks.

One common mistake is neglecting to track the stats of your breeding pairs. Use a spreadsheet or notes to keep track of each creature's stats, mutations, and lineage. This helps you avoid inbreeding, which can lead to weaker offspring. Another mistake is rushing the process. Breeding for high stats takes time, and you may need to go through multiple generations to achieve your goal. Patience is key.

Advanced techniques involve stacking mutations. Each creature can have up to 20 mutations on the maternal and paternal sides, totaling 40 mutations. However, once a creature reaches 20 mutations on one side, it can no longer produce new mutations. To continue stacking mutations, you need to breed mutated females with non-mutated males. This allows you to keep adding mutations to the maternal side while avoiding the mutation cap on the paternal side.

Resource requirements for breeding include a steady supply of food for the parents and babies, as well as materials for maintaining the breeding area. For aquatic creatures, you may need to build an underwater pen or use a platform saddle to keep them safe. If you are playing solo, breeding can be more challenging due to the time commitment required for baby care. In a tribe, you can divide tasks among members to make the process more efficient.

A specific example would be breeding a high-oxygen Basilosaurus. Start by taming multiple Basilosaurus with high oxygen stats. Place them in a safe underwater pen and begin breeding. Track the stats of each offspring and select the ones with the highest oxygen to continue the breeding line. Over time, you can introduce mutations to further increase the oxygen stat. Once you have a Basilosaurus with a high oxygen stat, it will be able to stay underwater for extended periods, making it an excellent choice for underwater exploration or combat.

In conclusion, breeding for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved requires a deep understanding of the game's breeding mechanics, careful planning, and patience. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can create powerful aquatic creatures with exceptional oxygen stats. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, the effort you put into breeding will pay off in the form of highly efficient and effective tames.