How do I breed for high elemental disintegration in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for high elemental disintegration in ARK: Survival Evolved involves creating creatures with mutations that enhance their stats, particularly those that contribute to their effectiveness in combat or specific tasks. Elemental disintegration refers to the ability of creatures to deal high damage, often in the context of boss fights or PvP encounters. To achieve this, you need to focus on breeding creatures with high melee damage, health, and stamina, as these stats are crucial for dealing and surviving damage. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to breed for high elemental disintegration.

First, you need to understand the mechanics of breeding and mutations. Breeding involves pairing two creatures of the same species to produce an offspring. The offspring inherits stats from both parents, with each stat having a 55% chance to be inherited from either parent. Mutations can occur randomly during breeding, providing a +2 level increase to a random stat and sometimes altering the creatureÔÇÖs color. Each mutation adds to the mutation counter, and there is a limit of 20 mutations per side (maternal and paternal) for a total of 40 mutations per creature. Beyond this limit, further mutations are still possible but less likely.

To start breeding for high elemental disintegration, you need a pair of high-level creatures with desirable stats. Focus on creatures like Rexes, Therizinos, or Shadowmanes, as they are commonly used for boss fights and PvP due to their high damage output and survivability. Look for wild creatures with high melee damage, health, and stamina. Tame these creatures and note their stats. Once you have a male and female with the desired stats, place them in a breeding pen and enable mating. Ensure they are well-fed and in a safe environment.

After the mating process, you will get an egg or live baby, depending on the species. Hatch the egg or raise the baby, ensuring it has enough food and protection. As the baby grows, you will need to imprint on it by interacting with it during specific intervals. Imprinting increases the creatureÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat. Use a feeding trough to keep the baby fed and a preserving bin or refrigerator to store food like raw meat or berries.

To introduce mutations, continue breeding the offspring with the best stats. Each time you breed, there is a small chance of a mutation occurring. When a mutation happens, check the stats of the offspring to see if it has a desirable increase in melee damage, health, or stamina. If it does, use this mutated creature for further breeding. Over time, you can stack mutations to create a creature with significantly enhanced stats.

One important tip is to keep track of your breeding lines. Use a spreadsheet or notebook to record the stats and mutation counts of each creature. This helps you avoid inbreeding and ensures you are making progress toward your goal. Another tip is to use cryopods to store and manage your breeding stock. Cryopods allow you to easily transport and store creatures, making it easier to manage a large breeding operation.

Common mistakes to avoid include breeding creatures with low stats, as this will not produce strong offspring. Also, avoid inbreeding, as it can lead to undesirable traits and reduce the effectiveness of your breeding program. Another mistake is neglecting imprinting, as it significantly boosts the creatureÔÇÖs stats and loyalty.

Advanced techniques include using a breeding calculator to predict the stats of offspring and optimize your breeding program. You can also use mods or server settings to increase the mutation rate or reduce the time required for breeding and raising babies. Additionally, consider using a kibble farm to produce high-quality food for your creatures, as this speeds up the taming and breeding process.

Resource requirements for breeding include a steady supply of food, such as raw meat or berries, and materials for building a breeding pen and storage for eggs and babies. You will also need cryopods and preserving bins to manage your creatures and food supply. If you are playing solo, consider setting up a small base near a resource-rich area to minimize travel time. If you are in a tribe, coordinate with your tribe members to share the workload and resources.

In summary, breeding for high elemental disintegration in ARK: Survival Evolved involves selecting high-level creatures with desirable stats, breeding them to introduce mutations, and carefully managing your breeding lines. Use imprinting to enhance the creatureÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, and avoid common mistakes like inbreeding and neglecting imprinting. With careful planning and resource management, you can create powerful creatures capable of dealing high elemental disintegration in combat.