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

Breeding for high carry weight efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and careful management of mutations. The goal is to create a creature with the highest possible carry weight stat, which is particularly useful for transporting large amounts of resources or items. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

First, you need to understand the mechanics of breeding and stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring inherits stats from either parent. Each stat, including carry weight, has a 55% chance to be inherited from the higher stat parent and a 45% chance from the lower stat parent. This means that if you have two creatures with high carry weight stats, their offspring has a good chance of inheriting those high stats. However, the process is not guaranteed, so you may need to breed multiple generations to achieve the desired result.

To start, you need to find or tame creatures with high carry weight stats. This can be done by taming multiple creatures of the same species and checking their stats after taming. Focus on creatures like the Argentavis, Brontosaurus, or Mammoth, which naturally have high carry weight stats. Once you have a few creatures with high carry weight, you can begin the breeding process.

The first step is to pair the creatures with the highest carry weight stats. Place them in a secure breeding area, such as a fenced-off pen or a base with enough space. Make sure they are set to wander or enable breeding in their options. Once breeding is initiated, the female will lay an egg (for egg-laying species) or become pregnant (for live-bearing species). Ensure the egg is kept at the correct temperature or the pregnant creature is well-fed and protected.

After the egg hatches or the baby is born, you need to care for it until it reaches adulthood. This involves feeding it the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. You also need to imprint on the baby by interacting with it during its growth stages. Imprinting increases the creatureÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, making it more effective in carrying weight.

As the baby grows, check its stats to see if it has inherited the high carry weight stat from its parents. If it has, you can use it for further breeding. If not, you may need to try again with a different pair. Over time, you can create a breeding line with consistently high carry weight stats.

Mutations can also play a role in increasing carry weight. Mutations are rare and random, but they can add points to a creatureÔÇÖs stats, including carry weight. To maximize the chance of mutations, breed creatures that have not yet reached the mutation cap (20 mutations per stat). Keep track of your breeding lines to ensure you are not exceeding the mutation limit, as this can reduce the effectiveness of further mutations.

Resource management is crucial during the breeding process. You will need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to feed the baby creatures. You may also need resources like thatch, wood, and stone to build and maintain your breeding area. If you are playing solo, consider setting up a small farm to grow crops and raise animals for a consistent food supply. In a tribe, you can divide tasks among members to ensure all resources are managed efficiently.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to check the stats of the offspring, not imprinting on the baby creatures, and over-mutating your breeding lines. Always keep track of the stats and mutations to ensure you are making progress toward your goal. Additionally, make sure your breeding area is secure to protect the creatures from predators or other players in PvP servers.

Advanced techniques include using cryopods to store and transport creatures, which can save time and resources. You can also use a breeding calculator to predict the stats of the offspring and plan your breeding lines more effectively. Another optimization is to breed during events that increase breeding rates, such as Evolution Events, which can speed up the process.

In summary, breeding for high carry weight efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved involves selecting creatures with high carry weight stats, carefully managing stat inheritance and mutations, and ensuring proper care for the offspring. With patience and careful planning, you can create a powerful creature capable of carrying large amounts of resources, making your survival and progression in the game much easier.