What is the best way to breed for higher oxygen in creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Breeding for higher oxygen in creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved involves understanding the game's breeding mechanics, stat inheritance, and mutation systems. Oxygen is a stat that determines how long a creature can stay underwater before needing to surface for air. While oxygen is not a priority for all creatures, it is essential for aquatic or semi-aquatic species like the Ichthyosaurus, Megalodon, or Basilosaurus. Breeding for higher oxygen can improve their underwater efficiency, making them better for exploration, resource gathering, or combat in aquatic environments.
To begin, you need two creatures of the same species with decent oxygen stats. Stat inheritance works by randomly selecting one parent's value for each stat. For example, if one parent has 30 oxygen and the other has 20, the baby has a 55% chance to inherit the higher value. This randomness means you may need to breed multiple generations to achieve the desired oxygen level. Start by taming several creatures of the same species to increase your chances of finding high oxygen stats. Use a taming calculator or the in-game stat viewer to identify the best candidates.
Once you have your breeding pair, place them in a secure, enclosed area to prevent them from wandering or being attacked. Enable mating by setting them to "Enable Wandering" or using a mating pen. Keep them well-fed with food appropriate for their species, as breeding consumes stamina and food. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. Eggs require specific temperatures to incubate, so use air conditioners, standing torches, or campfires to maintain the correct environment. Pregnant creatures need to be protected and fed regularly until they give birth.
After the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. Babies need to be fed manually until they reach 10% maturation, after which they can eat from troughs. Use a feeding trough filled with the appropriate food to make this process easier. Imprinting is another critical aspect of breeding. Interact with the baby during its growth stages by feeding it, cuddling, or walking it to gain imprint bonuses. Imprinting increases the creature's stats, including oxygen, and improves its loyalty and damage output when ridden by the imprinted player.
Mutations can further enhance your breeding efforts. Mutations occur randomly and can affect stats or colors. Each mutation adds 2 levels to a stat, so a mutation in oxygen will increase it by 2 points. However, mutations are rare, with a 7.31% chance per baby. To maximize mutations, breed creatures with no mutations in their ancestry. Keep track of your breeding lines by naming creatures or using spreadsheets to avoid exceeding the mutation cap of 20 per stat.
Resource management is crucial for successful breeding. Stockpile food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores, to sustain your breeding pair and their offspring. Build a dedicated breeding area with enough space, food troughs, and temperature control devices. If you are playing solo, consider automating some tasks using feeding troughs and air conditioners to reduce the workload. In a tribe, coordinate with members to share responsibilities like feeding, imprinting, and protecting the babies.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting imprinting, which can significantly reduce the creature's effectiveness. Another mistake is overbreeding without tracking mutations, leading to wasted effort and resources. Always monitor the mutation count to ensure you are making progress. Additionally, avoid breeding creatures with low oxygen stats, as this will make it harder to achieve your goal.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations by breeding mutated creatures with clean ones. For example, if you have a creature with a mutation in oxygen, breed it with a creature that has no mutations to pass the mutation to the next generation. This method allows you to stack multiple mutations in oxygen over time. Another technique is using cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding operations.
In summary, breeding for higher oxygen in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and patience. Start by taming creatures with high oxygen stats, set up a secure breeding area, and focus on imprinting and mutations to enhance your results. Avoid common mistakes like neglecting imprinting or overbreeding without tracking mutations. Use advanced techniques like mutation stacking and cryopods to optimize your breeding process. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, these strategies will help you create powerful aquatic creatures with exceptional oxygen stats.
To begin, you need two creatures of the same species with decent oxygen stats. Stat inheritance works by randomly selecting one parent's value for each stat. For example, if one parent has 30 oxygen and the other has 20, the baby has a 55% chance to inherit the higher value. This randomness means you may need to breed multiple generations to achieve the desired oxygen level. Start by taming several creatures of the same species to increase your chances of finding high oxygen stats. Use a taming calculator or the in-game stat viewer to identify the best candidates.
Once you have your breeding pair, place them in a secure, enclosed area to prevent them from wandering or being attacked. Enable mating by setting them to "Enable Wandering" or using a mating pen. Keep them well-fed with food appropriate for their species, as breeding consumes stamina and food. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. Eggs require specific temperatures to incubate, so use air conditioners, standing torches, or campfires to maintain the correct environment. Pregnant creatures need to be protected and fed regularly until they give birth.
After the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. Babies need to be fed manually until they reach 10% maturation, after which they can eat from troughs. Use a feeding trough filled with the appropriate food to make this process easier. Imprinting is another critical aspect of breeding. Interact with the baby during its growth stages by feeding it, cuddling, or walking it to gain imprint bonuses. Imprinting increases the creature's stats, including oxygen, and improves its loyalty and damage output when ridden by the imprinted player.
Mutations can further enhance your breeding efforts. Mutations occur randomly and can affect stats or colors. Each mutation adds 2 levels to a stat, so a mutation in oxygen will increase it by 2 points. However, mutations are rare, with a 7.31% chance per baby. To maximize mutations, breed creatures with no mutations in their ancestry. Keep track of your breeding lines by naming creatures or using spreadsheets to avoid exceeding the mutation cap of 20 per stat.
Resource management is crucial for successful breeding. Stockpile food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores, to sustain your breeding pair and their offspring. Build a dedicated breeding area with enough space, food troughs, and temperature control devices. If you are playing solo, consider automating some tasks using feeding troughs and air conditioners to reduce the workload. In a tribe, coordinate with members to share responsibilities like feeding, imprinting, and protecting the babies.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting imprinting, which can significantly reduce the creature's effectiveness. Another mistake is overbreeding without tracking mutations, leading to wasted effort and resources. Always monitor the mutation count to ensure you are making progress. Additionally, avoid breeding creatures with low oxygen stats, as this will make it harder to achieve your goal.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations by breeding mutated creatures with clean ones. For example, if you have a creature with a mutation in oxygen, breed it with a creature that has no mutations to pass the mutation to the next generation. This method allows you to stack multiple mutations in oxygen over time. Another technique is using cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage large breeding operations.
In summary, breeding for higher oxygen in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and patience. Start by taming creatures with high oxygen stats, set up a secure breeding area, and focus on imprinting and mutations to enhance your results. Avoid common mistakes like neglecting imprinting or overbreeding without tracking mutations. Use advanced techniques like mutation stacking and cryopods to optimize your breeding process. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, these strategies will help you create powerful aquatic creatures with exceptional oxygen stats.