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. This stat is particularly useful for aquatic creatures like the Basilosaurus, Ichthyosaurus, or even land creatures that you want to use for underwater exploration or resource gathering. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to breed for high oxygen efficiency.

First, you need to understand the mechanics of stat inheritance. 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 has a good chance of inheriting the higher stat. To maximize this, you should start by taming multiple creatures of the same species and checking their stats. Look for individuals with naturally high oxygen stats, as these will serve as the foundation for your breeding line.

Once you have identified creatures with high oxygen stats, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two selected creatures close to each other and enable mating. Make sure they are well-fed and in a safe environment. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature. This can be done using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature-regulating items. For live-bearing creatures, you simply need to wait for the gestation period to complete.

After the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. This includes feeding it the appropriate food, which varies depending on the species. For example, carnivores will need meat, while herbivores will need berries or vegetables. During this time, you should also focus on imprinting. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals to increase its stats and loyalty. Each imprinting action gives a small boost to the creature's stats, including oxygen. To maximize imprinting, you should aim to complete every imprinting opportunity.

As the baby grows into a juvenile and then an adult, you can continue to breed it with other high-oxygen creatures to further enhance the stat. Over multiple generations, you can create a lineage of creatures with exceptionally high oxygen efficiency. However, itÔÇÖs important to keep track of your breeding lines to avoid inbreeding, which can lead to weaker offspring. Use a spreadsheet or other tracking method to record the stats of each generation.

One common mistake to avoid is neglecting other stats in favor of oxygen. While high oxygen is useful, itÔÇÖs important to maintain a balance with other stats like health, stamina, and melee damage. This ensures that your creature remains versatile and effective in various situations. Another mistake is rushing the breeding process. Breeding for high stats takes time, and trying to speed it up can lead to suboptimal results. Patience is key.

Advanced techniques include using mutations to further enhance oxygen stats. Mutations are rare and random, but they can provide significant boosts to stats or introduce unique colors. To maximize the chances of getting a mutation, you should breed as many creatures as possible. However, keep in mind that each creature can only have 20 mutations total, so plan your breeding lines carefully.

Resource requirements for breeding include a steady supply of food, a safe and temperature-controlled environment, and time. For tribes, this process can be more efficient as multiple members can share the workload. Solo players will need to manage their time carefully to ensure they can care for multiple babies at once.

In summary, breeding for high oxygen efficiency in ARK: Survival Evolved involves understanding stat inheritance, careful selection of breeding pairs, and consistent care for the offspring. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can create a lineage of creatures with exceptional oxygen stats, making them ideal for underwater exploration and resource gathering.