What is the best way to breed for higher melee damage in creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Breeding for higher melee damage in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of understanding stat inheritance, mutation mechanics, and careful planning. The goal is to create a lineage of creatures with progressively higher melee damage stats by selectively breeding the best individuals and introducing beneficial mutations. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.
First, you need to understand how stat inheritance works. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 55% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each stat category, including melee damage. This means you should start by taming or breeding creatures with naturally high melee damage stats. Use a tool like the ARK Smart Breeding app or in-game stat calculators to identify the best candidates. Once you have a pair with high melee damage, breed them to produce offspring with the desired stat.
Next, focus on mutations. Mutations are random and can increase a stat by 2 points or change the creatureÔÇÖs color. Each mutation adds to a creatureÔÇÖs mutation counter, which is tracked separately for both the maternal and paternal sides. The maximum number of mutations per side is 20, but you can continue breeding beyond this limit if you manage the counters carefully. To maximize melee damage, you want mutations that increase the melee stat. This requires patience, as mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per breeding attempt.
To start, breed your high-melee creatures and hatch or raise the offspring. Check their stats immediately after birth or hatching. If a baby has a higher melee stat than its parents, keep it for future breeding. If not, you can either discard it or use it for other purposes. Repeat this process over multiple generations, always selecting the offspring with the highest melee damage to continue the breeding line.
One important tip is to keep track of your breeding lines. Use a naming system or external tools to note which creatures have mutations and which stats they affect. This helps avoid confusion and ensures youÔÇÖre always breeding the best candidates. Additionally, always keep a clean pair of unmutated creatures with high base stats. These can be used to reset your breeding line if you accidentally introduce unwanted mutations or hit the mutation cap.
Resource management is crucial for breeding. YouÔÇÖll need a steady supply of food for both the parents and the babies. Kibble is the best food for raising babies, as it provides the most nourishment. Stockpile resources like meat, berries, and eggs to ensure you can sustain your breeding operation. YouÔÇÖll also need a safe and controlled environment for breeding, such as a secure base with air conditioning or incubators to regulate egg temperature.
For solo players, breeding can be time-consuming, but itÔÇÖs manageable with proper planning. Focus on one species at a time and prioritize creatures that are easy to raise, such as Rexes or Therizinosaurs. For tribes, divide responsibilities among members to speed up the process. One player can focus on gathering resources, another on breeding, and another on raising the babies.
Common mistakes to avoid include over-mutating one side of the breeding line, which can lock you out of further mutations. Always balance mutations between maternal and paternal sides. Another mistake is neglecting imprinting. Imprinting increases a creatureÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, so always interact with the baby during its growth stages to maximize its potential.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations by breeding mutated females with clean males. This allows you to continue introducing new mutations without hitting the cap. You can also use cryopods to store and manage your breeding stock, making it easier to organize and rotate creatures.
In summary, breeding for higher melee damage requires patience, careful planning, and resource management. Start with high-stat creatures, introduce beneficial mutations, and maintain a clean breeding line. Track your progress, avoid common mistakes, and use advanced techniques to optimize your results. With time and effort, you can create a powerful lineage of creatures with exceptional melee damage.
First, you need to understand how stat inheritance works. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 55% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each stat category, including melee damage. This means you should start by taming or breeding creatures with naturally high melee damage stats. Use a tool like the ARK Smart Breeding app or in-game stat calculators to identify the best candidates. Once you have a pair with high melee damage, breed them to produce offspring with the desired stat.
Next, focus on mutations. Mutations are random and can increase a stat by 2 points or change the creatureÔÇÖs color. Each mutation adds to a creatureÔÇÖs mutation counter, which is tracked separately for both the maternal and paternal sides. The maximum number of mutations per side is 20, but you can continue breeding beyond this limit if you manage the counters carefully. To maximize melee damage, you want mutations that increase the melee stat. This requires patience, as mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per breeding attempt.
To start, breed your high-melee creatures and hatch or raise the offspring. Check their stats immediately after birth or hatching. If a baby has a higher melee stat than its parents, keep it for future breeding. If not, you can either discard it or use it for other purposes. Repeat this process over multiple generations, always selecting the offspring with the highest melee damage to continue the breeding line.
One important tip is to keep track of your breeding lines. Use a naming system or external tools to note which creatures have mutations and which stats they affect. This helps avoid confusion and ensures youÔÇÖre always breeding the best candidates. Additionally, always keep a clean pair of unmutated creatures with high base stats. These can be used to reset your breeding line if you accidentally introduce unwanted mutations or hit the mutation cap.
Resource management is crucial for breeding. YouÔÇÖll need a steady supply of food for both the parents and the babies. Kibble is the best food for raising babies, as it provides the most nourishment. Stockpile resources like meat, berries, and eggs to ensure you can sustain your breeding operation. YouÔÇÖll also need a safe and controlled environment for breeding, such as a secure base with air conditioning or incubators to regulate egg temperature.
For solo players, breeding can be time-consuming, but itÔÇÖs manageable with proper planning. Focus on one species at a time and prioritize creatures that are easy to raise, such as Rexes or Therizinosaurs. For tribes, divide responsibilities among members to speed up the process. One player can focus on gathering resources, another on breeding, and another on raising the babies.
Common mistakes to avoid include over-mutating one side of the breeding line, which can lock you out of further mutations. Always balance mutations between maternal and paternal sides. Another mistake is neglecting imprinting. Imprinting increases a creatureÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, so always interact with the baby during its growth stages to maximize its potential.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations by breeding mutated females with clean males. This allows you to continue introducing new mutations without hitting the cap. You can also use cryopods to store and manage your breeding stock, making it easier to organize and rotate creatures.
In summary, breeding for higher melee damage requires patience, careful planning, and resource management. Start with high-stat creatures, introduce beneficial mutations, and maintain a clean breeding line. Track your progress, avoid common mistakes, and use advanced techniques to optimize your results. With time and effort, you can create a powerful lineage of creatures with exceptional melee damage.