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 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. While it is not a commonly prioritized stat for most creatures, it can be crucial for aquatic or semi-aquatic species like the Ichthyosaurus, Basilosaurus, or even land creatures used for underwater exploration. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to breed for higher oxygen effectively.

First, you need to understand the mechanics of stat inheritance and mutations. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 55% 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 oxygen stat. Mutations, on the other hand, are rare and random. They can increase a stat by 2 points and also change the creature's color. However, mutations are capped at 20 per stat, so you need to plan carefully to avoid wasting mutations on stats you donÔÇÖt need.

To start breeding for higher oxygen, you need a pair of creatures with decent oxygen stats. If youÔÇÖre starting from scratch, tame multiple creatures of the same species and check their stats. Look for individuals with naturally high oxygen stats, as these will serve as the foundation for your breeding line. Once you have a male and female with high oxygen, place them close together in a secure area, enable mating, and wait for them to produce an egg or live baby, depending on the species.

After the baby is born or hatched, youÔÇÖll need to care for it until it reaches adulthood. This involves feeding it the appropriate food and ensuring it stays safe. During this time, you can also imprint on the baby by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the babyÔÇÖs stats and loyalty, making it more effective in the long run. Once the baby grows up, check its oxygen stat. If it has inherited the higher oxygen stat from its parents, you can use it as part of your breeding line.

To maximize your chances of getting higher oxygen stats, you can introduce mutations. Mutations are random, but you can increase your odds by breeding multiple pairs of creatures simultaneously. Each time a baby is born, thereÔÇÖs a small chance it will have a mutation. If the mutation affects the oxygen stat, you can use that creature to continue your breeding line. However, keep track of your mutations to avoid hitting the 20-mutation cap on the oxygen stat.

One common mistake is neglecting other stats while focusing solely on oxygen. While itÔÇÖs important to breed for high oxygen, you should also ensure your creatures have decent health, stamina, and other relevant stats. This is especially important if you plan to use the creatures for combat or other tasks. Another mistake is not keeping track of mutations. Without proper tracking, you might waste mutations on stats you donÔÇÖt need or exceed the mutation cap.

Advanced techniques involve creating a clean breeding pair with no mutations and then introducing mutations selectively. This allows you to control which stats receive mutations and avoid unnecessary ones. You can also use external tools or spreadsheets to track your breeding lines and mutations, ensuring you make progress toward your goal.

Resource requirements for breeding include a steady supply of food for the parents and babies, as well as a safe environment for raising the offspring. YouÔÇÖll need a secure base with enough space for multiple creatures, as well as resources like preserving bins or refrigerators to store eggs. If youÔÇÖre playing solo, breeding can be time-consuming, so consider automating some tasks using feeding troughs or air conditioners to regulate egg temperatures. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities, with some members focusing on taming and others on breeding and raising babies.

Specific examples include breeding a high-oxygen Ichthyosaurus for underwater exploration or a Basilosaurus for deep-sea resource gathering. In both cases, high oxygen allows the creature to stay submerged longer, making it more efficient for its role. By following the steps outlined above, you can create a powerful breeding line with high oxygen stats, tailored to your specific needs in ARK: Survival Evolved.