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 most land-based creatures, it is crucial for aquatic or semi-aquatic creatures like the Ichthyosaurus, Megalodon, or Basilosaurus. Breeding for higher oxygen can make these creatures more efficient for underwater exploration, resource gathering, or combat.
To begin, you need two creatures of the same species with desirable stats, including oxygen. The first step is to tame or acquire creatures with high oxygen levels. If you don't have creatures with naturally high oxygen, you can breed multiple generations to combine the best stats. Stat inheritance works by randomly selecting either the mother's or father's value for each stat. For example, if the mother has 30 oxygen and the father has 40, the baby has a 50% chance of inheriting either value. This randomness means you may need to breed multiple times to get the desired stat combination.
Once you have a pair of creatures with high oxygen, place them close together in a secure breeding area. Enable mating by setting them to "Enable Wandering" or using a mating pen. Ensure they are well-fed and have enough food to sustain the breeding process. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you must incubate the egg at the correct temperature. Use air conditioners, standing torches, or campfires to maintain the required temperature range. For live-bearing creatures, simply wait for the gestation period to complete.
When the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. Baby creatures have a food meter that depletes quickly, so you must feed them manually or use a feeding trough stocked with appropriate food. As the baby grows, you can interact with it to imprint, which increases its stats and loyalty. Imprinting is especially important for maximizing the creature's potential. To imprint, follow the on-screen prompts, such as cuddling, walking, or feeding specific items. Successful imprinting can boost the creature's oxygen stat further.
Mutations are a key aspect of breeding for higher oxygen. Mutations can randomly increase a stat, such as oxygen, or change the creature's color. Each mutation adds 2 levels to a stat, so a mutation in oxygen would increase it by 2 points. However, mutations are rare, with only a 7.31% chance per breeding attempt. To maximize your chances, breed as many creatures as possible and keep track of their stats and mutations. Use a spreadsheet or breeding tracker to monitor your progress and avoid inbreeding, which can lead to wasted mutations.
Resource management is critical for successful breeding. You will need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to feed both the parents and the babies. For egg incubation, ensure you have enough resources to maintain the correct temperature, such as fuel for torches or electricity for air conditioners. Breeding can also be time-consuming, so plan accordingly, especially if you are playing solo. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities, such as one player managing food while another handles imprinting.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to prepare enough food, failing to monitor the baby's growth stages, and not tracking mutations. Another mistake is breeding creatures with low oxygen stats, which can dilute your breeding line. Always start with the highest oxygen stats available and work your way up. Additionally, avoid overcrowding your breeding area, as this can lead to glitches or difficulties managing the creatures.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations and using clean breeding pairs. Stacking mutations involves breeding mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to keep the mutation counter low while still passing on the desired stats. Clean breeding pairs are creatures with no mutations that serve as a baseline for introducing new mutations. This method helps you control the mutation process and avoid exceeding the mutation limit, which is 20 mutations per stat.
In summary, breeding for higher oxygen in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and patience. Start with creatures that have high oxygen stats, breed them to combine the best stats, and use mutations to further enhance the oxygen level. Monitor your breeding lines, avoid common mistakes, and use advanced techniques to optimize your results. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, breeding for higher oxygen can significantly improve your underwater creatures' performance and make your ARK experience more enjoyable.
To begin, you need two creatures of the same species with desirable stats, including oxygen. The first step is to tame or acquire creatures with high oxygen levels. If you don't have creatures with naturally high oxygen, you can breed multiple generations to combine the best stats. Stat inheritance works by randomly selecting either the mother's or father's value for each stat. For example, if the mother has 30 oxygen and the father has 40, the baby has a 50% chance of inheriting either value. This randomness means you may need to breed multiple times to get the desired stat combination.
Once you have a pair of creatures with high oxygen, place them close together in a secure breeding area. Enable mating by setting them to "Enable Wandering" or using a mating pen. Ensure they are well-fed and have enough food to sustain the breeding process. After mating, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For egg-laying creatures, you must incubate the egg at the correct temperature. Use air conditioners, standing torches, or campfires to maintain the required temperature range. For live-bearing creatures, simply wait for the gestation period to complete.
When the baby is born or hatched, it will require constant care. Baby creatures have a food meter that depletes quickly, so you must feed them manually or use a feeding trough stocked with appropriate food. As the baby grows, you can interact with it to imprint, which increases its stats and loyalty. Imprinting is especially important for maximizing the creature's potential. To imprint, follow the on-screen prompts, such as cuddling, walking, or feeding specific items. Successful imprinting can boost the creature's oxygen stat further.
Mutations are a key aspect of breeding for higher oxygen. Mutations can randomly increase a stat, such as oxygen, or change the creature's color. Each mutation adds 2 levels to a stat, so a mutation in oxygen would increase it by 2 points. However, mutations are rare, with only a 7.31% chance per breeding attempt. To maximize your chances, breed as many creatures as possible and keep track of their stats and mutations. Use a spreadsheet or breeding tracker to monitor your progress and avoid inbreeding, which can lead to wasted mutations.
Resource management is critical for successful breeding. You will need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to feed both the parents and the babies. For egg incubation, ensure you have enough resources to maintain the correct temperature, such as fuel for torches or electricity for air conditioners. Breeding can also be time-consuming, so plan accordingly, especially if you are playing solo. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities, such as one player managing food while another handles imprinting.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to prepare enough food, failing to monitor the baby's growth stages, and not tracking mutations. Another mistake is breeding creatures with low oxygen stats, which can dilute your breeding line. Always start with the highest oxygen stats available and work your way up. Additionally, avoid overcrowding your breeding area, as this can lead to glitches or difficulties managing the creatures.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations and using clean breeding pairs. Stacking mutations involves breeding mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to keep the mutation counter low while still passing on the desired stats. Clean breeding pairs are creatures with no mutations that serve as a baseline for introducing new mutations. This method helps you control the mutation process and avoid exceeding the mutation limit, which is 20 mutations per stat.
In summary, breeding for higher oxygen in ARK: Survival Evolved requires careful planning, resource management, and patience. Start with creatures that have high oxygen stats, breed them to combine the best stats, and use mutations to further enhance the oxygen level. Monitor your breeding lines, avoid common mistakes, and use advanced techniques to optimize your results. Whether you are playing solo or in a tribe, breeding for higher oxygen can significantly improve your underwater creatures' performance and make your ARK experience more enjoyable.