What is the best way to start a breeding line for Rexes in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Starting a breeding line for Rexes in ARK: Survival Evolved is a long-term project that requires careful planning, resource management, and patience. Rexes are one of the most powerful creatures in the game, making them highly sought after for boss fights and PvP. To create a strong breeding line, you need to focus on stat inheritance, mutations, and proper care for the offspring. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you get started.

First, you need to tame high-level Rexes. The higher the level, the better the base stats, which will give you a stronger foundation for your breeding line. Look for Rexes with high health, melee damage, and stamina, as these are the most important stats for combat. Once you have tamed several Rexes, check their stats and note the ones with the best values. You will use these as your breeding pair.

Breeding mechanics in ARK involve placing a male and female Rex close to each other and enabling the mating option. Make sure they are well-fed and in a safe environment. When they mate, the female will lay a fertilized egg. Rex eggs require a hot environment to incubate, so you will need air conditioners, standing torches, or campfires to maintain the correct temperature. Once the egg hatches, the baby Rex will require constant care.

Baby care is one of the most critical aspects of breeding. The baby Rex will need to be fed regularly, and its food stat will drain quickly. Prepare a large amount of raw meat or cooked meat in advance to keep it fed. As the baby grows, you will need to interact with it to imprint. Imprinting increases the babyÔÇÖs stats and makes it more loyal to you. To imprint, follow the prompts that appear above the babyÔÇÖs head, such as walking it or feeding it specific foods. Proper imprinting can significantly boost the RexÔÇÖs effectiveness in combat.

Stat inheritance is random, but each stat has a 55% chance to be inherited from the higher-stat parent. This means you should pair Rexes with complementary stats to maximize the chances of producing offspring with the best possible stats. For example, if one Rex has high health and another has high melee damage, their offspring could inherit both. Over multiple generations, you can combine the best stats into a single Rex.

Mutations are rare but can provide significant advantages. Mutations can increase a stat by two levels and may also change the RexÔÇÖs color. To maximize mutations, focus on breeding Rexes with clean, high stats first. Once you have a strong base, you can introduce mutations. Keep track of your breeding lines to avoid stacking too many mutations on one side, as this can limit future mutation potential.

Resource requirements for breeding Rexes are substantial. You will need a steady supply of meat, berries, and other resources to feed both the parents and the babies. Building a dedicated breeding area with feeding troughs, air conditioners, and storage for resources is essential. If you are playing solo, this can be time-consuming, so consider automating some tasks with feeding troughs and preserving bins.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting imprinting, not tracking stat inheritance, and over-mutating. Imprinting is crucial for maximizing stats, so always prioritize it. Tracking stat inheritance helps you make informed breeding decisions, while over-mutating can limit your breeding potential. Advanced techniques include using external tools or spreadsheets to track stats and mutations, as well as optimizing your breeding area for efficiency.

In a tribe, breeding Rexes can be a collaborative effort. Assign roles to tribe members, such as gathering resources, monitoring babies, and tracking stats. This can make the process more manageable and efficient. Solo players will need to be more self-sufficient, so focus on automating as much as possible and planning your time carefully.

In summary, starting a Rex breeding line in ARK: Survival Evolved involves taming high-level Rexes, carefully managing stat inheritance, and providing proper care for the offspring. With patience and planning, you can create a powerful line of Rexes capable of dominating the gameÔÇÖs toughest challenges.