How do I breed for higher melee damage in herbivores in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Breeding for higher melee damage in herbivores in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of understanding stat inheritance, mutation mechanics, and careful planning. The process can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, but with the right approach, you can create herbivores with significantly enhanced melee damage. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you achieve this.
First, you need to understand the basics 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 melee damage stat and the other has a lower one, the baby has a good chance of inheriting the higher stat. To start, you should tame multiple herbivores of the same species and check their stats. Look for individuals with high melee damage and other desirable stats like health or stamina. Keep these creatures separate from your general population to use as breeding stock.
Once you have identified your best stat creatures, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two selected herbivores 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 herbivores, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature. This can be done using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature control methods. For live-bearing species, simply wait for the pregnancy to complete.
When the baby is born or hatched, check its stats. If it has inherited the high melee damage stat, you can raise it to adulthood and use it in your breeding program. If not, you may need to try again with the same parents or different combinations. This process of selective breeding helps you consolidate the best stats into a single creature over multiple generations.
Mutations are another key aspect of breeding for higher melee damage. Mutations can randomly increase a stat by two levels and change the creatureÔÇÖs color. To maximize the chance of mutations, you should breed creatures that have not yet reached the mutation cap. Each creature can have up to 20 mutations on the maternal and paternal sides, totaling 40 mutations. However, only the first 20 mutations on each side will contribute to stat increases. Beyond that, mutations can still occur but will not affect stats.
To increase the likelihood of mutations, you can breed creatures that have not yet reached the mutation cap. This often involves using a clean male (with no mutations) and a mutated female. The offspring will have a chance to inherit the mutation from the mother and potentially gain a new mutation. Keep track of your mutations and their effects on stats to ensure you are making progress toward your goal.
Resource management is crucial in breeding. You will need a steady supply of food for both the parents and the babies. Herbivores typically eat berries or crops, so having a large farm is beneficial. Additionally, you will need materials for building incubators, air conditioners, and other breeding infrastructure. Make sure your base is well-defended to protect your breeding stock from predators or other players in PvP settings.
Common mistakes to avoid include not keeping track of stat inheritance and mutations. ItÔÇÖs easy to lose track of which creatures have which stats, so keeping detailed records is essential. Another mistake is over-mutating, which can lead to hitting the mutation cap and no longer gaining stat increases. Be mindful of the mutation count and plan your breeding accordingly.
Advanced techniques include using multiple breeding pairs to increase the chances of getting the desired stats and mutations. You can also use cryopods to store and transport your breeding stock, making it easier to manage large numbers of creatures. Additionally, consider using mods or server settings to speed up breeding and maturation times if you are playing on a private server.
Tribe considerations are important if you are playing with others. Coordinating with your tribe members can help distribute the workload of breeding and raising creatures. Assign roles such as stat tracking, resource gathering, and baby care to ensure efficiency. For solo players, focus on creating a manageable breeding program that doesnÔÇÖt overwhelm your resources or time.
Specific examples include breeding Trikes or Stegos for high melee damage. These herbivores are commonly used for gathering resources and can benefit greatly from increased melee damage. For instance, a high melee damage Trike can gather more berries and thatch, making it more efficient for resource gathering tasks.
In conclusion, breeding for higher melee damage in herbivores requires a combination of selective breeding, mutation management, and resource planning. By understanding the mechanics and following a structured approach, you can create powerful herbivores that excel in combat and resource gathering. Keep detailed records, manage your resources wisely, and avoid common pitfalls to achieve the best results.
First, you need to understand the basics 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 melee damage stat and the other has a lower one, the baby has a good chance of inheriting the higher stat. To start, you should tame multiple herbivores of the same species and check their stats. Look for individuals with high melee damage and other desirable stats like health or stamina. Keep these creatures separate from your general population to use as breeding stock.
Once you have identified your best stat creatures, you can begin the breeding process. Place the two selected herbivores 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 herbivores, you will need to incubate the egg at the correct temperature. This can be done using air conditioners, standing torches, or other temperature control methods. For live-bearing species, simply wait for the pregnancy to complete.
When the baby is born or hatched, check its stats. If it has inherited the high melee damage stat, you can raise it to adulthood and use it in your breeding program. If not, you may need to try again with the same parents or different combinations. This process of selective breeding helps you consolidate the best stats into a single creature over multiple generations.
Mutations are another key aspect of breeding for higher melee damage. Mutations can randomly increase a stat by two levels and change the creatureÔÇÖs color. To maximize the chance of mutations, you should breed creatures that have not yet reached the mutation cap. Each creature can have up to 20 mutations on the maternal and paternal sides, totaling 40 mutations. However, only the first 20 mutations on each side will contribute to stat increases. Beyond that, mutations can still occur but will not affect stats.
To increase the likelihood of mutations, you can breed creatures that have not yet reached the mutation cap. This often involves using a clean male (with no mutations) and a mutated female. The offspring will have a chance to inherit the mutation from the mother and potentially gain a new mutation. Keep track of your mutations and their effects on stats to ensure you are making progress toward your goal.
Resource management is crucial in breeding. You will need a steady supply of food for both the parents and the babies. Herbivores typically eat berries or crops, so having a large farm is beneficial. Additionally, you will need materials for building incubators, air conditioners, and other breeding infrastructure. Make sure your base is well-defended to protect your breeding stock from predators or other players in PvP settings.
Common mistakes to avoid include not keeping track of stat inheritance and mutations. ItÔÇÖs easy to lose track of which creatures have which stats, so keeping detailed records is essential. Another mistake is over-mutating, which can lead to hitting the mutation cap and no longer gaining stat increases. Be mindful of the mutation count and plan your breeding accordingly.
Advanced techniques include using multiple breeding pairs to increase the chances of getting the desired stats and mutations. You can also use cryopods to store and transport your breeding stock, making it easier to manage large numbers of creatures. Additionally, consider using mods or server settings to speed up breeding and maturation times if you are playing on a private server.
Tribe considerations are important if you are playing with others. Coordinating with your tribe members can help distribute the workload of breeding and raising creatures. Assign roles such as stat tracking, resource gathering, and baby care to ensure efficiency. For solo players, focus on creating a manageable breeding program that doesnÔÇÖt overwhelm your resources or time.
Specific examples include breeding Trikes or Stegos for high melee damage. These herbivores are commonly used for gathering resources and can benefit greatly from increased melee damage. For instance, a high melee damage Trike can gather more berries and thatch, making it more efficient for resource gathering tasks.
In conclusion, breeding for higher melee damage in herbivores requires a combination of selective breeding, mutation management, and resource planning. By understanding the mechanics and following a structured approach, you can create powerful herbivores that excel in combat and resource gathering. Keep detailed records, manage your resources wisely, and avoid common pitfalls to achieve the best results.