How do I breed for higher weight capacity in flying creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Breeding for higher weight capacity in flying creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and careful management of mutations. The goal is to create offspring with the highest possible weight stat, which is particularly useful for flying creatures like Argentavis, Quetzal, or Pteranodon, as it allows them to carry more resources or equipment during exploration or resource gathering. Below is a detailed explanation of the mechanics, strategies, and considerations for achieving this.
To begin, you need to understand how stat inheritance works. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each attribute, including weight. This means if one parent has a weight stat of 500 and the other has 400, the baby has a 70% chance to inherit the 500 weight stat. The first step is to identify or tame creatures with high weight stats. You can check a creature's stats after taming by looking at its inventory screen. Focus on taming multiple creatures of the same species and compare their weight stats to find the best candidates for breeding.
Once you have a pair of creatures with high weight stats, place them in a secure breeding area. This area should be enclosed to prevent wild creatures from interfering and should have enough space for the creatures to move around. Enable mating by setting both creatures to "Enable Wandering" or using a mating boost item like the Oviraptor. During mating, the female will lay an egg (for egg-laying species) or become pregnant (for mammals). Ensure the environment is suitable for the egg or baby, such as maintaining the correct temperature for incubation or providing a safe space for the baby to grow.
After the egg hatches or the baby is born, you must care for it until it reaches adulthood. This involves feeding it the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. Use a feeding trough to automate this process. During the baby's growth stages, you can imprint on it by interacting with it when prompted. Imprinting increases the creature's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat or resource gathering. For weight-focused breeding, imprinting is less critical than stat inheritance, but it still provides a small boost to all stats.
To maximize weight capacity, you need to breed multiple generations. Start by breeding your initial pair and check the weight stat of the offspring. If the offspring has a higher weight stat than either parent, use it as a new breeder. Repeat this process over several generations, always selecting the offspring with the highest weight stat to continue the breeding line. Over time, you will create a lineage of creatures with increasingly higher weight stats.
Mutations can also play a role in increasing weight capacity. Mutations are random and can affect a creature's stats or colors. Each mutation adds 2 levels to a stat, which can be applied to weight if you are lucky. However, mutations are rare, and there is a limit to how many mutations a creature can have. To optimize mutations, focus on breeding creatures with the highest base weight stats and hope for a mutation that increases weight. Keep track of mutations by naming creatures or using a breeding log to avoid confusion.
Resource management is crucial for successful breeding. You will need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to feed the baby creatures. Additionally, you may need resources like preserving salt or a preserving bin to store eggs for extended periods. If you are breeding egg-laying creatures, consider building an air-conditioned incubation room to maintain the correct temperature for hatching. For mammals, ensure you have a safe and enclosed space for the pregnant creature and the baby.
Tribe and solo considerations also come into play. In a tribe, multiple players can share the workload of breeding, feeding, and imprinting, making the process more efficient. Solo players will need to manage all aspects of breeding on their own, so it is essential to plan ahead and allocate time for baby care. Use timers or alarms to remind yourself when to check on the baby or perform imprinting tasks.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting baby care, which can lead to the baby starving or dying, and failing to track stat inheritance, which can result in weaker offspring. Additionally, avoid over-mutating a creature, as too many mutations can lead to diminishing returns or unintended stat distributions. Always prioritize the weight stat when selecting breeders and avoid distractions like color mutations unless they are a secondary goal.
Advanced techniques include using external tools or mods to track breeding lines and stat inheritance. Some players use spreadsheets or breeding calculators to plan their breeding strategies and predict outcomes. Another advanced technique is stacking mutations by breeding mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to preserve the mutation count while continuing to improve stats.
In summary, breeding for higher weight capacity in flying creatures requires careful selection of high-weight parents, multiple generations of selective breeding, and proper management of mutations and resources. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can create a powerful lineage of flying creatures capable of carrying heavy loads and excelling in resource gathering or transportation tasks. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, patience and planning are key to achieving your breeding goals in ARK: Survival Evolved.
To begin, you need to understand how stat inheritance works. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each attribute, including weight. This means if one parent has a weight stat of 500 and the other has 400, the baby has a 70% chance to inherit the 500 weight stat. The first step is to identify or tame creatures with high weight stats. You can check a creature's stats after taming by looking at its inventory screen. Focus on taming multiple creatures of the same species and compare their weight stats to find the best candidates for breeding.
Once you have a pair of creatures with high weight stats, place them in a secure breeding area. This area should be enclosed to prevent wild creatures from interfering and should have enough space for the creatures to move around. Enable mating by setting both creatures to "Enable Wandering" or using a mating boost item like the Oviraptor. During mating, the female will lay an egg (for egg-laying species) or become pregnant (for mammals). Ensure the environment is suitable for the egg or baby, such as maintaining the correct temperature for incubation or providing a safe space for the baby to grow.
After the egg hatches or the baby is born, you must care for it until it reaches adulthood. This involves feeding it the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores. Use a feeding trough to automate this process. During the baby's growth stages, you can imprint on it by interacting with it when prompted. Imprinting increases the creature's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat or resource gathering. For weight-focused breeding, imprinting is less critical than stat inheritance, but it still provides a small boost to all stats.
To maximize weight capacity, you need to breed multiple generations. Start by breeding your initial pair and check the weight stat of the offspring. If the offspring has a higher weight stat than either parent, use it as a new breeder. Repeat this process over several generations, always selecting the offspring with the highest weight stat to continue the breeding line. Over time, you will create a lineage of creatures with increasingly higher weight stats.
Mutations can also play a role in increasing weight capacity. Mutations are random and can affect a creature's stats or colors. Each mutation adds 2 levels to a stat, which can be applied to weight if you are lucky. However, mutations are rare, and there is a limit to how many mutations a creature can have. To optimize mutations, focus on breeding creatures with the highest base weight stats and hope for a mutation that increases weight. Keep track of mutations by naming creatures or using a breeding log to avoid confusion.
Resource management is crucial for successful breeding. You will need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to feed the baby creatures. Additionally, you may need resources like preserving salt or a preserving bin to store eggs for extended periods. If you are breeding egg-laying creatures, consider building an air-conditioned incubation room to maintain the correct temperature for hatching. For mammals, ensure you have a safe and enclosed space for the pregnant creature and the baby.
Tribe and solo considerations also come into play. In a tribe, multiple players can share the workload of breeding, feeding, and imprinting, making the process more efficient. Solo players will need to manage all aspects of breeding on their own, so it is essential to plan ahead and allocate time for baby care. Use timers or alarms to remind yourself when to check on the baby or perform imprinting tasks.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting baby care, which can lead to the baby starving or dying, and failing to track stat inheritance, which can result in weaker offspring. Additionally, avoid over-mutating a creature, as too many mutations can lead to diminishing returns or unintended stat distributions. Always prioritize the weight stat when selecting breeders and avoid distractions like color mutations unless they are a secondary goal.
Advanced techniques include using external tools or mods to track breeding lines and stat inheritance. Some players use spreadsheets or breeding calculators to plan their breeding strategies and predict outcomes. Another advanced technique is stacking mutations by breeding mutated creatures with non-mutated ones to preserve the mutation count while continuing to improve stats.
In summary, breeding for higher weight capacity in flying creatures requires careful selection of high-weight parents, multiple generations of selective breeding, and proper management of mutations and resources. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can create a powerful lineage of flying creatures capable of carrying heavy loads and excelling in resource gathering or transportation tasks. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, patience and planning are key to achieving your breeding goals in ARK: Survival Evolved.