How do I breed for higher crafting skill in aquatic creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Breeding for higher crafting skill in aquatic creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and careful management of mutations. Crafting skill, also known as Crafting Speed, is a stat that affects how quickly a creature can craft items in its inventory, such as saddles or other crafted goods. While this stat is not as commonly prioritized as health or melee damage, it can be useful for certain specialized roles, particularly in aquatic creatures like the Basilosaurus or Megalodon, which may benefit from faster crafting of items like saddles or tools.

To begin breeding for higher crafting skill, you first need to understand the mechanics of stat inheritance. When two creatures breed, the offspring has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each individual stat, including crafting skill. This means that if one parent has a higher crafting skill than the other, there is a good chance the baby will inherit the higher stat. However, because crafting skill is not a commonly prioritized stat, you may need to start by finding or taming creatures with naturally high crafting skill. This can be done by taming multiple creatures of the same species and checking their stats after taming. Once you have identified creatures with high crafting skill, you can begin the breeding process.

The first step is to pair two creatures with high crafting skill. Place them in a safe, enclosed area, such as a breeding pen, and enable mating. Make sure they are well-fed and have sufficient food in their inventories to sustain the breeding process. Once mating is initiated, the female will either lay an egg or become pregnant, depending on the species. For aquatic creatures, you will need to ensure the environment is suitable for the egg or baby. For example, Basilosaurus eggs require water to hatch, so you will need to place the egg in a water-filled area.

After the egg hatches or the baby is born, you will need to care for it until it reaches adulthood. This involves feeding it the appropriate food, such as meat for carnivores or berries for herbivores, and ensuring it is protected from predators. During this time, you can also imprint on the baby by interacting with it when it requests care. Imprinting increases the baby's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat or other tasks. While imprinting does not directly affect crafting skill, it is still an important part of the breeding process.

Once the baby reaches adulthood, you can check its stats to see if it has inherited the high crafting skill from its parents. If it has, you can use it as a breeder for the next generation. If not, you may need to continue breeding until you achieve the desired stat. This process can take multiple generations, so patience is key.

One important consideration when breeding for crafting skill is the role of mutations. Mutations can introduce new stat points or color variations into your breeding line. While mutations are rare and random, they can be beneficial if they increase the crafting skill stat. However, mutations can also introduce unwanted stats or colors, so it is important to carefully track your breeding lines and avoid introducing mutations that do not benefit your goals.

Resource management is also an important aspect of breeding. You will need a steady supply of food, such as meat or berries, to feed both the parents and the babies. Additionally, you will need a safe and secure breeding area, which may require building structures or taming creatures to defend against predators. If you are playing in a tribe, you can divide these tasks among tribe members to make the process more efficient. For solo players, it is important to plan ahead and ensure you have the necessary resources before starting the breeding process.

Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to check the stats of the parents before breeding, failing to provide adequate care for the babies, and introducing unwanted mutations into the breeding line. It is also important to avoid overbreeding, as this can lead to a surplus of creatures that are difficult to manage. Instead, focus on breeding a small number of high-quality creatures with the desired stats.

Advanced techniques for optimizing the breeding process include using stat calculators to predict the outcomes of breeding pairs, tracking mutations and stat inheritance using spreadsheets or other tools, and selectively culling creatures that do not meet your breeding goals. Additionally, you can use cryopods to store and transport creatures, making it easier to manage your breeding lines.

In summary, breeding for higher crafting skill in aquatic creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of selective breeding, stat inheritance, and careful management of mutations. By following the steps outlined above and avoiding common mistakes, you can create powerful and specialized creatures with high crafting skill. Whether you are playing solo or as part of a tribe, careful planning and resource management are key to success in the breeding process.