What is the best way to breed for higher weight in a Ankylosaurus in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Breeding for higher weight in an Ankylosaurus in ARK: Survival Evolved involves understanding the game's breeding mechanics, stat inheritance, and mutation systems. The goal is to produce offspring with the highest possible weight stat by selectively breeding Ankylosaurs with desirable stats and potentially introducing mutations to further enhance the stat. Below is a detailed guide on how to achieve this.
First, you need to understand how stat inheritance works. When two Ankylosaurs breed, the baby has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each stat category, including weight. This means if one parent has a weight stat of 30 and the other has 35, the baby has a 70% chance to inherit the 35 weight stat. To maximize weight, you should start by taming multiple Ankylosaurs and checking their stats after taming. Look for individuals with naturally high weight stats, as these will serve as the foundation for your breeding program.
Once you have identified Ankylosaurs with high weight stats, you can begin breeding them. Place the selected pair in a secure breeding area, such as a fenced-off pen or a dedicated breeding room in your base. Ensure they are set to "Enable Wandering" or use a mating boost item like a Mating Pheromone to speed up the process. After mating, the female will lay a fertilized egg, which you must incubate. Ankylosaurus eggs require a warm environment to hatch, so you may need air conditioners, standing torches, or campfires to maintain the correct temperature.
After the egg hatches, the baby Ankylosaurus will require constant care. You must feed it regularly with the appropriate food, such as berries or kibble, and ensure it stays warm. As the baby grows, you will have opportunities to imprint on it by interacting with it when prompted. Imprinting increases the baby's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat or resource gathering. For weight-focused breeding, imprinting is less critical, but it can still provide a small boost to the stat.
To further enhance the weight stat, you can introduce mutations into your breeding line. Mutations occur randomly and can increase a stat by 2 points or change the creature's color. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per stat per baby. To maximize your chances, breed as many Ankylosaurs as possible and keep track of their stats and mutations. If a baby inherits a mutation that increases its weight stat, use it as a parent for future breeding to pass on the mutation.
One common mistake is neglecting to track the lineage of your breeding Ankylosaurs. Without proper tracking, you may accidentally breed two creatures with the same mutation, which can lead to wasted effort. Use a spreadsheet or in-game notes to record each Ankylosaurus's stats, mutations, and parentage. This will help you avoid inbreeding and ensure you are making progress toward your goal.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations and using clean breeders. Clean breeders are Ankylosaurs with no mutations that are used to reset the mutation counter. By breeding mutated Ankylosaurs with clean breeders, you can continue to introduce new mutations without hitting the mutation cap. This requires careful planning and a large number of Ankylosaurs, but it can result in significantly higher weight stats over time.
Resource requirements for breeding Ankylosaurs include a steady supply of food, such as berries or kibble, and materials for maintaining the breeding area, such as walls, gates, and temperature control devices. If you are playing solo, this can be time-consuming, but in a tribe, you can divide the workload among members. For example, one player can focus on gathering food, while another handles breeding and imprinting.
In summary, breeding for higher weight in Ankylosaurus involves selecting parents with high weight stats, carefully managing the breeding process, and introducing mutations to further enhance the stat. By tracking lineage, avoiding common mistakes, and using advanced techniques like mutation stacking, you can create Ankylosaurs with exceptionally high weight stats. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, proper preparation and resource management are key to success in this endeavor.
First, you need to understand how stat inheritance works. When two Ankylosaurs breed, the baby has a 70% chance to inherit the higher stat from either parent for each stat category, including weight. This means if one parent has a weight stat of 30 and the other has 35, the baby has a 70% chance to inherit the 35 weight stat. To maximize weight, you should start by taming multiple Ankylosaurs and checking their stats after taming. Look for individuals with naturally high weight stats, as these will serve as the foundation for your breeding program.
Once you have identified Ankylosaurs with high weight stats, you can begin breeding them. Place the selected pair in a secure breeding area, such as a fenced-off pen or a dedicated breeding room in your base. Ensure they are set to "Enable Wandering" or use a mating boost item like a Mating Pheromone to speed up the process. After mating, the female will lay a fertilized egg, which you must incubate. Ankylosaurus eggs require a warm environment to hatch, so you may need air conditioners, standing torches, or campfires to maintain the correct temperature.
After the egg hatches, the baby Ankylosaurus will require constant care. You must feed it regularly with the appropriate food, such as berries or kibble, and ensure it stays warm. As the baby grows, you will have opportunities to imprint on it by interacting with it when prompted. Imprinting increases the baby's stats and loyalty, making it more effective in combat or resource gathering. For weight-focused breeding, imprinting is less critical, but it can still provide a small boost to the stat.
To further enhance the weight stat, you can introduce mutations into your breeding line. Mutations occur randomly and can increase a stat by 2 points or change the creature's color. However, mutations are rare, with only a 2.5% chance per stat per baby. To maximize your chances, breed as many Ankylosaurs as possible and keep track of their stats and mutations. If a baby inherits a mutation that increases its weight stat, use it as a parent for future breeding to pass on the mutation.
One common mistake is neglecting to track the lineage of your breeding Ankylosaurs. Without proper tracking, you may accidentally breed two creatures with the same mutation, which can lead to wasted effort. Use a spreadsheet or in-game notes to record each Ankylosaurus's stats, mutations, and parentage. This will help you avoid inbreeding and ensure you are making progress toward your goal.
Advanced techniques include stacking mutations and using clean breeders. Clean breeders are Ankylosaurs with no mutations that are used to reset the mutation counter. By breeding mutated Ankylosaurs with clean breeders, you can continue to introduce new mutations without hitting the mutation cap. This requires careful planning and a large number of Ankylosaurs, but it can result in significantly higher weight stats over time.
Resource requirements for breeding Ankylosaurs include a steady supply of food, such as berries or kibble, and materials for maintaining the breeding area, such as walls, gates, and temperature control devices. If you are playing solo, this can be time-consuming, but in a tribe, you can divide the workload among members. For example, one player can focus on gathering food, while another handles breeding and imprinting.
In summary, breeding for higher weight in Ankylosaurus involves selecting parents with high weight stats, carefully managing the breeding process, and introducing mutations to further enhance the stat. By tracking lineage, avoiding common mistakes, and using advanced techniques like mutation stacking, you can create Ankylosaurs with exceptionally high weight stats. Whether playing solo or in a tribe, proper preparation and resource management are key to success in this endeavor.