Breeding and raising baby dinosaurs in ARK: Survival Evolved allows you to expand your tribe, create powerful creatures, and improve your gameplay experience. Here’s a guide to help you understand the breeding mechanics and successfully raise baby dinosaurs:
1. Breeding Basics:
Breeding involves mating two compatible creatures to produce offspring. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- Male and Female Pairing: You need a male and female of the same species to initiate breeding. Ensure both creatures are in close proximity and have mating enabled.
- Mating Compatibility: Not all creatures can be bred, and some may require specific conditions or resources. Consult a breeding guide or in-game information to determine which creatures can be bred and their requirements.
- Mating Interval: After mating, there is a cooldown period before the creatures can mate again. This cooldown varies depending on the species and server settings.
2. Pregnancy and Egg Laying:
After a successful mating, the female will enter a pregnancy phase or lay an egg. Here’s what you need to know:
- Pregnancy Duration: The pregnancy duration depends on the species and server settings. During this time, the female will visibly show signs of pregnancy.
- Egg Laying: Some creatures lay fertilized eggs instead of going through pregnancy. These eggs need to be incubated to hatch.
3. Incubation and Hatching:
Incubating the eggs is crucial for successful hatching. Consider the following:
- Temperature Control: Eggs require specific temperature conditions to incubate properly. Maintain the required temperature range using various methods like air conditioners, campfires, or specialized incubation structures.
- Incubation Period: The incubation period varies depending on the species and server settings. Monitor the egg’s progress to ensure it doesn’t overheat or cool down excessively.
- Maturation Settings: Server settings determine the time it takes for a baby dinosaur to reach adulthood. Adjust these settings according to your preferences and available time for raising the babies.
4. Caring for Baby Dinosaurs:
Once the eggs hatch or babies are born, you need to provide proper care and attention:
- Feeding Babies: Baby dinosaurs require specific food to grow. Use the appropriate type of food for each species, which can include meat, berries, or specialized baby food like wyvern milk or nameless venom.
- Imprinting: Interacting with baby dinosaurs during their maturation process allows you to imprint on them. Imprinting improves their stats and establishes a bond between you and the creature. Perform imprinting actions within the specified time windows to maximize imprinting effectiveness.
- Baby Care and Protection: Keep an eye on the baby’s health, hunger, and temperature. Provide them with shelter, warmth, and protection from predators. Babies require constant care and monitoring, so be prepared to invest time and resources.
5. Advanced Breeding Mechanics:
ARK: Survival Evolved offers advanced breeding mechanics for more in-depth creature breeding:
- Mutation Stacking: Breeding creatures with desirable mutations allows you to stack these beneficial traits and create powerful offspring with improved stats.
- Selective Breeding: Breed creatures with specific attributes or stats to create specialized lines for different purposes, such as combat, resource gathering, or utility.
- Stat Inheritance: Offspring inherit stats from their parents. Pay attention to the stat values of breeding pairs to produce babies with higher base stats.
- Breeding Mutations: Occasionally, breeding can result in mutations, which introduce new colors or slight stat changes. These mutations can be selectively bred to further enhance your creatures.
Breeding and raising baby dinosaurs require time, resources, and careful attention. It’s a rewarding process that allows you to create unique and powerful creaturesin ARK: Survival Evolved. Experiment with different breeding combinations, optimize your breeding strategy, and enjoy the satisfaction of raising and nurturing your own dinosaur offspring. Good luck!
