Hatching eggs in Ark: Survival Evolved is one of the most exciting parts of the game. It allows you to breed your favorite dinosaurs and creatures, creating new life and expanding your tribe’s power. But if you’re new to Ark, the whole process can seem a bit tricky. Don’t worry! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to hatch an egg successfully and raise your baby dinos with confidence.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you can hatch an egg, you first need to get one-and not just any egg, but a fertilized egg. Here’s what you need:
– A Male and Female of the Same Species: Only creatures of the same species can mate and produce fertilized eggs.
– Enable Mating: Get your male and female close together, either in a small enclosure or by enabling their wandering behavior. Then, enable mating in their behavior settings.
– Wait for the Egg: After mating, the female will lay an egg. Make sure it’s fertilized-fertilized eggs have a yellow bar on their status and can hatch, while unfertilized eggs cannot.
How to Incubate and Hatch Your Egg
Once you have your fertilized egg, the next step is incubation. Eggs in Ark need the right temperature to hatch, and keeping it steady is key.
Temperature Control
– Ideal Temperature: Each species has an optimal temperature range for incubation, which you can usually see in the egg’s tooltip.
– Heat Sources: In the early game, you can use campfires or standing torches arranged around the egg to keep it warm. Be careful not to overheat the egg, as extreme temperatures can kill it.
– Advanced Tools: Later, you can build Air Conditioners to keep the temperature stable or use an Egg Incubator, which is the easiest and most efficient method. The incubator can hold multiple eggs and automatically maintains the perfect temperature.
Monitoring the Egg
– Keep an eye on the egg’s status. It will tell you if it’s too hot, too cold, or incubating correctly.
– If using torches or campfires, check every 5 to 10 minutes to adjust the heat source.
– With an incubator or air conditioners, you can leave the egg to hatch while you focus on other tasks.
What Happens When the Egg Hatches?
Hatching can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the species. When the baby dino emerges, it’s time to care for it!
Feeding Your Baby Dino
– Babies need frequent feeding, sometimes every minute, to grow healthy.
– Different species have different dietary needs, so prepare the right food in advance.
– You can use feeding troughs once the baby is a bit older to make feeding easier.
Protecting Your Baby
– Build walls or fences to keep predators away.
– Set up traps or turrets if you plan to be away for a while.
– Imprinting your baby dinosaur is important-it makes them more obedient and easier to train as they grow.
Tips for Successful Egg Hatching
– Always make sure the egg is fertilized before trying to hatch it.
– Use the right incubation method based on your resources: torches and campfires for beginners, air conditioners or incubators for advanced players.
– Keep the egg’s temperature stable to avoid losing it.
– Prepare food and protection for the baby dino ahead of time.
– Imprint on your baby dino regularly to strengthen your bond.
Hatching eggs in Ark is a rewarding experience that adds a whole new layer of fun to the game. With the right preparation and care, you’ll soon have a thriving family of dinosaurs ready to explore and defend your world.
Enjoy your breeding adventure! If you want to know more about specific dinos or advanced breeding techniques, just ask!