Cracking the Egg Code: Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Eggs on “The Island”
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So, you’re stranded on “The Island” in Ark: Survival Evolved, and suddenly, your stomach rumbles for some delicious eggs. Or perhaps you’re after those sweet, sweet kibble recipes to tame some more powerful dinosaurs. Whatever your reason, getting a steady supply of eggs is crucial for survival. The key to success lies in understanding the different types of eggs available and how to obtain them, so let’s crack into it.
Understanding Egg Acquisition in Ark: Survival Evolved
There are a few key methods for obtaining eggs on “The Island”:
- Non-Fertilized (Regular) Eggs: These are laid randomly by female dinosaurs that you’ve tamed. Think of them like chicken eggs you’d buy at the store; they’re great for cooking and making basic kibble. These are not hatchable.
- Fertilized Eggs: This is where the real fun begins! Fertilized eggs are produced when two dinosaurs of the opposite sex mate. These eggs can be incubated and hatched into baby dinosaurs. The egg is differentiated by a red cloud.
- Stealing Eggs: This is a riskier method, involving finding wild dinosaur nests and snatching their eggs. Be warned: the parents will not be happy, and you’ll likely face a fierce battle.
Laying the Foundation: Getting Regular Eggs
Getting a constant flow of regular, non-fertilized eggs takes a bit of setup:
- Tame Female Dinosaurs: This is the most basic step. Tame several female dinosaurs of various species. Different species lay different sized eggs, which is necessary for different kibble.
- Create a Comfortable Environment: Build a safe, enclosed area for your dinosaurs. This protects them from predators and the elements.
- Keep Them Fed: Ensure your dinosaurs have a constant supply of food. A well-fed dinosaur is more likely to lay eggs.
- Patience is Key: Female dinos lay eggs periodically on their own. Having a few dinosaurs in one location improves the overall rate.
Making Babies: Obtaining Fertilized Eggs
Breeding dinosaurs to get fertilized eggs is a more involved process but yields baby dinosaurs!
- Tame a Male and Female: You need a male and a female of the same species. Sorry, no cross-species breeding here!
- Enabling Mating: Under the Behavior menu, enable “Mating” on both dinosaurs or set them to Wandering. If using wandering it is best to keep them contained in a small area so they do not wander too far apart.
- Mating Range: Make sure they are in close proximity to each other.
- Unburdened and Still: Ensure they are not overloaded, not following anything, and not mounted (for creatures that can be ridden).
- Mate Boost: Having a male near by will mate boost the female, increasing its chance to lay eggs.
- Wait for the Magic: A mating bar will appear above the female. Once the bar fills, the mating process is complete, and the female will lay a fertilized egg.
- Incubation: Pick up the fertilized egg and incubate it at the correct temperature. Once ready, the egg will hatch.
Egg-cellent Helpers: The Oviraptor
The Oviraptor is your best friend when it comes to egg production. These little guys have a special ability: they increase the egg-laying rate of nearby dinosaurs. Here’s how to use them:
- Tame an Oviraptor: Tame one or two Oviraptors.
- Set to Wander: Set them to wander near your egg-laying dinosaurs. They will also automatically collect eggs.
- Mate Boost: Tame a male to mate boost the oviraptor.
Taking Risks: Stealing Wild Eggs
This method is dangerous but can yield valuable eggs, including those from powerful creatures like Wyverns or Rock Drakes:
- Locate a Nest: Find a wild dinosaur nest. These are usually guarded by the parents.
- Prepare for a Fight: Be prepared to fight the parent dinosaurs. Use a fast flyer or a strong combat dinosaur.
- Grab the Egg: Quickly grab the egg and escape!
- Accept the Consequences: Be aware that stealing eggs will often aggro the surrounding dinosaurs, so have a plan for dealing with them.
The Importance of Kibble
Eggs are a vital component of kibble, which is used to tame dinosaurs more efficiently. Different dinosaur species require different types of kibble, which are made using specific types of eggs. So, diversify your egg production to have a variety of kibble options.
Conclusion
Getting eggs in Ark: Survival Evolved is a multi-faceted process that requires some preparation and strategy. Whether you’re collecting regular eggs for cooking, breeding dinosaurs for an army, or risking life and limb to steal valuable wild eggs, understanding the mechanics is crucial for success. So, get out there, tame some dinosaurs, and start collecting those eggs! And for more on how games can impact education and society, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why aren’t my dinosaurs laying eggs?
Several factors can prevent dinosaurs from laying eggs:
- Not female: Ensure you have female dinosaurs.
- Not fed: Dinosaurs need to be well-fed to lay eggs.
- Overburdened: If your dinosaurs are carrying too much weight, they won’t lay eggs.
- Not enough dinos: The more you have, the better.
2. How do I tell if an egg is fertilized?
Fertilized eggs have a red cloud swirling around them. Regular eggs do not have this visual indicator.
3. What do I do with fertilized eggs?
You need to incubate them at the correct temperature. This can be done by placing them near campfires, air conditioners, or dimetrodons. Keep the egg within the required temperature range to prevent it from losing health.
4. How do I incubate eggs effectively?
- Maintain Temperature: Use a combination of campfires, air conditioners, or dimetrodons to keep the temperature within the required range for the specific egg.
- Monitor Health: Keep an eye on the egg’s health. If it starts to decrease, adjust the temperature accordingly.
- Be Patient: Incubation can take a long time, depending on the species.
5. What is the ideal temperature for hatching Rex eggs?
Rex eggs require a temperature range of 32 to 34 °C / 90 to 93 °F for successful hatching.
6. What does “mate boosted” mean?
A dinosaur is “mate boosted” when it’s near a member of the opposite sex of the same species. This provides a buff that increases their damage and resistance. Females that are mate boosted have a higher chance to lay eggs.
7. How do I use an Oviraptor to collect eggs?
Set the Oviraptor to wander near your egg-laying dinosaurs. It will automatically collect eggs and also boost the egg laying rate.
8. Can I breed dinosaurs in a small pen?
Yes, you can. Build a small, enclosed pen and set both dinosaurs to wander. This keeps them in range of each other and prevents them from wandering too far.
9. Do all dinosaurs lay eggs?
As far as we know, all dinosaurs in Ark: Survival Evolved reproduce by laying eggs.
10. How do I prevent dinosaurs from wandering too far when mating?
Build a small pen or enclosure. Set them to wander within the enclosed pen. Or use the enable mating option under behavior.
11. What are the different egg sizes, and why do they matter?
Eggs come in different sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, and Special. The egg size determines which kibble you can make. Different dinosaurs need different kibble to tame them.
12. Can I fertilize an unfertilized egg?
No, you cannot fertilize an unfertilized egg. You need to breed two dinosaurs to get a fertilized egg.
13. How long does it take for a female dinosaur to lay another egg after mating?
The cooldown period varies by species, but it’s typically between 18 hours and 2 days.
14. Is there an incubator in Ark: Survival Evolved?
Yes, there is an Egg Incubator. Players can place 10 eggs into an Egg Incubator at once and only 3 can be built in the same area.
15. What happens if the egg’s health reaches zero during incubation?
If an egg’s health reaches zero, it will break, and you will lose the egg. Make sure to maintain the correct temperature during incubation to keep the egg from breaking.