Why Won’t the Reaper Queen Impregnate? A Survivor’s Guide to Aberration’s Most Unique Mechanic

So, you’ve braved the depths of Aberration, faced the nameless horrors, and finally cornered a Reaper Queen, only to be met with…disappointment? You’re not alone. Getting a Reaper Queen to impregnate you in ARK: Survival Evolved is a delicate dance, a precise combination of health thresholds, lighting conditions, and a healthy dose of patience. The short answer? You’re likely messing up one or more of these key steps:

• Health Threshold: The Reaper Queen needs to be below 2000 health, sometimes even lower. Visual cues like blood splatter aren’t always reliable. Use a damage meter if possible for accuracy.

• Light Sensitivity: Turn off all light sources! This includes your light pet’s charge, torches, campfires, and even any glowsticks in the area. The Queen is highly sensitive to light when attempting impregnation.

• Proximity and Time: Get up close and personal! Tanking the Queen’s attacks for 1-2 minutes (or longer) after meeting the health and lighting requirements is crucial. She needs time to initiate the process.

• The Aura: Look for the pink/reddish aura. This is the clearest indication that she’s ready. If you don’t see it after a few minutes of tanking, something is wrong.

• Aggro: Ensure you have the Queen’s undivided attention. If she’s distracted by other creatures or structures, she won’t focus on you.

If you’ve covered all of these steps, you can also check the FAQs below for less obvious, but equally important, troubleshooting tips.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reaper Impregnation

How do I know exactly how much health the Reaper Queen has?

Using a damage meter mod or overlay is the most reliable way to track the Reaper Queen’s health. Without one, you’re relying on visual cues, which can be misleading. Aim for well below the 2000 health threshold, even down to a sliver of health, to be certain.

What’s the best strategy for bringing the Reaper Queen to low health?

Use a powerful ranged weapon like a Tek Bow with Element Arrows, or a high-damage shotgun. Focus your attacks and avoid excessive damage to nearby structures. A tamed and well-bred Rock Drake can also be an excellent option, providing mobility and firepower. Be sure to switch weapons or reduce your firing rate once she gets close to the health threshold, you don’t want to accidentally kill her!

My light pet keeps turning back on, what can I do?

The charge function on light pets can be finicky. Try setting the light pet to a shoulder slot, and then unequipping the pet from your shoulder. Drop the item away from you and wait a few seconds, pick the item back up and place it in your shoulder slot again. This should help ensure that the pet has no charge. As an extra measure, unequip armor pieces that have light attachments or glow.

What if another player is nearby? Will that affect the impregnation?

Yes! Other players, especially if they have light sources, can interfere with the process. Clear the area of any unnecessary survivors. If you’re playing in a tribe, coordinate carefully to ensure everyone understands the requirements.

How long does the impregnation process actually take?

Once the Reaper Queen is ready (indicated by the aura), the actual impregnation process is relatively quick. She’ll grab you with her tail, and after a brief animation, she’ll burrow back underground, leaving you with the Reaper embryo.

What happens if I die during the tanking phase?

If you die before being impregnated, the Reaper Queen will likely reset her behavior, and you’ll need to start the process over. Try to bring strong armor and healing items, or have a tribe mate nearby to revive you if necessary.

Is there a specific area on Aberration where Reaper Queens are more common?

Reaper Queens spawn throughout the Aberration map, but they are more frequently found in the deeper, more radioactive areas. These zones are also home to more dangerous creatures, so come prepared!

What should I do immediately after being impregnated?

Your health will be severely reduced. Immediately heal yourself with food, medical brews, or a Daeodon. Head back to your base and prepare for the gestation period. Remember, radiation is deadly to the embryo, so avoid those areas.

How long is the gestation period for a Reaper?

On official servers, the gestation period is 12 hours of online time. Logging out pauses the timer. You can monitor the progress by equipping the reaper pheromone glands, which will show a percent. Dying and transferring servers will prematurely birth or outright kill the baby.

What does the baby Reaper eat after it’s born?

Baby Reapers are carnivores and eat meat. You can either place meat directly in their inventory or, more dramatically, fill your inventory with meat and allow the baby Reaper King to kill you. It will then consume the meat from your inventory.

Can I transfer servers while pregnant with a Reaper?

No! Transferring servers while pregnant with a Reaper is generally a bad idea and will kill the embryo. Wait until after the baby Reaper King is born before transferring. This can, however, be a way to prematurely birth or destroy an unwanted embryo.

What happens if I get radiation sickness while pregnant?

Radiation sickness is fatal to the Reaper embryo. Avoid radiated zones during the gestation period. If you must enter them, use a hazmat suit or other radiation protection.

Are there different types of Reaper Kings?

Yes, the Reaper King‘s melee damage stat scales on the level of the Reaper Queen that impregnated you. Impregnations from higher-level Queens will result in higher-level baby kings. Therefore, it is best to look for the highest-level Queen available before beginning the taming process.

Can I use commands or cheats to tame a Reaper Queen directly?

While it’s possible to use console commands to spawn or control a Reaper Queen, directly taming one in the traditional sense is not possible without mods. The intended method for obtaining a Reaper King is through impregnation.

What are some good strategies for raising a Reaper King?

Protect your Reaper King from radiation and enemy creatures. Imprint on it regularly to maximize its stats and effectiveness. Reaper Kings are powerful creatures, excelling in both combat and exploration.

This unique impregnation mechanic underscores the fascinating ways games can teach us about complex systems and resource management, even in seemingly simple scenarios. Learning about these kinds of intricate details in games like ARK: Survival Evolved can foster problem-solving skills and encourage collaborative learning within communities. For more insights into how games can be leveraged for educational purposes, explore resources like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Now go forth, brave survivor, and claim your Reaper King!