Posted by Ultimate Guide to Leopon Breeding and Genetics

Ahadi | EPIC (#10342)

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Posted on
2015-11-08 14:39:50

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Since their addition into the game, Leopons are arguably one of the most popular mutations. Not only are they mind numbingly adorable with their art, but they also present a plethora of new breeding challenges. These hybrids are unique among Lioden genetics and are accompanied by a swathe of attributes only they possess. Their bloodlines can become rather complex and it can be confusing to understand how hybrid genetics all play out. This guide is here to help you understand where leopons come from, how they can be bred, and what inheritance patterns they follow.

Please note this guide does not and will not provide exact percentages for any breeding and/or mutation rates. Only vague proportions will be given to keep some mystery involved in breeding them!


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Obtaining a Leopon


For starters, we must explain where leopons come from. The very literal story is when a daddy leopard and mommy lion somehow fall in love, (you put all the panther on her, so don't blame him entirely!), they sneak away on a moonlit rendezvous and return with an adorable bastard tucked inside your lioness' belly. Since the smug leopard is both charming and an asshole, he decides you should raise his spawn in your pride while he goes off to woo more obnoxiously spotted lionesses. As a result, you end up with a hybrid.

The in-game truth is a bit simpler. Leopons begin as rare mutations. Any fertility can produce a mutation and, theoretically, a leopon. However, lower fertilities are more likely to produce both mutations and leopons in general. Mutation items such as GMO Cows, (September event item), Lion Meat, (January event item), and Cotton Root Bark, (Oasis item), can also increase your chances. Leopons are a very rare mutation along with dwarfism as compared to a common one such as achromia. They are born like a regular cub into your den, but are accompanied with the following text:

This litter brought a small surprise: a cub that is different to normal lion cubs. Upon questioning - in fear of being chased or killed - the lioness admits to a small rendezvous with a leopard when she was in heat... The cub is a hybrid! What will you do now!?

However, this is where the similarities end. Leopons are in their own mutation class called hybrids which have their own genetic system. It bares explaining that Instant birthing your lioness will not affect and/or change your chances of getting a leopon. This is determined the instant the cubs are generated which is when the lioness is bred and is not in any way affected by IBFs.



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First Generation Leopons


First generation leopons, those gained as mutations from regular lions, are born with default attributes regardless of their parent's genetics. First generation leopons are always born with the Kimanjano base, (unique to leopons), Dark Golden scarce mane, yellow eyes, dudley nose, and Slot 1: White Underfelt (100%) as well as Slot 6: Mottled Rosette (100%), (unique to leopons). They, along with any second generation leopons, will have special lines just for them!

Although they may not look like it, leopons behave as regular lions for customization. This means you may add any custom base, marking, nose, or eye color unto a leopon. You may also use event applicators and/or event features, such as November's NCL marking feature, on your leopon.

Any leopon female is fertile and acts like a regular lioness in terms of breeding. Male leopons, regardless of generation, cannot be bred even with the use of fertility items. They are completely infertile, rendering females the only possible way of breeding leopons.



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Second and Onward Generation Leopons


Only a leopon which is originally obtained as a mutation from a regular lioness, thus with a leopard as a father, will say "Leopon (first generation)" as their mutation. These are not the only leopons which can exist since females can breed. They have the possibility of producing second and onward generation leopons. This is where I would suggest grabbing a sketchbook and some blueprints as genetics can get messy here!

Female leopons can breed with normal lions. They typically have very low fertilities, but this can be remedied with fertility items and/or some breeding patience. It is perhaps simplest to think of leopons as inheritable mutations, allowing them to have both regular lion cubs and leopon cubs in the same litter. It is also possible for them to pass down their unique base and marking, but it is also possible for them to inherit special breed only markings, eyes, and bases!

Let's consider a hypothetical breeding between our first generation leopon and a slate male with Celestial Speckles, Dim Silver, and Under White 4 as well as Starshine eyes.

ajHgHLS.jpg
This offspring is a leopon.

This cub has gained the "Leopon gene" as can be seen by the unique lines. Her mutation will simply be listed as leopon without a generation. She has inherited her father's breed only attributes, but is also a leopon due to her mother. As a result of this, she has the possibility of passing on the leopon gene to her own cubs.
pXJ9LJC.jpg
This offspring is not a leopon.

Her sister has not inherited the leopon gene and is a regular lioness as a result. Despite lacking the leopon gene, she has inherited the leopon only base, Kimanjano, and the leopon only marking, Mottled Rosette, from her mother. She is capable of passing these down to any cubs she may have (see below for breeding details).


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Breeding Leopon Attributes


Second generation and onward leopons containing the leopon gene may pass it on to their cubs when bred to other lions and any non-leopon markings or bases they possess. On the other hand, the base and marking unique to leopons is a different case altogether when it comes to breeding.

The Kimanjano base and the marking Mottled Rosette can only be gained through breeding a first generation leopon and having it pass to her offspring. Leopons readily pass these to their own kids, regardless of whether or not the cubs have the leopon gene or not. A lioness containing these two unique things is a completely different story. Lions lacking the leopon gene have extreme issues passing the base or marking unto their own cubs. It appears the leopon gene helps increase the likelihood of cubs receiving the base and, without it, there's almost no chance of it being passed to cubs. Ochre gnawrocks are a possible solution for the marking, but the horrendously low pass rate for the Kimanjano base cannot be remedied, even in Kimanjano x Kimanjano pairings.

A possible solution which has been discussed is retiring to a leopon king and then retiring again to regular lion, keeping the leopon's looks. This gets around the infertility aspect as the new king will inherit the leopon only attributes but without the mutation, permitting fertility. While clever, the pass rates for your new king's Kimanjano base remain so deplorably nonexistent as a regular lion, he may as well be borderline infertile in terms of pass rates.



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Any further questions?


I hope this helps clarify the confusion on breeding leopons or hybrids in general! Please feel free to post below with any questions, comments, or concerns you have. I'll be happy to address them as best I can. Many thanks and best luck in your leopon adventures!


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Edited on 09/11/15 @ 00:34:27 by Ahadi | EPIC (#10342)

Kristall (#24826)

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Posted on
2015-11-22 00:46:53
OMG awesome *bookmarks*



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Heléna the
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Posted on
2015-11-22 00:50:53
Does this mean that my lioness will have to look like a leopard to attract a male leopard? Please reply because I'm going to use a GMO Cow on my rosette lioness. I don't know if she has to look like a leopard to attract a leopard.



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Jaci (#63287)

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Posted on
2015-11-22 00:57:53
No, she doesn't have to look like a leopard, any lioness has the chance of attracting a leopard regardless of appearance c:



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Edited on 22/11/15 @ 07:58:27 by Jaci (#63287)

Heléna the
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Posted on
2015-11-22 01:05:06
Yay! But I'll still use my GMO on my rosette so that I get rosette mutations! How cool would that be!



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Heléna the
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Posted on
2015-11-22 01:06:23
Also, you can only get mottled rosettes through breeding a first generation leopon? Oh, that explains why mottled rosettes cost so much. Oh... :I



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chromehorse (#60270)

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Posted on
2015-11-22 01:11:09
So just to be clear- unlike other mutations, the leopons have a chance of passing on their mutation to cubs?



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Kraft (#738)

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Posted on
2015-11-22 04:48:21
Yes, chromehorse, you are correct. Leopons are the only mutation that has a chance to be inherited by the cubs. This chance is still slim though.



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Heléna the
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Posted on
2015-11-22 07:46:56
If I was to breed a lioness who's mother was a leopon, will she have a chance to give me a leopon too or is it only the leopons who can give other leopons? Do the offspring have the gene in them too so they can give someone leopons too?



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mau | g1 6k frontal
3ros cel (#32469)

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Posted on
2015-11-22 07:48:51
It's only the lions who have the mutation themselves, Helena c:



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Heléna the
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Posted on
2015-11-22 07:49:15
Aww.



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chromehorse (#60270)

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Posted on
2015-11-22 08:13:46
Thanks, kraft!



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Vampyzeneko (#74677)

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Posted on
2015-11-23 12:24:12
Alright. But how do I know if the lion has a leopon parent? I'm kind of confused and understanding a little about the forum post



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Heléna the
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Posted on
2015-11-24 02:03:11
Can any generation of leopon give me a leopon? Even second generation leopons?



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Kraft (#738)

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Posted on
2015-11-24 07:20:57
@Helena, any Leopon has that slightly extra, but still slim chance. First or second generation it doesn't matter SO LONG AS they are actually a Leopon and not a lioness. And remember any lioness in the game has a chance with any breeding to produce one, although it is very small.

@Flint, you'll just need to check her heritage. If is has Mottled Rosette then somewhere in that bloodline will be a Leopon. Even so, normal offspring of Leopons have no extra effects.



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Vampyzeneko (#74677)

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Posted on
2015-11-24 07:44:34
So a lioness with a leopon mutation will only be found in exploration, but also in breeding a leopon with another lion since I've seen that the genes pass down to the offspring.



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