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From my understanding, the building block herd helpers are for genes that do not appear in ranks 1-5 herd helpers and likely assist with the coding side of other herd helpers. For example, SB1 has a rank 5 heterozygous sabino 1 herd helper. This is a herd helper on its own, but it also appears in rank special herd helpers like Blue Hawaiian, Clean Slate, and Good China.

Using the Blue Hawaiian HH as an example: if you look at it on the herd helpers page, you’ll notice that there is a section that says “This herd helper triggers the following primary herd helpers” followed by a list of rank 1, 2, and 5 herd helpers, along with the Brindle Breakout rank special herd helper. This section indicates what that herd helper includes by activating more specific herd helpers for each gene it has or should not have (marked by recessive (Rec.))

These building block herd helpers should all be perfect foundations, since any exceptionally perfect rank special herd helpers will also have the rank 5 “Exceptionally Perfect” herd helper listed in the trigger section mentioned above in addition to whatever herd helpers it has for genes.

Building block HHs are essentially no different than any other rank special herd helper, they just only have one gene that is guaranteed. Most rank special herd helpers are more specific than that in regards to color, as they have multiple herd helpers that are triggered upon creation.

Likely they would not be worth spending Golden Tokens on, as there’s only one gene that they are guaranteed to have, and they are triggered in other herd helpers that might have other genes you want.

I believe they also help with the coding side of things as well, as it allows each gene to have a corresponding herd helper. This would allow for simplicity as it is already a function built-in to the code that can then be referenced later on when needed, preventing the same bit of code from having to be written multiple times. Basically, it helps prevent redundant code and likely makes the code more readable.

I can’t comment on why some are available as random herd helpers, some have been available by special event, and some have never been made available to players as separate herd helpers (outside of being triggered by another HH).