Grounded is Obsidian Entertainment's survival game where you've been shrunk to the size of an ant and must survive in a suburban backyard. Every blade of grass is a towering tree, every puddle is a lake, and insects range from helpful ladybugs to terrifying wolf spiders. The game blends base building, crafting, and Soulslike boss fights against massive bugs. With full co-op support for up to 4 players, Grounded transforms the mundane backyard into one of the most creative survival settings in gaming. The 1.0 release added a complete story with multiple endings.
Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option — what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Best Equipment | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tank Build | S | Face-tank enemies with perfect blocks, draw aggro in co-op, heal through sustained damage. | Mint Mace | Moderate |
| Archer Build | A | Stay at range, pelt enemies with elemental arrows while teammates hold aggro. | Black Ant Sword | Yes |
| Assassin Build | A | Sneak behind enemies, land backstab criticals, dodge attacks with stamina management. | Crow Crossbow | Yes |
| Healer Build | B | Distribute healing smoothies, stay near teammates for Mom Gene healing aura, light DPS between heals. | Widow Dagger | No |
| General Build | A | Adapt to situations with blocking, dodging, and switching between melee and ranged as needed. | Coaltana | Yes |
New player? Start with Archer Build — see our beginner's guide for why.
Tank Build
The Tank uses heavy armor (Ladybug Armor set for +block strength and HP regen) with a 1H weapon and shield. Perfect blocks are this build's bread and butter — the Ladybug set's healing on block makes you nearly unkillable against bosses. Best build for solo players facing wolf spiders and lab bosses.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Playstyle | Face-tank enemies with perfect blocks, draw aggro in co-op, heal through sustained damage. |
| Best Equipment | Mint Mace |
| Stat Priority | Max HP, Block Strength, Stun resistance |
| Core Gear | Ladybug Armor Set, Black Ant Shield, Mint Mace, Smoothie Station for healing smoothies |
| Key Mechanic | base building |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Face-tank enemies with perfect blocks, draw aggro in co-op, heal through sustained damage.
- Pairs well with Mint Mace
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Mystery Machine to learn Tank Build-specific mechanics
- Focus on base building — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Mint Mace as your first major upgrade
- See our full Tank Build build guide for the optimal gear progression
Archer Build
Ranged builds use the Crow Crossbow or Insect Bow with elemental arrows for safe damage at distance. The Spider Fang armor set boosts ranged damage. This build excels against airborne enemies (mosquitoes, fireflies) and in co-op where a tank holds aggro. Weakness: limited ammo requires constant crafting.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Stay at range, pelt enemies with elemental arrows while teammates hold aggro. |
| Best Equipment | Black Ant Sword |
| Stat Priority | Ranged Damage, Stamina, Critical Chance |
| Core Gear | Crow Crossbow, Spider Fang Armor Set, Feather Arrows, Lure Arrow |
| Key Mechanic | insect combat |
Strengths
- Most versatile — adapts to any situation
- Stay at range, pelt enemies with elemental arrows while teammates hold aggro.
- Pairs well with Black Ant Sword
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Mystery Machine to learn Archer Build-specific mechanics
- Focus on insect combat — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Black Ant Sword as your first major upgrade
- See our full Archer Build build guide for the optimal gear progression
Assassin Build
Assassin builds use fast daggers (Widow Dagger, Tick Macuahuitl) with the Assassin armor set for backstab damage bonuses. Sneaking behind enemies and landing backstab crits deals massive burst damage. Fragile but devastating in co-op when enemies face the tank.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Sneak behind enemies, land backstab criticals, dodge attacks with stamina management. |
| Best Equipment | Crow Crossbow |
| Stat Priority | Critical Chance, Backstab Damage, Attack Speed |
| Core Gear | Widow Dagger, Assassin Armor Set, Coup de Grass mutation, Sneaky smoothies |
| Key Mechanic | crafting tiers |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Sneak behind enemies, land backstab criticals, dodge attacks with stamina management.
- Pairs well with Crow Crossbow
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Mystery Machine to learn Assassin Build-specific mechanics
- Focus on crafting tiers — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Crow Crossbow as your first major upgrade
- See our full Assassin Build build guide for the optimal gear progression
Healer Build
Healer builds focus on the Bard mutation and healing smoothies to support the team. While there's no dedicated healing class, combining the Smoothie Station with the Mom Gene mutation (healing allies in range) provides group sustain. Less effective solo but valuable in 4-player co-op boss fights.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Playstyle | Distribute healing smoothies, stay near teammates for Mom Gene healing aura, light DPS between heals. |
| Best Equipment | Widow Dagger |
| Stat Priority | Max HP, Healing received, Resistance |
| Core Gear | Smoothie Station, Bandages, Mom Gene mutation, Gastro Goo smoothie ingredients |
| Key Mechanic | exploration milestones |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Distribute healing smoothies, stay near teammates for Mom Gene healing aura, light DPS between heals.
- Pairs well with Widow Dagger
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Mystery Machine to learn Healer Build-specific mechanics
- Focus on exploration milestones — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Widow Dagger as your first major upgrade
- See our full Healer Build build guide for the optimal gear progression
General Build
The jack-of-all-trades build uses medium armor (Ant Armor for hauling bonus or Acorn Armor for balanced defense) with a versatile 1H weapon. Good for solo play where you need both offense and defense. The Acorn set's perfect block explosion damages nearby enemies.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Adapt to situations with blocking, dodging, and switching between melee and ranged as needed. |
| Best Equipment | Coaltana |
| Stat Priority | Balanced HP, Damage, Stamina |
| Core Gear | Mint Mace or Black Ant Sword, Acorn Armor Set, Shield, Healing Smoothies |
| Key Mechanic | co-op teamwork |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Adapt to situations with blocking, dodging, and switching between melee and ranged as needed.
- Pairs well with Coaltana
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Mystery Machine to learn General Build-specific mechanics
- Focus on co-op teamwork — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Coaltana as your first major upgrade
- See our full General Build build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Build Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Archer Build is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Tank Build is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Mint Mace for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
General Build offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.
For Group Play
Healer Build shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More Grounded Guides
- Grounded Grounded Overview
- Grounded Best Builds
- Grounded Tier List
- Grounded Walkthrough
- Grounded Beginner's Guide
- Grounded Tips & Tricks
- Grounded Weapons Guide
- Grounded Combat Guide
- Grounded Boss Guide
- Grounded Maps & Locations
- Grounded Crafting Guide
Similar Games
If you enjoy Grounded, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Classes Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Classes Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Classes Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
