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.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Mystery Machine
Key resources: BURG.L quests, Raw Science, story progression, crafting recipes Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Black Ant Sword upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Oak Tree
Key resources: Oak Lab completion, Sap, Acorn Shells, spider silk Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Black Ant Sword upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Haze Lab
Key resources: Haze BURG.L Chip, infected insect parts, key story data Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Black Ant Sword upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Pond
Key resources: Pond Lab, Koi Scale armor materials, Sunken Bones, Pond BURG.L Chip Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Mint Mace max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upper Yard
Key resources: Black Widow parts (Widow Dagger), Charcoal (Coaltana), Mint, endgame boss access Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Mint Mace max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Mystery Machine — Oak Tree)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Black Ant Sword once accessible
Mid Game (Haze Lab)
- Push Black Ant Sword to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Mint Mace
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Pond — Upper Yard)
- Max out Mint Mace — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Haze Lab farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Analyze everything at Field Stations — scanning new materials unlocks crafting recipes. Carry one of every new material you find and scan it immediately for recipe discoveries.
- Farm Haze Lab during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
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 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Grounded, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
