Grounded Maps & Locations Guide — Every Area Covered

Q: How many players can play Grounded co-op?

Grounded supports up to 4 players in online co-op or 2 players in split-screen. Enemy health scales with player count, but coordinated teams with different build specializations (tank, archer, assassin) handle bosses much more easily than solo players.

Q: What is the best armor set in Grounded?

For general use, Ladybug Armor is the best defensive set — it heals you on perfect blocks and provides excellent HP. For damage, the Assassin set (backstab bonus) or Spider Fang set (ranged damage) are top tier. Late-game, Black Widow armor offers the strongest overall stats.

Q: How do I kill wolf spiders in Grounded?

Learn their three-hit combo pattern: lunge, swipe, spin. Perfect block all three hits to stagger them, then counterattack 2-3 times before blocking again. Use a shield and Mint Mace with Ladybug Armor for maximum survivability. Alternatively, find them sleeping in dens during daytime and attack first for bonus damage.

Q: Where do I find Mint Chunks?

Mint Chunks are found in the Mint Container near the porch/deck area of the house. The container has breakable chunks inside that respawn over time. You need a Tier 2 Insect Hammer to break them. Mint is used for the Mint Mace, Mint Staff, and Fresh-element weapons.

Q: Is there an ending to Grounded?

Yes. The 1.0 release added a full main story with a final boss and multiple ending options. Completing the main quest involves powering up all four labs, defeating their respective bosses, and confronting the truth about why you were shrunk. The story takes roughly 40-60 hours to complete.

Complete Grounded maps and locations guide. Every area with difficulty, rewards, progression order, and what to do in each zone.

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.

Grounded features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.

Area Progression Order

Order	Location	Difficulty	Key Rewards	Recommended Build
1	Mystery Machine	Mid-game (Tier 2 gear)	BURG.L quests, Raw Science, story progression, crafting recipes	Archer Build
2	Oak Tree	Early to mid-game (Tier 1-2)	Oak Lab completion, Sap, Acorn Shells, spider silk	Archer Build
3	Haze Lab	Mid-game (Tier 2, Gas Mask required)	Haze BURG.L Chip, infected insect parts, key story data	Tank Build
4	Pond	Mid-game (requires underwater breathing gear)	Pond Lab, Koi Scale armor materials, Sunken Bones, Pond BURG.L Chip	Tank Build
5	Upper Yard	Late-game (Tier 3 gear recommended)	Black Widow parts (Widow Dagger), Charcoal (Coaltana), Mint, endgame boss access	Tank Build

Mystery Machine — Starting Area

The large broken-down machine in the center of the yard serves as a major story location. Its interior contains BURG.L and important lab equipment for progressing the main quest. The surrounding area has moderate-difficulty insects and several resource nodes. Accessing it requires powering up specific lab components.

Attribute	Detail
Difficulty	Mid-game (Tier 2 gear)
Key Rewards	BURG.L quests, Raw Science, story progression, crafting recipes
Recommended Build	Archer Build
Key Equipment	Black Ant Sword

What to Do Here

Learn the basics of base building — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
Clear all main content before moving to Oak Tree.
If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.

Oak Tree — Early Game

The massive oak tree in the yard center is a vertical biome with multiple levels. Sap nodes on the trunk provide essential crafting materials, and the canopy contains unique insects and resources. The Oak Lab inside the tree is one of the first major dungeons. Watch for orb weavers guarding web-covered sections.

Attribute	Detail
Difficulty	Early to mid-game (Tier 1-2)
Key Rewards	Oak Lab completion, Sap, Acorn Shells, spider silk
Recommended Build	Archer Build
Key Equipment	Black Ant Sword

What to Do Here

Focus on mastering insect combat — it's critical from this point on.
Farm for Black Ant Sword if you don't have it yet.
Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
Prepare for the difficulty spike in Haze Lab.

Haze Lab — Mid Game

Located in the Haze zone (a permanently foggy area near the weed killer), this lab is filled with infected insects and toxic gas. You need a Gas Mask or Gastro Goo smoothie to survive the haze. The lab contains important story data and unlocks the Haze BURG.L chip. Infected mites and infected ladybugs are uniquely dangerous here.

Attribute	Detail
Difficulty	Mid-game (Tier 2, Gas Mask required)
Key Rewards	Haze BURG.L Chip, infected insect parts, key story data
Recommended Build	Tank Build
Key Equipment	Black Ant Sword

What to Do Here

This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
Mint Mace becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
Master crafting tiers for the boss encounters.
Check our boss guide if you get stuck.

Pond — Late Game

The garden pond is an underwater biome requiring a Gill Tube (or Bubble Helmet later) to explore. It contains the Pond Lab, unique aquatic creatures (water boatmen, diving bell spiders, koi fish), and valuable resources like Sunken Bones. The Koi Fish is a massive environmental hazard that can one-shot you.

Attribute	Detail
Difficulty	Mid-game (requires underwater breathing gear)
Key Rewards	Pond Lab, Koi Scale armor materials, Sunken Bones, Pond BURG.L Chip
Recommended Build	Tank Build
Key Equipment	Mint Mace

What to Do Here

Full build optimization is expected by this point.
Mint Mace should be your primary, fully upgraded.
co-op teamwork mastery starts mattering here.
Farm resources for the push into Upper Yard.

Upper Yard — Endgame

The most dangerous outdoor area, featuring Black Widows, Infected Broodmother, and other Tier 3 enemies. The Upper Yard contains the Picnic Table, BBQ area, and shed. Resources here include Charcoal, Mint, and Tier 3 insect parts. Only approach with fully upgraded Tier 2 or Tier 3 gear.

Attribute	Detail
Difficulty	Late-game (Tier 3 gear recommended)
Key Rewards	Black Widow parts (Widow Dagger), Charcoal (Coaltana), Mint, endgame boss access
Recommended Build	Tank Build
Key Equipment	Mint Mace

What to Do Here

This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
Experiment with General Build for variety once you've mastered the meta.

Exploration Tips

Clear areas in order — Mystery Machine → Oak Tree → Haze Lab → Pond → Upper Yard. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.

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