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.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough.
Essential Tips
1. Analyze everything at Field Stations — scanning new materials unlocks crafting recipes
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.
2. Build near a juice box for easy, infinite water
Build near a juice box for easy, infinite water. Juice Drops respawn regularly and are the most reliable hydration source in the early game.
3. Ant Armor gives a hauling speed bonus that makes transporting grass planks and weed stems bearable
Ant Armor gives a hauling speed bonus that makes transporting grass planks and weed stems bearable. Craft a set just for building sessions even if you fight in different armor.
4. Smoothies from the Smoothie Station are your primary healing — Grub Smoothie heals over time, Gastro Goo smoothie provides haze immunity, and Liquid Rage boosts damage temporarily
Smoothies from the Smoothie Station are your primary healing — Grub Smoothie heals over time, Gastro Goo smoothie provides haze immunity, and Liquid Rage boosts damage temporarily.
5. Wolf Spiders patrol fixed routes at night and sleep in specific dens during the day
Wolf Spiders patrol fixed routes at night and sleep in specific dens during the day. Learn their patrol paths to avoid them, or attack their dens while they sleep for easier kills.
6. Perfect blocking (pressing block at the exact moment an attack lands) staggers enemies and triggers armor set bonuses
Perfect blocking (pressing block at the exact moment an attack lands) staggers enemies and triggers armor set bonuses. Practice on weaker bugs like gnats and ants before fighting spiders.
7. Ziplines between your base and key locations (labs, resource nodes) save enormous amounts of travel time
Ziplines between your base and key locations (labs, resource nodes) save enormous amounts of travel time. Invest in Zipline Anchors early — they require Silk Rope and Weed Stems.
8. Mutations are passive perks earned by doing specific activities (killing insects, blocking attacks, etc
Mutations are passive perks earned by doing specific activities (killing insects, blocking attacks, etc.). Equip mutations that match your build — Cardio Fan for stamina, Buff Lungs for combat, Meat Shield for tanking.
9. Lure Arrows fired from bows or crossbows attract enemies to a spot, which is invaluable for pulling dangerous insects away from each other or into traps
Lure Arrows fired from bows or crossbows attract enemies to a spot, which is invaluable for pulling dangerous insects away from each other or into traps.
10. SCA
SCA.B schematics hidden throughout the map provide cosmetic customization. They're often tucked behind hard-to-reach spots or inside containers that require specific tools to open.
Advanced Strategies
Build Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive:
For Tank Build (S-Tier):
- 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.
- Core gear: Ladybug Armor Set, Black Ant Shield, Mint Mace, Smoothie Station for healing smoothies
- Stat priority: Max HP, Block Strength, Stun resistance
For Archer Build (A-Tier):
- 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.
- Core gear: Crow Crossbow, Spider Fang Armor Set, Feather Arrows, Lure Arrow
- Stat priority: Ranged Damage, Stamina, Critical Chance
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how Grounded's systems interact is where the real optimization lives:
base building + insect combat: Building in Grounded uses grass planks, weed stems, and various insect parts as materials. Combined with insect combat, combat uses stamina-based melee (1h, 2h weapons) and ranged attacks (bows, crossbows).
crafting tiers + exploration milestones: Crafting progresses through tiers gated by Analyzer discoveries — scanning new materials at a Field Station unlocks recipes. When paired with exploration milestones, the yard is divided into distinct biomes with increasing difficulty — from the safe grasslands to the deadly upper yard.
co-op teamwork scaling: Up to 4 players can join in shared or split-screen co-op. Enemies scale health based on player count, but coordinated teams can stagger-lock bosses with perfect blocks. Shared bases mean everyone contributes resources, and different build specializations (tank, archer, assassin) complement each other in boss fights. Reviving downed teammates requires standing near them for several seconds.
Equipment Efficiency
| Equipment | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mint Mace | Tank Build — pairs perfectly with a shield for block-and-smash playstyle | The Mint Mace is crafted from Mint Chunks found near the porch mint container. |
| Black Ant Sword | General Build and Assassin Build for fast combo attacks | Crafted from Black Ant Parts found in the Black Anthill, this fast-swinging sword deals solid base damage with good attack speed. |
| Crow Crossbow | Archer Build — highest ranged DPS in the game | The premier ranged weapon, crafted from Crow Feather Pieces found near the bird bath and picnic table. |
| Widow Dagger | Assassin Build — backstab criticals deal devastating burst damage | Crafted from Black Widow parts (one of the game's hardest enemies), the Widow Dagger has the fastest attack speed of any melee weapon and applies Venom damage over time. |
| Coaltana | Tank Build or General Build when facing groups of smaller insects | A Tier 3 two-handed sword made from Charcoal Chunks near the grill and BBQ Spill area. |
Location Efficiency
Mystery Machine (Mid-game (Tier 2 gear)): 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.
Oak Tree (Early to mid-game (Tier 1-2)): 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.
Haze Lab (Mid-game (Tier 2, Gas Mask required)): 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.
Pond (Mid-game (requires underwater breathing gear)): 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.
Upper Yard (Late-game (Tier 3 gear recommended)): 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.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Storing food in your base without walls and defenses — ants detect food storage and will raid your base in large groups, destroying structures to reach it.
- Fighting wolf spiders without perfect block practice — these are the deadliest common enemy and will two-shot you in Tier 1 armor. Learn their three-hit combo timing on weaker spiders first.
- Ignoring the Smoothie Station — players who rely on raw food for healing run out of sustain during boss fights. Smoothies provide much stronger and stackable healing effects.
- Building a base in the Haze or near ant hills — both locations guarantee constant attacks. Build in the Grasslands near the oak tree for a safe early-game base location.
- Neglecting to upgrade weapons at the Smithing Station — a Level 5 Tier 2 weapon outdamages a Level 1 Tier 3 weapon. Upgrade what you have before chasing the next tier.
Efficiency Quick Reference
| Aspect | Optimal Choice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Tank Build | S-tier, best overall |
| Starter | Archer Build | Most forgiving for learning |
| Equipment | Mint Mace | Best resource-to-power ratio |
| First area | Mystery Machine | BURG.L quests, Raw Science, story progression, crafting recipes |
| Priority mechanic | base building | Everything else builds on this |
Pro Quick 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.
- Build near a juice box for easy, infinite water. Juice Drops respawn regularly and are the most reliable hydration source in the early game.
- Ant Armor gives a hauling speed bonus that makes transporting grass planks and weed stems bearable. Craft a set just for building sessions even if you fight in different armor.
- Start with Archer Build, switch to Tank Build when ready
- Invest in Mint Mace above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Mystery Machine → Oak Tree → Haze Lab → Pond → Upper Yard
- base building + insect combat together are stronger than either alone
For full build details, check builds. For progression path, see the walkthrough.
