Grounded Walkthrough — Start to Endgame

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.

This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. Follow this path to avoid common traps that stall most players.

Quick Progression Summary

Phase 1: Getting Started — Mystery Machine

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.

Level/Difficulty: Mid-game (Tier 2 gear) Key Rewards: BURG.L quests, Raw Science, story progression, crafting recipes

What to Do in Mystery Machine

1. Learn base building. Building in Grounded uses grass planks, weed stems, and various insect parts as materials. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
2. Pick Archer Build as your starting build. It's the most forgiving option.
3. 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.
4. Acquire your first equipment upgrade — Black Ant Sword or whatever's available.
5. Clear all main content before moving on.

Phase 1 Checklist

• Understand base building fundamentals
• Archer Build selected and functional
• Mystery Machine main content cleared
• Ready for Oak Tree

Phase 2: Early Game — Oak Tree

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.

Level/Difficulty: Early to mid-game (Tier 1-2) Key Rewards: Oak Lab completion, Sap, Acorn Shells, spider silk

What to Do in Oak Tree

1. Work on insect combat. Combat uses stamina-based melee (1H, 2H weapons) and ranged attacks (bows, crossbows). This system becomes critical from here on.
2. Farm for Black Ant Sword if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
3. Build near a juice box for easy, infinite water. Juice Drops respawn regularly and are the most reliable hydration source in the early game.
4. Complete all objectives before pushing to Haze Lab.
5. Consider whether Tank Build might suit your playstyle better than Archer Build.

Phase 2 Checklist

• insect combat integrated into gameplay
• Black Ant Sword acquired
• Oak Tree fully cleared
• Ready for Haze Lab

Phase 3: Mid Game — Haze Lab

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.

Level/Difficulty: Mid-game (Tier 2, Gas Mask required) Key Rewards: Haze BURG.L Chip, infected insect parts, key story data

What to Do in Haze Lab

1. Master crafting tiers. Crafting progresses through tiers gated by Analyzer discoveries — scanning new materials at a Field Station unlocks recipes. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
2. Start working toward Mint Mace. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
3. 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. This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
5. Start investing in exploration milestones for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.

Phase 3 Checklist

• crafting tiers mastered
• Mint Mace acquired or in progress
• Haze Lab fully cleared
• Ready for Pond

Phase 4: Late Game — Pond

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.

Level/Difficulty: Mid-game (requires underwater breathing gear) Key Rewards: Pond Lab, Koi Scale armor materials, Sunken Bones, Pond BURG.L Chip

What to Do in Pond

1. Finalize your build. You should be running Tank Build or Archer Build with optimized gear.
2. Mint Mace should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
3. 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.
4. co-op teamwork optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
5. Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Upper Yard.

Phase 4 Checklist

• Build fully optimized
• Mint Mace upgraded to max
• Pond fully cleared
• Ready for Upper Yard

Phase 5: Endgame — Upper Yard

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.

Level/Difficulty: Late-game (Tier 3 gear recommended) Key Rewards: Black Widow parts (Widow Dagger), Charcoal (Coaltana), Mint, endgame boss access

What to Do in Upper Yard

1. Upper Yard tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
2. 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.
3. The endgame loop: run Upper Yard, optimize gear, push harder content.
4. Experiment with General Build for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
5. This is where co-op teamwork mastery separates good players from great ones.

Phase 5 Checklist

• Endgame content on farm
• Best-in-slot gear acquired
• Upper Yard fully cleared
• Ready for challenge content

Common Progression Mistakes

• 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.

Key Tips for Smooth Progression

1. 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. 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. 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.
5. 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.

For detailed build optimization, see Grounded builds. For quick wins, check tips & tricks.