Grounded Equipment Guide — Best Equipment Ranked

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 equipment guide. Every equipment option ranked with stats, best builds, and how to get them.

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.

Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.

Equipment Rankings

Equipment	Tier	Best For	Notes
Mint Mace	S	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	A	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	A	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	B	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	B	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.

S-Tier: Mint Mace

The Mint Mace is crafted from Mint Chunks found near the porch mint container. It deals Fresh (mint) elemental damage, which is super effective against robots and certain insects. One of the strongest 1H weapons in the game with excellent stagger damage. Requires Tier 2 crafting.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	S
Best For	Tank Build — pairs perfectly with a shield for block-and-smash playstyle
Key Mechanic	base building
Recommended Build	Tank Build

How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.

Best builds using Mint Mace: Pairs naturally with Tank Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.

A-Tier: Black Ant Sword

Crafted from Black Ant Parts found in the Black Anthill, this fast-swinging sword deals solid base damage with good attack speed. It's the best general-purpose melee weapon before Tier 3. The Black Ant Head trophy boosts its damage further when slotted.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Best For	General Build and Assassin Build for fast combo attacks
Key Mechanic	insect combat
Recommended Build	Archer Build

How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.

Best builds using Black Ant Sword: Pairs naturally with Archer Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.

A-Tier: Crow Crossbow

The premier ranged weapon, crafted from Crow Feather Pieces found near the bird bath and picnic table. It fires bolts with excellent range and damage, outperforming the Insect Bow in raw DPS. Different bolt types (Splinter, Gas, Lure) add utility. Requires Tier 3 materials.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Best For	Archer Build — highest ranged DPS in the game
Key Mechanic	crafting tiers
Recommended Build	Assassin Build

How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.

Best builds using Crow Crossbow: Pairs naturally with Assassin Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.

B-Tier: Widow Dagger

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. Its backstab multiplier is enormous, making it the Assassin build's ultimate weapon.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	B
Best For	Assassin Build — backstab criticals deal devastating burst damage
Key Mechanic	exploration milestones
Recommended Build	Healer Build

How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.

Best builds using Widow Dagger: Pairs naturally with Healer Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.

B-Tier: Coaltana

A Tier 3 two-handed sword made from Charcoal Chunks near the grill and BBQ Spill area. It deals Spicy (fire) elemental damage with wide swings that hit multiple enemies. One of the highest raw damage weapons in the game but slow — leave yourself open between swings.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	B
Best For	Tank Build or General Build when facing groups of smaller insects
Key Mechanic	co-op teamwork
Recommended Build	General Build

How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.

Best builds using Coaltana: Pairs naturally with General Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.

Equipment Progression Path

The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:

Starting gear → Enough to clear Mystery Machine
Black Ant Sword → Your first real upgrade, available early
Crow Crossbow → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
Mint Mace → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous

Equipment Tips

Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
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.
Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.

More Grounded Guides

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