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 guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
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 |
|---|---|
| Best For | Tank Build. Pairs perfectly with a shield for block-and-smash playstyle |
| Key Mechanic | base building |
| Recommended Build | Tank Build |
See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Mint Mace: Pairs naturally with Tank Build thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
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 |
|---|---|
| Best For | General Build and Assassin Build for fast combo attacks |
| Key Mechanic | insect combat |
| Recommended Build | Archer Build |
Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Black Ant Sword: Pairs naturally with Archer Build thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
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 |
|---|---|
| Best For | Archer Build. Highest ranged DPS in the game |
| Key Mechanic | crafting tiers |
| Recommended Build | Assassin Build |
Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Crow Crossbow: Pairs naturally with Assassin Build thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
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 |
|---|---|
| Best For | Assassin Build. Backstab criticals deal devastating burst damage |
| Key Mechanic | exploration milestones |
| Recommended Build | Healer Build |
Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Widow Dagger: Pairs naturally with Healer Build thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
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 |
|---|---|
| Best For | Tank Build or General Build when facing groups of smaller insects |
| Key Mechanic | co-op teamwork |
| Recommended Build | General Build |
Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Coaltana: Pairs naturally with General Build thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
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.
- 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.
Similar Games
If you enjoy Grounded, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Weapons Guide: survival game with similar mechanics
