---
title: "Grounded: Complete Survival Guide"
game: "Grounded"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/grounded"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Builds", "Bosses"]
summary: "A guide to surviving the backyard in Grounded (the original, not the sequel): first-day priorities, resource analysis and tech progression, base building, combat and damage types, dealing with spiders, the story labs,…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/grounded-complete-survival-guide-f9175922"
published: "2026-09-27T17:04:48.438Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T17:04:48.438Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# Grounded: Complete Survival Guide

A guide to surviving the backyard in Grounded (the original, not the sequel): first-day priorities, resource analysis and tech progression, base building, combat and damage types, dealing with spiders, the story labs, bosses, and endgame systems like Mutations and Milk Molars.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of patch 1.4.7 (hotfix 1.4.7.4815, 12 May 2025). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.*

## Where the Game Is Now

- Grounded 1 is feature-complete. The last major patch was **1.4.7 (17 April 2025)**, with a hotfix on 12 May 2025. It added an AFK state (hunger and thirst drain drops sharply when you're idle), faster ZIP.R ziplines, 150% pet health, stronger Aphid and Weevil pet buffs, and REMIX.D Yard armour upgrades up to level 15.
- **Grounded 2** entered Early Access on **29 July 2025** in a new setting, Brookhollow Park, with rideable Buggies. Its first major update, **The Toxic Tangle**, arrived on 27 January 2026. Grounded 2 is a separate game; this guide covers Grounded 1.
- **Playgrounds** mode lets you build and share custom maps; the official Steam news regularly features community Playgrounds with download codes.

## Quick Start

1. **Pick Medium difficulty and turn on Arachnophobia Mode if spiders bother you.** Difficulties are Mild, Medium, Whoa, and Custom.
2. **Get the basics first:** Plant Fiber, Grass Planks, Sprigs, Pebblets, Sap. Craft a Pebblet Axe, Pebblet Hammer and a spear.
3. **Build a lean-to and a bed near the Field Station** (the oak tree area). The bed sets your respawn.
4. **Water:** Drink dew drops on grass blades at dawn, water droplets, or juice boxes. Don't drink pond water raw.
5. **Food:** Cook meat from aphids and weevils on a campfire. Raw meat is risky.
6. **Analyse everything.** Put resources into the Resource Analyzer at a field station. New recipes unlock from analysing.
7. **Fight small first.** Aphids, weevils and gnats are harmless. Avoid Wolf Spiders at night and the Hedge early on.
8. **Follow BURG.L's quests** for Raw Science and story direction.
9. **Store loot in chests.** When you die, you drop a backpack. Retrieve it or lose your items.

## Resources and Analysis

- **Resource Analyzer:** Every new material you analyse unlocks recipes. This is how progression works in Grounded.
- **Raw Science** comes from analysing new items at the Resource Analyzer, brainpower milestones, BURG.L quests and Ranger Challenges, MIX.R events, a few bosses, and solid Raw Science hidden in hard-to-reach spots. Spend it on building blueprints and mutations at BURG.L's Science Shop (ASL Terminal) or on duplicating items with the Super Duper.
- **Tiers:** Tools come in tiers. Higher-tier tools let you harvest harder resources (for example, you need better axes to cut some plants and better hammers to break some rocks).

| Early resource | Where | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Fiber | Grass | Rope, basic crafts |
| Grass Planks | Grass blades | Building, crafts |
| Sprig | Near grass | Tools, crafts |
| Pebblet | Ground | Tools |
| Sap | Weed stems | Tools, cooking |
| Clay | Dirt patches (shovel) | Building |
| Acorn Shell | Oak tree area | Armour, crafts |

## First-Day Priorities

1. Gather basics and craft Pebblet tools and a spear.
2. Build a small base near the Field Station: lean-to, bed, campfire, storage chest.
3. Collect Dew and Water droplets for thirst; cook weevil or aphid meat.
4. Analyse every new material.
5. Make **Clover Armour** (easy early set) and a Workbench.
6. Head to BURG.L for the first quests and chip hunts.

## Progression Route (Rough Order)

| Stage | Goals | Unlocks you're after |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Starting area, Field Station, Oak Lab | Tier 1 tools, Clover and Acorn armour, basic base |
| Early-mid | Pond edge, ant hills, Hedge outskirts | Tier 2 tools, Ladybug armour, bows |
| Mid | Hedge Lab, the Pond Lab (bring a diving mask/breathing gear), Haze | Spider-tier gear, better weapons, Mega Milk Molars |
| Late | Upper Yard, Undershed, Black Anthill | Tier 3 tools, top armour sets, late bosses |
| Endgame | Mysterious Lab, NG+, REMIX.D | Director Schmector, armour upgrades to level 15 |

- **Gear check before each new area:** a weapon upgraded at the workbench, a full armour set, healing items (Bandages) plus cooked food, a canteen, and a way to light the dark (a torch or light).
- **Night is dangerous.** Wolf Spiders roam the grass at night. Stay home early on, or sleep through it.
- **Use the "trinkets" slot:** Trinkets give extra perks; swap them to match what you're fighting.

## Base Building

- **Location:** Build in a flat spot near water and resources, away from spider paths.
- **Walls and gates:** Grass walls early, then sturdier materials. Creatures attack bases, especially if you trigger events.
- **Defensive structures:** Spikes, turrets and traps help later.
- **Bed:** Always keep a bed in your base for respawning.
- **Storage:** Chests and the ZIP.R zipline network for moving around the yard fast.

## Combat

- **Damage types:** Slashing, Chopping, Stabbing and Busting, plus elemental types (Fresh, Salty, Sour, Spicy). Creatures have different weaknesses; check the creature card after analysing its parts.
- **Block and perfect block:** Blocking at the right moment (a perfect block) reduces damage and staggers enemies.
- **Stamina:** Attacks, sprinting and blocking use stamina.
- **Ranged:** Bows and crossbows are great for flying creatures like gnats and mosquitoes.
- **Armour sets:** Each set gives bonuses. Mix and match for your playstyle.

### Creature Threat Levels

| Tier | Creatures | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Harmless | Aphids, Weevils, Grubs, Gnats, Tadpoles | Safe food and crafting materials |
| Neutral | Worker Ants, Ladybugs, Bees, Fireflies, Roly Polies | Attack only if provoked |
| Aggressive | Soldier Ants, Lawn Mites, Larvae, Mosquitoes, Wasps | Attack on sight |
| Spiders | Wolf Spiders, Orb Weavers, Black Widows and others | Treat them as deadly; most hunt you once they notice you |

## Bosses

| Boss | Location |
|---|---|
| Hedge Broodmother | Hedge |
| Infected Broodmother | Haze |
| Mant | Undershed Lab |
| Orchid Mantis | Shed surroundings |
| Wasp Queen | Brawny Boy Bin |
| Assistant Manager | Black Anthill Lab |
| Director Schmector | Mysterious Lab |

**Boss tips:**

- Bring healing items, food and water, and a weapon that matches the boss's weakness.
- Perfect blocks make most boss fights far easier.
- Scout the arena before committing; learn attack patterns.

## Story and Labs

- The story follows four teens shrunk by Ominent and the mystery of Dr. Wendell Tully. BURG.L, a lab robot, guides you with quests.
- **Labs** (Oak, Hedge, Haze, Pond, Undershed, Black Anthill, Mysterious Lab) hold story progress, chips and important upgrades.
- Explore labs with good gear; many have hazards and tough enemies.

## Mutations and Milk Molars

- **Mutations** are perks earned by completing in-world challenges (killing creatures, using a weapon type, perfect blocking) or bought from BURG.L with Raw Science; many upgrade through several phases. You start with 2 mutation slots and can raise that to 5 with Milk Molar upgrades. Examples: **Natural Explorer** (movement speed boost that grows as you discover landmarks, off while in combat), **Parry Master** (perfect blocks refund stamina; unlocked by landing perfect blocks).
- **Milk Molars** and **Mega Milk Molars** are collectibles that give permanent upgrades (health, stamina, more mutation slots).
- **Pets** (added in later updates) include aphids and weevils; patch 1.4.7 made Aphid pets reduce sprint stamina drain by 30% and boost movement 15%, and Weevil pets reduce hunger and thirst drain by 50%.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Going into the Hedge early.** It's full of spiders.
- **Drinking dirty water.** Use a canteen with purified water or dew.
- **Not analysing resources.** It's the progression system.
- **Leaving your backpack after dying.** Go back for it fast.
- **Building far from resources.** Long trips waste time and are dangerous.
- **Ignoring armour upgrades.** Upgrading armour at the workbench boosts defence and durability.

## Advanced Tips

- **ZIP.R network:** Link bases with ziplines for fast travel. Since 1.4.7, ziplines are 50% faster.
- **Perfect block training:** Practise on ants; it's the most useful skill in the game.
- **Mutation sets:** Pair a damage mutation with a survival one.
- **Farm Raw Science** from BURG.L quests, MIX.R events and analysing everything new; spend it on key base blueprints and mutations, or use the Super Duper to copy rare items.
- **REMIX.D Yard:** An endgame mode with remixed content; armour can be upgraded to level 15 there.
- **Custom mode:** Adjust creature damage, hunger rate and base attacks for a challenge or chill run.

## FAQ

**What difficulty should I pick?**
Medium for most players. Mild is great for relaxed building; Whoa is hard.

**Is there an arachnophobia mode?**
Yes. It lets you make spiders less spider-like.

**What's the difference between Grounded and Grounded 2?**
Grounded 2 is a separate game (Early Access since 29 July 2025) set in Brookhollow Park with Buggies. Grounded 1 is complete.

**How do I get Raw Science?**
Analyse new items at a Resource Analyzer, complete BURG.L's quests and Ranger Challenges, clear MIX.R events, and grab solid Raw Science found in hidden spots around the yard.

**Where are the bosses?**
Hedge Broodmother (Hedge), Infected Broodmother (Haze), Mant (Undershed Lab), Orchid Mantis (Shed surroundings), Wasp Queen (Brawny Boy Bin), Assistant Manager (Black Anthill Lab) and Director Schmector (Mysterious Lab).

**Can I play co-op?**
Yes, with up to three friends. Shared Worlds lets others keep playing when the host is offline.

**Is Grounded still getting updates?**
The last patch was 1.4.7 (April 2025) with a hotfix in May 2025. Obsidian's new work is on Grounded 2.

## Sources

- [Grounded on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/962130/Grounded/)
- [Steam News: Grounded](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/962130)
- [Grounded Wiki (wiki.gg)](https://grounded.wiki.gg/wiki/Grounded_Wiki)
- [Grounded Wiki: Creatures (Grounded)](https://grounded.wiki.gg/wiki/Creatures_(Grounded))
- [Grounded Wiki: Raw Science](https://grounded.wiki.gg/wiki/Raw_Science)
- [Grounded Wiki: Mutations (Grounded)](https://grounded.wiki.gg/wiki/Mutations_(Grounded))
- [Patch 1.4.7 notes (Steam)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/962130)