In the vast, verdant, and often perilous expanse of the backyard in Grounded 2, every inch of ground covered feels like a monumental expedition. Navigation, resource gathering, and combat are perpetual challenges when you`re the size of an ant. But what if the very creatures that once inspired dread could become your greatest allies, transforming weary treks into exhilarating rides? Grounded 2 introduces a revolutionary feature that does just that: the ability to tame and ride your very own “buggies.” Welcome to the future of backyard transportation.
The Dawn of Insect Transportation
Gone are the days of endless sprinting and risky detours. With the advent of bug mounts, players can now traverse the colossal landscape of the backyard with unprecedented speed and convenience. These aren`t just glorified travel companions; they are extensions of your survival toolkit, offering unique benefits ranging from enhanced mobility to formidable combat support. While you won`t stumble upon these rideable wonders immediately, the path to unlocking them is a worthy pursuit for any ambitious backyard explorer.
The Red Soldier Ant Buggy: Your First Loyal Steed
Imagine, if you will, riding into battle atop a creature whose mandibles alone could carve a path through lesser insects. The Red Soldier Ant Buggy isn`t just a fantasy; it`s a tangible reality in Grounded 2, offering a blend of speed, utility, and, dare we say, a certain rugged charm. Acquiring this six-legged marvel requires a methodical approach, starting with a significant plot progression.
Paving the Way: Unlocking the Blueprint
Your journey begins by delving deeper into the main storyline. Specifically, you`ll need to complete the “Missed Connection” questline. This narrative arc plunges you into the depths of an ant hill, a journey that culminates in the discovery and salvage of an Ominent employee`s remains. Successful completion of this quest rewards you with a critical unlock: the ability to purchase the blueprints for a Hatchery.
Expert Tip: Always keep an eye on your quest log. Main story objectives often gate significant advancements, and “Missed Connection” is no exception.
Building Your Cradle of Critters: The Hatchery
With the “Missed Connection” quest behind you, head to the Ranger Station`s Science Shop. Here, for a modest sum of 500 Science Points, you can acquire the coveted Hatchery blueprint. If your science reserves are a bit low, consult your challenge tab – completing nearby challenges is often a quicker route to accumulating points than simply scouring the landscape for pink glowing orbs (though every orb still counts!).
The Hatchery blueprint isn`t just about one structure; it unlocks a trio of essential craftables:
- The Hatchery itself
- The Red Soldier Ant Buggy (itself a craftable item, once the egg is hatched)
- The Ant Nest (a separate utility)
To construct your very own Hatchery, gather these fundamental materials:
- 6 Weed Stems
- 1 Acorn Top
- 5 Acorn Shells
- 5 Mite Fuzz
Acorns are typically found at the base of larger trees, such as those near the Entrance region. Weed stems are easily obtained by felling dandelions, those towering green giants that dot the backyard. A little diligent foraging, and you`ll have your foundation ready.
The Grand Hunt: Securing a Red Soldier Ant Egg
With your Hatchery ready, the next step is perhaps the most audacious: venturing into another ant hill to procure a Red Soldier Ant egg. This is not a stroll in the park (or rather, backyard). You will inevitably encounter and engage with several Red Soldier Ants, creatures significantly more formidable than their common worker counterparts. Prepare for a fight; adequate weaponry, sturdy armor, and a generous supply of bandages are highly advisable.
Navigate through the ant hill until you reach a lab-like chamber containing a reddish-brown egg encased in a test chamber. Alas, this egg remains inaccessible. Persevere, for deeper within the ant hill lies another area teeming with Red Soldier Ant eggs. Here`s the catch: you can only carry one egg at a time, and it will not enter your inventory. This means any skirmishes necessitate dropping your precious cargo to engage in combat, then retrieving it. It’s a delicate dance of evasion and engagement, but the reward is undeniably worth the effort.
From Egg to Ally: Hatching Your Buggy
Once you’ve successfully extracted an egg from the depths of the ant hill, carefully transport it back to your base and place it within your newly constructed Hatchery. The Red Soldier Ant egg requires 12 in-game hours to hatch, which conveniently translates to roughly 25 minutes of real-world time. A short wait for a lifetime of adventure!
Upon successful hatching, congratulations! You now possess a loyal, rideable Red Soldier Ant. This isn`t merely a fast mode of transport; your new companion also boasts storage space, can assist in gathering materials, and will even engage in combat against hostile bugs. And yes, you can, and absolutely should, pet your new fella. It`s the least you can do for such a dedicated comrade.
The Orb Weaver Buggy: The Backyard Brawler
While the Red Soldier Ant provides agile utility, the Orb Weaver Buggy enters the arena as the undisputed champion of combat support. If you seek a tank-like companion to wade into the thick of battle, absorbing punishment and delivering retaliatory strikes, then this eight-legged behemoth is your ultimate goal. It`s a buggy built for aggression, a formidable ally in a world where danger lurks behind every blade of grass.
The Path to Arachnid Allegiance: Unlocking the Orb Weaver
To unlock the Orb Weaver Buggy, your journey must extend further into the narrative fabric of Grounded 2. You`ll need to complete the main story objective that culminates in defeating the mysterious antagonist. This critical progression grants you access to the Turbo Optical Disk, which can be found at the Statue Point of Interest (POI). Obtain this disk, and your next stop is any Ranger Outpost.
At the Ranger Outpost, armed with your newly acquired Turbo Optical Disk, you can now purchase the Orb Weaver buggy blueprint. Be warned, this blueprint demands a significant investment: 5,000 Raw Science. It’s a hefty price, reflecting the power and utility this creature brings to your arsenal.
The Den of Dread: Locating an Orb Weaver Egg
Orb Weaver eggs, unlike their ant counterparts, might have been under your nose (or rather, underfoot) much earlier in your adventure. They are readily found within the shadows of a spider`s den, most notably the one situated beneath BURG.L`s body, near the very center of the map. While present early on, their utility is only unlocked after the aforementioned blueprint acquisition. The hunt for these eggs is a tense affair, as the dens are, predictably, home to their formidable adult counterparts.
A Patient Wait: Hatching Your Eight-Legged Friend
Once you have secured an Orb Weaver egg, transport it back to your Hatchery – yes, the very same one you built earlier. The Orb Weaver egg demands a longer incubation period, requiring 24 in-game hours, which translates to just over 30 minutes of real-world time. Patience, young adventurer, for a truly devastating ally awaits.
After your Orb Weaver has emerged, you`ll need to craft a saddle to ride it. The materials for this more advanced saddle are:
- 3 Blueberry Leather
- 4 Red Ant Mandibles
- 3 Acorn Shells
Equip the saddle, and behold your new, aggressive, and undeniably tanky spider companion. It`s a magnificent beast, ready to scurry into the fray and turn the tides of battle in your favor.
Choosing Your Ride: A Strategic Advantage
Grounded 2 offers two distinct buggies, each with its own tactical advantages. The Red Soldier Ant Buggy excels in mobility and resource management, ideal for quick expeditions and gathering runs. It’s your reliable workhorse, efficient and ever-ready. The Orb Weaver Buggy, on the other hand, is a force of nature in combat, built to absorb damage and dish it out, transforming you into a mobile fortress. Choosing the right buggy for the job can significantly impact your survival and success in the treacherous backyard.
“Who would have thought that the biggest challenges in a shrunken world could be overcome by befriending the very creatures that used to make your skin crawl? Grounded 2 proves that sometimes, the best way to conquer your fears is to saddle up on them.”
Conclusion: The Backyard, Reimagined
The introduction of rideable buggies in Grounded 2 fundamentally alters the gameplay experience, transforming the scale of exploration and combat. No longer are you just a tiny survivor; you are a daring insect equestrian, commanding the very forces of nature to your will. Whether you opt for the utilitarian speed of the Red Soldier Ant or the brute force of the Orb Weaver, these companions are not just novelties; they are essential tools for mastering the oversized world. So, ready your Hatchery, steel your nerves for the hunt, and prepare to embark on an entirely new adventure, one bug-ride at a time.
Ellis Thorne