Grounded 2 introduces a significant new mechanic: the ability to craft rideable bug mounts for quicker and more convenient map traversal. While you won`t immediately gain access to these buggies, understanding how to unlock them early on is highly beneficial. This guide will walk you through the process of acquiring and crafting your very own Red Soldier Ant Buggy in Grounded 2.
How to Unlock the Red Soldier Ant Buggy
*Mild spoiler warning:* To unlock the Red Soldier Ant buggy, you must advance through the main storyline until you complete the “Missed Connection” quest. This mission leads you into an anthill to locate and scavenge the body of an Ominent employee. Upon finishing this quest, you`ll gain access to the blueprints required for constructing a Hatchery.
Building a Hatchery
The Hatchery blueprint costs 500 Science Points and is available for purchase at the Science Shop within the Ranger Station.
If you`re short on Science Points, prioritizing challenges from your challenge tab is the quickest way to earn them. While seeking out pink glowing orbs for points is an option, focusing on challenges is generally more efficient. However, always collect those orbs when you spot them!
Once purchased, the Hatchery blueprint unlocks three new crafting options:
- The Hatchery itself
- The Red Soldier Ant Buggy
- An Ant Nest
To construct the Hatchery at your base, gather these materials:
- 6 Weed Stems
- 1 Acorn Top
- 5 Acorn Shells
- 5 Mite Fuzz
Acorns are commonly found at the base of trees, such as those in the Entrance region, but can appear elsewhere. Weed stems are primarily harvested from dandelions in the early game; look for the tall grass tips and chop down any dandelions you encounter.
Crafting the Red Soldier Ant Buggy saddle requires specific materials in addition to a Red Soldier Ant egg:
- 2 Grub Hides
- 3 Sprigs
- 1 Acorn Shell
- 1 Red Soldier Ant Egg
Acquiring a Red Soldier Ant Egg
To obtain a Red Soldier Ant egg, you must brave another anthill. Be prepared to face numerous Red Soldier Ants, which are significantly larger and more formidable than the common red worker ants found outside.
Deep within the anthill, you`ll eventually discover a lab room containing a reddish-brown egg in a test chamber. This is a Red Soldier Ant egg, but it`s inaccessible. Proceed further, and you`ll find another area where you can collect Red Soldier Ant eggs. Remember, you can only carry one egg at a time, and it cannot be stored in your inventory. This necessitates dropping the egg and retrieving it if you encounter any combat.
Before venturing in, ensure you are well-equipped with a strong weapon, protective armor, and ample bandages for emergencies.
Hatching the Egg
Transport the egg back to your base and carefully place it into your newly constructed Hatchery. The Red Soldier Ant egg takes 12 in-game hours to hatch, which translates to approximately 25 minutes of real-world waiting time.
Once the egg is ready, interact with the Hatchery. Congratulations! You now possess your very own loyal ant companion. This friendly mount will significantly speed up your travels across the yard, offer additional storage capacity, assist in gathering materials, defend against hostile insects, and of course, you can give your new friend a good petting!