Grounded Gear Guide

Master every armor set, mutation, smoothie, and weapon upgrade in Grounded.

Tier 1-2-3 Armor Sets

1Tier-1 armor (Acorn, Clover, Grub) provides basic protection and is crafted from common materials found near spawn.
2Tier-2 sets (Ladybug, Spider, Bee) offer significant defense boosts and unique set bonuses when wearing all three pieces.
3Tier-3 armor (Black Ox, Moth, Termite) requires defeating the toughest creatures but provides endgame-level protection.
4Each armor set has a unique bonus: Ladybug heals on block, Spider boosts poison, Bee increases ranged damage.
5Mix and match pieces from different sets for hybrid builds, but full sets provide the strongest bonuses.

1Mutations are passive perks unlocked by completing specific actions like killing certain creatures or eating foods.
2You can equip up to five mutations at once -- choose combinations that complement your weapon and armor choices.
3Meat Shield increases max health significantly and is one of the most universally useful mutations in the game.
4Cardio Fan boosts stamina regeneration, making it essential for melee-focused builds that rely on dodging.
5Mutations level up through continued use of their trigger condition, becoming more powerful at each tier.

1Smoothies provide powerful temporary buffs to attack, defense, stamina, and elemental resistance.
2Liquid Rage smoothie boosts melee damage and is essential for boss fights and tough creature encounters.
3Gastro Goo increases defense and pairs well with tanky Ladybug armor builds for maximum survivability.
4Green Machine boosts stamina recovery and is ideal for extended exploration or combat sessions.
5Always carry a variety of smoothies for different situations -- crafting them at your base is cheap and efficient.

1Upgrade tools at workbenches as soon as new tiers become available to harvest higher-tier resources.
2The Mint Mallet is one of the best early weapons -- find Mint Chunks in the ice cap mint container.
3Insect Axes and Hammers have damage type advantages against specific creature weaknesses.
4Keep a ranged weapon (Sprig Bow, Crow Crossbow) equipped for pulling enemies and fighting flyers.
5Repair weapons before boss fights -- durability affects damage output and a broken weapon is useless.

1Weapon upgrades at the Smithing Station increase base damage and can add elemental effects.
2Each upgrade tier requires increasingly rare materials, often from creatures one tier above your current gear.
3Mighty upgrades boost damage while Tough upgrades boost defense -- choose based on your playstyle.
4Trinkets provide additional stat bonuses and can be found in hidden locations or dropped by rare creatures.
5Save your rarest upgrade materials for the weapons and armor you plan to use through endgame content.