What is the Best Weapon in Grounded Right Now?
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The absolute “best” weapon in Grounded is, like many things in gaming, subjective and depends heavily on your playstyle, the enemies you’re facing, and your current progression in the game. However, if we’re talking about sheer versatility and effectiveness across a wide range of encounters, the Salt Morning Star emerges as a top contender, especially when paired with a shield. This Tier 3 weapon deals Salt damage, which many late-game enemies are vulnerable to, and its one-handed nature allows you to use a shield for added survivability. Combine this with the damage buffing mutations, and this can be the best for nearly every combat situation. If you are in the early game, the best is more varied and changes as you explore and craft.
Understanding Weapon Types and Damage in Grounded
Before diving deeper, it’s crucial to understand the different weapon types and damage types in Grounded:
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Damage Types: Grounded features various damage types like Generic, Stabbing, Chopping, Smashing, Sour, Spicy, and Salty. Each enemy has different resistances and weaknesses to these damage types. Exploiting these weaknesses is key to maximizing your damage output.
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Weapon Tiers: Weapons are divided into tiers (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3), indicating their crafting complexity and overall power. You’ll need the correct resources and crafting stations to make higher-tier weapons.
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Melee vs. Ranged: Grounded offers both melee and ranged options. Melee weapons are generally more powerful in close-quarters combat, while ranged weapons allow you to engage enemies from a safe distance.
Why the Salt Morning Star Stands Out
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Versatility: Salt damage is effective against a broad range of enemies, including many of the tougher late-game creatures.
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One-Handed Advantage: Its one-handed nature lets you wield a shield, drastically increasing your survivability, especially against powerful bosses like the Mantis or Infected Broodmother. Blocking is just as important as attacking!
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Crafting Accessibility: While it’s a Tier 3 weapon, the required resources are attainable with sufficient exploration and preparation.
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Mutation Synergy: It synergizes well with damage-boosting mutations, making it incredibly powerful.
Other Top-Tier Weapon Contenders
While the Salt Morning Star is a great all-rounder, other weapons excel in specific situations:
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Club of the Mother Demon: This Tier III club deals Generic damage and has a very high stun output. It’s perfect for stunning enemies, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks. Great for solo players.
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Black Ox Crossbow: If you prefer ranged combat, the Black Ox Crossbow is an excellent choice. It deals Stabbing damage and provides high damage output at a distance. Pair it with the right ammo for maximum effectiveness.
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Sour Staff: For those who favor elemental damage, the Sour Staff is a potent option. It deals Sour damage, which is effective against certain types of enemies, and can be used to apply a debuff.
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Spicy Coaltana: Another elemental weapon option, the Spicy Coaltana deals Spicy damage, burning enemies over time. Great for dealing damage to groups.
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Antlion Greatsword: This Tier II weapon deals Generic damage and is relatively easy to acquire, making it a good mid-game option. The wide swing is excellent for crowd control.
Weapon Choices Based on Progression
It’s important to choose weapons that align with your progression in the game:
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Early Game: Focus on easily craftable weapons like the Pebblet Spear, Sprig Bow, and Stone Axe.
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Mid Game: Progress to weapons like the Stinger Spear, Antlion Greatsword, and Crow Crossbow.
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Late Game: Aim for the top-tier weapons like the Salt Morning Star, Club of the Mother Demon, and Black Ox Crossbow.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Weapon
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Enemy Weaknesses: Always consider the weaknesses of the enemies you’re facing. Tailor your weapon choice accordingly.
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Playstyle: Choose weapons that complement your preferred playstyle. If you prefer melee combat, focus on swords, clubs, or spears. If you prefer ranged combat, opt for bows or crossbows.
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Resource Availability: Consider the availability of resources required to craft and repair your weapons.
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Mutations and Armor: Synergize your weapon choice with your mutations and armor.
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Blocking: Remember that Blocking is key to most encounters. The Salt Morning Star offers a player the versatility to also use a shield.
Final Recommendation
While the “best” weapon is subjective, the Salt Morning Star stands out as a highly versatile and effective option for most late-game encounters. Its one-handed nature, combined with Salt damage, makes it a formidable weapon against a wide range of enemies. However, don’t be afraid to experiment with other weapons and find what works best for you. Ultimately, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the game!
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best ranged weapon in Grounded?
The Black Ox Crossbow is generally considered the best ranged weapon. Its high damage output and Stabbing damage type make it effective against a variety of enemies.
2. What is the best damage type in Grounded?
Stabbing damage is arguably the most versatile damage type, as many enemies are vulnerable to it. However, it’s crucial to have weapons with different damage types to exploit specific enemy weaknesses. Salt damage is also really effective in the late game.
3. Where can I find the Pinch Whacker?
The Pinch Whacker is located inside a hidden nook in the wall close to the Hedge Lab, behind a cracked doorway. Follow the wall from the Hedge Lab door until you see a milk carton next to some large rocks.
4. What is the best life steal weapon in Grounded?
The Tiger Mosquito Rapier is an excellent life steal weapon. It heals you for six percent of the damage you deal with each hit.
5. What is the strongest build in Grounded?
Builds depend on playstyle, but the Poison Widow build, which focuses on poison damage and debuffs, is considered one of the strongest due to its high damage output and crowd control capabilities.
6. What is the strongest armor in Grounded?
The Black Ox Armor is generally considered the strongest due to its high defense and special effects.
7. Where is the secret boss in Grounded?
Director Schmector is the secret boss, found below Castle Moldorc in the Mysterious Lab.
8. What is the best weapon for fighting the Mantis?
A weapon with Salt damage, like the Salt Morning Star, is highly recommended for fighting the Mantis. The Salt damage exploits its weakness, and a one handed option allows for a shield!
9. Can you dual wield in Grounded?
Yes, you can dual wield daggers like the Pebblet Dagger, Spider Fang Dagger, or Bone Dagger for increased attack speed and damage.
10. What is the best weapon for red ants in Grounded?
For a new player, a Pebblet Spear will quickly kill Red Soldier Ants. Later, a Stinger Spear or Red Ant Club are good options for dealing with larger swarms.
11. Can you use the Black Ant Sword underwater in Grounded?
No, the Black Ant Sword cannot be used underwater.
12. Is the Black Ant Armor good in Grounded?
Yes, the Black Ant Armor offers medium armor class protection and the Pincushion effect, which reflects damage back to attackers.
13. Is there a Mantis boss in Grounded?
Yes, the Orchid Mantis is a late-game boss found inside the potted plant on the Shed porch, North of the BBQ.
14. What is the best order to explore the labs in Grounded?
A suggested order is: Hedge Lab, Pond Lab, Haze Lab, and Black Anthill Lab.
15. What are Sleek and Bulky upgrades for armor?
After reaching level 5 with armor, you can choose between Bulky and Sleek upgrade paths. Bulky doubles defense and durability, while Sleek provides unique bonus effects, such as increased movement speed or stamina regeneration.