The shrunken multiplayer survival game Grounded has been very successful so far, soaring to the top of Steam’s bestseller list in the first day of release. Getting started in Obsidian’s new survival game may seem daunting at first, but if a player knows what to look for they can get established within minutes.
The first step for every seasoned survival gamer is a very good one for this occasion as well: pick up everything. Given Grounded takes place in an ordinary suburban backyard with characters who have gone through some sort of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids transformation, the suite of materials available is limited to the very, very small. Right away players will have access to pebbles and plant fibers, but one of the most important materials in any crafting project is the binding that holds everything else together.
Updated April 19th, 2024 by Russ Boswell: Sap is vital to survival in Grounded. Players will need to get their hands on Sap for a number of different things but its main use lies in creating lighting sources, including torches, to help players explore caves and navigate the darkest corners of the Backyard. Thankfully, Sap can be found all over the multiple biomes of the Backyard, clinging to sticks and other objects. Players can even find large Sap chunks that they can break apart. To better help players find Sap in Grounded, the following guide has been updated with a companion video.
Where to Find Sap
The play area for Grounded consists largely of infrequently mowed grass with a few trees and decorative shrubbery. Players should be on alert, because ants and spiders roam the area in search of food (don’t worry, the spiders can be customized with Arachnophobia Mode). Fallen twigs can be found among the grass blades, with round honey-gold globs of precious sap clinging to various places.
Each twig, which is the size of a large leafless tree branch to the player, can have multiple globs of sap along its length, so it is vital that explorers crawl all over it to check for hidden treasures before moving on to the next step.
The most vital tool available to Grounded players is the Resource Analyzer. Fortunately, the moment players get into the game they detect a mysterious signal, so by simply following the signal, they will find the Field Station landmark. By activating the computer, they gain access to the Resource Analyzer, which can unlock new crafting recipes depending on the material analyzed. It has a limited amount of charges which replenish over time.
Sap Recipes
Grounded is still in early access, so the list of crafting recipes is not final. So far, sap is most useful in the following early game crafting recipes:
Eyepatch
Pirates wore eye patches to protect night vision in one eye. It won’t do that in Grounded, but it looks cool. This is just one of many cosmetic items that can be unlocked in the game.
Requires: Fiber Bandage x2, Sap x1, Woven Fiber x1
Fiber Bandage
Another adventuring essential. Recovers health over time.
Requires: Plant Fiber x3, Sap x2
Plant Lamp
A stationary light source.
Requires: Dry Grass Chunk x2, Sprig x2, Sap x3
Torch
When players encounter dark areas, torches are essential for navigation.
Requires: Dry Grass Chunks x3, Sap x1, Sprig x2, Woven Fiber x2
Workbench
A lot of crafting is not possible without a workbench in Grounded.
Requires: Grass Plank x3, Sap x2, Sprig x4
Grounded is available now for PC and Xbox One.
