Can You Tame Bugs In Grounded

Obsidian Entertainment's survival game Grounded shrinks players down to the size of an insect, forcing them to navigate a perilous suburban backyard filled with massive multi-legged predators. While combating giant spiders and aggressive beetles constitutes a major part of the experience, many players wonder if they can utilize the local fauna for assistance. Fortunately, the game features a dedicated pet system that allows adventurers to turn specific docile critters into loyal companions.
Understanding the Taming Mechanics
Taming creatures in the backyard requires preparing specialized foods rather than utilizing force or violent trapping methods. Players must first craft a grinder to process raw environmental resources into edible mixtures known as slurries. Dropping these specific snacks near target critters will entice them to eat, initiating the domestic bonding process once they consume enough food.
It is critical to maintain a safe distance while the creature approaches the bait to avoid triggering their natural flight response. Once the insect successfully consumes the slurry, a unique behavioral animation will trigger, signaling that the creature has officially become a permanent companion. Players can then interact with their new pet directly to access specialized management options and customize their names.
The Core Tameable Species and Their Perks
The backyard currently hosts three primary insect species available for domestication, each offering unique passive buffs to aid your survival. The swift Aphid can be tamed using plant slurry, providing the player with a useful bonus that drastically increases overall sprinting efficiency. Choosing this companion is highly recommended for long expeditions where cross-map resource gathering is required.
For players struggling with resource management, the Weevil serves as an excellent alternative companion when fed mushroom slurry. Keeping a loyal Weevil nearby slows down your character's natural hydration depletion rate, allowing you to explore arid sectors without relying constantly on dew collectors. Lastly, the floating Gnat can be domesticized utilizing spoiled meat slurry, granting players improved aerial navigation speed when deploying a dandelion glider.
Managing and Protecting Your Backyard Companions
Securing a pet provides more than just passive stat bonuses, as each tamed creature grants access to ten additional slots of mobile inventory space. This extra carrying capacity is incredibly helpful for collecting stray resources, though players must remain cautious about what they store inside their critter. If a companion falls victim to predatory wildlife, its carried items will drop onto the terrain inside a retrieval tombstone.
To prevent tragic accidents, crafting a secure pet house using mushroom bricks is highly recommended to give your companions a fortified sanctuary. Players can also craft unique pet attire such as small helmets, which grant massive health boosts to ensure your tiny allies survive sudden attacks from wandering predators. Balancing these defensive measures allows players to confidently explore the deep yard without constantly fearing for their insect companions.