In the miniaturized world of Grounded 2, confronting insects can be an overwhelming challenge. To effectively combat spiders, scorpions, and other formidable dangers, promptly upgrading your equipment is absolutely crucial for survival. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough on establishing a Smithing Station, acquiring necessary resources, and ultimately enhancing your weapons and armor in Grounded 2.
How to Build a Smithing Station
To begin the process of upgrading your gear in Grounded 2, your very first step is to construct a Smithing Station. Its blueprints can be acquired from the Science Shop, conveniently located at the Ranger Station, for a cost of 500 Science points. It`s important to note that this blueprint option only becomes available after you have progressed far enough in the main story to reach the “Art of War” mission.
Crafting the Smithing Station requires a specific list of materials:
- 1 – Brittle Whetstone
- 1 – Brittle Plating
- 4 – Crude Rope
- 2 – Sap
Brittle Plating is crafted at a workbench using Brittle Marble Shards. These Brittle Marble Shards are obtained by hammering the smooth, round marble stones found scattered across the map with any version of the Omni-Hammer.
Brittle Whetstone is created at the workbench from Brittle Quartzite Shards. These shards are harvested by hammering reddish-brown Brittle Quartzite rocks, which are typically found in and around areas inhabited by stink bugs.
How to Upgrade Weapons and Armor
Once your Smithing Station is successfully built and strategically placed at your base, you can readily use it to enhance your crafted weapons and armor. It`s crucial to remember that only items currently in your inventory can be upgraded; any gear stored away will not be recognized by the station.
Interestingly, the very same rock-based materials you needed to construct the Smithing Station are also essential for improving your gear.
Brittle Plating is specifically utilized to boost your armor`s defense capabilities and overall durability, while Brittle Whetstone is applied to increase your weapons` damage output and their inherent durability.
How to Get Smithing Resources Faster
Upgrading your equipment at the Smithing Station can indeed be quite resource-intensive, as these essential materials aren`t always super abundant or easy to find. Therefore, it`s highly advisable to collect marble and quartzite whenever you encounter these rocks during your explorations.
For example, a Level 1 weapon upgrade requires 5 Brittle Whetstones, providing a 10% boost to both damage and durability. Progressing to Level 2 demands 10 Brittle Whetstones for a 20% increase, and a Level 3 upgrade costs 15 Brittle Whetstones for a significant 30% improvement.
Similarly, a Level 1 armor upgrade uses 2 Brittle Plating for a 10% increase in defense and durability. Level 2 requires 4 Brittle Plating for a 20% boost, and a Level 3 upgrade needs 6 Brittle Plating for a 30% enhancement.
To significantly expedite resource acquisition, locate the Optical Disk near the Ice Cream Cart. Delivering this disk to a Ranger Station unlocks a valuable Smithing recipe in the Science Shop for crafting Brittle Whetstones. This recipe, costing 1,000 Science Points, converts 1 Sap and 1 Larva Spike into 1 Brittle Whetstone – resources that are generally much more accessible and abundant.
Another crucial Optical Disk, found at Pine Hill, can also be brought back to a Ranger Station to unlock a Brittle Plating crafting recipe in the Science Shop. For 1,000 Science Points, this recipe converts 1 Sap and 1 Grub Hide into 1 Brittle Plating, utilizing similarly abundant materials. These recipes are definitely worth acquiring for the long run, as they will greatly assist you in obtaining the necessary Brittle Plating for your armor upgrades more efficiently.