Exploring the backyard in Grounded can be a lonely adventure, but what if you could have a tiny friend to accompany you? Luckily, Grounded allows you to tame certain bugs and turn them into loyal pets. These aren’t just for show; pets in Grounded offer unique buffs and practical assistance. While you won’t be riding a fearsome spider anytime soon, having an aphid, weevil, or gnat companion can significantly enhance your gameplay. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about taming pets in Grounded, from preparing the right slurry to keeping your new friend happy. Get ready to meet your new bug bestie!
Crafting the Perfect Slurry: Your Taming Tool
To tame a pet in Grounded, you’ll need to create a specific type of slurry using a Grinder. Grinders can be built at your base and are essential for crafting various resources, including pet-taming slurries. Each type of pet requires a different slurry, so make sure you’re preparing the right one for the bug you’re trying to befriend. Here’s a breakdown of what you need for each potential pet:
- Plant Slurry: Crafted by grinding Plant Fibers. This is the key to taming Aphids.
- Mushroom Slurry: Made by grinding Mushrooms, Mushroom Chunks, or Toadstool Chunks. Weevils are drawn to this type of slurry.
- Spoiled Meat Slurry: Created by grinding any kind of Spoiled Meat. If you want a Gnat as a pet, this is the slurry you’ll need.
Once you have the correct slurry, it’s time to find your future pet in the backyard.
Taming Your Bug Buddy: Step-by-Step
With your slurry in hand, approach the wild bug you wish to tame. Make sure you have the correct slurry selected in your inventory hotbar. Simply drop the slurry on the ground in front of the bug. They should notice it, approach, and eat it. After enjoying their meal, congratulations! You’ve successfully tamed your pet. It will now follow you around, ready to offer its unique benefits.
What Benefits Do Pets Offer in Grounded?
Pets in Grounded are more than just cute companions; they provide practical advantages. Each pet type offers a unique passive buff to the player they follow. Here’s what you can expect from each type of pet:
- Aphids: Having an aphid pet reduces stamina drain when sprinting. This is incredibly useful for faster traversal across the backyard.
- Weevils: A weevil pet helps conserve your water, as they reduce thirst drain rate. Staying hydrated is crucial in Grounded, making this buff very valuable.
- Gnats: Gnats increase your glide speed when using a Dandelion Tuft. If you enjoy gliding around the yard, a gnat pet will make it even more efficient.
Beyond passive buffs, pets also serve as mobile storage units. Each pet has 10 inventory slots, allowing you to store items on them. This is especially helpful when gathering resources or exploring far from your base, effectively turning your pet into a miniature pack animal. Rumors also suggest that pets might have the ability to produce or dig up certain items, though this is currently unconfirmed in gameplay.
Keeping Your Pet Happy: Maintaining Loyalty
Just like real pets, your Grounded bug buddies have a happiness stat. It’s important to keep your pet happy, as a severely unhappy pet might leave you. You can monitor your pet’s happiness in the Pet House menu. Signs of unhappiness include changes in animations, making them appear dejected. To ensure your pet remains your loyal companion, focus on these actions:
- Equip Pet Attire: Crafting and equipping your pet with attire instantly boosts their happiness.
- Petting: Show your pet some affection! Approach your pet and interact to pet them regularly.
- Feeding: Continue to feed your pet the same slurry you used to tame them. Regular snacks keep them content.
- Quality Time: Simply spending time with your pet and taking them on adventures keeps them happy. Don’t leave them alone for too long!
- Protection: Protect your pet from harm. Allowing your pet to be injured or attacked will decrease their happiness.
Pet Death: A Real Threat in the Backyard
Be warned: pets in Grounded can die. Unless you’ve disabled permadeath for pets in your game settings, predatory bugs will attack your tamed companions. Pets cannot defend themselves and will attempt to flee from threats. If your pet dies, they are gone permanently. They will leave behind a “Pet Memorial,” similar to a player’s dropped backpack, where you can recover their inventory. To increase your pet’s survivability, craft and equip them with Pet Attire. This armor enhances their health and durability, giving them a better chance against backyard dangers.
The Pet House: Your Pet’s Home Base
While not strictly necessary for pet ownership, building a Pet House is highly recommended. You can unlock the Pet House recipe by analyzing Mushroom Bricks. Construct the Pet House at your base using the following materials:
- Weed Stem x2
- Acorn Shell x1
- Mushroom Brick x4
- Crow Feather Piece x2
Each Pet House can house one pet at a time. Within the Pet House interface, you can check your pet’s stats, rename them, and equip them with any Pet Attire you’ve crafted. It serves as a central hub for managing your pet companions.
Taming pets in Grounded adds a charming and beneficial layer to your backyard survival experience. From the stamina-boosting aphid to the thirst-quenching weevil and the glide-enhancing gnat, each pet offers unique advantages. By understanding the taming process, caring for your pet’s happiness, and utilizing the Pet House, you can enjoy the company and assistance of these tiny bug buddies throughout your Grounded adventures.
