From the red soldier ant to the orb-weaver spider – we’ll show you how to unlock all available buggys in Grounded 2 and what features they offer.
With Grounded 2, Obsidian Entertainment has added one of the game’s most exciting new features: rideable insect companions, better known as buggys. These mounts make it easier to explore the new Brookhollow Park map and haul heavy materials across long distances. Since the game’s launch on July 29, 2025, you can tame different insects, each offering unique abilities to aid your survival.
Whether you’re after faster travel, combat support, or extra carrying capacity, here’s how to get every buggy in the game.
Grounded 2: Red Soldier Ant – Your first buggy
The red soldier ant is the first mount you’ll be able to unlock in Grounded 2. Sturdy and dependable, it’s perfect for transporting building materials and can chew through branches that block your path.
How to unlock:
- Complete the main missions up to the “Egg Hunt” quest.
- Purchase the Incubator Package for 500 Science Points at a Ranger Station Science Shop.
- Build both an incubator and an ant nest at your base.
Materials for the incubator:
- 6× Weed Stem
- 1× Acorn Cap
- 6× Acorn Shell
- 5× Mite Fuzz
Materials for the ant nest:
- 6× Weed Stem
- 6× Clover Leaf
- 3× Crude Rope
- 1× Acorn Shell
Getting the egg
Head to the incubator ant hill near the Ranger Station: Snackbar. Fight your way through the red soldier ants to the lab in the lower section. There you’ll find the reddish-brown soldier ant egg in a test chamber.
- Tip: You can’t store the egg in your inventory – you must carry it straight to the incubator. Plan enough time and bring healing items, as the path leads through hostile ants.
Saddle materials:
- 2x Grub Hide
- 3x Twig
- 1x Acorn Shell
After 12 in-game hours (around 25 real-time minutes), your soldier ant will hatch and be ready to ride.
Orb-Weaver Spider – The combat buggy in Grounded 2
If you’re looking for a mount built for battle, the orb-weaver spider is your go-to choice. It’s far more combat-oriented than the soldier ant and comes with some unique abilities – but you’ll need to finish the main story first.
Unlock requirements:
- Complete the mission “Networking” (end of Early Access story)
- Defeat the boss in the network center inside the statue
- Bring the optical disc back to the Ranger Station
- Purchase the Orb-Weaver Package for 5,000 Science Points
Required materials for the spider nest:
- 6x Weed Stem
- 6x Pine Needle
- 6x Web Fiber
- 4x Silk (crafted at the spinning wheel)
How to get the egg
You’ll find the orb-weaver egg in the nest under the headless BURG.L in the center of the map, between the Snackbar and Ceremony regions.
Saddle materials:
- 3x Berry Leather
- 4x Red Ant Mandibles
- 3x Acorn Shells
Special abilities of the orb-weaver spider:
- Can walk over spider webs without being slowed
- Roars at enemies to intimidate them
- Throws webs to entangle enemies
Future Buggys on the Way
Obsidian has already announced more buggys for the Early Access phase:
- Hotpouch feature for buggys (expanded storage options)
- Ladybug buggy
- PEEP.R integration for buggys
- Water buggys for aquatic travel
- More new buggy types
- Buggy mutations and customization options
- Mount progression system
Can buggys die in Grounded 2?
an Buggys Die in Grounded 2?
No – mounts can’t die permanently. If their health drops to zero, they’ll be knocked out and must be revived. If you don’t reach them in time, they’ll return to their nest and recover on their own.
- Tip: You can own multiple buggys at the same time. If one falls in battle, simply summon another while the injured one recovers.
Best Uses for Each Buggy
- Red Soldier Ant: Ideal for material hauling and exploration.
- Orb-Weaver Spider: Perfect for dangerous areas where you need combat support.
- Save Science Points early so you can afford expensive buggy packages when they become available.
With this guide, you’re ready to unlock every buggy in Grounded 2 and get the most out of your new insect allies.
