If you’re gearing up to play Grounded 2, this guide is for you. Whether you’re waiting for the launch or just looking to hit the ground running, these insider tips straight from Paralyzer’s early‑game video will save you time, frustration, and maybe even your world. Here’s how to set your game up right—from day zero.
10 Easy-to-follow Tips for Grounded 2
Tip 1: Rebind Your Omni‑Tool Key Early
The Omni‑Tool is the core multi-function tool in Grounded 2, merging the axe, hammer, shovel, and wrench. By default, it’s activated by holding E on keyboard (or X on controller). That binds too close to the regular pickup key, leading to accidental chopping or mounting. On PC, rebind it to R (right next to E) to avoid mix‑ups. Controller players face limited button options, but it’s worth exploring custom controls for better performance.
Tip 2: Turn on Wide Interaction
Found in Settings → Accessibility, Wide Interaction expands your pickup range. Instead of needing perfect aim to grab grass strands or sprigs, you can look nearby and let the game auto‑select the target. It feels subtle, but it drastically improves speed during resource gathering.
Tip 3: Increase Auto‑Save Slots to Five
By default, Grounded 2 keeps three autosaves. Increase that to five for an extra buffer—especially helpful during early access when bugs or crashes could cost your progress. This extra rollback capability gives you greater peace of mind.
Tip 4: Use Friendly‑Fire Mode to Unlock Mutations Early
If you’re playing multiplayer, switch your difficulty to Wo (which enables friendly fire) temporarily. Knock out your teammates using just your fists (make sure they have no armor on), and revive them repeatedly to quickly unlock the Reliable Friend mutation. Once unlocked, you can revert to Mild or Medium difficulty. This mutation speeds up reviving significantly down the line.
Tip 5: Analyze Grass Planks & Weed Stems First
Taking materials to Analyzers early makes a big difference. Grass planks unlock a basic workbench recipe, and weed stems unlock foundational blueprints. Hold them in your inventory and analyze—they unlock essential building components early in the game.
Tip 6: Farm Mites for Parry Practice & Mutation Progress
Mites are weak enemies perfect for practicing parrying. By countering their jumps and attacks consistently, you progress toward the Parry Master mutation (which restores stamina upon a perfect parry). Unlocking Stage 1 early is realistic; higher stages require significantly more attempts.
Tip 7: Farm Milk Molars Quickly with a Tier 1 Hammer
You don’t need a high-tier hammer to break down standard Milk Molars. A Tier 1 Hammer does the job. These yield permanent upgrade resources directly usable from your inventory (no lab visits required). It’s a fast way to boost your stats early.
Tip 8: Brace for the New Controller D‑Pad Setup
The old D‑pad wheel from Grounded 1 is gone. Now, pressing down on the controller D‑pad opens a quick‑craft menu for things like torches and bandages. Want to access photo mode, third‑person camera, or hot‑deposit? You must pause the game and navigate in the menu. The Y button is now your Peep‑R. Controller players should remap important actions manually or rely on keyboard bindings.
Tip 9: Harvest Grass Seeds Early with the Omni Axe
Certain grass clumps have golden-tipped seeds that drop when chopped with a Tier 1 Omni Axe. These grass seeds are vital for early crafting and base setups. Gather several as soon as you see them—they won’t cost much effort and save time later.
Tip 10: Follow the Main Quest Path for a Smooth Start
Though Grounded 2 is open-world, sticking to the main story quest at first guides you in an easy‑to-follow order. You’ll unlock Mango‑Tool upgrades, resource analyzers, and your first Buggy mount checkpoint by checkpoint. Once you have those systems unlocked, you can start branching out and exploring more freely.
Why These Tips Work So Well
- Fewer Accidents, Faster Gathering: Rebinding the Omni‑Tool and enabling Wide Interaction makes both combat and resource collection smoother.
- Better Backup and Recovery: More auto-save slots give you flexibility if a bug or crash hits.
- Early Mutation Access: Farming Reliable Friend and Parry Master early sets you up for smoother team play and stamina control.
- Quicker Progression: Grass seeds, milk molars, and analyzers get your crafting and base-building momentum going fast.
- Better Flow in Multiplayer: Knowing controller limitations and respawn toggles helps team coordination.
Incorporating These Tips Into Your Gameplay
Start a brand new save and:
- Rebind your keybinds (especially Omni‑Tool), turn on Wide Interaction
- Increase auto-save slots in settings
- Follow the story until you reach your first Ranger Station, then stop to analyze grass planks and weed stems
- Equip only your hands and test parrying on mites
- Grab Milk Molars with a Tier 1 Hammer
- Chop gold‑seed grass with your Omni Axe to gather seeds
- In multiplayer, use Friendly Fire briefly to unlock Reliable Friend
- Continue following the main quest until you reach the Hatchery and unlock Buggies, then branch out
These early-game setups and tweaks take you from shaky beginner to capable survivor in Grounded 2 in no time. By customizing controls, enabling quality-of-life options, farming mutations, and unlocking key recipes early, you’ll be well-equipped to handle Brook Hollow Park’s challenges. If you want a more in-depth analysis on what to do when starting out, check out my beginner’s guide to Grounded 2!
