So, you’ve got ants chewing through your base, stinkbugs patrolling your backyard, or maybe you just want to feel a little more evil in a cute bug-sized world. Enter: the Spike Strip, a primitive trap that turns any approaching bug into regret-flavored stew. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to build a Spike Strip in Grounded 2, step by step, including where to find every material, how to craft it, and a few extra tips to keep things smooth. (Console players… yeah, you might wanna read the end.)
How to Build Spike Strip
The Spike Strip is a damage-dealing trap placed on the ground. Any creature—or unfortunate player—that touches it will take 150 damage per hit. It has 13 uses before breaking and can be repaired. It’s perfect for base defense, funneling enemies, or making your yard feel like a medieval fortress.
You’ll unlock the recipe by analyzing a Thistle Needle, so make sure you’ve done that first!
There are also upgraded versions like the Splinter Trap with improved durability and damage, but we’re starting with the basics here.
Here’s the recipe for a basic Spike Strip:
- 1 Weed Stem
- 3 Thistle Needles
- 1 Sap
- 2 Crude Rope (Crafted in World, under Storage & Utilities > Traps)
Let’s grab each of these materials one by one 👇
Step 1: Thistle Needles (Up High!)
Look up for tall purple flowers with spiky leaves—those are your Thistle Plants. On the map, they show up as purple splotches.
Climb the leaves, and you’ll find the Thistle Needles sticking out like barbs on the stems. Grab as many as you can. These are useful for more than just Spike Strips, so don’t be shy.
Step 2: Weed Stem (Via Dandelion or Husky Weeds)
You’ve got two options here:
- If you have a Level 2 OmniAxe, chop down Husky Weeds.
- If not, look for Dandelions—the big puffy plants you can spot from a distance.
Once you chop a Dandelion, it’ll do the classic Valheim thing and break into planks. Each one gives you Weed Stems—and you only need one for a Spike Strip, but carrying extras never hurts.
Tip: Carrying 5 at once is doable, but if you’re solo, consider building near a Dandelion for less back-and-forth.
Step 3: Sap & Plant Fiber (Easy Stuff)
These are the easiest ingredients to find:
- Sap: Found stuck to branches, tree roots, and wooden planks. Look around the Oak Tree or backyard fences.
- Plant Fiber: Tiny green sprouts all over the ground. Smack them, grab them, love them.
Step 4: Crafting Crude Rope
Once you’ve got enough Plant Fiber, head to your Crafting > Resources tab and make Crude Rope.
You’ll need 2 for the Spike Strip.
Final Step: Build That Spike Strip
Ready to make bugs cry?
- Press B (on keyboard) to open the Build Menu.
- Use Q and E to scroll through categories until you find Spike Strip under Storage & Utilities > Traps.
- Place it wherever you want your enemies to suffer.
- Walk up with your ingredients and press E to build.
- (Controller users… sorry, I don’t know what the button is, but it’s probably whatever your “interact” button is.)
Boom. It’s spikey. It’s scary. It’s yours.
Console Users: You Might Be Bugged (Literally)
When I tried this on console, the Spike Strip wasn’t even in the build menu. Super weird. Hopefully, Obsidian patches that soon so we’re not soft-locked out of important defenses. 🫠
Until then, PC players—use this power responsibly. Console players—hang in there.
Wrap-Up: Spiky and Effective
And that’s how you build a Spike Strip in Grounded 2! It’s one of the simplest but most useful traps you can get early on, perfect for protecting your base from red ants, gnats, and anything else foolish enough to wander into your territory.
Got it built? Great. Now put it in a chokepoint and wait for the chaos. 😎 Up next: If riding a giant ant sounds awesome (because it is), don’t miss our full guide on the Red Soldier Ant Buggy, how to get it, its abilities, and where to find everything you need.
