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The backyard is teeming with life, but most of it’s higher than you on the food chain. Although you can’t become besties with Mosquitoes, there are several insects you can tame. Getting pets in Grounded isn’t about gaining some mechanical advantage. Their cuteness is its own reward. Obsidian gave players several buggy buddies, each with their own requirements to befriend. Show them some love (and give them some treats), and your camp will have some new residents. Just keep those mean old Orb Weavers away. Here’s how to get a pet in Grounded.
Grounded Pet Guide
(Updated on April 17th, 2024 – streamlined quest steps and updated images)
You won’t be domesticating the Infected Broodmother, but other bugs are up for grabs. Specifically, there are three bugs you can get as pets in Grounded: Aphids, Weevils, and Gnats. Before you can think about taking any of these adorable insects home, however, you’ll need to make them some food. No friendship on an empty stomach, it seems. Here’s what you need:
| Item | Unlock Condition | Recipe |
| Grinder | Analyze Flower Petal or Acorn Shell | Acorn Shell x2 Weed Stem x2 Flower Petal x3 Red Ant Part x5 |
| Plant Slurry | Analyze Plant Fiber | Plant Fiber x1 |
| Mushroom Slurry | Analyze Mushroom, Mushroom Chunk, or Toadstool Chunk | Mushroom x1 |
| Spoiled Meat Slurry | Analyze Spoiled Meat | Spoiled Meat x1 |
| Pet House | Analyze Mushroom Brick | Acorn Shell x1 Weed Stem x2 Crow Feather x2 Mushroom Brick x4 |
After building a Grinder, use it to make some Slurries to feed your prospective pets. You’ll need Plant Slurry x2 for the Aphid, Mushroom Slurry x2 for the Weevil, and Spoiled Meat Slurry x2 for the Gnat. The feeding process should go smoothly, but you might want to make some extra Slurry in case something goes wrong. You also want one Pet House for each pet you get in Grounded. Apparently, even bugs like to be cozy.
Taming and Houses
With Slurries waiting to fill your new pet’s belly, it’s time to go make a new friend. All you need to do is drop two of the right Slurries next to the Aphid, Weevil, or Gnat you want to tame. As soon as your friend has finished gobbling up the second Slurry, it will become your pet. Be careful that no nearby bugs steal one of the Slurries, since you can’t tame an insect until it’s eaten both of them. Next, interact with the Pet House and click “Deposit Pet.” From that new menu, you can change your new pet’s name and even get it a little hat! Obsidian is determined to make bugs cute, and somehow it’s working.
Grounded is available for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
