Buggies are insect companions in Grounded 2 that you can ride, use to haul your gear and fight alongside. Each one hatches from an egg in a Hatchery and has its own strengths, from quick travel and hauling to combat and swimming. Hatching every one gives you the right mount for each job in the park.
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Buggies
How to Unlock Buggies in Grounded 2
Every buggy needs three things before it can join you: a recipe, an egg, and a Hatchery to raise the egg in. The recipe unlocks once you insert a specific Optical Disk at a Ranger Station, and those disks turn up as you explore and move through the story. That's why you pick up buggies gradually instead of all at once, and the Red Soldier Ant is usually the first, from the Egg Hunt quest.
The eggs are hidden out in the world, each in its own spot, such as deep inside an anthill or in a cabbage patch. Some are guarded by bosses. The Toe Biter's egg, for example, comes from Papa Toe Biter, so regular Toe Biters won't drop it. Once you have an egg, bring it to a Hatchery and let it sit, because hatching takes time in the game and you can keep exploring while it grows.
Which Buggy Is Best for Each Job
Each buggy is built around a different task, so the best one depends on what you're doing. Early on, the Red Soldier Ant is the one most players lean on for hauling and harvesting.
For speed, the Orb Weaver is one of the quickest ways to get around, thanks to a built-in glider. Its web slows enemies down, and its Intimidate skill scares off smaller creatures. For fighting, the Black Soldier Ant is built for combat, and its Tang Throw leaves a sour hazard on the ground for a few seconds. Both beetles shoot at enemies: the Ladybug uses a water cannon that also clears Sour spills, while the Potato Beetle fires a spread of shots and can heal with its Healing Roar.
For water, the Toe Biter is the one to pick, since it can move over land, across the water's surface and underwater. Some of the materials it needs are in deeper water, so you'll want a diving suit to gather them. Ants and spiders also deal extra damage to small bugs like aphids, gnats and weevils, and only the ant buggies can clear dead roots.
How Buggies Work in Grounded 2
You can own several buggies, but only one can be out with you at a time. All of them share a single inventory, so you don't have to store things separately for each one. If a buggy wanders too far or despawns, a whistle calls it back after a short wait.
Buggies can't go everywhere. Near the Ice Cream Cart, in Sizzle hazards, or around Ominent structures, a buggy vanishes right away, so plan your route around those spots. Riding has risks too. Stay in gas clouds too long and you'll be thrown off, and a big fall won't kill you, but most of the damage goes to you while the buggy is stunned.
What Happens When a Buggy Goes Down
A buggy can be knocked out in a fight, and you then have a short window to revive it. If you miss that window, the buggy goes back to its nest and can't be ridden for a few minutes. Reviving it is usually worth the rush, since a buggy waiting in its nest can't help you in the next fight.
FAQ
Do buggies need a saddle?
No. The materials listed in a buggy's recipe go into the Hatchery along with its egg, and the buggy hatches already saddled. There's no separate saddle to craft afterward.
Can a buggy die for good?
Yes, but only on Woah! difficulty. If its revive timer runs out there, the buggy dies permanently and can't be brought back.
Can buggies go into caves?
Most small caves are off-limits to buggies. The Red Soldier Ant is the only one that fits into most of them, so it's the one to bring if you want to explore those spots.
Can ant buggies help in a fight?
Yes. Both ant buggies have a Recruit skill that calls a worker ant to help you. The Red Soldier Ant recruits Red Worker Ants, and the Black Soldier Ant recruits Black Worker Ants.