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Grounded 2’spark is full of threats, and they’re not always the creepy-crawly variety. On top of bugs, drowning, falling, hunger, and thirst, you also need to deal with the environment itself. At full size, an overflowing bin is just a bit stinky. Down at the size of an ant, it can quickly spell an asphyxiating death.
Fortunately, you can craft a gas mask to survive in these smellier areas. All it takes is a few common ingredients, a bit of luck, and a fight with a very large, very angry bug. Simple enough.
Unlocking The Gas Mask
The Gas Mask is the only way you cansafely survive toxic areas, such asnear the bin or in the toxic Ant Cave.Before you can venture into those places, you’ll need to unlock the crafting recipe.
To do this, you’ll need to unlockBrainpower level four. This is done by using theResource Analyserat any of the Ranger Outposts toanalyse materials you find out in the park. Simply find and scan everything you can, and you’ll quickly get up to level four.
Keep in mind that each Resource Analyser can only scana limited number of itemsbefore it needs to recharge. you’re able to either wait for one to become available again, or head off toanother Ranger Outpost,circling between all of them until you’re at the right level.
Crafting The Gas Mask
Once you’ve reached level four, the Gas Mask will automatically unlock. To craft it, you will need:
Weevil Nose
The Weevil Nose is randomly dropped bykilling weevils. They are commonly found all throughout the park, and arecompletely harmless, making harvesting their parts easier.
It is recommended youuse your fiststo kill a weevil if you want the nose. Anecdotally, I have found that using a weapondecreases the likelihoodof it being dropped, leaving you with some raw meat instead.
Gnat Fuzz
You’ll need to slaughter another harmless bug for the Gas Mask. Gnat Fuzz is dropped by gnats, which are commonly found inmoist areas,like near the puddle oases you may find throughout the park.
These little blighters can be tricky to kill because of them often flying out of range, but they’ll drop with just one or two hits. There is a small chance a gnat will dropmore than one fuzzon dying, so you’ll possibly only need to kill three rather than four of them to get all the fuzz you need.
Crude Rope
By the time you can unlock the Gas Mask, you’ve likelyalready crafted crude rope beforeto make bandages. If not, though, simplycollect plant fibers, either by picking up the tiny plant matter growing on the undergrowth, or bycutting down grass and then chopping the stumps up.
Crafting crude ropedoes not need a workbench, and can be done from your inventory. However, youwill need oneto make the Gas Mask, so ensure you have a Workbench available regardless.
Stinkbug Part
The Stinkbug is thehardest part of crafting a Gas Mask. This is because you’ll need to take down a Stinkbug, which, as the name suggests,attacks with the gas the mask is meant to protect you from.
Stinkbugs can be found throughout the park, predominantly but most predominantly in theStatue Ascent, the Fire Pit,and on thedry bricksrunning vertically down the mid-left of the map. They will become aggressiveas soon as you approach, so ensure you have a decent weapon and enough healing items.
Taking down a Stinkbug without a Gas Mask can be incredibly tricky, as touching the gas will dodamage over time to you, even if you then escape the area. It’s recommended you have eithera buggy or friendto help you take it down, but, if you don’t, you can alsobait the Stinkbug into attacking nearby insectsto have them join in the fight.
Ladybugs and Cockroaches are the best ally for this fight, as they have a lot of health and won’t be aggressive to you once the Stinkbug is dead.
Stinkbugs are particularly weak tostabbing weapons, which you should aim at the face for the highest chance of stunning them. Be careful to eitherparry or dodgetheir leaping attacks, and retreat to heal from the inevitable gas damage often.
Once you have all the parts, you’ll need to head to aWorkbenchto craft the Gas Mask.
Gas Masks Vs. Roach Helmet
Another tier two helmet you can craft is theRoach Helmet. This requires a Roach Hed, a Roach Chunk, and a Stinkbug Gas Sack, which areharder to get, but it also providesgas resistance.
Unlike the Gas Mask, the Roach Helmetdoesn’t degrade the longer you stay in gas. It acts the same as any other piece of armour, and will only break down as youtake damage.It also provides more defense than a gas mask, making a decent tool for combat encounters.
However, there is onemajor downside to the Roach Helmetthat makes it far better to simply use the Gas Mask:you still take damage from gas. It’s greatly reduced, but you won’t be able to fight stinkbugs or explore the bin safely with one. Taking any damagestops bandages from healing you, meaning you’ll need more expensive healing items when using the Roach Helmet.
The Roach Helmet should beused sparingly. If you find yourself in a gassy area and your Gas Mask isalmost depleted, swapping to the Roach Helmet might give you enough time toescape the area.
