Gunpowder clumps pack the punch your hammer upgrades crave in Grounded 2-pinpoint their hiding spots to smash through tough builds fast.
Where to find gunpowder clump locations in Grounded 2
Gunpowder clumps are obtained from buster-caps scattered through the park, mainly around the Buster-Cap Gun area between the picnic table and the snackbar, near the toxic anthill entrance, and along the path toward the northern edge of the snackbar. Additional clusters sit by the pine tree, with one cap on a rock at its base and another tucked into a small nook just above it, plus a stray cap behind the snackbar’s southwest corner close to some brittle quartzite.
Gunpowder clumps are inside buster-caps, which are little white capsules set in brown plastic rings. There are several scattered around the starting regions of the park, more than enough to get your Omni-Tool hammer upgrade and start crafting some explosive devices once you reach that point. There may be some tucked away in the three new maps added in the Toxic Tangle update, but we haven’t found them yet.
The biggest cluster of gunpowder locations is near the Buster-Cap Gun, just south of the picnic table and near the toxic anthill entrance. There are several lying around in the area between the toxic anthill and the northern edge of the snackbar, so fill your boots – once you have the right upgrade. You need the tier-three Omni-Tool Axe to bust these caps open, which requires a praying mantis head and black ant parts, the latter of which you can only get when you venture into the Veggie Garden.
There are also two near the pine tree, one resting on a rock against the tree trunk and one in a little nook above it.
How to get Tier 3 Omni-Tool Axe recipe and materials
To craft the Tier 3 Omni-Tool Axe in Grounded 2, first unlock the recipe at any Ranger Station outpost using 3,000 Raw Science.
Required Materials
You’ll need 3x Black Ant Mandibles and 2x Praying Mantis Claws, plus the 3,000 Raw Science.
Black Ant Mandibles drop from Black Ants in the northeastern map area (Veggie Garden, opened in the Winter Update).
Praying Mantis Claws come from defeating Praying Mantises, which spawn early-game around the pond, misting irrigation south of the pond, or inside the greenhouse.
Crafting Steps
-
Gather Raw Science from analyzing resources or enemies at a Field Station.
-
Farm Black Ants (use Tier 2 tools/acid for safety) and Mantises (bring bow or bow-enhanced gear).
-
Craft at the Ranger Station terminal-it’s the first Tier 3 tool needed for gunpowder clumps and other upgrades.
Where to farm Black Ant Mandibles in Grounded 2
Black Ant Mandibles in Grounded 2 drop from defeating Black Ants (workers and soldiers), primarily found in the Veggie Garden area, a northeastern map region unlocked via the Winter Update.
Prime Farming Spots
Black Ants spawn densely around their anthill cave in the Veggie Garden, near the pond’s misting irrigation or greenhouse edges-enter via northern map entrances.
Workers patrol surfaces openly, while soldiers guard cave interiors; respawn rates are high for repeated farms.
A reliable cluster sits right side of the map next to blue-hued zones (haze-like biomes), with cave access north of key landmarks.
Farming Tips
Use Tier 2 Omni-Tool or acid glands for safety against groups; bows help from afar.
Each soldier drops 1-2 mandibles (harvest remains); aim for 3+ per run for Tier 3 Axe crafting.
Analyze drops at Field Stations for extra Raw Science to unlock recipes.
