Grounded 2 changes up the combat by introducing multiple archetypes, allowing players to build their characters for different situations and combat scenarios. The Ranger archetype specializes in ranged combat, using bows to squash Grounded 2‘s bugs from afar by targeting their weak points for critical damage.
Bows may seem weak in the early stages of Grounded 2, but they quickly become some of the most powerful weapons in the entire game. That’s mostly due to the bonuses from Ranger armor, which is scarce in the game’s opening hours (at least compared to other archetypes). Once you get the right Trinkets and equipment, you can create an incredibly powerful ranged build in Grounded 2 that crushes every bug you can encounter in the park.
Best Bows in Grounded 2
You’ll be stuck with the Sprig Bow for the first few hours of Grounded 2, which will greatly hamper your ranged build’s performance. You should prioritize unlocking the Spider Stringer as fast as possible to increase your damage output.
The Spider Stringer is a tier two bow made with Orb Weaver parts, so you’ll have to take down a fully mature spider (not an Orb Weaver Jr.) to obtain the Fangs and Chunks required to craft it. Once you’ve analyzed these materials, you can craft the Spider Stringer at a Workbench.
The Spider Stringer bow will keep you safe for most of your Grounded 2 journey, but you can get an even better upgrade later on in the form of the tier three Wolf Stringer. This bow is crafted from Wolf Spider parts, so you’ll have to be prepared for one of the toughest challenges in the park if you want to upgrade your gear.
Best Ranger Armor and Trinket for a Ranged Build
The Bee armor set is the overall best choice for Rangers in Grounded 2. It’s only a tier two set, but it comes with a unique perk called More Better Draw that increases the perfect draw timing window for bow shots. That makes it much easier to land high-damage charged shots, which are the foundation of any ranged build.
You should combine the Bee armor with the Marksman’s Cap, a tier two helmet that increases bow damage across the board. You’ll need an upgraded Omni Tool to harvest the necessary crafting materials, but they’re easy to find once you’ve unlocked the required upgrade.
While it’ll take some time to unlock and craft the best ranged armor pieces, the best ranged Trinket in Grounded 2 is actually one of the first you’ll find. The Nifty Needle increases the damage of charged bow shots, and all you have to do to unlock the crafting recipe is analyze a single Thistle Needle. It’ll drastically increase your damage output without any trade-offs.
Best Ranged Mutations in Grounded 2
You can unlock Mutations in Grounded 2 just by playing the game and reaching certain milestones, so you’ll unlock the best bow Mutations in due time. Sharpshooter is the cornerstone of any good ranged build since it increases the critical chance of charged shots and even gives a small damage buff to perfectly charged shots (made easier by More Better Draw) at max level.
Ambush is the other Mutation that you should be running for ranged builds in Grounded 2. It greatly increases the damage of opening shots, even providing a guaranteed critical hit chance and a huge bonus to critical hit damage when upgraded. It won’t help you in drawn-out duels, but it’ll give you a huge advantage at the start of a fight. Combined with the other buffs in this bow build, you’ll be able to decimate enemy health bars in a single shot and finish them off with just a few more arrows.
Grounded 2
- Released
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2025
- ESRB
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Teen / Violence, Blood
- Publisher(s)
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Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op
- Prequel(s)
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Grounded
- Number of Players
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Single-player
#Grounded #Ranged #Build
