How to Obtain the Pinch Whacker in Grounded: A Comprehensive Guide
The Pinch Whacker is a highly sought-after weapon in Grounded, renowned for its exceptional damage output and ability to stun even the toughest insects. For players looking to dominate the backyard, acquiring this formidable tool is paramount. This comprehensive guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on how to obtain the Pinch Whacker, ensuring you can efficiently dispatch your foes and progress further in the game.
Understanding the Pinch Whacker: Stats and Effectiveness
Before embarking on your quest, it’s crucial to understand what makes the Pinch Whacker such a desirable weapon.
- Damage Type: This is a Shock damage type weapon which is effective against most of the insect in the game.
- Base Damage: It features a high base damage, allowing for quick elimination of weaker insects.
- Stun Potential: A notable feature is its ability to stun enemies, briefly incapacitating them and providing an opportunity for follow-up attacks or strategic retreat.
- Durability: It has decent durability, but it will require repairs.
- Repair Cost: Its repair cost is fairly moderate.
The Pinch Whacker shines against various insect types, particularly those vulnerable to shock damage. This includes:
- Spiders: The stun effect makes spiders significantly easier to manage, preventing them from landing attacks.
- Larvae: Can quickly eliminate hordes of Larvae.
- Ladybugs: Ladybugs are hard to defeat and often inflict high damage, the stun effect of the Pinch Whacker helps a lot to defeat them.
- Soldier Ants: While tougher than worker ants, the Pinch Whacker can quickly dispatch these aggressive opponents.
Locating the Pinch Whacker’s Hidden Case: The Starting Point
The Pinch Whacker isn’t simply lying out in the open; it’s concealed within a locked case found in a specific location in the backyard. Here’s how to pinpoint it:
Head to the Eastern Section of the Yard: Begin your search in the eastern area of the backyard. Focus your efforts around the large sandbox.
Identifying the Sandbox Area: The sandbox is easily identifiable as a vast, sandy expanse with various points of interest. Be mindful of the antlions that roam the sandbox, as they can be challenging opponents if you are not well-equipped.
Locating the Buried Treasure: Within the sandbox, search for a peculiar mound of sand. It looks subtly different from the surrounding terrain, often with a slight discoloration or a noticeable rise in the sand. Use a shovel to excavate this mound. If you haven’t acquired a shovel yet, you can craft one using resources like pebblets, sprigs, and woven fiber.
Unearthing the Case: Digging at the correct spot will reveal a small, metallic case. This is the container that holds the Pinch Whacker. However, the case is locked, requiring a specific key to open it.
Obtaining the Key: The Black Ant Lab
To unlock the Pinch Whacker case, you’ll need to acquire a specific key from the Black Ant Lab. This lab is a relatively dangerous location, so preparation is key.
Navigating to the Black Ant Lab: The Black Ant Lab is situated underneath the black ant hill in the southwestern area of the yard. It is a sprawling underground complex. Access can be gained through several entrances, but the most common is near the mysterious machine.
Preparing for the Lab: Before venturing into the Black Ant Lab, ensure you are adequately prepared:
- Armor: Equip yourself with sturdy armor. The Ladybug Armor is a good choice, offering a balance of protection and mobility.
- Weapon: While you’re seeking the Pinch Whacker, having another reliable weapon is essential. The Mint Mace or the Antlion Greatsword are excellent choices.
- Healing Items: Stock up on healing items such as bandages or smoothies to recover health during encounters.
- Torches: The lab is dark, so bring torches or craft a torch to illuminate your path.
Exploring the Black Ant Lab: Inside the lab, navigate through the corridors, being wary of Black Ants and other hazards. The lab is a maze-like structure, so pay attention to your surroundings and use the in-game map to orient yourself.
Finding the Keycard: The keycard needed to access the room containing the Pinch Whacker key is located on a dead scientist within the lab. The corpse is often found in a side room or near a terminal. Loot the scientist’s body to obtain the Black Ant Lab Keycard.
Accessing the Key Room: With the keycard in hand, locate the locked door within the lab that requires the Black Ant Lab Keycard. Swipe the card to unlock the door and enter the room.
Locating the Super Chip: Inside the room, you’ll find a Super Chip. Interact with the chip to analyze it. Analyzing the chip will unlock new crafting recipes and, most importantly, reveal the location of the key needed to open the Pinch Whacker case.
Retrieving the Key from the Picnic Table
Following the analysis of the Super Chip, you’ll discover that the key to the Pinch Whacker case is located on the Picnic Table.
Traveling to the Picnic Table: The Picnic Table is a prominent landmark in the central-eastern part of the backyard. It’s a large structure, making it easy to spot.
Navigating the Picnic Table: The Picnic Table is a complex area with multiple levels and various hazards, including food spills, ants, and bees. Exercise caution as you explore.
Locating the Toolbox: The key is hidden inside a red toolbox on the Picnic Table. The toolbox is usually located near the edge of the table, often obscured by other objects.
Obtaining the Key: Open the toolbox to retrieve the Pinch Whacker Case Key. With the key in your possession, you can finally unlock the case and claim your prize.
Unlocking the Case and Claiming the Pinch Whacker
With both the location of the case and the key in hand, it’s time to claim the Pinch Whacker.
Returning to the Sandbox: Head back to the sandbox where you initially unearthed the locked case.
Unlocking the Case: Approach the case and interact with it. You’ll be prompted to use the Pinch Whacker Case Key. Use the key to unlock the case.
Claiming the Pinch Whacker: Once the case is unlocked, open it and retrieve the Pinch Whacker. Congratulations, you now possess one of the most powerful weapons in Grounded!
Utilizing the Pinch Whacker Effectively
Now that you have the Pinch Whacker, it’s time to learn how to use it effectively.
- Mastering the Attack Pattern: Practice the Pinch Whacker’s attack pattern to maximize its damage output. Learn the timing of the swings and the range of the weapon.
- Exploiting the Stun Effect: The stun effect is a crucial aspect of the Pinch Whacker. Use it to interrupt enemy attacks, create openings for follow-up attacks, or to escape from dangerous situations.
- Targeting Weaknesses: Identify the weaknesses of different insect types and exploit them with the Pinch Whacker. Remember that the shock damage is particularly effective against certain enemies.
- Maintaining Durability: Keep an eye on the Pinch Whacker’s durability and repair it as needed. Regular maintenance will ensure that the weapon remains in top condition.
Crafting the Bushwacker
Here’s the recipe for the Bushwacker
Visit the Mysterious Machine: Locate the Mysterious Machine and use it to unlock additional recipes.
The ingredients of the Bushwacker: Collecting the necessary materials is essential to progress and craft the desired weapons. The resources needed consist of x3 Spring, x5 Flower Petals, and x3 Dry Grass Chunk.
Conclusion: Mastering Combat with the Pinch Whacker and Bushwacker
Obtaining the Pinch Whacker and Bushwacker in Grounded is a significant accomplishment, providing you with a powerful tool to overcome the challenges of the backyard. By following this comprehensive guide, you can efficiently locate the case, acquire the key, and claim your prize. With the Pinch Whacker and Bushwacker in hand, you’ll be well-equipped to take on even the toughest insects and dominate the backyard. Remember to practice your combat skills, exploit the weapon’s stun effect, and maintain its durability to maximize its effectiveness. Happy hunting!