Discover the Black Anthill Lab in Grounded! Learn how to reach it via the Trash Heap or the Sandbox, including necessary gear like Gas Masks and Bratburst bombs.
There are two primary routes to reach the Black Anthill Lab in Grounded: the Trash Heap path and the Sandbox route. The Sandbox is more dangerous, but the Anthill entrance is closer to the lab once inside. The Trash Heap route avoids the Sandbox but requires a longer trek underground with more Black Ant enemies.
Before heading to the lab, ensure you are adequately geared and bring Bratburst bombs. For a quick in-and-out, a couple of bombs suffice. If you plan to explore thoroughly, bring at least 6 bombs. Refer to the guide on crafting Bratburst explosives.
How to Get to the Black Anthill Lab via the Trash Heap
To access the lab via the Trash Heap, travel to the Haze area and proceed to the southwest corner where the trash pile is located. Near the trash, you'll find an Anthill entrance. A Gas Mask is required due to the stinky clouds that damage masks quickly; equip it to pass through, then remove it once inside the Anthill.
A light source is essential for navigating the Anthill. A torch works, or consider a Firefly Head Lamp if you use a two-handed weapon or bow. Inside the Anthill tunnels, you will encounter Black Ants. Worker ants are docile unless provoked by a Black Soldier Ant. If you wish to avoid combat, run from the soldier ants.
Follow the tunnel until you reach an open room with light shining down from an opening above. Continue straight to another large open space filled with ants, including Soldier Ants that attack on sight. To avoid being overwhelmed, especially when alone, run through this area until you find a downward slope. Follow this path to a crossroad. Take the left path, which leads to the main lab area.
In the next room, ignore the doors and head up the slope to the left. You'll find a large boulder blocking the tunnel. Use a Bratburst bomb to destroy the rock and enter the lab. Once inside, you can begin activating the power and opening doors.
How to Get to the Black Anthill Lab via Sandbox
To reach the Sandbox, you'll need to use the Picnic Table zipline. First, you must create the zipline wire. Make your way to the top of the Picnic Table and use 12 Silk Rope to construct the wire. Silk Rope can be crafted using Web Fiber at a Spinning Wheel.
How to Move the Leaning Shovel
Before reaching the Sandbox, you must move the Leaning Shovel, located in the western part of the map, southeast of the Picnic Table. A rock beneath the shovel needs to be destroyed with an explosive, such as a Bratburst or Splatburst bomb. A Bratburst can be crafted with 2 Fungal Growth, 1 Red Ant Egg, and 4 Dry Grass Chunks. A Splatburst requires 5 Web Fiber, 1 Bratburst, and 5 Sap. Either explosive will clear the rock, moving the shovel so it leans against the Picnic Table.
Once the shovel is in place, climb it to reach the Picnic Table. Turn left, go around the yellow lunch box, then turn right and jump onto the lower part of the bench support, below the white plastic fork. Follow this north to reach nails you can jump on to get to the other side of the Picnic Table seat.
How to Climb the Cooler Box
On this side of the Picnic Table, run up the books in front of you and to the right to reach a Cooler Box. Hit the large red button on the Cooler Box with a busting weapon. This will cause the handle to fall, allowing you to climb it to the top of the Picnic Table.
How to Make the Zipline From the Picnic Table to the Sandbox
From the top of the Picnic Table, head south, avoiding holes, towards the Field Station under the orange journal. Just beyond the Field Station, you'll find a Zipline Anchor. This is where the 12 Silk Rope is needed to create the zipline to the Sandbox.
100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content