You're standing in the upper yard, your armor is shredded, and you’re basically sweating through your ladybug chestplate. It's hot. The charcoal is sizzling nearby. And honestly, you’re only here because you need that one specific drop. Finding a black ant queen grounded players often realize, isn't just about stumbling into a hole in the dirt; it's a test of patience, gear, and whether or not you brought enough heals to survive the sheer volume of soldiers guarding her majesty.
Grounded isn't just a survival game. It's a weirdly personal vendetta against everything that crawls. The Black Ant Queen is one of the more "recent" additions compared to the early access days, and she completely changed how we look at the Black Ant Hill. She isn't just a boss. She’s a political choice.
Where is she hiding?
The Black Ant Hill is located in the western part of the backyard, specifically tucked under the shed porch near the abandoned trash pile. If you haven't been there yet, it’s a nightmare of claustrophobic tunnels and aggressive guards. You’ll need a light source. Don't be that person trying to fight in the dark with a sputtering torch.
To reach the black ant queen grounded map locations highlight, you have to navigate deep into the heart of the colony. She’s located in her own dedicated royal chamber. You'll know you’re close when the density of Black Ant Soldiers triples and the walls start looking a bit more "refined."
It’s easy to get lost. Really easy. Most players end up running in circles near the lab sections. You want to look for the pathing that leads away from the microwave and deeper into the dirt-walled sectors of the hive.
The Three Choices: Friendship, Betrayal, or Murder
This is where Obsidian Entertainment got clever. You don't just walk in and start swinging your Mint Mace—well, you can, but you might regret it. The black ant queen grounded encounter offers three distinct paths, and each one changes your rewards and your relationship with the colony forever.
1. The Spicy Sandwich (The Kill Path)
If you're looking for the Black Ant Queen Head or the materials for the Black Ant Queen Scepter, you have to kill her. To do this, you don't actually fight her in a traditional boss battle. She’s stationary. You feed her a Spicy Ant Queen Treat.
Once she eats it, she dies. It’s brutal. It’s quick. But here’s the kicker: every black ant in the backyard will now hate your guts. They will attack on sight. If you like having a peaceful stroll through the trash pile, this isn't the path for you. However, the loot is top-tier for high-end crafting.
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2. The Mushroom Sandwich (The Tame Path)
Maybe you’re a pacifist. Or maybe you just want a giant ant following you around. Feeding her a Mushroom Ant Queen Treat friends her. She stays alive, the colony remains neutral (or friendly), and you eventually get access to the Black Ant Pet.
Is it worth it? Sorta. The pet provides a carry weight buff which is great for base building, but you lose out on the aggressive gear.
3. The Poison Sandwich (The Mutation Path)
Feeding her the Poison Ant Queen Treat is for the completionists. This rewards you with specific mutations and materials that you can't get elsewhere. It's effectively a "betrayal" move that sits somewhere between the other two options in terms of moral gray area, though let's be real—you're still poisoning a queen.
Preparing for the Descent
Don't go in there with tier one gear. You’ll get shredded by the soldiers before you even see the queen’s chamber. Black ants are significantly tougher than their red counterparts. They have more health, they hit harder, and they actually use tactics to surround you.
The Gear Checklist:
- Armor: At least Tier 2, preferably Tier 3 like the Antlion armor or the Ladybug set (upgraded).
- Weapon: Stabbing or Chopping works best. The Red Ant Club is okay, but a Mint Mace or a Coalesced Toxin weapon is better.
- Healing: Bring plenty of Beefy Slop or Fiber Bandages. The run to the queen is a war of attrition.
- The Treat: You cannot interact with her meaningfully without one of the three treats (Spicy, Mushroom, or Poison). These are crafted at an Oven, not a Workbench.
The recipe for the treats usually requires materials from the colony itself, like Mandibles and Pheromones, plus specific biome materials like spicy shards or toadstool chunks.
The Strategy for the Ant Hill
The Black Ant Hill is divided into sections. There’s the "A" side and the "B" side, connected by the central lab. You’ll need to find the Black Ant Lab Keycard to move freely. If you’re hunting the black ant queen grounded boss, stay focused on the tunnels that lead downward.
Avoid the exploding fungus if you can. It’s a huge drain on your health before the "real" encounter. If you see a group of three or more soldiers, pull them back into a narrow corridor. Don't fight them in the open rooms where they can get behind you.
Why the Choice Matters for Your Endgame
Most people don't realize that your choice with the queen is permanent for that "New Game" cycle. If you kill her, she’s gone. No respawns. You can’t decide later that you actually wanted a pet ant. You have to wait until you move into New Game Plus to reset the world state.
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If you’re playing solo, the Mushroom Treat is often the smartest first move. Having a pet that adds extra inventory slots makes gathering resources for the late-game grind much less of a chore. But if you’re a combat-focused player who wants the strongest summons, the Spicy Treat gives you the components for the Scepter, which allows you to summon your own ant minions.
It’s a trade-off. Convenience versus Power.
Nuance in the Rewards
- Killing her: Yields the Black Ant Queen Head, used for the Ant Queen Scepter. This is a Tier 3 summoning weapon.
- Befriending her: Yields the Ant Queen Organ, used for the Ant Queen Robe. This boosts your friendly summon stats.
- Poisoning her: Gives you access to the Couch Potato mutation and unique building recipes.
Honestly, the "Couch Potato" mutation is a bit of a meme, but it actually has some niche uses for stamina management if you’re playing a very specific heavy-armor build.
Common Misconceptions About the Black Ant Queen
A lot of players think they can just run in, bow to the queen, and get rewards. It doesn’t work like that. The game treats her like a quest hub and a boss all at once.
Another big mistake is forgetting the Bratbursts. There are several cracked walls in the Black Ant Hill that hide shortcuts. If you don't bring explosives, you’re going to be taking the long way around, which means fighting roughly 40 extra ants. Save yourself the headache. Craft five or six bombs before you even head toward the shed.
Is she harder than the Broodmother?
In a straight fight? No. Because you don't "fight" her in the traditional sense. The difficulty of the black ant queen grounded experience is the journey. Reaching her is 90% of the challenge. The Broodmother or the Mantis are skill-checks for your parrying and timing. The Queen is a preparation-check. If you have the treat and you have the gear to reach the room, you’ve already won.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re ready to tackle this right now, follow this specific order to avoid wasting time.
- Craft the Oven: You can't make the treats without an Oven. If you haven't unlocked it yet, go kill some Haze larvae and get the charcoal from the grill area.
- Pick Your Path: Decide now. Do you want the pet (Mushroom), the weapon (Spicy), or the mutation (Poison)? Don't carry all three; it's a waste of inventory space.
- Stockpile Explosives: Grab at least 5 Bratbursts. You’ll need them to clear the paths in the Black Ant Hill.
- The Entry Point: Enter the Hill through the trash pile or the hole near the shed. The trash pile entry is generally "safer" but longer.
- Clear the Soldiers: Don't try to sprint past them. They will follow you into the Queen's chamber and interrupt the interaction. Kill them as you go.
- Interact: Walk up to the Queen, prompt the "Feed" action, and watch the cutscene.
Once the deed is done, check the surrounding room. There are often high-tier resources and lore collectibles hidden in the corners of the royal chambers that people miss because they’re too busy looking at their new loot.
The decision you make with the black ant queen grounded encounter will define your mid-to-late game experience. Choose the path that fits your playstyle, whether that's leading an army of summons or just having a cute bug carry your extra grass planks. Either way, make sure your armor is repaired before you go in. It’s a long walk back if you die in the dark.