You’re staring at the trash heap. It’s disgusting. There are rotting taco bits, noxious gas clouds, and more mealybugs than any sane person should have to deal with in a lifetime. But you need that Chip. To progress in Grounded, you eventually have to face the Black Ant Lab. It's not optional. It’s also one of the biggest difficulty spikes in the game if you aren't prepared.
Most people just wander into the Trash Pile and hope for the best. Big mistake. Honestly, the backyard is a death trap, and the Black Ant Hill is the heart of that trap. It's a sprawling, multi-layered nightmare that connects the trash heap to the sandbox. If you don't know where the actual entrance is—or how to navigate the locked doors inside—you’ll just end up as ant food.
Finding the Entrance Without Losing Your Mind
Getting to the black ant lab in Grounded is half the battle. You have two main ways in. The first is through the Trash Pile. Look for the yellow garden shovel leaning against the trash can. Near the base, there’s a gap in the plastic bags that leads down into the darkness.
The second way is through the Sandbox. Specifically, the back-left corner (if you're facing the house). There’s a hole in the sand near the plastic sandcastle.
Which one is better? The Trash Pile entrance is faster but way more dangerous because of the gas. If you don't have a Gas Mask, don't even think about it. The Sandbox entrance is "safer" in terms of environmental hazards, but the sizzling heat during the day will cook you alive. Pick your poison. Seriously.
Why You Actually Need to Go There
Why bother? The BURG.L Chip located here—the Black Ant Chip—is a game-changer. It unlocks the ability to craft Tier 2 tools and, more importantly, the Oven. You can't make Mushroom Bricks without an oven. You can't build a real base without Mushroom Bricks.
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You're also looking for the Assistant Manager. He’s the boss of this joint. He's a jerk. A robotic, lightning-shooting jerk. Defeating him gives you the Assistant Manager Keycard, which opens those annoying locked doors you've seen all over the yard, including the ones in the Pond and the Haze.
Gear Up or Go Home
Don't go in there with a Pebblet Spear. You'll die. Immediately.
The Black Ant Soldiers are a significant step up from the Red Ants you fought near the start of the game. They have more health, they hit harder, and they have a nasty habit of surrounding you in tight corridors.
- Weaponry: Bring a Mint Mace if you have it. Black ants are weak to Fresh damage. If you haven't crafted that yet, a Bone Dagger or a Red Ant Club (upgraded) will suffice, but it’s going to be a slog.
- Armor: Ladybug Armor is the gold standard here. The block strength and healing bonus are literal lifesavers.
- Supplies: You need explosives. At least five Bratbursts. There are cracked rocks inside the lab that block your progress. No bombs, no progress. Simple as that.
Also, bring lights. Torches or a Slime Mold Stalk. It is pitch black in the deeper levels of the hive.
Navigating the Lab Layers
The lab isn't just one room. It's a vertical descent. Once you get past the initial ant tunnels, you’ll find the man-made structures. This is where the "Lab" part of the Black Ant Lab actually begins.
You'll encounter different sectors: A, B, and the Central Chamber.
Sector A is mostly about clearing out the immediate ant threat and finding the first console. You’ll need to reset the power. Sector B is trickier. This is where those Bratbursts come in. You’ll see a glass window overlooking a room with a massive computer. You can't get in through the door yet. You have to find the cracked rock in the tunnel nearby, blow it up, and loop around.
The Assistant Manager Fight
This is the peak of the experience. It's a chaotic fight. The Assistant Manager stays in the middle while his minions—TAYZ-Ts and RUR-Es—swarm you.
Watch the pillars. When they glow orange, they’re about to emit lasers. When they glow blue, the floor is about to become an electric deathtrap. You have to jump, crouch, and weave. It feels less like a survival game and more like a "bullet hell" shooter for a few minutes.
The trick? Focus the minions first. If you try to burn down the boss while the little robots are shocking you, you'll lose your rhythm. Use the pillars as cover from the boss's direct attacks, but don't stay near them when they activate.
What Most People Miss
There is a secret room. Well, not secret, just easily ignored.
In the Sector B area, there’s a vertical shaft with some parkour involved. Most players rush through this because they're being chased by ants. If you take a second to look around, you can find SCA.B flavors and high-tier upgrade materials (Quartzite and Marble) tucked away in the corners.
Also, the "Ant Hill" and the "Lab" are technically different biomes. The lab has better loot, but the tunnels have the Black Ant Eggs. If you’re looking to make your own bombs later, you’ll need those eggs. Grab them and run before they hatch in your backpack. It happens. It’s traumatizing.
Surviving the Sandbox Connection
Once you finish the lab and grab the chip, don't just backtrack through the trash. The lab exits out into the Sandbox.
If it's daytime, stay in the shadows. The "Sizzle" mechanic is brutal. If that bar fills up, you take massive damage over time. You can wear Antlion Armor to mitigate this, but if it's your first time in the lab, you probably don't have that yet. Run from shadow to shadow—under the umbrella, under the plastic toys—until you reach the Oasis or the exit.
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Actionable Next Steps for Your Run
Stop procrastinating. The Black Ant Lab is the gateway to the "mid-to-late" game.
- Craft 5 Bratbursts: You literally cannot finish the lab without them. Don't be that person who reaches the cracked wall and has to run all the way back to the Oak Tree.
- Upgrade your shield: A Weevil Shield is okay, but a Meat Shield mutation or a higher-tier shield will help with the Assistant Manager's projectiles.
- Check the clock: Enter the lab at dusk. By the time you fight your way through the tunnels and finish the boss, it’ll be morning. This gives you the best chance to navigate the Sandbox exit without the Sizzle effect being at its peak (or you can wait for the next nightfall inside the safety of the lab).
- Mark the entrance: Use a Trail Marker at the Trash Pile entrance. It’s incredibly easy to lose your way when you’re being chased by a Stinkbug in the fog.
The black ant lab in Grounded is a test of your prep work. If you go in organized, it's an exhilarating dungeon crawl. If you go in messy, the backyard wins. Good luck. You're gonna need it when the lasers start spinning.