The Oak Tree explosion is one of the most critical early story beats in Grounded, signaling a major shift in your survival journey. Triggered after fixing the mystery machine and investigating the smoking oak lab, this event opens up new story quests and key technological upgrades. Completing this investigation allows players to unlock essential crafting recipes and meet BURG.L inside the tree subterranean facility.
Reaching the Oak Lab After the Blast
Once the explosion occurs at the base of the massive Oak Tree, smoke will rise to mark the location of the breach. You should prepare basic gear, weapons, and light sources before heading toward the eastern side of the backyard. Navigating through the dense lawn toward the base of the tree reveals a freshly blasted entrance surrounded by glowing purple haze.
Be cautious as you approach the perimeter because aggressive insects like Lawn Mites and Orb Weavers frequently patrol the surrounding roots. Defeating or bypassing these hostile creatures ensures you can safely enter the damaged structure without taking unnecessary damage. Keeping a torch ready helps illuminate the dark corridors of the lab complex once you step inside.
Navigating the Damaged Laboratory Facility
Inside the Oak Lab, players must traverse broken hallways littered with debris, damaged wiring, and flickering lights. Progressing deeper into the complex requires pressing red override buttons to unlock sealed doors throughout the installation. Keep an eye out for scattered audio logs and science nodes that provide valuable background narrative and unlock currency.
As you explore the main chamber, you will discover the source of the malfunction and encounter the friendly robot assistant BURG.L. Interacting with BURG.L triggers crucial dialogue options that reveal details about the shrink ray experiment gone wrong. Restoring power to the central console is required to stabilize the laboratory network completely.
Restoring Power and Rebooting Systems
To successfully complete the quest objectives, locate the terminal levers positioned around the main control center. Flipping these switches re-establishes auxiliary power to the terminal monitor and unlocks main system functions. This sequence enables BURG.L to offer quest assignments, science upgrades, and chip exchange services for future exploration.
Completing the reboot process officially resolves the investigation phase of the Oak Tree explosion storyline. Players gain access to essential blueprints, including tech upgrades that drastically improve base building and survival capabilities. With the Oak Lab established as a central hub, you can prepare for deeper expeditions across the dangerous backyard environment.
