Grounded: Thistle Locations (& What They’re For) | Screen Rant
Grounded has a ton of crafting opportunities, and Thistle Plans are a big source of crafting when the game shifts to some more advanced combat. Initially, players will get a bow, and arrows are supplied by Thistle Needles that can be collected, which is one example of how useful the Thistle is. Players are in luck because the plants are easy to find, and there's more than one location to find them, unlike some of the other materials found in the Backyard.
When collecting the leaves, the items will go directly into the player's inventory making collecting the Needles a piece of cake. Finding Thistles requires some exploration, and some places are easier to get to than others. It's highly advisable to bring an axe, not only to collect the Needles but also to fend off some of the enemies that are close to them like spiders and beetles to name a few. It's best to clear out the areas first before tackling the leaves themselves or else all that progress will be lost.
To locate the Thistle Needles, using the Mysterious Machine is a great location to start. From the Machine, head Southwest and keep an eye out for plants that have purple heads to them. These are going to be the Thistle Plants that have the Needles. Another location to find them is going to be the Oak Tree. Thistles are strewn all around the tree, and staying on guard against grubs is going to be highly recommended. One last location is going to be at Spade Gulch that is recognizable by its open area and even more distinguishable Spade.
In Grounded, three recipes use Thistle Needles, and each is very valuable. The first is simple, and that is the Needles are the arrows used with the bow. The second recipe is for the Spiky Sprig which is a club-looking weapon that needs three Sprigs, five Thistle Needles, and two Woven Fibers to craft. The Spiky Sprig's numbers are in the low to mid-range and perfect for beginning combat in Grounded. The last crafting recipe that Thistle Needles can be used is for Spike Strips. Spike Strips are ideal for base defense and can be crafted with a few different items. To craft the Strips, Three Weed Stems, One Woven Fiber, One Sap, and three Thistle Needles are needed.
Grounded is available for Xbox One and PC.