Horsetail Stem is one of the new underwater materials added in the Into the Abyss update for Grounded 2, and it sits at the center of the update's entire aquatic crafting loop. You'll need it for underwater structures, the Koi Scale Chestplate, the Harpoon Gun, and more. The catch is that you can't just wade in and grab it. The plant is a Tier 2 material, which means showing up with the wrong tool is a wasted dive.
Where do Horsetail plants grow?
Horsetail only spawns in one part of the map: the pond. Specifically, look for the stretch of water south of the Bridge and east of Skunk Pond. On the map, that puts it between the Digital Watch and Sunken Gnome points of interest. Once you're in the water, the plants are hard to miss. They're tall green-and-brown-yellow stalks rooted to the pond bed, standing out clearly against the sediment.
This isn't a shallow puddle you can stand in. The pond area opened by Into the Abyss has real depth and vertical layering, with new predators patrolling the water. Treat every Horsetail run as a proper dive rather than a quick errand.
Grounded 2 Guide: How to Get Horsetail Stem
What tool do you need to harvest Horsetail Stem?
Horsetail plants are Tier 2 materials, so a basic or Tier 1 cutting tool won't do anything to them. You need the Omni-Clipper upgraded to Level 2. Here's how to get there:
- Travel to the nearest Ranger Station and open the Omni-Tool tab.
- Select the Omni-Clipper and upgrade it to Level 2 using 2000 Raw Science Points, 1 Diving Bell Spider Chunk, and 2 Crow Feather Pieces.
The Diving Bell Spider Chunk is the part that trips most players up. You'll need to fight one of the pond's new spider enemies before you can even prepare for a Horsetail farming run, so plan that encounter before you commit to the upgrade.
How to harvest Horsetail Stem
Once you have the Omni-Clipper at Level 2 and basic diving gear (at minimum a Gil Tube and Fin Flops), the actual farming route is straightforward:
- Mark the pond on your map, targeting the area south of the Bridge and east of Skunk Pond.
- Dive down to the pond bed and locate the tall green Horsetail stalks.
- Equip the Omni-Clipper and cut the plant while watching your oxygen meter.
- Collect the drops. Each Horsetail plant yields exactly 3 Horsetail Stems.
Two plants is enough to hit 6 stems total, which clears the A Gift Horse quest (it requires 5 stems) and rewards 850 Raw Science. That's a solid early return for a short dive.
If you're planning bulk farming later in your progression, the Toe Biter Nymph Buggy can speed up underwater collection considerably. The catch: crafting the Toe Biter nest itself requires Horsetail Stems, so you need at least 8 stems from manual dives before the buggy becomes an option.
Grounded 2 Guide: How to Get Horsetail Stem
What is Horsetail Stem used for?
Horsetail Stem fills the same structural role underwater that Weed Stems fill on the surface. If you're building a submerged base or outpost in the pond, this is the primary material you'll be stockpiling. Beyond base building, it feeds into several Into the Abyss crafting recipes:
The pattern is clear: anything tied to the pond's new progression tier runs through Horsetail Stem. Stock up early so you're not making repeated short dives when you want to push deeper into the Abyss content.
Grounded 2 Guide: How to Get Horsetail Stem
Tips for efficient Horsetail farming
After running the pond route multiple times, a few things make the difference between efficient farming and frustrating oxygen-management chaos:
- Don't skip diving gear. The Gil Tube and Fin Flops are the minimum. Going in without them makes the oxygen situation stressful enough that you'll cut your runs short.
- Clear the local threats first. The pond has predators. Dealing with them before you start harvesting means you can focus on cutting plants instead of dodging attacks mid-dive.
- Work the Digital Watch to Sunken Gnome corridor. That stretch has the highest density of Horsetail plants, so looping between those two POIs is the most time-efficient farming route.
- Count your stems. Since each plant drops exactly 3, you can plan your dive length based on how many you need. 8 stems for the Toe Biter nest means 3 plants with a spare stem.
For more on surviving the opening hours of the game before you reach the pond, the Grounded 2 early game tips guide covers the settings and progression knowledge that makes the transition to underwater content much smoother.
If you're still working through the core systems before tackling the pond, the Grounded 2 beginner's guide covers archetypes, Buggy Mounts, and survival fundamentals that apply well before Into the Abyss content becomes relevant. For players building toward stronger combat and utility options, check out how to unlock all mutations in Grounded 2 to pair your underwater gear with the right passive bonuses.
For the full collection of guides covering every system in the game, the Grounded 2 strategy guides hub has everything organized by topic.