Whether you’re optimizing your gameplay or searching for new strategies, these advanced tips will help you master the backyard with greater efficiency and confidence. Let’s dive in!

---

1. Use Photo Mode as a Scouting Tool

Photo Mode isn’t just for stunning screenshots—it’s an excellent way to scout your surroundings. Use it to:

• Gain an aerial view of nearby resources.
• Spot hostile creatures from a safe distance.
• Explore cave layouts and peek around corners without putting yourself at risk.

---

2. Efficient Gum Harvesting

Gum is vital for plugging the Haze canister and crafting smoothies.

• Use a Black Ant Shovel for gum within reach.
• For elevated gum spots, use sticky bombs or bomb arrows. Though costly, these methods save time in the long run.

---

3. Build with Exploration in Mind

Structures aren’t just for bases—they can boost your mobility:

• Bridge gaps and access hidden areas.
• Create shortcuts or safe vantage points.
• Combine parkour and building to reach high or secret locations, like leaping across grass blades or branches.

---

4. Cancel Animations to Increase Speed

Speed up harvesting and combat by canceling animations:

• Use block after attack combos to reset faster.
• Cancel crossbow reloads by switching to a melee weapon.
• Block during shovel swings to speed up clay and rock harvesting.

---

5. Equip the Rock Cracker Mutation

When harvesting rock or clay, this mutation reduces the number of hits required, saving time and preserving tool durability.

---

6. Exploit Enemy Weaknesses

Each enemy has two vulnerability types:

• Weapon Type (slashing, stabbing, etc.)
• Elemental Type (salty, spicy, minty, etc.)

For example, adding salt to a slashing weapon like the Antlion Greatsword makes it especially effective against sandbox antlions.

---

7. Dig Candy from the Sandbox

Use a Black Ant Shovel to dig buried candy in the Sandbox. This is a consistent way to gather flavored upgrade materials (e.g., spicy and salty candy).

---

8. Use Elemental Weapons for Cooking

Elemental effects can process food on contact:

• Spicy weapons cook meat (e.g., Weevils drop cooked roasts).
• Salty weapons turn defeated creatures into jerky.

---

9. Unlock and Upgrade Natural Explorer

This mutation boosts movement speed. Upgrade it by discovering landmarks:

• Level 1: Discover 20
• Level 2: Discover 50
• Level 3: Discover 80

Pair with Ant Slippers for speed and enhanced jumping during exploration.

---

10. Quick Swap Trinkets

Assign trinkets to your hotbar for easy mid-combat swapping. This allows you to switch from exploration boosts to combat buffs without opening your inventory.

---

11. Garden for Sustainable Resources

Set up gardens to grow mushrooms and other materials.

• Use rotten food or spoiled meat as fertilizer.
• Build multiple gardens to ensure a steady supply for building and crafting.

---

12. Master Perfect Parrying

Parrying reduces incoming damage and can stagger enemies:

• Practice timing with predictable enemies like antlions.
• A successful parry drains enemy stamina and opens them to counterattacks.

---

13. Save Candy for Weapon Upgrades

Don’t waste flavored candy—use it for upgrading late-game weapons. Exceptions:

• Spicy Candy unlocks the Spicy Safety mutation.
• Mint Candy grants Fresh Defense, reducing gas and fire damage.

---

14. Buff Smart, Stack Wisely

Only one food and one smoothie buff can be active at a time. Combine a smoothie (e.g., for regeneration) with a cooked meal (e.g., for stamina) for optimal stat boosts.

---

15. Grind Fiber from Stems

Use a Grinder to turn stems into plant fiber—yielding 8 fiber per stem. Pair this with sap collectors to stockpile bandages and healing supplies.

---