A New Giant Enters the Park

Obsidian Entertainment has released the 'Beat the Heat' update for Grounded 2, introducing King Dozer — the largest and most formidable boss in the Grounded series to date. The horned lizard boss is a direct response to long-standing community requests for a lizard enemy, and brings with it a combat system unlike anything else in the game.

Designed Around a Medieval Dragon Fantasy

King Dozer's origins trace back to the 'Toxic Tangle' update released in January, which carried a fairytale fantasy theme. Game Director Chris Parker explains that King Dozer was conceived as the dragon archetype for the following Beat the Heat update — a thematic bridge between the two content drops.

"When we started working on the King Dozer fight, we asked ourselves: what would a lizard do?" Parker says. "The answer was find a warm place. That led us to ask what happens if players can cool the environment down — and that's how the fight design came together."

Environment as a Tactical Layer

What sets King Dozer apart from all other bosses in Grounded 2 is that players must actively interact with the environment to survive. King Dozer thrives in his scorching lair, and if players fail to cool it down, he receives a buff while they take continuous heat damage. No other boss in the game uses this mechanic.

Real-world horned lizard behavior also shaped his move set. Much like how actual horned lizards shoot blood from their eyes as a defense, King Dozer fires a spicy projectile from his eyes to hinder players — alongside tail swipes and melee attacks.

Preparation is Key, Rewards are Plentiful

Parker recommends equipping heat-resistant armor and mint-damage weapons, which King Dozer is susceptible to, while ensuring all gear is fully repaired and upgraded before the fight.

Defeating King Dozer unlocks a medieval knight plate mail-inspired armor set, a matching shield, and decorative items including a lizard-themed fireplace. Note that the new weapons and armor specialize in spicy damage, making them a poor choice when rematching King Dozer.

The Beat the Heat update also brings additional new content and improvements across the park beyond the new boss.