The Koi Fish Scale Armor is the specialist swimming set added to Grounded 2 with the Into the Abyss update. It is built for players who want to move fast through Skunk Pond, fight in open water, and survive the cold as they push deeper toward the Abyss. Unlike heavy plate sets, it leans entirely into mobility and underwater endurance.
Quick answer: Craft the Koi Fish Scale Armor from Koi Fish Scales, which drop from the Koi in Skunk Pond. You need the Diving Suit set first to reach the pond floor and farm them safely. Wearing the full set grants Major Swim Speed, a larger oxygen bar, up to 50% Water Chill reduction, and air-bubble recovery on melee hits.
What the Koi Fish Scale Armor does
This set is designed for aquatic exploration rather than raw protection. It gives you the best swim speed in the game, extends how long you can stay underwater, and cuts the cold buildup that becomes a real threat in deeper water. The standout is the full-set effect, which turns your melee attacks into a way to refill oxygen mid-fight.
| Effect | What it does |
|---|---|
| Veteran Diver | Increases the size of the oxygen bar |
| Major Swim Speed | The strongest swimming speed buff in Grounded 2 |
| Water Chill Reduction | Reduces cold buildup by up to 50% |
| Bubble Struggle (full set) | Melee hits on enemies release air bubbles that restore oxygen |
Because Bubble Struggle only triggers on melee contact, the set rewards aggressive close-range fighting underwater. That makes it a natural fit for clearing pond enemies while keeping your air topped up, rather than retreating to the surface between fights.
Diving gear you need before the Koi set
You cannot jump straight to the Koi Fish Scale Armor. The pond has a gear ladder, and each step unlocks the resources for the next one. Start with the basic Swimming Gear, then move to the Diving Suit, which is what actually lets you reach the bottom of Skunk Pond where Koi Fish Scales are farmed.
Note: The Diving Suit lets you walk and jump underwater but impairs normal swimming. Once you switch to the Koi Fish Scale Armor, you regain fast swimming instead of the walk-the-floor movement, so the two sets serve different jobs.
How to get Koi Fish Scales
Koi Fish Scales come from the Koi that patrol Skunk Pond. Farming them reliably means diving to the bottom in the Diving Suit, where you can move without being pushed around and without running out of air. Once you have enough scales, the Koi Fish Scale Armor becomes craftable.
You will know the set is working when the full three-piece bonus, Bubble Struggle, is active. Landing melee hits should release air bubbles that push your oxygen bar back up, and your swim speed should be noticeably higher than in any other gear.
Pairing the Koi set with the Harpoon Gun
The Koi Fish Scale Armor works best alongside the Harpoon Gun, the only ranged weapon that can be fired underwater. Its unconventional firing mechanism restricts it to submerged use, which is exactly where this set is meant to operate.
| Harpoon Gun stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Damage | 2 bars |
| Stun | 1 bar |
| Speed | 3.5 bars |
| Critical % | 1 bar |
| Type | Stabbing |
The new target-lock feature added with Into the Abyss makes underwater aiming with the Harpoon Gun far more precise, and you can combine ranged shots with evasive maneuvers to control fights in open water. Between the harpoon for range and Bubble Struggle for melee oxygen recovery, the Koi Fish Scale Armor is the set that lets you treat Skunk Pond as a place to fight rather than just pass through on the way to the Abyss.
