Frag Grenade pairs with Bandolier to produce Ripper Pistol. The original October demo recipe and the release table agree on those names. The release table lists Frag Grenade level 8 and says the base attack is retained.
Separate three grenade questions
| Question | Answer scope |
|---|---|
| What starts on the Legend of Catachan? | Frag Grenade; confirmed by the official pick-up article and hotfix |
| What companion evolves that weapon? | Bandolier in the player and release tables |
| Is a grenade pick-up the same thing? | No; temporary battlefield pick-ups and the upgradeable weapon are different systems |
A later October discussion reports a maxed Bandolier condition. That is a demo player's report, not proof of a universal passive-level rule for every release recipe. Compare the installed recipe entry if that older advice conflicts with your build.
Catachan's rescue bug
Steam v2.1.6 fixes a rescued Legend of Catachan attacking with Chainsword instead of his signature grenade. Seeing the wrong attack on an earlier build is therefore a documented bug, not evidence that you selected the wrong evolution companion.
A practical check order
Confirm the weapon, companion and weapon level first; then check what the chest awarded. Avoid assuming that every chest must evolve the pair immediately. Use the patch notes for platform rollout and the Catachan guide for the distinction between rescuing a champion and obtaining a weapon during a run.
Sources & version notes
Official announcements and dated community references are distinguished below. Exact unpublished values are not inferred.
- Auroch Digital — Feature Focus: Pick-ups (2026-08-19)
- Unknown Traveller — October demo recipe table (original player report) (2026-10-07)
- Steam players — evolution conditions discussion (demo) (2026-10-12)
- Auroch Digital — Hotfix v2.1.6 (2026-11-11)
- Wikily — release-version weapon evolution table (checked 2026-11-12)
Compiled from public sources. We have not personally played or tested these procedures. Check your installed build and its tooltips when details differ.