Beginner Tips and Tricks Guide
Summary
Subnautica 2 is an open-world underwater survival adventure set on a mysterious alien planet filled with strange new creatures. Players find themselves waking up in an underwater base with the goal of surviving while uncovering the mystery of what happened.
Core gameplay involves crafting equipment, scanning data entries, building and customizing underwater bases, and exploring a diverse range of biomes (vibrant coral reefs, volcanic zones, abandoned bases, and pitch-black deep-sea caves).
Walkthrouth
How to Survive in Subnautica 2 (Tips for Beginners)
[1] Be Mindful of Surroundings.
Subnautica 2 is not a typical survival game with weapons that can eliminate enemies. Players are urged to become more environmentally aware, as there is no way to brute force out of every situation.
Don't dive too deep early on in the game. Instead, study the creatures around you—their behaviors, patterns, and tendencies. Always stay alert for hostile ones, as the ocean is full of danger. Most of it can be avoided, though, if you know what to look for.
Use tools like flares to distract creatures and buy yourself enough time to escape. Being prepared makes all the difference out there!
[2] Increase Inventory with Portable Lockers.
Portable Lockers are essential early on since resources don't stack and your inventory fills up fast. There's a free Portable Locker at the bottom of the cave directly beneath the Lifepod.
[3] Fix Digestive Incompatibility.
One of the best things to do early in the game is to locate the nearby Angel Comb and unlock the Digestion Adaptation, which eliminates chip damage whenever you eat local fauna or flora.
With that in mind, always keep your hunger and thirst gauges in check as well.
| Related Guide |
|---|
| How to Get Food, Water, and Consumables |
[4] Gather Materials and Increase Oxygen Capacity ASAP.
Oxygen is very limited during the early game, especially without items or mobility upgrades. The easiest item to build is the Standard Air Tank. Craft one so you can explore further without constantly having to surface.
| Standard Air Tank Recipe |
|---|
| ・Titanium x 2 ・Rubber x 1 ・ Silver x2 |
[5] See Something? Scan It!
The Scanner is a mission-critical tool in Subnautica 2. Scan every creature, plant, wreck, and piece of technology you come across! It can reward you with blueprints, data entries, and lore.
[6] Power Up the Welcome Center Bio Lab.
Build a Battery first, then head to the Welcome Center to unlock mobility and exploration upgrades such as the Sea Skimmer, Dash, Oxygen Control, and Pathfinder.
[7] Know the Creature Before Harvesting.
Not all creatures can be harvested the same way. For example, when harvesting the Acid Raion, a purple brain-shaped plant found in caves, always use your Survival Multitool to cut away the three Acidic Raion Pouches on the sides first. Going for the Medical Gel Sac in the center before that will cause the plant to spray acid at you.
| Note |
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| Check out our Creatures Database for more details! |
[8] Improve Your Base.
Once you have the basics covered and enough resources saved up, build a second Fabricator. The one inside the Lifepod is only partially working, so having a fully functional one in your base makes a big difference in what you can craft.
Later in the game, getting yourself a Tadpole Submarine is recommended. It helps you manage oxygen on longer dives, and you can even attach a Portable Locker to it for extra storage.
| Related Guide |
|---|
| How to Unlock the Tadpole Vehicle and Upgrades |
[9] Remember Environmental Landmarks and Use Them as a Reference Point.
There is no in-game map in Subnautica 2, which can be disorienting for new players in the wide open ocean. Use the Lifepod as your starting reference point while exploring nearby areas.
Drop Beacons at important locations like caves, resource deposits, and bases. Rename each one so you always know what each marker is for.
| Note |
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| Feel free to use our Interactive Map to make navigating easier! |