Welcome to the beginner’s guide for Subnautica! This guide will help you understand the core resources, tools, and strategies needed to survive, progress, and thrive beneath the waves.

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Essential Resources & Nodes

To craft tools and gear essential for survival, you’ll need to gather materials from specific resource nodes and areas:

• Limestone Outcrop – Yields Titanium or Copper
• Sandstone Outcrop – Yields Silver, Gold, or Lead
• Shale Outcrop – Yields Gold, Diamond, or Lithium
• Barnacles (on Reefbacks) – Yield Silver or Copper
• Metal Salvage – Converts into 4 Titanium
• Acid Mushrooms – Used to craft Batteries
• Quartz – Used to create Glass and other materials
• Creepvine & Creepvine Clusters – Needed for Fiber Mesh, Lubricant, and Silicone Rubber
• Cave Sulfur – Required early game, especially for tools like the Repair Tool

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Resource Gathering & Survival Tips

• Begin by collecting Acid Mushrooms and Limestone for basic crafting components like Batteries and Titanium.
• Look for Brain Coral to replenish your oxygen while underwater.
• Stay near the surface early on, as your oxygen supply is limited.
• Explore the Kelp Forest to find Creepvine Clusters—note that each cluster takes up four inventory slots.
• Use the PDA Beacon Manager to color-code and rename beacons for easier navigation and landmark tracking.

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Avoiding Early-Game Hazards

• Gasopods release clouds of toxic gas—keep your distance.
• Stalkers and Biters can deal damage—avoid close contact or distract them with Metal Salvage.
• Creature Eggs have no immediate use—save inventory space by ignoring them until you have an Alien Containment Unit.

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Crafting Your First Equipment

Fabricator Basics

Use the Fabricator in your Lifepod to begin crafting essential survival items:

• Convert Creepvine Clusters into Silicone Rubber or Lubricant
• Turn Metal Salvage into Titanium
• Combine Acid Mushrooms and Copper Ore to make Batteries

Must-Have Starter Tools

1. Scanner – Essential for unlocking blueprints by scanning fragments and wildlife.
2. Repair Tool – Fixes your Lifepod and activates the Radio for distress signals and missions.
3. Standard O₂ Tank – Boosts oxygen; upgrading to a High-Capacity O₂ Tank is a priority.
4. Fins – Increase your swim speed by 15%.
5. Survival Knife – Allows Creepvine harvesting and basic defense.
6. Flashlight – Crucial for navigating in dark caves or during nighttime.

Inventory & Storage Tips

• Inventory space is tight—build Waterproof Lockers (4 Titanium) and place them outside your Lifepod.
• Only carry essentials during exploration runs; store materials and backups in lockers.

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Finding & Scanning Fragments

• Explore wrecks in the Safe Shallows and Grassy Plateaus early on.
• Prioritize scanning:
  • Beacon Fragments
  • Seaglide Fragments
  • Mobile Vehicle Bay Fragments

Fragment Tips:

• Large wrecks have fixed locations, while smaller debris fields are randomly placed.
• Data Boxes often contain full blueprints, but if already unlocked, they yield Titanium instead.

Important Blueprints to Prioritize

1. Seaglide – Increases movement speed and includes a built-in map and light.
2. Mobile Vehicle Bay – Required to craft vehicles like the Seamoth.
3. Seamoth – A fast, one-person submersible perfect for early-to-mid game exploration.

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Building the Seamoth & Power Cell Tricks

Seamoth Materials Required:

• 2 Titanium Ingots
• 2 Glass
• 2 Lead
• Lubricant
• 2 Power Cells (crafted from 4 Batteries + 2 Silicone Rubber)

Power Cell Tip: Use depleted or low-charge batteries to craft Power Cells—newly created Power Cells will be fully charged!

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Beacon Use & Zero Point Orientation

Beacons are vital for marking wrecks, resource hotspots, and landmarks.

How to Mark the Zero Point:

1. Find coral tubes protruding from the ocean surface near the Lifepod.
2. Look for a thin, single coral tube.
3. Stand with your back to it and enter the adjacent valley pathway.
4. Drop a Beacon and rename it Zero Point.
5. Set a unique color in the Beacon Manager for quick reference.

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Building Your First Base with the Habitat Builder

Once you’ve gathered enough resources, it’s time to expand:

Essential Base Components:

• Habitat Builder – Unlocks base-building functionality.
• Solar Panels – Provide basic power for daytime operations.
• Fabricator – Needed for crafting inside your base.
• Storage Lockers – Help manage your expanding inventory.
• Multipurpose Rooms & Corridors – Foundation for future upgrades and expansion.

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Next Steps: Exploring Deeper Biomes

With your Seamoth crafted and early tools in hand, you’re ready to explore deeper biomes, locate rarer materials, and unlock advanced blueprints. The next guide will walk you through wreck locations, advanced base-building, and long-term survival strategies.

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Good luck, and happy exploring in the depths of Subnautica! 🌊🛠️🐠