Subnautica: Below Zero Guide - IGN (2024)

Welcome to IGN's Wiki Guide for Subnautica: Below Zero, released May 13th for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Steam.

Below Zero is set two years after the original Subnautica. Return to Planet 4546B to uncover the truth behind a deadly cover-up after learning of your sister's death, which megacorporation Alterra blamed on her own negligence. Survive by building habitats, crafting tools, finding lost communications and unexpected allies on this cold, harsh water planet.

Proceed with caution when clicking around if you're early on in Subnautica: Below Zero. This wiki is full of unmarked spoilers and story content.

Walkthrough

Our walkthrough section will show players how to make story progress in the game and beat the entire game. The Walkthrough was done in Survival Mode, but there are other modes you can learn about in the Options and Settings page.

In this section of the guide you'll learn how to find important game areas, like Finding Delta Base. You'll also learn how to access various Subnautica Biomes to collect resources, craft tools and equipment and more.

The Walkthrough will show you which recipes to craft and when, as well as where to find the items required. You'll need to craft a Seatruck, Prawn Suit and other deployables in order to beat the game, so no need to go searching for those specific deployables. Our Walkthrough section will teach you exactly when and how to craft them, and you can check the specific pages below for those deployables.

• Getting to the Drop Pod
• Collecting Supplies
• Finding Delta Base
• Finding Sanctuary Zero
• Building a Seatruck
• Finding Phi Robotics Landing Pad
• Finding Sanctuary Zero
• Finding the Koppa Mining Site
• Building a Prawn Suit
• Finding Marguerit's Seabase
• Hijacking Alterra Communications
• Finding Marguerit's Greenhouse
• Finding and Curing the Frozen Leviathan
• Creating Al-An's Storage Medium (Body)
• Subnautica Below Zero End Game

Tips and Tricks

This section includes a few tips and trips to improve gameplay. Subnautica: Below Zero is pretty straightforward in terms of survival; you need food, water and body temperature to stay alive.

But you may encounter bugs or wish to give feedback since the game has only recently left early access and been publicly released. There are some known bugs as well, so check this section to learn more about them.

Additionally, it's easy to get wrapped up in gameplay and forget to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Check our Tips and Tricks page for more information about all these topics!

How To Guides

Our How To Guides section is designed to help Subnautica players stay alive and more easily beat the game. Many of these pages cover important tricks, like farming resources to more easily find food and water, that the game doesn't explicitly tell you.

Additionally, there are no indications in the game about How to Find the Mercury II Wreck, although it's an important story element and contains items needed to craft recipes needed for missions, like Hijacking Alterra Communications.

Most How-Tos were created for Survival Mode, but some, like How to Build a Base, also feature photos and information about other game modes like Creative Mode.

• How to Farm Plants and Resources
• How to Gather Food and Water
• How to Craft Tools and Deployables
• How to Build the Prawn Suit Drill Arm
• How to Build the Seatruck Docking Module
• How to Find the Mercury II Wreck
• How to Find the Parallel Processing Unit
• How to Find the Spiral Plant
• How to Repair and Upgrade Equipment
• How to Build a Base

Collectibles

Visit the Collectibles page to learn about the various items, posters and photos you can collect in-game. While Collectibles are not required for story progress, you will find these items while playing through the story and may wish to display some in your base.

You do not need to collect any or all of them to beat the game, but some have sentimental value or are references to games and creatures or funny phrases.

Achievements and Trophies

Visit the Achievements and Trophies page to learn how to obtain them. Most Achievements are collected through game play and story progress.

Note that Switch players do not receive achievements.

Leviathan Class Organisms

Visit this page to see the giant, sometimes dangerous and deadly leviathans in the game. There are nine Leviathan Class Organisms in Subnautica: Below Zero. Not all of them are predators, but they are all huge!

So far, leviathans seem to be organized by size instead of biome, diet or other characteristics. Some are important to the story and encountered during story progress, like the Ice Worm. Others, like the Glow Whale are nice to encounter but are not necessary to the plot, and you will never see the Void Chelicerate unless you go looking for it.

• Adult Vent Gardens
• Juvenile Ventgarden
• Chelicerate
• Void Chelicerate
• Frozen Leviathan
• Glow Whale
• Ice Worm
• Squidshark

Important Flora and Fauna

Visit the Important Flora and Fauna page to see which fish and plants you are most likely to need to survive and make story progress in the game.

While story progress and survival can seem straightforward, not every fish or coral is important to your success. These flora and fauna are located in various Subnautica Biomes, and many include descriptions of where and how to find them.

Subnautica Biomes

Subnautica: Below Zero has several biomes with distinct flora and fauna, environmental conditions and resources. Click each page below to learn more about the various biomes.

Biomes are areas of the game that act as different environments or habitats. Many have their own lighting and flora and fauna, and some even have their own music or soundtracks.

Many resources, recipes, fragments and other items can only be located in certain biomes, so it's important to know which is which and how to reach them.

• Arctic Spires
• Delta Island
• Glacial Basin
• Glacial Bay
• Arctic
• Arctic Kelp Forest
• Arctic Kelp Caves
• Lilypad Islands
• Deep Lilypads Cave
• Lilypads Crevice
• Purple Vents
• Deep Purple Vents
• Twisty Bridges
• Thermal Spires
• Tree Spires
• World Edge
• Crystal Caves
• Fabricator Caverns

Options and Settings

Visit the Options and Settings page to learn more about binding controls, accessibility features and game play modes.

Minerals and Resources

Check this page to learn about the various Minerals and Resources used in recipes and blueprints, and where to find them.

Minerals and Resources are required for both survival and story progress. You will need to craft machinery and tools to reach deep areas of the game that contain story elements, as well as complete missions and simply stay alive.

This section details where to find the minerals and resources you'll need and how to use them.