Subnautica: Below Zeroreceived its full release on June 02, 2025, and has once again taken players to thepredator-infested watersof planet 4546B.Below Zero,much like its predecessor, lets players explore the game’s open-world in almost any way and any direction that they choose. Consequently, it can be difficult for new players to understandwhat to do in the opening few hours.
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One of the most essential items to craft as early as possible is the scanner. The scanner is crafted at a Fabricator with one Battery and one Titanium and will let players analyze various items and creatures. Scanning is a necessary task for progressing in the game, as it will unlock new blueprints that will let players craft items to delve deeper into the ocean or venture further into the snow.
7All Rocks And Plants
Thankfully, the planet where players crash land in bothSubnauticaandSubnautica: Below Zero,4546B, is ripe with materials to be collected. These materials are necessary for crafting almost every item and are consequently essential for progressing in the game.
It may be easy to forget for experienced players, but learning how to collect the game’s many resources can be very tricky for new players, especially for those who want to figure it out in-game rather than have a sneaky look online. Scanning every rock and plant is a great way to learn about where resources can be collected from, as materials like Copper Ore, Lead, and Lubricant are all hidden in rocks or require plant samples.
6All Creatures
Unfortunately, players aren’t alone on 4546B. The ocean andnew arctic biomesare all filled with alien creatures, many of whom aren’t planning to give Robin a warm welcome to their planet.
Scanning predators may seem like an odd decision, especially with how dangerous some of them are. However, the PDA entries of such creatures can offer great insight for players that may save their life on more than one occasion. For example, the Cryptosuchus' may seem terrifying when players first hear their ferocious roar and see one swimming towards them. However, upon reading their PDA entry, players will learn that they’re more bark than bite and that they will retreat after just one hit.
As well as scanning predators, the scanner is also handy for scanning prey, giving the player an idea of what sea life can be consumed.
5Seaglide Fragments
Subnautica: Below Zerothrows a ton of hazards at players for them to contend with. The player has health, hydration, hunger, and body temperature meters, which all demand constant attention as players will perish if any of them deplete. The meter that players will need to keep an eye on the most, however, is oxygen. With much of the game taking place underwater, players will constantly need to be cautious about how deep they dive into the ocean, as not being able to resurface quickly enough will cause a cheap death and a loss of some items.
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Thankfully, there are a few craftable items that can help players venture further and delve deeper to collect more valuable resources. One such item is the Seaglide, which will let players traverse the water at a considerably faster speed, which is especially handy when being chased by predators or needing to resurface in a hurry.
4Mobile Vehicle Bay Fragments
Although the Seaglide is fantastic for traversing through biomes in a hurry, it lacks the protection and upgradable features that vehicles like the Seatruck and Prawn Suit provide that can help them dive to incredible depths or even fend off dangerous creatures. Unfortunately, constructing vehicles is easier said than done, as players will first need to craft a Mobile Vehicle Bay, which will allow the player to spawn vehicles once they have collected the necessary resources.
Mobile Vehicle Bay fragments aren’t as easy to find as those for the Seaglide, but thankfully, they are located around the starting area. The fragments can be found in the Twisty Bridges, Arctic Kelp Caves, and Arctic Kelp Forest, with Sea Monkey nests being a particularly good spot to look.
3Seatruck Fragments
The Seatruck is one of two new vehicles introduced inSubnautica: Below Zero. The vehicle is initially very similar to the Seamoth from the original game, though players can eventually turn it into a more mobile version of the Cyclops by adding numerous modules.
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The Seatruck is a fantastic vehicle to craft in the opening hours as most players will use it frequently for the remainder of their playthrough, and it will give them a headstart on crafting upgrades. Seatruck fragments can be found in the Twisty Bridges, Purple Vents, and Thermal Spires.
2Bases
Base building will become an essential part ofBelow Zeroduring the mid-game, so it’s important that players begin scanning parts for them as soon as possible.
As players being branching further out into 4546B, they will need to craft multiple bases to ensure that they don’t have to continuously swim from one end of the map to another. Moreover, they will be able to seek shelter from predators, craft essential items, and create helpful tools like a Scanner Room. There’s only a handful of pre-existing bases in the game, so it’s important that players remember to scan everything in sight when they come across one.
1Grav Trap Fragments
The Grav Trap is one of the handiest non-essential items in the game, especially for the first few hours. Eating and drinking are necessary for staying alive inSubnautica: Below Zero, which can be a pain at the game’s beginning when players constantly need to find fish and catch fish to eat or convert into drinkable water.
The Grav Trap solves this issue by trapping numerous fish that can be easily collected. By putting the Grav Trap near a base, players will never have to worry about struggling to catch an evasive fish again.
