To make sure your first dive in Subnautica 2 actually goes smoothly, you should check out a few tips and tricks beforehand. We’ll show you what you absolutely need to pay attention to.
Even though Subnautica 2 is once again an underwater adventure, a lot has changed when it comes to gameplay. The lack of a weapon in particular makes fights, exploration, and even smaller dives feel much more dangerous. So you don’t end up dying for no reason right at the start, we’ve put together the most important beginner tips for you.
1. In Subnautica 2, you should avoid fights more often
The biggest change in Subnautica 2 is definitely the lack of a traditional weapon. While the first Subnautica at least gave you tools that could somewhat defend you, the sequel puts a much bigger focus on escaping and surviving.
Many aggressive creatures can’t simply be stopped. If a large creature starts chasing you, panicking and swimming around wildly usually won’t help much. Instead, use the environment, hide between plants, or break line of sight. Especially inside tight caves, this will save you more often than any piece of equipment.
- My tip: During my first exploration runs, I already started memorizing good hiding spots. Small caves are usually easy to spot because of glowing plants, and every now and then you’ll also find capsules you can enter.
2. Food and water become important earlier than in the first game
In Subnautica 2, you need to take care of food and water much earlier. If you just swim around blindly, you’ll quickly end up somewhere in the middle of the ocean with an empty inventory and critical stats. You can occasionally find bottles in deeper caves, but by the time you get there, you’ll usually already be starving or dehydrated.
- Note: If you played the first game, you’ll quickly notice that Unknown Worlds puts a much stronger focus on survival and caution in Subnautica 2. A lot of situations can’t simply be “fought through,” and you’ll have to avoid danger far more often.
That’s why you should immediately start collecting small edible fish and look for water sources or crafting options for drinking water early on. There are even fish that can provide hydration in emergencies. Keep an eye out for water snails stuck to the ocean floor, since they’re easy to pick up. They give you +15 water, but also reduce your food by -5. Because of that, they’re best used in emergencies while you rely on proper drinking water most of the time.
3. Build your first base during your early expeditions
A lot of players wait too long before building a base in Subnautica 2. The problem is that your inventory fills up incredibly fast. At the same time, you waste a lot of time constantly swimming back to your lifepod. Even with upgrades that increase your swimming speed, you’ll usually spend several minutes traveling back and forth.
A small temporary base is completely enough at the start, so there’s no need to go overboard immediately. A few containers, some power, and a safe place to retreat already make a massive difference. Especially because Subnautica 2 puts you under more pressure, having a working base feels far more important than before.
4. Bio-Mods are much more important than many players think
Subnautica 2 expands the survival system with the new Bio-Mods. These upgrades noticeably change how you move underwater and how well you handle specific situations. You’ll swim faster, stay underwater longer, or improve your ability to dodge. The first bio lab isn’t far away from your capsule. Jump out and immediately dive to the right. After around 85 meters, you’ll find an old laboratory.
It’s worth searching locations thoroughly instead of only following the main quest. Your scanner tool becomes your best friend here, because many mods only become available after scanning certain plants or fish.
- Extra Tip: In Subnautica 2, special Bio-Beds can grant permanent upgrades for your inventory and stats. Hidden colonist bunkers are especially worth exploring because they unlock useful bonuses like increased stamina or additional perks for your expeditions.
5. Deep areas have become much more dangerous in Subnautica 2
Subnautica 2 plays much more with darkness, visibility, and orientation. Deep regions especially feel more confusing and far more threatening than in the previous game. Even though I crafted a flashlight right away, it barely helped once I reached the truly deep areas.
Always bring enough power cells and other tools that help with navigation. Whenever you think “I’ll just take a quick look,” it surprisingly often ends in panic and oxygen problems. Especially at night, you should avoid unnecessary risks. What usually helped me most was using plants as orientation points. Some caves mark exits with small glowing flowers or coral formations.
- Extra Tip: Watch out for water currents that can pull you into caves. If you swim too close, they’ll drag you in. You can also use them to your advantage, though. If you’re in a hurry and already heading in that direction, just let yourself get pulled in.
6. Scanning remains extremely important
Just like in the first Subnautica, a huge part of your progression is tied to scanning. That’s why you shouldn’t focus only on crafting early on. Try expanding your blueprints as quickly as possible by scanning your surroundings. At the same time, you’ll learn more about the local flora and fauna, and if you’re lucky, you might even witness fights between fish and giant crabs.
Whenever you discover a new area, it’s better to scan too much than too little. Vehicles, base modules, and upgrades are often tied to fragments you might otherwise completely miss. Subnautica 2 once again heavily rewards curious players.
7. Pay attention to your route and don’t swim around aimlessly
Subnautica 2 punishes unprepared expeditions much faster than the first game did. Because of the more aggressive fauna and the lack of weapons, even small trips can spiral out of control quickly. I personally drifted way too far away from my base at one point and ended up around 2,000 meters away. I did have enough food with me, but situations like that can still go wrong very quickly.
That’s why you should roughly plan where you want to go and what you’re bringing with you. A fully charged battery, enough water, and some food sound simple, but they regularly save your run. Especially later on, when you dive deeper, good preparation prevents an incredible amount of frustration. In multiplayer, you can even coordinate with others and hide supply crates around the ocean.
My thoughts on the missing weapon
The more I think about Subnautica 2’s approach, the more I honestly understand the decision behind removing weapons. The developers clearly don’t want you to feel like the dominant threat inside the ocean. Instead of eliminating everything around you, you’re supposed to learn how to survive within this underwater world and adapt to it.
And honestly, I think that idea is really strong. Because of that, Subnautica 2 feels less like a typical survival game where you just keep crafting stronger weapons until nothing can threaten you anymore. Instead, the ocean stays alien, dangerous, and unpredictable. You’re not the hunter here. You’re more like an intruder trying to survive.
At the same time, I can absolutely feel how uncomfortable this can get. I’m exactly the kind of player who already gets nervous in deep water anyway. Sometimes it’s enough for me when the flashlight barely reaches a few meters ahead and strange noises suddenly appear somewhere in the darkness. That’s exactly why I still wish there was at least some small defensive option, purely for the feeling of safety.
Especially in deeper regions, this creates way more stress for me than the first game ever did. At the same time, that’s also why every encounter feels so much more intense again. The moment something suddenly appears out of the darkness, you instantly start questioning whether you really want to keep swimming forward or if turning around might be the smarter decision.
