Progression in Subnautica 2 hinges on the discovery and scanning of Blueprints, which grant access to crafting recipes for everything from essential tools and equipment to decorative base components. To begin unlocking these crucial recipes, players must first locate the fragments containing Blueprint data and then scan them using the Scanner tool.
The Scanner is a fundamental piece of early-game equipment, crafted at the Fabricator using two Titanium, two Quartz, and one Basic Battery. Once crafted, players can approach salvageable items and fully scan them to unlock their corresponding Blueprints. It is important to note that some Blueprints may require scanning multiple fragments before they become available.
Basic Materials and Foodstuffs
Many foundational Blueprints are available from the start of the game. These include recipes for Mild Acid, Salvaged Titanium, Glass, Fiber, Rubber, Grease, and Alcohol. More advanced materials like Enameled Glass, Fiber Mesh, and Sugar of Saturn become available once the Fully Functional Fabricator is unlocked. Similarly, basic cooked food recipes such as Oily Salad, Cooked Halfmoon, and Cooked Harvestmoon are unlocked from the start. Advanced food items like Threemoon Temaki, Hoverthorn Souvlaki, and Cherimoya Chutney, along with Pavlova, require the Fully Functional Fabricator or specific ingredients caught from the environment.
Water is a basic necessity, with the standard Water Blueprint unlocked from the start. Isotonic Water, however, requires finding and scanning Flash Slugs within the Alien Ruins biome. Consumables like the Basic First Aid Kit and Enhanced First Aid Kit are unlocked with the Fully Functional Fabricator, while Distraction Flares are available from the beginning. Basic Fins and Standard Air Tanks are also available early on, with their improved counterparts, Improved Fins and High Capacity Air Tanks, requiring exploration of wrecks and ruins. The Rebreather Blueprint is found within the Cicada Wreck.
Tools and Equipment
Essential tools for survival and base building are scattered throughout the game's environments. The Survival Multitool, Scanner, and Habitat Builder are available from the start or require minimal components. The Flashlight can be unlocked by scanning fragments found in caves near the starting lifepod. The Bioscanner is located within the Cicada Wreck (EVA Prep), necessitating the use of a Repair Tool to access. The Repair Tool itself requires fragments found in various locations, including the Cicada Wreck and the Colonist Bunker.
The Wakemaker requires fragments found in outposts and near the Digestion Angel Comb. For base construction, the Air Bladder is available from the start. The Sonic Resonator and Feedback Resonator are found in the Old Habitat and Cicada Wreck respectively. For advanced electronics, the Basic Battery and Copper Wire are available from the start. More complex components like the Power Cell, Wiring Kit, System Chip, and Dedicated Core are unlocked with the Fully Functional Fabricator or found in specific locations like the Power Plant.
Base and Furniture Blueprints
Establishing a base is key to survival, and Blueprints for base pieces such as Corridors, Rooms, Hatches, Windows, and Nooks are unlocked with the Habitat Builder. Specific room variants like the Half Round Room and Moonpool are found in locations like the Tadpole Pens and Cicada Wreck.
Furniture Blueprints, ranging from chairs and tables to beds and storage units, are largely found within the Old Habitat and Colonist Bunkers. These include items like the Dining Chair, Lab Chair, Single Bed, S Shelf, and Trashcan. Decorative items like Small Crates and Signs can also be found in various wrecks and outposts.
Production and Power Systems
Players will need to construct facilities to process resources and generate power. The Fabricator is available from the start, while the Processor, Biolab, and Modification Station require fragments found in locations such as the Old Habitat and Welcome Center. Power generation Blueprints include the Battery Terminal, Solar Panel, Bioreactor, Hydroelectric Turbine, and Thermal Plant, with fragments located in diverse areas from the Old Habitat to the Hydrothermal Vents.
Storage solutions like Wall Lockers, Floor Lockers, and Wall Racks are unlocked with the Habitat Builder and found in various biomes. Utility items such as the Habitat Beacon, Portable Oxygen Generator, and Dive Elevator require exploration of specific wrecks and research stations.
Cultivation and Habitat Systems
For sustainable resource gathering and habitat management, players can unlock Growbeds, Biobeds, Scanner Stations, and Time of Day Displays. Growbeds are found in the Alien Ruins, while Biobeds are located near abandoned shelters. Scanner Stations are within the Old Habitat, and Time of Day Displays can be found near the Rosetta Stone and Needler Nest.
Vehicles and Upgrades
The Tadpole vehicle and its associated chassis, including the Scout Ray Chassis and Haul Chassis, require multiple fragment scans found in the Tadpole Pens and various wrecks. The Tadpole Dock and Vehicle Fabricator are unlocked once the Tadpole is obtained.
Upgrade modules for the Tadpole, such as the Cavitation Muffler, Engine Efficiency, Photovoltaic Charger, Strike Armor, and Tadpole Depth Module MK 1, are primarily unlocked through the Metal Farms and Alien Ruins, often requiring scanning specific fragments within modification stations.
Ingots and Refinements
Many crafting recipes require refined ingots. Titanium Ingot, Copper Ingot, Silver Ingot, and Gold Ingot are processed using the Processor. Specialized ingots like Plasteel and Mangalloy also require specific component combinations. Refined materials such as Strontium and Strong Acid are also created via the Processor, with their respective raw materials found in locations like Necrolei Cysts and Celestine formations.
Base Decoration and Structures
Beyond functional items, Subnautica 2 offers a wide array of decorative Blueprints for base customization. Interior Walls, Arches, Doors, and Ladders allow for more complex base layouts. Lighting options include Exterior Wall Lights, Spotlights, and various ceiling and wall-mounted lamps. Furniture sets like Tailing Furniture and Axum Furniture can be found in specific villages and biomes, offering unique aesthetic choices. Decorative structures like Roof Pumps, Roof Cylinders, and various posters can be found in caves and wrecks, adding personalization to underwater habitats.