Subnautica 2 Tips To Survive On Planet Proteus

At long last, Subnautica 2 is playable and open to explore. Set on an entirely different planet from the first two games, there are never-before-seen items, creatures, and locations to explore in Subnautica 2. So, whether you’re a Subnautica veteran or someone getting into the franchise for the first time, you’ll be entering a whole new world when you strap in for your first playthrough.

To help you out for the first few hours of your journey, we have put together a list of 10 beginner tips that will make your time on the Proteus planet much easier in Subnautica 2. While you’ll still have to figure out a bulk of the game by yourself, these tips should make the beginning stages of the game go smoother.

Scan everything in sight

One aspect of Subnautica 2 that hasn’t changed from the previous two games is the ability to scan objects and add them as data entries. Right from the start of the game, you’ll have access to your scanner, which allows you to learn more about a creature or object after you spend a few seconds examining it with the device.

The general rule of thumb in Subnautica that you want to live by is to scan everything and anything. You want to have the most knowledge possible at your fingertips, and the only way to learn more about the world around you is to scan whatever kind of object or creature you come across. Whether it’s a tiny little fish, a common resource, or a leviathan that you don’t want to spend much time near, scan anything that you see for the first time.

Don’t explore too far, too fast

Subnautica 2 isn’t a game that keeps you in a single area for the first several hours. As soon as the opening cutscene is over and the tutorial is through, you have the freedom to go wherever you want. While some areas of the map will be inaccessible due to oxygen restrictions, there’s nothing else stopping you from going to a new biome.

While this might satisfy your exploration curiosity, you want to stay in the starter areas for at least two to three hours. Here, you’ll be able to loot all of the resources you need for early-game survival and learn more about the game’s mechanics. Then, once you feel more comfortable and have some upgrades under your belt, you can venture out more and more.

Build your starter base in the shallows

Speaking of not exploring too fast, one of the first tasks you want to accomplish is building a starter base. Just something with four walls, some storage containers, and crafting stations is all you need for the beginning part of the game. While it’s tempting to build the base in a cool-looking biome, you can save that for your main base later down the line.

The starter base can be right in the area where Subnautica 2 begins, as you’ll be around there for the majority of the early game anyway. When you’re ready to build a bigger base, you can recoup all of your materials from the starter base and find a new home.

You can never have too many Beacons

If you’ve played Subnautica before, then you know the game doesn’t have any kind of map that you can bring up at any time. Instead, you have to rely on landmarks in your surroundings to understand where to go and how to get there.

Fortunately, Subnautica 2 also offers Beacons, which are craftable items that you can place anywhere in the world. When placed, you can name the Beacon, and it will appear on your HUD as an icon. This is the perfect way to document where certain landmarks are so you can get back to them more easily. While it’s not as good as an actual map, using Beacons the right way means you’ll never get truly lost again.

Prioritize character upgrades

Subnautica 2 offers a slew of crafting recipes that are unlocked as you discover new resources, biomes, and creatures. From tools to vehicles to enhanced resources, you can craft dozens of different items that will help your character. However, the most important upgrades you want to prioritize early on are upgrades to your character themselves. Upgrading your oxygen tank, suit, and other equipment is more crucial to your survival than anything else. Upgrading these items will also let you explore deeper, which in turn unlocks additional recipes and resources.

Don’t stockpile too much food at once

Food is one of the most important resources you can have in Subnautica 2. Your hunger bar needs to be fed constantly if you want your character to be useful at all. Fortunately, there’s no lack of food around you, as there are dozens of fish to catch and cook. However, you don’t want to go out and catch two dozen fish, cook them, and stick them in your inventory. Over time, food spoils if it’s not eaten, meaning you can waste valuable food items simply because you don’t need to eat. The best route to take is catching whatever food you need, plus a little extra, so you’re not spoiling anything in your inventory.

Build a vehicle before expanding your base

Arguably the best upgrade you can make in the early game of Subnautica 2 is building a vehicle. The Tadpole, which is similar to the Seamoth from the first game, is going to be the first main vehicle you can build. This is a true game-changer, as it allows you to traverse the map faster, go deeper, and carry extra items on longer expeditions into the ocean. You should prioritize building the Tadpole over using materials to expand your base, at least early on. The vehicle is more important than a larger base, as it helps you progress in more ways than one.

Always have emergency resources in your inventory

While you want to save a bulk of your inventory space for resources that you loot during exploration in Subnautica 2, some inventory slots should be reserved for emergency items. This includes a couple of extra food, water, first aid, and survival items, such as an Air Bladder, which you can have on hand in case you stay out longer than intended or come under attack by a creature.

Audio cues are imperative for survival

In a world as dangerous as Proteus, you need to take every advantage that Subnautica 2 gives you. One of the most underrated advantages you can have is listening for audio cues. Whether it’s a leviathan making a noise before they’re about to attack or listening to the sounds in a new biome, the sound design in Subnautica 2 plays a major role in your experience. You want to always be listening for an audio cue, as it can both save your life and help you find out where to go next.

Follow the main story early on

The world of Subnautica 2 is huge and begs to be explored. However, at least in the early parts of the game, you want to primarily stick to the main story objectives. Not only will following the story give you some much-needed items for survival, but you’ll uncover the map at the pace the developers intended. Sure, you can veer off if you see something you want to explore, but the story serves to help you progress and unlock new items, so it’s worth following for the first few hours.