Understanding Base Building And Power Guide
Build habitats that support long-term exploration
This is an original reference for the first Subnautica. Your current depth rating, oxygen, available tools and navigation route determine when an objective is practical. Follow actual in-game PDA and Fabricator information for any values that vary by version.
How to use this information
A practical base combines fabrication, storage, oxygen, power and enough hull integrity for its depth.
What to avoid
Adding many modules without upgrading power and reinforcement causes avoidable flooding and outages.
Step-by-step guide
Choose a practical site
Choose a practical site is a concrete milestone in this survival route, not a command to rush to the next depth. Start with Safe Shallows. The low-risk starting biome with coral, limestone outcrops and many survival basics. Establish a basic water and food loop here, then use nearby edges as exploration gateways. The most common failure here is specific: Do not confuse an easy starting biome with infinite oxygen or guaranteed safety inside caves. Before leaving your staging point, review the equipment in your PDA, verify the depth of the objective and note which corridor you will take back. If you have not unlocked the required technology, scan fragments in known terrain and do a separate supply trip rather than risking all resources at once. The next connection is Solar Panel: A base power source strongest in shallow, illuminated locations. Use for an early Safe Shallows base where sunlight reaches the structure reliably. Those two topics form a useful checkpoint: finish the present task, repair any worn equipment, refill oxygen or cells, and update Beacons before you continue. Remember the related limitation: Deep sites may receive little useful solar power. On this original-Subnautica route, a sensible plan is more valuable than a fixed set of unverified coordinates. Use this chapter as a decision path for your own save rather than assuming all fragments and resources have been found already.
Build and power a simple room
Build and power a simple room is a concrete milestone in this survival route, not a command to rush to the next depth. Start with Solar Panel. A base power source strongest in shallow, illuminated locations. Use for an early Safe Shallows base where sunlight reaches the structure reliably. The most common failure here is specific: Deep sites may receive little useful solar power. Before leaving your staging point, review the equipment in your PDA, verify the depth of the objective and note which corridor you will take back. If you have not unlocked the required technology, scan fragments in known terrain and do a separate supply trip rather than risking all resources at once. The next connection is Multipurpose Room: A flexible habitat component supporting interior installations and storage. Use as a practical anchor for water filtration, power and crafting stations. Those two topics form a useful checkpoint: finish the present task, repair any worn equipment, refill oxygen or cells, and update Beacons before you continue. Remember the related limitation: A room without oxygen supply and power does not solve survival. On this original-Subnautica route, a sensible plan is more valuable than a fixed set of unverified coordinates. Use this chapter as a decision path for your own save rather than assuming all fragments and resources have been found already.
Organize food and tool storage
Organize food and tool storage is a concrete milestone in this survival route, not a command to rush to the next depth. Start with Multipurpose Room. A flexible habitat component supporting interior installations and storage. Use as a practical anchor for water filtration, power and crafting stations. The most common failure here is specific: A room without oxygen supply and power does not solve survival. Before leaving your staging point, review the equipment in your PDA, verify the depth of the objective and note which corridor you will take back. If you have not unlocked the required technology, scan fragments in known terrain and do a separate supply trip rather than risking all resources at once. The next connection is Reinforcement: A structure upgrade that increases hull integrity for deep or large habitats. Watch integrity as modules expand, particularly at depth. Those two topics form a useful checkpoint: finish the present task, repair any worn equipment, refill oxygen or cells, and update Beacons before you continue. Remember the related limitation: Ignoring hull integrity can cause flooding and repeated repair work. On this original-Subnautica route, a sensible plan is more valuable than a fixed set of unverified coordinates. Use this chapter as a decision path for your own save rather than assuming all fragments and resources have been found already.
Strengthen hull and add utilities
Strengthen hull and add utilities is a concrete milestone in this survival route, not a command to rush to the next depth. Start with Reinforcement. A structure upgrade that increases hull integrity for deep or large habitats. Watch integrity as modules expand, particularly at depth. The most common failure here is specific: Ignoring hull integrity can cause flooding and repeated repair work. Before leaving your staging point, review the equipment in your PDA, verify the depth of the objective and note which corridor you will take back. If you have not unlocked the required technology, scan fragments in known terrain and do a separate supply trip rather than risking all resources at once. The next connection is Moonpool: A docking module for Seamoth or Prawn Suit and an important upgrade hub. Plan depth clearance, a base power supply and vehicle approach before construction. Those two topics form a useful checkpoint: finish the present task, repair any worn equipment, refill oxygen or cells, and update Beacons before you continue. Remember the related limitation: A tight location can make docking awkward or impossible. On this original-Subnautica route, a sensible plan is more valuable than a fixed set of unverified coordinates. Use this chapter as a decision path for your own save rather than assuming all fragments and resources have been found already.
Add Moonpool and advanced power safely
Add Moonpool and advanced power safely is a concrete milestone in this survival route, not a command to rush to the next depth. Start with Moonpool. A docking module for Seamoth or Prawn Suit and an important upgrade hub. Plan depth clearance, a base power supply and vehicle approach before construction. The most common failure here is specific: A tight location can make docking awkward or impossible. Before leaving your staging point, review the equipment in your PDA, verify the depth of the objective and note which corridor you will take back. If you have not unlocked the required technology, scan fragments in known terrain and do a separate supply trip rather than risking all resources at once. The next connection is Safe Shallows: The low-risk starting biome with coral, limestone outcrops and many survival basics. Establish a basic water and food loop here, then use nearby edges as exploration gateways. Those two topics form a useful checkpoint: finish the present task, repair any worn equipment, refill oxygen or cells, and update Beacons before you continue. Remember the related limitation: Do not confuse an easy starting biome with infinite oxygen or guaranteed safety inside caves. On this original-Subnautica route, a sensible plan is more valuable than a fixed set of unverified coordinates. Use this chapter as a decision path for your own save rather than assuming all fragments and resources have been found already.