Understanding Resource Hunting By Stage
Collect what you need without dozens of wasted dives
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
Materials shift from shallow copper and titanium toward lithium, magnetite, nickel, sulfur and kyanite.
What to avoid
Do not mine every resource blindly or carry rare items into unnecessary danger.
Step-by-step guide
Build a shallow essentials stock
Build a shallow essentials stock is a concrete milestone in this survival route, not a command to rush to the next depth. Start with Titanium. A common construction metal obtained from outcrops and metal salvage processing. Keep a reserve for early tools, lockers, compartments and vehicle needs. The most common failure here is specific: Carrying all available titanium wastes inventory that could hold scarce resources. 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 Lithium: A resource used for stronger materials and several upgrades. Look in deeper or island-associated regions when your next blueprint requires it. 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 descend into threatening water just because it holds a needed mineral. 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.
Gather vehicle and habitat metals
Gather vehicle and habitat metals is a concrete milestone in this survival route, not a command to rush to the next depth. Start with Lithium. A resource used for stronger materials and several upgrades. Look in deeper or island-associated regions when your next blueprint requires it. The most common failure here is specific: Do not descend into threatening water just because it holds a needed mineral. 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 Magnetite: A deep-cave resource important for advanced modules and tools. Jellyshroom Caves are a useful exploration target once depth and navigation allow it. 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: Scanning wrecks and gathering Magnetite are different goals; prepare for both. 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.
Locate magnetite and lithium safely
Locate magnetite and lithium safely is a concrete milestone in this survival route, not a command to rush to the next depth. Start with Magnetite. A deep-cave resource important for advanced modules and tools. Jellyshroom Caves are a useful exploration target once depth and navigation allow it. The most common failure here is specific: Scanning wrecks and gathering Magnetite are different goals; prepare for both. 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 Crystalline Sulfur: A rarer deep-zone resource found around hazardous brine areas. Use appropriate protection or vehicle access and identify safe collection spots. 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: Swimming into harmful brine just to grab one deposit can cost the entire trip. 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.
Plan Lost River nickel and sulfur
Plan Lost River nickel and sulfur is a concrete milestone in this survival route, not a command to rush to the next depth. Start with Crystalline Sulfur. A rarer deep-zone resource found around hazardous brine areas. Use appropriate protection or vehicle access and identify safe collection spots. The most common failure here is specific: Swimming into harmful brine just to grab one deposit can cost the entire trip. 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 Kyanite: An advanced mineral associated with the lava regions and final vehicle technologies. Bring properly upgraded deep-diving equipment and identify drillable deposits where applicable. 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 search for large quantities in the shallow starter areas. 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.
Collect lava-region materials late
Collect lava-region materials late is a concrete milestone in this survival route, not a command to rush to the next depth. Start with Kyanite. An advanced mineral associated with the lava regions and final vehicle technologies. Bring properly upgraded deep-diving equipment and identify drillable deposits where applicable. The most common failure here is specific: Do not search for large quantities in the shallow starter areas. 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 Titanium: A common construction metal obtained from outcrops and metal salvage processing. Keep a reserve for early tools, lockers, compartments and vehicle needs. 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: Carrying all available titanium wastes inventory that could hold scarce resources. 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.