Top 10 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero
Subnautica and its sequel, Below Zero, throw you into an alien ocean where survival isn't just about staying fed and hydrated. You have to manage oxygen, navigate deep and dangerous waters, and make the most of limited resources. With so much to keep track of, it's easy to slip up, especially if you're new to the game. Even experienced players still run into problems when they get too confident or forget some of the game's mechanics.This list highlights some of the biggest mistakes players make. Some of them are simple oversights, like not paying attention to your surroundings, while others can leave you stranded in the depths with no easy way back. If you've ever found yourself running out of oxygen at the worst possible time, struggling to find important materials, or getting caught off guard by aggressive creatures, chances are you've made at least a few of these mistakes.
By knowing what to watch out for, you can avoid a lot of frustration. And if you've learned a hard lesson during your playthrough, you can add your own mistake to the list to help others avoid the same problem.
Food items in Subnautica have additional uses beyond just being consumed. For example, shrub nuts can provide extra health. If you have low health, eating a shrub nut can give you an extra ten health, potentially saving you from a Squid Shark attack.
Similarly, the Spicy Heat Fruit can prevent you from freezing by restoring body heat. Eating it can help you reach a cave or Thermal Lilly to warm up.
(Note: fauna means animals) If you are in the Inactive Lava Zone or the Crystal Caves, be cautious of dangerous fauna. In the ILZ, lava lizards deal five damage and attack frequently, often appearing in groups of one to three.
Beware of the Sea Dragon Leviathan, which can destroy or heavily damage your P.R.A.W.N. Suit. Avoid it at all costs.
In the Crystal Caves, the Shadow Leviathan poses a threat. Relying on your Seatruck's Defense System might not be enough if you use it at the wrong time, leading to your Seatruck taking damage and requiring repairs.
Accidentally pressing the wrong button can be costly. For instance, if a Shadow Leviathan is nearby when you try to enter your Seatruck and you press the wrong button, you might get attacked and lose your progress.
Having a Teleportation Module can mitigate some of these mistakes. Scanning artifacts to unlock this module can be very useful. Always be careful with your button presses to avoid unintended actions.
Pinning crafts is a new feature in Subnautica: Below Zero. If you can't remember the ingredients for a craft, like the Spy Pengling, you might repeatedly open the PDA or fabricator.
Using the pin feature allows you to keep track of the ingredients needed, making the crafting process more efficient. The pin appears in the top right of your screen, helping you complete crafts more quickly.
Crush depth is crucial to monitor in Subnautica. It's displayed at the top of your screen when in a vehicle. The player themselves does not have a crush depth.
When descending into areas like the ILZ with a Prawn Suit, be mindful of your crush depth. If you exceed it, a warning will display: "Crush depth now ____ meters." This warning can be easy to miss if you are focused on dodging leviathans.
Cooking Bladderfish is a mistake because water is more crucial than food. Lack of water becomes life-threatening after approximately 36 minutes, while lack of food takes around 50 minutes.
Instead of cooking Bladderfish, use them to make water. Bladderfish are not particularly nutritious, so it's better to consume cooked Peeper or Hoopfish for food.
When exploring areas like the Crystal Caves or Inactive Lava Zone, it's vital to collect resources like kyanite and nickel ore. If you ignore them, you may have to return later, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.
Ensure you gather all necessary resources to avoid regret when you need them for crafting Al-An or building the Neptune Rocket.
In Subnautica, visiting the Aurora is essential. It contains four parts of a Prawn Suit, ensuring you can build it. You can also find parts of a Seamoth and the blueprint for the Neptune Rocket.
Additionally, the Aurora holds valuable resources. Ignoring it can cause radiation to spread across the ocean, as the broken engine remains unfixed. Visiting the Aurora is a crucial part of the game.
Ignoring Architect Artifacts is very unwise. Scanning these artifacts provides valuable information and resources.
Scanning one artifact will reveal the exact location of Sanctuary Zero. Two artifacts will unlock the quantum locker, offering 16 storage slots for just four inventory spaces. Scanning three artifacts reveals the Deep Lilypads Cave Cache location, containing a component for Al-An's Skeleton.
Scanning four artifacts unlocks the Recyclotron, which breaks items into their base components (e.g., aerogel into a ruby and a gel sack). Five artifacts provide a hint to the Arctic Spires Cache, where Al-An's Tissue is located. Scanning six artifacts unlocks the Ion Battery and Ion Power Cell, which have five times the charge of a normal battery or power cell.
Nine artifacts give a hint for the Crystal Caves Cache, containing Al-An's Organs. Scanning ten artifacts unlocks the Seatruck Teleportation Module and Tether Tool. The Tether Tool is used to teleport to your Teleportation Module.
Therefore, it's crucial to scan these artifacts.
When exploring the Deep Twisty Bridges, you might encounter Seatruck Storage Module fragments. Ignoring them can be a mistake, especially when you need additional storage.
Instead of making multiple trips back to your base, scan all fragments. If you need titanium, you can scan a fragment from a craft you already know. Always scan fragments and never ignore them.