Early Access may change
Beginner Guide: Your First Hours
A practical opening route for oxygen management, scanning blueprints, building your first base, Fabricator upgrades, and developing safe exploration habits in Subnautica 2.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Topic
- Survival
- Updated
- May 16, 2026
Quick Answer
In the first hours, focus on oxygen, Scanner progress, a small base, a working Fabricator, and one mobility tool before pushing into deeper or darker water.
Steps
- 1Follow black box prompts when they appear, but do not ignore nearby platforms and wreckage; scanning them unlocks core blueprints.
- 2Extend oxygen before long dives. Short safe loops beat one risky dive that strands you too deep.
- 3Build a compact base close to your early resource loop so crafting and storage stop eating travel time.
- 4Upgrade your Fabricator path before chasing vehicle progress; later tools depend on processed materials.
- 5Mark confusing cave exits or resource pockets with Beacons before you leave the area.
Tips
- Scan everything that looks manufactured, unusual, or alive.
- Return home with partial progress instead of forcing one more scan on low oxygen.
- Keep one spare battery once you start using powered tools.