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Tadpole Guide

The Tadpole is your first major vehicle milestone, enabling deeper and safer exploration with extended oxygen and storage capacity in Subnautica 2.

Difficulty
Intermediate
Topic
Vehicle
Updated
May 16, 2026
Subnautica 2 underwater vehicle exploration scene

Quick Answer

Scan three Tadpole fragments, then set up a Moonpool-style base space, Tadpole Dock, and Vehicle Fabricator before crafting the submersible.

Steps

  1. 1Scan three Tadpole fragments during early exploration to unlock the blueprint.
  2. 2Build a room with clear space underneath so the Tadpole Dock has room to extend.
  3. 3Add the dock and Vehicle Fabricator before trying to craft the vehicle itself.
  4. 4Use the Tadpole to extend exploration range, not to ignore repair and battery preparation.

Tips

  • Keep a Repair Tool plan ready; vehicles are useful because they can also get damaged.
  • Do not place the dock in cramped base geometry.
  • Treat Tadpole upgrades as a separate progression path after the first build.

Related Guides

Tadpole Guide - Subnautica 2 Wiki