Subnautica Survival Roadmap
Secure oxygen. Increase mobility. Build infrastructure. Only then descend.
Subnautica rewards preparation and punishes impatience.
This is not a wiki. This is a survival roadmap —
what to prioritise, what to ignore, and how to progress without turning curiosity into a recovery mission.
Who This Guide Is For:
• Players who want clarity, not chaos.
• Survivors who value preparation over bravado.
• Anyone tired of learning the hard way at 300 metres.
Need full crafting trees?
See the
Subnautica Crafting Reference
.
Need biome layouts?
Visit the
Subnautica Map Hub
.
Quick Navigation
- First Priorities
- Early Survival Checklist
- Early Fragment Targets
- Silver Strategy
- Seaglide Upgrade
- Beacon Strategy
- First Base
- Seamoth & Depth
- Mid-Game Stability
- If You’re Stuck
- Lost River Readiness
- Common Mistakes
- Predator Avoidance
- Survival Mindset
- FAQ
First Priorities
- Repair the Lifepod. Radio signals drive progression.
- Stabilise water production. Bladderfish → Filtered Water.
- Craft the Scanner. Scan everything.
- Upgrade to High Capacity O₂ Tank. This is your first real safety upgrade.
Do not leave the Safe Shallows for extended exploration until these are complete.
Early Survival Checklist
- ✔ Lifepod repaired
- ✔ High Capacity O₂ Tank
- ✔ Seaglide crafted
- ✔ Mobile Vehicle Bay unlocked
- ✔ Seamoth fragments located
- ✔ At least 2 Beacons placed
- ✔ Reliable water supply
If three or more boxes aren’t ticked, stay shallow.
Early Fragment Targets
- Seaglide fragments — Safe Shallows wrecks
- Mobile Vehicle Bay fragments — Grassy Plateaus wrecks
- Seamoth fragments — Grassy Plateaus & Kelp Forest
Always bring a Beacon when investigating wrecks.
Silver Strategy
- Search Sandstone Outcrops.
- Check Grassy Plateau borders.
- Return later with Scanner Room to streamline farming.
If progression feels slow, you’re likely short on Silver.
Seaglide: First Major Upgrade
Ingredients:
- Battery
- Copper Wire
- Lubricant
- Titanium
The Seaglide extends safe scouting range and reduces oxygen waste.
Use Beacons Like Infrastructure
- Mark wrecks
- Mark caves
- Mark biome entrances
- Mark dangerous zones
- Mark resource hotspots
If you don’t mark it, you will lose it.
Building Your First Base
Location Logic
- Safe Shallows for safety
- Grassy Plateau border for mid-tier access
Core Structures
- Multipurpose Room
- Solar Panels
- Fabricator
- Storage
- Exterior Growbed (Marblemelons recommended)
Infrastructure reduces panic.
Seamoth & Depth Discipline
Core Ingredients:
- Titanium Ingot
- Power Cell
- Glass
- Lubricant
- Lead
Upgrade depth modules immediately. Never exceed crush depth.
Mid-Game Stability
- Install Battery Chargers
- Build Scanner Room
- Upgrade Seamoth depth
- Stock Magnetite, Lithium, Ruby
- Prepare for Aurora expedition
If You’re Stuck, Do This
- Check PDA → Blueprints
- Revisit wrecks with Laser Cutter
- Follow radio signals
- Scan aggressively
- Build Scanner Room
- Explore outward in circles using Beacons
If you don’t know what to do next, you’re under-equipped or under-scanned.
Are You Ready for the Lost River?
- ✔ Seamoth depth upgraded or Prawn Suit built
- ✔ Battery Charger installed
- ✔ Scanner Room operational
- ✔ Magnetite and Lithium stockpiled
- ✔ Spare Power Cells prepared
- ✔ Beacons ready
- ✔ Calm under pressure
If you hesitate reading this list, wait.
Common Early Mistakes
- Rushing the Aurora
- Ignoring Beacons
- Descending without upgrades
- Trying to fight Leviathans
- Exploring with full inventory
Most early deaths are impatience.
Predator Avoidance Philosophy
- Sound is warning
- Vertical movement wins
- Use terrain for line-of-sight breaks
- Stasis Rifle is control, not aggression
If you are reacting, you are already late.
Surviving, Not Suffering – The Subnautica Mindset
- Secure oxygen before distance
- Secure power before expansion
- Secure depth before ambition
- Secure infrastructure before risk
The ocean rewards patience. It corrects recklessness.
Subnautica Survival FAQ
When should I leave the Safe Shallows?
After upgrading your O₂ tank, crafting a Seaglide, and placing Beacons.
Should I fight predators?
Avoid whenever possible. Positioning wins more than aggression.
Why am I not progressing?
You likely scanned something and forgot to craft it.
What is the biggest early mistake?
Descending before upgrading depth modules.
Survivor Incognito.
Surviving. Not suffering.
Survivor Incognito 