The second entry in the Subnautica series, Subnautica: Below Zero, fully released on May 14, 2021, following a stay in early access. The title has kept its core gameplay very similar to its predecessor, with arctic biomes and a new set of creatures being among the few significant changes.
RELATED: 10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do In Subnautica
Like in the previous game, Subnautica: Below Zero doesn't give players much direction. The open-world game has a small handful of essential quests to complete, though players are free to complete them in any way and at almost any time that they choose. Due to this lack of hand-holding, players can find it difficult to know what to do in the opening few hours. To give beginners some guidance, here are some of the most useful items to craft in the game.
Updated on July 27, 2021, by Jack Pursey: Like most survival games, it's beneficial in Subnautica: Below Zero to make use of every helpful item in the game. Although it may take some time to construct them, it's almost always worth the effort as the items were implemented for a good reason and will assist the player in making progress. So, to shine the spotlight on some more helpful items, we've expanded this list by a further five entries.
15 Grav Trap
The Grav Trap is an excellent item for the early game, as it will save players a ton of leg work. Players can put the device near to their base, and it will automatically pull nearby fish towards it and hold them in place. Considering how often players need to catch fish when replenishing hunger and hydration, it's certainly worth constructing.
How To Craft It
• Combine one Battery, one Copper Ore, and one Titanium at a Fabricator
14 Swim Charge Fins
The Swim Charge Fins offer a great solution to the constant need to recharge batteries. While swimming, the fins will charge the equipment in the player's hand, which is especially beneficial for the Seaglide as it essentially gives it unlimited charge. To find the fins' blueprint, head to the Omega Lab at coordinates 550, -202, -1075, and a databox will be next to some flowerbeds.
How To Craft It
• Combine one set of Fins, one Polyaniline, and one Wiring Kit at a Modification Station.
13 Water Purification Tablets
Believe it not, snowballs aren't only included in Subnautica: Below Zero for throwing at Snow Stalkers. By crafting Water Purification Tablets, players can turn snowballs into Large Filtered Water. This makes exploring the arctic biomes far less stressful, as snowballs can be made in almost every area.
RELATED: Subnautica Below Zero: How To Find The Greenhouse And What's Inside
How To Craft It
• Combine one Frost Vase Plant and one Salt Deposit at a Fabricator
12 Seaglide
With the amount of swimming that players need to do in Subnautica: Below Zero, it should come as no surprise that an item that greatly increases the player's movement speed underwater is very useful. The Seaglide does what it says on the tin, allowing players to glide through the water at a fast pace, which is especially handy when being spotted by a predator and needing to make a quick escape.
How To Craft It
• Combine one Battery, one Lubricant, one Copper Wire, and one Titanium at a Fabricator
11 Cold Suit
Like the aforementioned Water Purification Tablets, the Cold Suit makes traversing the new arctic biomes far smoother. It's worth constructing the Gloves, Suit, and Helmet, as combining the three will make the player almost immune from dying of hypothermia.
How To Craft The Cold Suit
• Combine two Fiber Mesh and two Snow Stalker Fur at a Fabricator
How To Craft The Cold Suit Gloves
• Combine one Fiber Mesh and one Snow Stalker Fur at a Fabricator
How To Craft The Cold Suit Helmet
• Combine one Fiber Mesh and one Snow Stalker Fur at a Fabricator
10 Battery
Considering how many electronics are in Below Zero, it should go without saying that players will need a fair share of batteries at all times. It's important to note that used batteries shouldn't be discarded, as they can be recharged later in the game and can also be used to craft other items.
How To Craft It
- Combine two Ribbon Plants and two Copper Ore at the Fabricator.
9 Scanner
The scanner is the most important item in Subnautica: Below Zero, other than food and water. Without it, players will be extremely limited in the progress that they can make, as the scanner is essential for learning how to craft new and improved items.
Although unlocking blueprints is the scanner's main benefit, it can also be useful for understanding predator behavior. For example, the Cryptosuchus' may seem terrifying at first, but scanning them will reveal that they will immediately retreat after just one hit.
How To Craft It
- Combine one Battery with one Titanium at the Fabricator
8 High Capacity O₂ Tank
The Standard O2 Tank is the first oxygen tank that players can make. Since the High Capacity O2 Tank isn't much harder to craft, it's worth spending the extra time to make it.
Players have to constantly keep an eye on their oxygen level in the game, and it will deplete very quickly unless an oxygen tank has been equipped. This is an essential item that allows players to delve deeper and find greater resources.
How To Craft It
- Construct a Standard O2 tank using two Titanium one Fiber Mesh.
- Combine the Standard O2 Tank, two Glass, four Titanium, and one Silver Ore at the Fabricator.
7 Multipurpose Room
Base building in Subnautica: Below Zero isn't just a fun side activity; it is also a great way to make preparations for the mid-game. Players should be prepared to create numerous bases across Below Zero's map. These will make traveling between biomes far smoother, while also providing a safe spot for players to avoid predators, heal, eat, drink, store items, and craft.
The Multipurpose Room is key to base building. This area gives players a convenient starting point, and also offers a blank canvas.
RELATED: Subnautica: 10 Essential Mods
How To Craft It
- Craft a Habitat Builder, which requires one Wiring Kit, one Computer Chip, and one Battery.
- Use the Habitat Builder to craft the Multipurpose room with six Titanium.
6 Survival Knife
On a planet filled with dangerous predators, a Survival Knife is a handy tool to use in a sticky situation. The knife isn't particularly strong against the game's larger predators, so players shouldn't bother trying to kill them.
However, it is useful against the Cryptosuchus' who, as mentioned before, will retreat after being damaged. Furthermore, the knife is essential for collecting resources that need to be cut down.
How To Craft It
- Combine one Silicone Rubber and one Titanium at the Fabricator.
5 Flashlight
In many games with day and night cycles, a descending sun and darkening sky spell danger, as it means that dangerous enemies or hazardous weather conditions are approaching. Thankfully, this isn't the case in Subnautica: Below Zero.
Very little changes under the ocean when the sun goes down. The main issue that players will contend with, unsurprisingly, is struggling to see. To improve visibility at night, players should construct a Flashlight.
How To Craft It
- Combine one Battery and one Glass at the Fabricator.
4 Filtered Water
Filtered Water is the most essential item on this list by far, as players won't live very long without it. When playing on survival mode, players will constantly have their hydration meter ticking down. This will ultimately kill them if they don't rehydrate fast enough.
How To Craft It
- Catch Bladderfish, which are usually found swimming around shallow water. They can be gathered together for ease with the help of a Grav Trap.
- Convert the Bladderfish at the Fabricator.
3 First Aid Kit
Unfortunately, players aren't alone in their adventures on 4546B. Numerous predators lurk below the water and above land, many of which can deal significant damage to players if they get too close.
To ensure that they don't succumb to a bloody death, players should always carry at least one First Aid Kit with them.
RELATED: Subnautica Below Zero: How To Survive The Crystal Caves
How To Craft It
- First Aid Kits can be crafted at a Fabricator with one Fiber Mesh.
2 Rebreather
In Subnautica: Below Zero, players will begin to consume more oxygen when they descend below 100 meters, severely harming the player's ability to explore. Thankfully, this issue can be negated with the help of a Rebreather, which absorbs and recycles CO2 into breathable air.
How To Craft It
- Combine one Wiring Kit, one Silicone Rubber, and one Fiber Mesh at the Fabricator.
1 Beacon
Subnautica: Below Zero features a relatively large open world, though players aren't able to construct a map to guide them on their journey. This can, of course, cause serious issues, as players will find it extremely difficult to find their way back to unmarked locations.
Thankfully, this issue can be solved with Beacons. These craftable items set a permanent waypoint that can be seen from anywhere in the game world.
How To Craft It
- Combine one Copper Ore and one Titanium at the Fabricator.
NEXT: 10 Pro Tips For Subnautica You Need To Know
