The second entry in theSubnauticaseries,Subnautica: Below Zero,fully released on June 09, 2025, following a stay in early access. The title has kept its core gameplay very similar to its predecessor, witharctic biomesand a new set of creatures being among the few significant changes.
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Like in the previous game,Subnautica: Below Zerodoesn’t give players much direction. Theopen-world gamehas 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. Togive beginners some guidance, here are some of the most useful items to craft in the game.
Updated on July 10, 2025, by Jack Pursey:Like most survival games, it’s beneficial inSubnautica: Below Zeroto 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.
15Grav 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, andit 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.
• Combine oneBattery, oneCopper Ore, and oneTitaniumat aFabricator
14Swim 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 ofFins, onePolyaniline, and oneWiring Kitat aModification Station.
13Water Purification Tablets
Believe it not, snowballs aren’t only included inSubnautica: Below Zerofor throwing at Snow Stalkers. By crafting Water Purification Tablets, players canturn snowballs into Large Filtered Water. This makes exploring the arctic biomes far less stressful, as snowballs can be made in almost every area.
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• Combine oneFrost Vase Plantand oneSalt Depositat a Fabricator
12Seaglide
With the amount of swimming that players need to do inSubnautica: Below Zero, it should come as no surprise that an item thatgreatly increases the player’s movement speed underwateris 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 beingspotted by a predatorand needing to make a quick escape.
• Combine one Battery, oneLubricant, oneCopper Wire, and one Titanium at a Fabricator
11Cold 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, ascombining the three will make the player almost immune from dying of hypothermia.
• Combine twoFiber Meshand twoSnow Stalker Furat 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
10Battery
Considering how many electronics are inBelow Zero,it should go without saying thatplayers will need a fair share ofbatteriesat 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.
9Scanner
Thescanneris the most important item inSubnautica: Below Zero,other than food and water. Without it, players will be extremely limited in the progress that they can make, asthe 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.
8High Capacity O₂ Tank
TheStandard O2 Tankis the first oxygen tank that players can make. Since theHigh Capacity O2 Tankisn’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 thatallows players to delve deeper and find greater resources.
7Multipurpose Room
Base buildinginSubnautica: Below Zeroisn’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 acrossBelow Zero’s map. These willmake traveling between biomes far smoother, while also providing a safe spotfor players to avoid predators, heal, eat, drink, store items, and craft.
TheMultipurpose Roomis key to base building. This area gives players a convenient starting point, and also offers a blank canvas.
6Survival Knife
On a planet filled with dangerous predators, aSurvival Knifeis 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.
