Subnautica: Below Zero is the standalone follow-up to Subnautica, set in an arctic region of planet 4546B. You play as Robin Ayou investigating her sister's death at an Alterra research station while an alien entity named Al-An shares your mind. The game adds significant land-based exploration across frozen tundra alongside the underwater gameplay, plus the Seatruck — a modular submarine where you attach different functional modules (storage, fabricator, aquarium, sleeper) to create a custom mobile base. Below Zero is smaller and more focused than the original, with a tighter story and less open exploration.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness — factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Explorer | S | Push deeper with each expedition, scan everything new, and use the Prawn Suit for the deepest biomes where the Seatruck can't reach. | Seatruck with Depth Module MK3, Prawn Suit with Drill Arm, Rebreather |
| Base Builder | A | Scout beautiful locations, build aesthetically impressive bases, and create a network of outposts connected by Seatruck travel. | Habitat Builder, Thermal Plant, Large Room, Multipurpose Room, Nuclear Reactor |
| Speedrunner | B | Follow the optimal route through story triggers, skip optional content, and collect only essential resources. | Seaglide, Snowfox, Rebreather, minimal base building |
| Completionist | A | Systematically explore each biome, scan every creature and plant, collect every log, and build every craftable item. | Scanner, full vehicle suite, comprehensive base |
| Lore Hunter | A | Follow both the Robin investigation and Al-An body-building questlines, visiting every marked and unmarked location for story fragments. | Scanner, Seatruck (for mobility), PDA log tracking |
S-Tier: Deep Explorer
Focus on reaching maximum depth with upgraded Seatruck (depth modules) and Prawn Suit. The deepest biomes contain the most valuable story content and resources. Depth Module MK3 reaches 900m+ on the Seatruck and 1300m on the Prawn Suit.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Survival Knife | Basic tool for harvesting coral, plants, and defending against small predators. |
| Core Gear | Seatruck with Depth Module MK3, Prawn Suit with Drill Arm, Rebreather | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Depth rating, oxygen capacity, vehicle power | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Seatruck modules | The Seatruck is a modular vehicle where each module attaches behind the cabin. |
How to Play Deep Explorer
Push deeper with each expedition, scan everything new, and use the Prawn Suit for the deepest biomes where the Seatruck can't reach.
Focus on reaching maximum depth with upgraded Seatruck (depth modules) and Prawn Suit. The deepest biomes contain the most valuable story content and resources. Depth Module MK3 reaches 900m+ on the Seatruck and 1300m on the Prawn Suit.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Survival Knife and Seatruck modules creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Seatruck with Depth Module MK3, Prawn Suit with Drill Arm, Rebreather amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Depth rating, oxygen capacity, vehicle power) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Base Builder
Build elaborate underwater and surface bases with full amenities. Below Zero's building system adds glass corridors, observatories, and land-based modules. Thermal plant placement near heat vents provides unlimited power. The Large Room module enables expansive interior designs.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Seatruck Perimeter Defense | A module that creates an electric pulse around the Seatruck, stunning and repelling aggressive creatures. |
| Core Gear | Habitat Builder, Thermal Plant, Large Room, Multipurpose Room, Nuclear Reactor | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Hull integrity, power generation, heating | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | cold resistance | Land exploration in Below Zero requires managing body temperature. |
How to Play Base Builder
Scout beautiful locations, build aesthetically impressive bases, and create a network of outposts connected by Seatruck travel.
Build elaborate underwater and surface bases with full amenities. Below Zero's building system adds glass corridors, observatories, and land-based modules. Thermal plant placement near heat vents provides unlimited power. The Large Room module enables expansive interior designs.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Seatruck Perimeter Defense and cold resistance creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Habitat Builder, Thermal Plant, Large Room, Multipurpose Room, Nuclear Reactor amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Hull integrity, power generation, heating) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
B-Tier: Speedrunner
Below Zero can be completed in under 2 hours by beelining to key locations. The Seaglide carries you through early game, and memorized blueprint locations skip exploration. The Snowfox hoverbike speeds up land sections. Story-critical items have fixed locations.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Prawn Suit | An underwater mech suit with drill arms for mining Large Resource Deposits and grapple arms for traversal. |
| Core Gear | Seaglide, Snowfox, Rebreather, minimal base building | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Speed, route memorization, oxygen capacity | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | alien research | Al-An (an alien stored in your brain) guides you to find components for building him a new body. |
How to Play Speedrunner
Follow the optimal route through story triggers, skip optional content, and collect only essential resources.
Below Zero can be completed in under 2 hours by beelining to key locations. The Seaglide carries you through early game, and memorized blueprint locations skip exploration. The Snowfox hoverbike speeds up land sections. Story-critical items have fixed locations.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Prawn Suit and alien research creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Seaglide, Snowfox, Rebreather, minimal base building amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Speed, route memorization, oxygen capacity) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Completionist
Scan every creature, find every PDA log, explore every cave, and build every item. Below Zero has a smaller world than the original, making 100% completion more feasible. The datapad trail tells a complete story when all logs are found.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Spy Pengling | A deployable robotic penguin that scouts areas remotely through a camera feed. |
| Core Gear | Scanner, full vehicle suite, comprehensive base | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Exploration coverage, creature scanning, PDA log collection | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | base building | Same modular system as Subnautica — multipurpose rooms, corridors, observatories, powered by solar, thermal, or nuclear. |
How to Play Completionist
Systematically explore each biome, scan every creature and plant, collect every log, and build every craftable item.
Scan every creature, find every PDA log, explore every cave, and build every item. Below Zero has a smaller world than the original, making 100% completion more feasible. The datapad trail tells a complete story when all logs are found.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Spy Pengling and base building creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Scanner, full vehicle suite, comprehensive base amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Exploration coverage, creature scanning, PDA log collection) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Lore Hunter
Focus on finding every PDA log, alien artifact, and story fragment. Below Zero's dual storyline (Robin/Al-An) has dozens of voice logs and data entries scattered across the world. Lore Hunters prioritize story locations over resource gathering.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Scanner | Scans creatures, plants, and fragments to add them to your PDA database and unlock blueprints. |
| Core Gear | Scanner, Seatruck (for mobility), PDA log tracking | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Story location knowledge, alien facility access, audio log collection | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | creature scanning | The Scanner tool catalogs every creature, plant, and mineral. |
How to Play Lore Hunter
Follow both the Robin investigation and Al-An body-building questlines, visiting every marked and unmarked location for story fragments.
Focus on finding every PDA log, alien artifact, and story fragment. Below Zero's dual storyline (Robin/Al-An) has dozens of voice logs and data entries scattered across the world. Lore Hunters prioritize story locations over resource gathering.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Scanner and creature scanning creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Scanner, Seatruck (for mobility), PDA log tracking amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Story location knowledge, alien facility access, audio log collection) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Base Builder — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Deep Explorer once you understand core mechanics and have access to Survival Knife
- Keep a Speedrunner setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Lore Hunter for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first — it gives the biggest power spike
- Build the Seatruck before anything else — it provides safe transport, oxygen, and storage. The base Seatruck (no modules) is fast and maneuverable enough for early exploration.
- Detach Seatruck modules before entering dangerous areas. The base cabin alone is much faster than the full modular train. Reattach modules at your base.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
See our tier list for current meta rankings, or the beginner's guide if you're just getting started.
