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.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Twisty Bridges
Key resources: Basic resources, early blueprints, Seatruck fragments, safe base location Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Seatruck Perimeter Defense upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Lilypads
Key resources: Seatruck modules, Magnetite, Ventgarden encounter Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Seatruck Perimeter Defense upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Crystal Caves
Key resources: Ion Cubes, Nickel Ore, deep base resources, story progression Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Seatruck Perimeter Defense upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Glacial Basin
Key resources: Snowfox blueprints, Al-An tissues, Phi Robotics story logs Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Survival Knife max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Fabricator Caverns
Key resources: Al-An body construction, final alien technology, deepest exploration content Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Survival Knife max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Twisty Bridges — Lilypads)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Seatruck Perimeter Defense once accessible
Mid Game (Crystal Caves)
- Push Seatruck Perimeter Defense to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Survival Knife
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Glacial Basin — Fabricator Caverns)
- Max out Survival Knife — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Crystal Caves farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- 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.
- Farm Crystal Caves during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Subnautica: Below Zero Guides
- Subnautica: Below Zero Subnautica: Below Zero Overview
- Subnautica: Below Zero Best Builds
- Subnautica: Below Zero Tier List
- Subnautica: Below Zero Walkthrough
- Subnautica: Below Zero Beginner's Guide
- Subnautica: Below Zero Tips & Tricks
- Subnautica: Below Zero Weapons Guide
- Subnautica: Below Zero Combat Guide
- Subnautica: Below Zero Boss Guide
- Subnautica: Below Zero Maps & Locations
- Subnautica: Below Zero Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Subnautica: Below Zero, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
