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.
Subnautica: Below Zero features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twisty Bridges | 0-100m depth | Basic resources, early blueprints, Seatruck fragments, safe base location | Base Builder |
| 2 | Lilypads | 100-300m depth | Seatruck modules, Magnetite, Ventgarden encounter | Base Builder |
| 3 | Crystal Caves | 300-600m depth | Ion Cubes, Nickel Ore, deep base resources, story progression | Deep Explorer |
| 4 | Glacial Basin | Surface (cold damage) | Snowfox blueprints, Al-An tissues, Phi Robotics story logs | Deep Explorer |
| 5 | Fabricator Caverns | 600-1000m depth | Al-An body construction, final alien technology, deepest exploration content | Deep Explorer |
Twisty Bridges — Starting Area
The starting biome with winding coral bridges and abundant basic resources. Safe and well-lit with minimal predator threats. Contains early blueprint fragments and the initial story triggers. Build your first base here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 0-100m depth |
| Key Rewards | Basic resources, early blueprints, Seatruck fragments, safe base location |
| Recommended Build | Base Builder |
| Key Equipment | Seatruck Perimeter Defense |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Seatruck modules — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Lilypads.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Lilypads — Early Game
A mid-depth biome with massive lily pad structures and the Lilypad Islands on the surface. Contains Seatruck fragments and moderate-danger predators. The Ventgarden creature inhabits a massive cave system here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 100-300m depth |
| Key Rewards | Seatruck modules, Magnetite, Ventgarden encounter |
| Recommended Build | Base Builder |
| Key Equipment | Seatruck Perimeter Defense |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering cold resistance — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Seatruck Perimeter Defense if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Crystal Caves.
Crystal Caves — Mid Game
A deep biome with bioluminescent crystals and dangerous fauna. Contains rare resources (Ion Cubes, Nickel Ore) needed for advanced crafting. The Crystal Caves connect to the Fabricator Caverns and deeper story locations.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 300-600m depth |
| Key Rewards | Ion Cubes, Nickel Ore, deep base resources, story progression |
| Recommended Build | Deep Explorer |
| Key Equipment | Seatruck Perimeter Defense |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Survival Knife becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master alien research for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Glacial Basin — Late Game
A frozen surface area with ice caves, Snowstalkers (land predators), and the Phi Robotics Lab. Requires cold-resistance gear. Contains Al-An story progression and the Snowfox hoverbike blueprints. The weather system creates dangerous blizzard conditions.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Surface (cold damage) |
| Key Rewards | Snowfox blueprints, Al-An tissues, Phi Robotics story logs |
| Recommended Build | Deep Explorer |
| Key Equipment | Survival Knife |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Survival Knife should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- creature scanning mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Fabricator Caverns.
Fabricator Caverns — Endgame
The deepest biome containing ancient alien fabrication equipment. Al-An's body construction happens here. Contains the most dangerous deep-sea creatures and the most valuable alien technology. This is where the Al-An questline concludes.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 600-1000m depth |
| Key Rewards | Al-An body construction, final alien technology, deepest exploration content |
| Recommended Build | Deep Explorer |
| Key Equipment | Survival Knife |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Lore Hunter for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Twisty Bridges → Lilypads → Crystal Caves → Glacial Basin → Fabricator Caverns. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two 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 Crafting Guide
- Subnautica: Below Zero Classes & Characters
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