Best Tools & Gear in Subnautica 2 — What to Craft First & Upgrade Priority
Best tools and gear in Subnautica 2 — what to craft first and when to upgrade. Optimal loadout for early, mid, and late game. Scanner, Wakemaker, Tadpole upgrades.
- •Craft Multitool first → Scanner second → Fins + Air Tank + Air Bladder third
- •Wakemaker replaces Flashlight — don't waste inventory space on both
- •Upgrade to Feedback Resonator for longer creature stuns in late-game zones
Early Game Essentials (0-2 Hours)
Craft these immediately, in this order:
| Priority | Tool | Materials | Why | |----------|------|-----------|-----| | 🔴 1 | Survival Multitool | 3× Titanium | Cannot harvest anything without it. Absolute first craft. | | 🔴 2 | Scanner | 2× Ti, 2× Quartz, 1× Basic Battery | Unlocks all blueprints. Never leave base without it. | | 🟡 3 | Basic Fins | 2× Rubber, 2× Fiber | Faster movement. Saves oxygen on every dive. | | 🟡 4 | Standard Air Tank | 2× Ti, 1× Rubber, 2× Silver | 75 oxygen pool. Required for any dive below 10m. | | 🟡 5 | Air Bladder | 2× Ti, 1× Rubber | Emergency oxygen + rapid ascent. Budget life-saver. | | 🟢 6 | Habitat Builder | 2× Ti, 1× Glass, 1× Battery, 1× Copper Wire | Build your base. Mid-game essential. |
Mid Game Tools (2-10 Hours)
| Tool | Materials | Use | |------|-----------|-----| | Sonic Resonator | 1× Battery, 2× Titanium Ingot, 2× Lead, 1× Wiring Kit | Break large resource nodes, clear Bloom Cankers, stun creatures | | Wakemaker | 1× Silver, 1× Wiring Kit, 1× Grease, 1× Battery | Underwater speed boost + built-in flashlight. Replaces Flashlight entirely. | | Repair Tool | 1× Titanium Ingot, 1× Wiring Kit, 1× Battery, 1× Sulfur | Fix damaged Tadpole, base modules, and systems | | Rebreather | 2× Fiber Mesh, 1× System Chip | Reduces oxygen consumption at depth. Mandatory below 200m. |
Equipment Upgrade Path
Air Tanks
| Tier | Item | Materials | Oxygen | |------|------|-----------|--------| | 1 | Standard Air Tank | 2× Ti, 1× Rubber, 2× Silver | 75 | | 2 | High Capacity Air Tank | 1× Standard Tank + 1× Plasteel Ingot | ~100 | | 3 | Ultra High Capacity Air Tank | 1× High Capacity + 3× Troilite + 3× Atacamite | ~150 |
Fins
| Tier | Item | Materials | Speed | |------|------|-----------|-------| | 1 | Basic Fins | 2× Rubber, 2× Fiber | +10% | | 2 | Improved Fins | 1× Basic Fins + 1× Fiber Mesh + 2× Conduit Crystal | +25% |
Tool Upgrades (Modification Station)
Built from: 2× Titanium, 2× Celestine, 2× Copper (found at Karakorum Observatory).
| Upgrade | Base Tool | Additional Materials | Effect | |---------|-----------|---------------------|--------| | Bioscanner | Scanner | 2× Enameled Glass, 3× Conduit Crystal | Scans living organisms for blueprints AND biomods | | Feedback Resonator | Sonic Resonator | 2× Enameled Glass, 2× Conduit Crystal, 2× Strontium | Longer range, longer stun duration on creatures |
Optimal Loadout by Stage
Early Game Loadout (Hotbar 1-5)
- Survival Multitool
- Scanner
- Air Bladder
- Flashlight (until you get Wakemaker)
- (Empty)
Mid Game Loadout
- Survival Multitool
- Scanner
- Wakemaker
- Sonic Resonator
- Repair Tool
Late Game Loadout
- Survival Multitool
- Bioscanner
- Wakemaker
- Feedback Resonator
- Repair Tool
Tools You Can Skip (or Delay)
| Tool | Why to Skip | |------|------------| | Flashlight | Wakemaker has a built-in flashlight. Stop using the standalone Flashlight once you craft the Wakemaker. | | Biosampling Kit | Single-use. Only needed if you want specific biomods. Most players never craft it. | | Pathfinder Tool | Not available in current Early Access build. |
Related Guides
Pro Tips
- Always carry a spare Battery. Tools drain faster than you think, especially the Sonic Resonator.
- Hotkey your tools. Don't open inventory mid-panic. Assign tools to slots 1-5.
- Repair your Tadpole after every expedition. A damaged Tadpole at 300m is a death sentence.
- Upgrade to Improved Fins early. The 25% speed boost adds up over dozens of hours of swimming.
Sources
This guide was compiled from multiple public sources. We cross-reference with 3+ sources before publishing.
More Subnautica 2 Guides
Subnautica 2 Adaptive Measures Update — All New Biomods, Biolabs & Creature AI Changes
Subnautica 2's first major Early Access update is here. 6 Biomods, 2 new Biolabs, overhauled creature AI, sprinting, FOV slider, and a roadmap for what's next.
10 Best Survival Games Like Subnautica 2 to Play in 2026
Love Subnautica 2? Here are 10 more survival games with deep exploration, base building, and terrifying creatures. From the original Subnautica to Valheim, ranked by similarity.
Subnautica 2 — 12 Things You Should Stop Doing Immediately
Some habits in Subnautica 2 are actively making your life harder. Stop doing these 12 things and you'll save hours of frustration.