Comprehensive Guide to Building and Upgrading Your Base in Subnautica: Below Zero

Surviving in the frigid depths of Subnautica: Below Zero requires a well-thought-out base equipped for the challenges of its icy environment. This guide will ensure your base is not only protective and efficient but also sustainable and functional.

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1. Getting Started: Habitat Builder and Basics

Acquire the Habitat Builder
– Crafting Requirements:
– Wiring Kit: 2x Silver Ore
– Computer Chip: 1x Table Coral Sample, 1x Gold, 1x Copper Wire
– Battery: 2x Ribbon Plants, 1x Copper Ore
– The Habitat Builder is essential for constructing and customizing your base.

Scouting and Scanning
– Utilize your scanner to collect blueprints from abandoned bases. This will unlock various base modules, power sources, and equipment upgrades critical to your survival.

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2. Essential Base Modules

Multipurpose Rooms
– Construct this as your main living space.
– Inside Setup: Place a Fabricator for crafting and multiple Lockers for efficient storage.

Power Sources
– Types:
– Solar Panels: Best for bases on the surface or shallow depths.
– Thermal Plants: Ideal for locations near hydrothermal vents to ensure continuous power.
– Bioreactors: Use organic materials, beneficial for deeper underwater bases where solar energy is less effective.

Scanner Room
– Essential for locating resources and observing nearby creatures. This will help you plan expeditions and avoid threats.

Growbeds
– Interior Growbeds: Cultivate food plants such as Lantern Fruit and Peepers.
– Exterior Growbeds: Grow Acid Mushrooms and other crafting materials for versatile resource management.

Moonpool
– Vital for vehicle storage and upgrades. A Moonpool provides docking, charging, and customizing capabilities for your Sea Truck or Prawn Suit.

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3. Protecting Yourself from the Cold and Hostile Creatures

Base Location
– Choose your base location wisely. Avoid proximity to starting points unless for quick tests. Opt for areas near story advancements and resource hotspots for convenience.

Structural Integrity
– Regularly check hull integrity in the build menu. Strengthen your base by reinforcing walls and using foundations where necessary to prevent leaks.

Defensive Measures
– Perimeter Defense System: Research and install this upgrade to deter hostile creatures from your base.
– External Growbeds: Strategically place these far from your primary entrance to lure aggressive wildlife away from your main living space.
– Windows: While aesthetically pleasing, minimize the number of windows to reinforce your base’s durability.

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4. Upgrading Your Base

Upgrade Consoles
– Set up upgrade consoles inside your base for enhancing vehicles and tools. This keeps your gear upgraded for better exploration and safety.

Vehicle Storage and Maintenance
– Frequently maintain your vehicles in the Moonpool, ensuring they are charged and upgraded. This guarantees readiness for swift escapes or explorations.

Bioreactor Fuel Management
– Keep a constant supply of organic material for your Bioreactor. Utilizing your interior growbeds can quickly replenish your fuel sources.

Scanner Room Cameras
– Equip your Scanner Room with cameras to patrol surrounding areas, enabling you to identify threats before leaving the safety of your base.

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5. Tips for Survival

Monitor Oxygen and Food
– Ensure a reliable supply of food and drinkable water by cultivating various plants.

Plan Escape Routes
– Design your base layout for easy access to your vehicle or exit points in times of danger.

Stay Warm
– The cold impacts your survival outside the base significantly. Equip a Cold Suit upgrade and place heaters if available to mitigate freezing conditions.

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By implementing these strategies, your base in Subnautica: Below Zero will be a stronghold against environmental hazards and aggressive sea life, setting you up for successful exploration and resource gathering as you uncover the mysteries of the deep.