Subnautica 2 | Best Tadpole Upgrade Modules

Upgrade your Tadpole in Subnautica 2! Learn about the best modules, including the Depth Module Mk 1 and Engine Efficiency Module, plus all crafting recipes.

Table of Contents

What You Need to Upgrade
Best Upgrade Modules
All Upgrade Module Recipes

Requirements to Upgrade Tadpole

All upgrade modules are crafted at the Modification Station and then equipped manually into the Tadpole. Before you can install anything, you need these two things:

Requirement	Details
Modification Station	Build it at a Fabricator using Titanium x2, Celestine x2, and Copper x2. Place it inside your base. This is where all upgrade modules are crafted.
Module blueprint	Most blueprints are unlocked by scanning datacards found in the world. If a module is not showing up in your Modification Station, a missing blueprint is almost always the reason.

How to Equip Upgrade Modules

You need to install the Modules manually in a Tadpole. Below are all the steps you need to take.

Step	Instructions
1	Craft the module at the Modification Station.
2	Swim to the top of the Tadpole and interact with the upgrade panel beside the Power Cell socket.
3	Drag the module from your inventory to the Upgrades Panel. The effect activates automatically.

The Tadpole has four upgrade module slots. Stackable modules like the Engine Efficiency Module occupy separate slots and each are counted independently.

Note!	Past 250 meters without a Depth Module installed, the Tadpole's hull takes continuous damage. Carry a Repair Tool until you have the Depth Module Mk. 1 fitted.

Tadpole Guide

Best Tadpole Upgrade Modules in Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2 Tadpoles with Different Chassis

The Tadpole is your main vehicle for deep exploration, and the right upgrades make a significant difference in how far you can go and how safely you can get there.

Here are the best modules you should use in your underwater vehicle:

Module	Effect
Tadpole Depth Module Mk. 1	Opens access to deep, resource-rich biomes. Extends safe diving depth to 450 meters.
Engine Efficiency Module	Reduces power use by 20%. Stacks up to four times for a maximum of 80% reduction.
Cavitation Muffler	Reduces vehicle noise to avoid attracting large aggressive creatures.
Strike Armor	Reduces incoming physical damage from attacks and collisions.

Tadpole Depth Module Mk. 1

The single most important upgrade for your underwater ride. The Depth Module Mk. 1 allows the Tadpole to dive to 450 meters before structural damage occurs, opening up the deeper biomes where most of the game's late-stage resources and story content live.

Note!	Multiple Depth Modules do not stack. While Mk. 2 extends depth to 800 meters, it is currently locked to Creative Mode.

Engine Efficiency Module

Subnautica 2 Modification Station Engine Efficiency

Reduces the Tadpole's power consumption by 20% per module and stacks up to four times, meaning a fully stacked set cuts power use by 80%. This directly translates to longer exploration sessions before you need to return or recharge. If you're pushing into distant biomes, this is one upgrade that you absolutely need.

Tip!	The best setup for a Scout Ray Chassis is x2 Engine Efficiency Modules, x1 Strike Armor, and x1 Depth Module Mk. 1

Strike Armor

Reduces incoming physical damage from attacks and collisions by adding strike plates to the Tadpole's hull. This upgrade makes your Tadpole significantly sturdier, which is especially valuable when you're out gathering rarer materials in areas infested by more aggressive predators.

Cavitation Muffler

Reduces vehicle noise to lower the chance of drawing large aggressive predators toward the Tadpole. Especially useful in deeper biomes where encounters with massive creatures become more frequent. This is particularly useful if you have the Tadpole Haul chassis equipped, since it is the slower of the two chassis options.

All Upgrade Module Recipes

Module	Ingredients
Tadpole Depth Module Mk. 1	Celestine x3 Enameled Glass x2 System Chip x1
Engine Efficiency Module	Titanium Ingot x1 Glass x2 System Chip x1
Cavitation Muffler	Titanium x3 Strontium x2
Strike Armor	Enameled Glass x2 Strontium x2
Photovoltaic Charger	Copper Ingot x1 Strong Acid x1 Troilite x1
Tadpole Depth Module Mk. 2 (Creative Mode only)	Dedicated Core x2 Troilite x2 Mangalloy Ingot x2

Notice!	Subnautica 2 is in Early Access. Additional upgrade modules may be added in future updates.

Recommended Guides

Walkthrough (Early to Late-Game)	Plant Farming Guide	Cooking and Recipes Guide
Best Biomods	Best Tadpole Upgrades	Metal Farm Guide

Progression & Priorities
Early Game	Mid-Game	Late Game

Lists

All Leviathans	All Items List	Biomes & PoI List
Blackbox List	Recipe Data Cards (Blueprints)	Vehicle List
Buildings & Facilities List

Notable Items

Salt	Silver	Copper
Lead	Lucifer Rotsac	Conduit Crystals
Creature Enamel	Enameled Glass	Troilite

Guides for Beginners

Multiplayer Guide	Drinking Water Guide	How to Craft Air Tank?
Scanner Station Guide	How to Manage Your Oxygen?	Base Guide
Alien Ruins	How to Use Coordinates	Tadpole Guide
How to Get More Storage	How to Get a Rebreather	Bioscanner Guide
Night Survival Guide	How to Heal