Where is the best place to build in Subnautica 2? We break down the top base locations for every stage of the game, including the best spots for rare ores.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Good Base Location in Subnautica 2?
A good base location comes down to three things. Access to resources, a power source, and proximity to your current objectives. You want to stay close to resource nodes and nearby plants and creatures you can harvest, all while keeping travel time to wreckages and points of interest as short as possible.
So, here are the best base locations from early to late‑game:
Best Early Game Base Locations
Near the Lifepod
Building near the Lifepod may seem counterintuitive, but it's practical early on when you're only crafting basic upgrades, since the Lifepod's Fabricator is limited to crafting the very basic items.
Swim 130m southwest of the Lifepod to a cliff with a strong undercurrent. This spot is an excellent first‑base location thanks to abundant Cradle Shootroots, Curtain Gorgon, Whip Gorgon, and Dragon's Scale Coral.
You'll also find plenty of Titanium and Copper in shallow caves, plus a path leading to an Angel Comb. The cliff is lined with wreckage for scanning useful items and sits close to a Biobed that increases your quick‑access tool slots by one.
| Tip! | Do not rush to rebuild everything the Lifepod already provides. Use it as an extension of your base until crafting progression demands more. |
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Near Camp One
A few meters south of Camp One in the Jelly Barrens biome puts you directly between the Coral Gardens and one of the first Angel Combs, where Anita's Blackbox is located. There is plenty of open space here, abundant fish, Macaron Sponges, and Water Slugs for food and water, and enough sunlight for Solar Panels.
Directly below is an underwater current that provides a reliable power source and access to Lead deposits. Going east will lead to the Coral Gardens, that contains Salt and Quartz deposits.
| Tip! | The only drawback in constructing a base in this locale is the occasional presence of Hammerheads, Marrowbreaches, and Nibbler Mangos in the area. |
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Best Mid Game Base Location
Inside the Hot Caves
Underneath the Tailings Village lies the Hot Caves. This location gives easy access to resources found nowhere else in the early biomes, such as Gold, Sulfur, and Lithium.
From here, heading east immediately puts you in the Karakorum region for the late-game. It is a well-positioned bridge between the two major areas of the current Early Access build.
| Tip! | You must have the Heat Tolerance Adaptation before visiting. Without it, the ambient temperature in this zone will kill you. |
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Best Late Game Base Locations
Observatory Museum
Located in the western half of the Karakorum region, this is the closest location to the Research Outpost and Rosetta Stone. A good late-game base for players beginning to push into the late-game biomes.
Power Plant Area (Optional)
If you're finding it tedious to travel back and forth while collecting Celestine, Atacamite, Troilites, and Axum Bacterial Culture, consider setting up a forward base near the Axum Power Plant.
About 1,367 meters from the Lifepod at roughly 245 meters deep is a thermal vent that makes for an excellent late‑game base location. It works well as a forward outpost and storage hub, and its proximity to both the Power Plant and the Final Angel Comb makes it even more convenient, especially in finishing the late-game story.
| Notice! | Subnautica 2 is in Early Access. Biome layouts and resource placements may change in future updates. |
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Related Articles
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 |  Endgame |
Lists
 All Leviathans |  All Items List |  Biomes & PoI List |
 Blackbox List |  Recipe Data Cards (Blueprints) |  Vehicle List |
 Buildings & Facilities List |  Best Base Locations |
Salt
Silver
Copper
Lead
Lucifer Rotsac
Conduit Crystals
Creature Enamel
Enameled Glass
Troilite
Celestine
Multiplayer Guide
How to Eat Food (Digestion)
How to Craft Items
Drinking Water Guide
How to Craft Air Tank?
How to Get Basic Fins
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
Angel Comb Guide
How to Power Your Base
How to Recharge Batteries and Tools
How to Get the Repair Tool
World Tree Guide
Flashlight Guide
Strong Acid Guide
How to Get Heat Tolerance
Scanner Guide
How to Get Tadpole Depth Module Mk. 2
How to Get a Wakemaker
How to Get Fibrous Pulp
Specs Requirements
New Game Features
Is There Crossplay?
Supported Devices
Update & Roadmap
How Long to Beat?
Can You Play Subnautica 2 on PS5 and PS4?
Is Subnautica 2 on Xbox?
Is Subnautica 2 on Steam?
Is Subnautica 2 on Switch?
