Discover the best tools to craft first in Subnautica 2! Our guide covers how to unlock and build the Scanner, Habitat Builder, Wakemaker, and other essential equipment.
Table of Contents
Best Tools in Subnautica 2
| Tool | How to Unlock |
|---|---|
| Scanner▼ | Can be crafted from the start |
| Survival Multitool▼ | Can be crafted from the start |
| Habitat Builder▼ | Scan 2 Habitat Builder fragments |
| Sonic Resonator▼ | Scan 2 Sonic Resonator fragments |
| Wakemaker▼ | Scan 3 Wakemaker fragments |
| Repair Tool▼ | Scan Repair Tool fragments |
| Distraction Flare▼ | Found in crates. Can be crafted at a Fabricator |
Scanner
| Crafted Item | Ingredients | Where to Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Scanner | - Titanium ×2 - Quartz ×2 - Basic Battery ×1 | Fabricator |
Every blueprint, databank entry, and creature log in this game runs through the Scanner. You cannot make meaningful progress without one. Scan fragments to unlock new crafting recipes, or scan wildlife to unlock biomods and other databank entries. It is the first thing worth building when you leave the Lifepod.
| Tip! | The Bioscanner is its upgraded version that analyzes alien technology and unlocks more Biomods, but it requires advanced materials and becomes available a bit later. |
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Survival Multitool
| Crafted Item | Ingredients | Where to Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Survival Multitool | - Titanium ×3 | Fabricator |
The Survival Multitool lets you cut tough plants or corals that you cannot harvest by hand, and most early crafting materials such as, Fibrous Pulp or Coral Shavings come from those sources. It is one of the tools you're going to use constantly.
Farming Guide: Growbeds & Best PlantsHabitat Builder
| Crafted Item | Ingredients | Where to Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat Builder | - Titanium ×2 - Glass ×1 - Basic Battery ×1 - Copper Wire ×1 | Fabricator |
The Habitat Builder is required for everything beyond the Lifepod. It builds base rooms, corridors, lockers, power sources, the Fabricator inside your base, and every placed item in the game.
To unlock the blueprint, scan two Habitat Builder fragments. One can be found under the Welcome Center and another inside Camp One.
How to Build a BaseSonic Resonator
| Crafted Item | Ingredients | Where to Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Sonic Resonator | - Basic Battery ×1 - Titanium Ingot ×2 - Lead ×2 - Wiring Kit ×1 | Fabricator |
The Sonic Resonator is used to mine large ore deposits, destroy Bloom Cankers, and deter aggressive creatures like the Marrowbreach with a charged blast. It takes a moment to charge, but the shockwave it produces buys enough time to escape most predators.
| Tip! | The Feedback Resonator is a late-game upgrade that increases range, power, and is an important part of the current build's early access story. |
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Wakemaker
| Crafted Item | Ingredients | Where to Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Wakemaker | - Silver ×1 - Wiring Kit ×1 - Grease ×1 - Basic Battery ×1 | Fabricator |
Arm-mounted wrist jets that significantly increase swimming speed. It also has built-in toggleable lights, making it a practical replacement for the Flashlight. Faster movement means less time exposed in open water, quicker escapes from predators, and more ground covered per dive.
How to Get a WakemakerRepair Tool
| Crafted Item | Ingredients | Where to Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Repair Tool | - Titanium Ingot ×1 - Wiring Kit ×1 - Basic Battery ×1 - Sulfur ×1 | Fabricator |
Repairs damaged vehicles and doors in Cicada wreckages. Essential before any long expedition in the Tadpole. Without it, a damaged vehicle far from base can become a serious problem. Cicada wreck interiors are also locked behind broken doors that only the Repair Tool can open.
How to Get a TadpoleDistraction Flare
| Crafted Item | Ingredients | Where to Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Distraction Flare | - Titanium ×1 - Quartz ×1 | Fabricator |
The most accessible defensive tool in the game. Distraction Flares draw hostile creatures away from you, buying time to escape or collect resources. They are especially effective against Marrowbreaches, which actively hunt players, and against swarms of Nibbler Mangos. Several can be found for free in crates around the starting area.
| Tip! | Distraction Flares do not work against Leviathans. |
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Other Tools
| Crafted Item | Ingredients | Where to Craft |
|---|---|---|
 Flashlight | - Titanium ×2 - Quartz ×1 - Basic Battery ×1 | Fabricator |
 Air Bladder | - Titanium ×2 - Rubber ×1 | Fabricator |
 Bioscanner | - Scanner ×1 - Enameled Glass ×2 - Conduit Crystal ×3 | Fabricator |
 Feedback Resonator | - Sonic Resonator ×1 - Enameled Glass ×2 - Conduit Crystal ×2 - Strontium ×2 | Fabricator |
| Notice! | Subnautica 2 is in Early Access. Additional tools may be added in future updates, including possible returning tools from the original game such as the Laser Cutter and Seaglide. |
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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 |  Best Tools to Craft |
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
How to Get a Wiring Kit
How to Get Advanced Wiring Kit
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?
