Quick answer
Prioritize resources that unlock oxygen, scanning, storage, power, mobility, and base expansion. Keep a small reserve of common materials, but do not fill storage with unknown items before recipes demand them.
Second-screen dive plan
What to do, what proves it, and when to leave
Reserve materials needed for oxygen and mobility upgrades.
Upgrade priority at 01:50
Keep small reserves of oxygen, scan, power, storage, and mobility materials; ignore vanity piles.
Crafting Progression Guide
Upgrade priority
Give oxygen, scanning, power, storage, and mobility resources priority over hoarding.
Approach
Keep small reserves of oxygen, scan, power, storage, and mobility materials; ignore vanity piles.
Objective
Storage and resource-priority anchor for deciding what deserves inventory space.
Return
Use this when you are hoarding everything but still missing the one recipe-critical material.
Tactical brief
How to use this guide in a real dive
Resource Priority List is useful when the player needs a repeatable decision path, not just a short answer. Start with the page objective, then compare the map anchor, the first evidence frame, and the current Early Access status before committing to a longer dive. This keeps the guide practical when Subnautica 2 routes shift between patches.
On the atlas, this guide is tied to Resource Priority Cache. Treat that marker as a route anchor: Storage and resource-priority anchor for deciding what deserves inventory space. The important player action is not simply reaching the dot, but using it to decide when to approach, what to scan or gather, and how to leave cleanly.
The first visual check is Upgrade priority (01:50). Use that frame as the reading order for the rest of the article: identify the landmark, confirm the objective, then watch for the mistake that would force a reset. Give oxygen, scanning, power, storage, and mobility resources priority over hoarding.
Route band
Mixed material shelf, 260m - 600m
Keep small reserves of oxygen, scan, power, storage, and mobility materials; ignore vanity piles.
Proof point
Upgrade priority (01:50)
Give oxygen, scanning, power, storage, and mobility resources priority over hoarding.
Abort rule
Hoarding everything equally.
Use this when you are hoarding everything but still missing the one recipe-critical material.
After this
Crafting Progression Guide
A practical crafting priority list for tools, storage, mobility, base modules, and safer exploration.
Visual route
Follow the guide by screenshot evidence
Use these frames as a quick watch order: landmark first, objective second, exit condition third. It keeps the article useful even before you read every paragraph.
Upgrade priority
Give oxygen, scanning, power, storage, and mobility resources priority over hoarding.
Player action
Starter storage
Material blocker
The best resource list ranks materials by what they unlock for the next route.
Player action
Reserve materials needed for oxygen and mobility upgrades.
Storage rule
Store common materials in small known reserves and keep rare materials attached to recipes.
Player action
Hoarding everything equally.
Video references
Watch or inspect the route before you dive
Open frame cards to compare local screenshot notes. Use the evidence to confirm landmarks, movement, and encounter pacing, then follow the written checklist below.
Upgrade priority frame review
Watch for: Start with Getting Started materials guide / Resource priority list at 01:50. Compare the screenshot cue, route note, and player action before following the guide in-game.
Material blocker frame review
Watch for: Start with Getting Started materials guide / Resource priority list at 00:40. Compare the screenshot cue, route note, and player action before following the guide in-game.
Storage rule frame review
Watch for: Start with Getting Started materials guide / Resource priority list at 04:20. Compare the screenshot cue, route note, and player action before following the guide in-game.
Field manual
Resource Priority List field manual
Built from the supplied route videos and local frame captures so the article teaches what to watch for, not only what to click.
Prioritize resources that unlock oxygen, scanning, storage, power, mobility, and base expansion. Keep a small reserve of common materials, but do not fill storage with unknown items before recipes demand them. Use this resource route manual as a second-screen checklist: identify the entry condition, confirm the objective with a visual proof point, then stop when the return rule is met. This keeps the article practical for Early Access patches without pretending every coordinate or state is final.
Primary job
Inventory
Reserve materials needed for oxygen and mobility upgrades.
Best entry habit
Starter storage
Keep common crafting inputs near the fabricator.
Stop condition
Hoarding everything equally.
Store rare finds separately until recipes are confirmed.
What to watch in the videos
Pause on Upgrade priority and identify the landmark, depth band, or objective state before following the next step.
Use Material blocker to confirm what changed; if the video only shows a close-up, rebuild the route from the previous landmark.
Treat Storage rule as the exit rule: finish the objective, return, and update storage or crafting before adding side goals.
Decision table
Hoarding everything equally.
Reset to the last confirmed landmark or objective state, then repeat only the route-critical step.
Using rare materials on low-impact comfort crafts too early.
Use the video frame as evidence, but record entry, proof, and exit as separate notes.
Forgetting which biome produced which item.
Return, craft, sort storage, or retest the route before turning this page into a longer objective chain.
Screenshot reading order
Upgrade priority
Give oxygen, scanning, power, storage, and mobility resources priority over hoarding.
Player action: Reserve materials needed for oxygen and mobility upgrades.
Material blocker
The best resource list ranks materials by what they unlock for the next route.
Player action: Keep common crafting inputs near the fabricator.
Storage rule
Store common materials in small known reserves and keep rare materials attached to recipes.
Player action: Store rare finds separately until recipes are confirmed.
Map intel
Route anchors for this guide
Resource Priority Cache
Storage and resource-priority anchor for deciding what deserves inventory space.
Player use
Use this when you are hoarding everything but still missing the one recipe-critical material.
Route hint
Keep small reserves of oxygen, scan, power, storage, and mobility materials; ignore vanity piles.
Resource route matrix
What to farm, why it matters, and when to leave
This table turns scattered material notes into a second-screen route plan: priority, blocker, proof, and storage rule in one place.
Route band
North cave and plateau-edge sweep
Blocker solved
Electronics, scanning, and early upgrade recipes
Proof rule
Confirm the cave entry and node frame before widening the run.
Storage rule
Keep a labeled Silver reserve for tool and module recipes.
Main risk
Inventory drift before reaching the cave mouth
Route band
Northeast ravine and trench wall
Blocker solved
Base, power, and survivability construction
Proof rule
Anchor the route to ravine shape, not a single lucky node.
Storage rule
Separate base-building Lead from mixed mineral storage.
Main risk
Dropping into ravines without a clear exit angle
Route band
Thermal pocket past the Welcome Center direction
Blocker solved
Repair and early utility crafting
Proof rule
Use thermal terrain as the first clue, then confirm pickup.
Storage rule
Keep only a small working stack until recipes demand more.
Main risk
Heat, visibility, and oxygen pressure stacking together
Route band
Mid-shallow mineral route band
Blocker solved
Recipe-specific electronics and modules
Proof rule
Start from the recipe screen, then collect the target count.
Storage rule
Store Gold by recipe plan, not as general shiny overflow.
Main risk
Farming without knowing which recipe needs Gold
Route band
Reported rare-material band
Blocker solved
Rare-material upgrade bottlenecks
Proof rule
Record entry landmark, pickup shape, and safe exit line.
Storage rule
Treat it as rare until the same band works twice.
Main risk
Mistaking a discovery pickup for a repeatable route
Route band
Rare shelf and node route
Blocker solved
Rare upgrade and crafting bottlenecks
Proof rule
Confirm node, hazard, return path, and recipe amount.
Storage rule
Label the source route so later recipes do not erase context.
Main risk
Rare-material sweep turning into a deep detour
Route band
Organic resource pocket
Blocker solved
Specific organic recipe requirements
Proof rule
Prove source, loop, and return value before farming.
Storage rule
Do not hoard; collect for the recipe that needs it.
Main risk
Calling a dangerous pickup a farm before proving repeatability
Route band
Mid-depth resource field and blueprint route
Blocker solved
Repeat material pressure and base expansion
Proof rule
Judge by repeat value, distance, safety, and recipe frequency.
Storage rule
Route farm output into labeled build-material storage.
Main risk
Building a farm that does not shorten real routes
Scan priority
Blueprint unlock matrix
What the unlock enables, where the route starts, and when to come back with better tools.
Blueprint pages work best when every scan has a job: base workflow, vehicle depth, scanner routing, or upgrade crafting.
Scanner Station
Targeted resource runs and blueprint cleanup from a working base
Route band
Base-linked scanner route
Proof point
Station console and filter list
Return rule
Use one filter per blocker and stop once that blocker is solved.
Common mistake
Leaving every filter active until the map becomes noise.
Tadpole Depth Modules
Safer access to deeper objectives and late resource bands
Route band
Depth module fragment chain
Proof point
Module menu showing MK1 or MK2 depth unlock
Return rule
Install and test the module on a known route before opening a new depth band.
Common mistake
Diving into the new depth limit immediately after installation.
Wakemaker
Faster swim routing and safer return timing
Route band
Mobility fragment route
Proof point
Final blueprint check after required fragments
Return rule
Return once the blueprint completes and test mobility near base.
Common mistake
Continuing fragment hunting after the mobility unlock is already complete.
Field checklist
Before leaving base
Starter storage
Primary action
Reserve materials needed for oxygen and mobility upgrades.
Turn back when
Hoarding everything equally.
Write down
Early Access / tracking / 2026-06-12
Database cards
Entities in this guide
These cards give players the scan target, material, creature, or structure they should be watching for while following the guide.
Tadpole submersible
Primary mobility reference for deeper biome pushes and co-op hauling.
Found in: Official Steam store description and media.
Action: Plan routes around return oxygen, storage, and safe vehicle access.
Habitat Builder
Core building tool that turns early routes into a working storage and fabricator loop.
Found in: Local base-building footage and early unlock guides supplied for content research.
Action: Unlock it, return, and build the minimum base that shortens the next material and scan routes.
Square Room
Base expansion unlock for storage, Biolab planning, and less cramped crafting workflow.
Found in: Local Square Room databox footage supplied for content research.
Action: Confirm the databox unlock, return to stable power, and build only when the room improves workflow.
Tadpole Depth Module
Vehicle depth upgrade that opens deeper objective and material bands.
Found in: Local Tadpole MK1 and MK2 depth module footage supplied for content research.
Action: Install the module, test on a known route, then use the new depth band with a planned exit.
Evidence board
Media and verification
Each guide now reserves space for footage, screenshots, map notes, and patch checks so the page can grow with real player evidence.
Tadpole Mobility
Official media for movement, vehicle routes, upgrades, and map pushes.
Video references
3 embedded source cards
Route checks
5 checkpoints
Screenshot queue
Ready for owned gameplay captures
Gameplay frame gallery
Visual checkpoints from source footage
Frames are center-cropped from local research footage to keep the article focused on landmarks, nodes, creatures, and route cues.
Upgrade priority
Give oxygen, scanning, power, storage, and mobility resources priority over hoarding.
Material blocker
The best resource list ranks materials by what they unlock for the next route.
Storage rule
Store common materials in small known reserves and keep rare materials attached to recipes.
Loadout and prerequisites
Route timeline
Follow the run in order
Built for second-screen use: complete each checkpoint, then move to the next landmark before detouring for extras.
Reserve materials needed for oxygen and mobility upgrades.
Keep common crafting inputs near the fabricator.
Store rare finds separately until recipes are confirmed.
Do focused material runs instead of mixed scavenging.
Recheck priorities after each major unlock.
Guide notes
The first materials that matter
The exact list can shift by build, but the purpose rarely changes: survive longer, see more, scan more, and bring more home.
How to sort storage
Separate survival inputs, base inputs, rare finds, and unknown recipe materials. A readable base is a faster base.
Risk controls
Common mistakes
These are the actions most likely to waste oxygen, lose the route, or turn a clean scan into a failed attempt.
Hoarding everything equally.
Using rare materials on low-impact comfort crafts too early.
Forgetting which biome produced which item.
FAQ
Fast answers before you dive
Is this guide for the current Subnautica 2 build?
This page is written for Early Access and includes a visible update date. Treat exact values as tracking notes until the current build is field-tested.
Does this page use official screenshots?
Pages combine attributed official Steam / Unknown Worlds media, local gameplay frame captures, and source-video evidence cards. New player-submitted captures should keep the route, timestamp, and build context attached.
Community notes
Add a field report
Player reports enter a moderation queue. Approved notes can load from Supabase; pending drafts stay visible in this browser for follow-up.
Near starter shallows
Approx. 70-120m from pod
Confirm oxygen before leaving the first landmark. The route is much safer when you mark the return path before collecting side materials.
Guide-wide
N/A
Creature patrol ranges and fragment placement can shift between builds, so treat exact distances as field estimates until multiple players confirm them.