Subnautica: Below Zero received its full release on May 14, 2021, and kept its core gameplay similar to its critically acclaimed predecessor. Once again, players are stranded on Planet 4546B and must explore the ocean's depths while crafting numerous suits, vehicles, bases, and more. Unfortunately, just like in the previous game, players aren't alone when venturing beneath the water.
Subnautica: Below Zero once again populates its ocean, as well as its new arctic biomes, with numerous terrifying predators that won't hesitate to attack players on sight. One of the game's key biomes is the visually impressive Crystal Caves. This area is essential in the end game, and consequently features some of the toughest environmental hazards and predators that players will need to prepare for.
Updated January 27, 2022 by Jack Pursey: One of the main strengths of Subnautica: Below Zero is that, like its predecessor, it has very little hand-holding and lets players explore Planet 4546B in any way that they see fit. This level of freedom helps to drive home the idea that the players are on their own in their quest to leave the planet while also exemplifying how important crafting is, as nothing is stopping players from swimming into the ocean's deadly depths without the necessary equipment. With this freedom of choice in mind, we've updated this list to include an alternative way to traverse the Crystal Caves.
How To Reach The Biome & What To Do There
How To Reach The Crystal Caves
Before getting into the dangers that lie within the Crystal Caves, it's worth knowing how to get there and the purpose of venturing to the dangerous biome. There are two entrance points to the Crystal Caves. One is near Marguerit Maida's Base in the Tree Spires biome, and the other can be found below the Deep Purple Vents by traversing down a wide, initially dark cave.
The Crystal Caves have depths between 480 and 840 meters, so ensure that vehicles are equipped with a suitable Depth Upgrade to survive the journey. The Seatruck, for example, will need to be equipped with its maximum depth upgrade called the Seatruck Depth Upgrade MK3.
To craft the Seatruck Depth Upgrade MK3, the following items need to be combined at a Modification Station:
- 1x Kyanite
- 3x Nickel Ore
- 1x Plasteel Ingot
- 1x Seatruck Depth Upgrade MK2
What To Do There
One of the main reasons to visit the Crystal Caves is for the Crystal Caves Cache. The Cache is located deep within the Crystal Castle portion of the caves at a depth of 820 meters. To find the Crystal Castle, look for a small cave system with Morganite formations that are larger than the rest of the area. PC players using coordinates can find the cache at 517 -828 -696. The Crystal Caves Cache is key for completing the game, as it contains the organ portion of Al-An's body.
The Crystal Caves also contain the only entrance to the Fabricator Caverns, which features the Fabricator Base needed to complete the game.
As for resources, the following can be found in the Crystal Caves:
- Argentite Outcrop
- Calaverite Outcrop
- Copper Ore
- Crashfish Egg
- Crystalline Sulfur
- Diamond
- Galena Outcrop
- Gold
- Kyanite
- Large Copper Deposits
- Large Gold Deposits
- Large Kyanite Deposits
- Large Quartz Deposits
- Large Silver Deposits
- Large Titanium Deposits
- Lead
- Limestone Outcrop
- Lithium
- Magnetite
- Nickel Ore
- Quartz
- Ribbon Plant
- Rock
- Rockpuncher Egg
- Ruby
- Silver Ore
- Titanium
- Uraninite Crystal
Crafting The Seatruck
As mentioned both above and below, a Seatruck will prove valuable to players in this biome. Along with the aforementioned Seatruck Depth Upgrade MK3, there are a couple of other upgrades that players should craft to give themselves the best chance in the Crystal Caves, such as the Seatruck Afterburner and Seatruck Perimeter Defense Upgrade.
The Seatruck Afterburner essentially does what it says on the tin, giving players a short burst of speed, which can help them evade approaching Leviathans. Meanwhile, the Seatruck Perimeter Defense Upgrade will fend off predators, including Shadow Leviathans, by releasing an electrical field that will force them to retreat.
Mobile Vehicle Bay
To craft the Seatruck itself, players first need to craft the Mobile Vehicle Bay at a Fabricator with:
- 1x Computer Chip
- 1x Lubricant
- 1x Titanium Ingot
Seatruck
Then, to craft the Seatruck, combine the following items at the Mobile Vehicle Bay:
- 1x Advanced Wiring Kit
- 2x Glass
- 3x Lead
- 1x Power Cell
- 1x Titanium Ingot
Afterburner
To craft the Seatruck Afterburner, the player needs to combine the following items at a Fabricator:
- 2x Crystalline Sulfur
- 2x Lithium
- 1x Power Cell
- 1x Wiring Kit
Perimeter Defense Upgrade
To craft the Seatruck Perimeter Defense Upgrade, players must combine the following at a Fabricator:
- 1x Computer Chip
- 1x Polyaniline
- 1x Power Cell
- 2x Ruby
Alternative Method - Craft The Prawn Suit
Although the Seatruck is most commonly used to traverse the Crystal Caves, the Prawn Suit is a viable alternative that plenty of people use and have success with. The Prawn Suit greatly differs from the Seatruck because, as the name suggests, it's a suit that the player uses to walk around on the ocean floor. The Prawn Suit's alternative movement offers a new perspective and makes it easier to traverse certain areas, while the suit itself can be fitted with some excellent upgrades.
To traverse the Crystal Caves with the Prawn Suit, players should craft the Depth Module Mk2, the Jump Jet Upgrade, the Torpedo Arm, and Grappling Arm. Detailed below is how to craft each of these upgrades, along with the Prawn Suit. Before crafting the Prawn Suit, players need to construct the Mobile Vehicle Bay, which is detailed in the Seatruck section above.
Prawn Suit
To craft the Prawn Suit, players need to combine the following items at the Mobile Vehicle Bay:
- 1x Computer Chip
- 1x Plasteel Ingot
- 1x Power Cell
- 1x Enameled Glass
Prawn Suit Depth Module Mk2
The Prawn Suit Depth Module Mk2 is essential to craft, as players won't be able to reach the lower portions of the Crystal Caves without it. To craft the Depth Module Mk2, players need to combine the following items at the Modification Station:
- 1x Prawn Suit Depth Module MK1
- 1x Kyanite
- 2x Nickel Ore
Jump Jet Upgrade
The Jump Jet Upgrade is another essential upgrade, as without it, players will be glued to the ocean floor. To craft the Jump Jet Upgrade, players need to combine the following items at either a Fabricator or a Vehicle Upgrade Console.
- 2x Nickel Ore
- 3x Crystalline Sulfur
- 5x Titanium
- 1x Lithium
Torpedo Arm
The Torpedo Arm is technically optional, but without it, Shadow Leviathans will be virtually impossible to fend off. To craft the Torpedo Arm, players need to combine the following items at either a Fabricator or a Vehicle Upgrade Console.
- 5x Titanium
- 1x Lithium
- 1x Aerogel
Grappling Arm
The grappling arm isn't necessarily essential but players are taking a huge risk without it and may want to consider Murphy's Law before traversing the Crystal Caves. There are some holes that are too deep to get out of with just the Jet Upgrade, making the player a sitting duck for Shadow Leviathans without the ability to Spider-Man out with the Grappling Arm. To craft the Grappling Arm, players need to combine the following items at either a Fabricator or a Vehicle Upgrade Console.
- 1x Benzene
- 1x Advanced Wiring Kit
- 2x Titanium
- 1x Lithium
Dangerous Predators & How To Deal With Them
The following aggressive predators can be found in the Crystal Caves: Crashfish, Rock Punchers, and two Shadow Leviathans.
Crashfish
Crashfish inhabit Sulfur Plants and ambush players who approach them, exploding when they get close. Sulfur plants are predominantly found in small, narrow caves, so avoid such areas if possible.
Rock Puncher
These creatures roam the ocean floor and will jump up and attack the player if they get too close. Players are likely to be in a vehicle when traversing the Crystal Caves, so they won't need to worry too much about these slow-moving creatures.
Shadow Leviathan
Shadow Leviathans are not only the most intimidating creature in the Crystal Caves but also the entire game. They are aggressive and deceivingly fast, so players have very little chance of escaping them if they're spotted. Thus, it's worth investing in defensive upgrades that will deter the creature's attacks.
Although the Prawn Suit is a suitable option, the Seatruck is the best vehicle to bring to the Crystal Caves due to its far greater maneuverability. The Seatruck will also take the least amount of damage from the Leviathan's bite at a range of 20-35, while the Prawn Suit takes between 33-42 and Robin takes a whopping 75 damage while swimming without equipment.
Subnautica: Below Zero is out now for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.