If Below Zero is your first introduction to the Subnautica series, you may be looking for some tips on setting up your first seabase. While the process has become more intuitive in the sequel, there are definitely some extra things to keep in mind if you want to build the ultimate home away from home on Planet 4546B.

Below Zero Seabase Changes

There have been some major changes in certain parts of the seabase construction process in Below Zero. One main thing I quickly realized is that seabases can now be placed at essentially any depth without the need for a foundation, as opposed to the first game where you had to either place one or settle on your base being on the seafloor.

Another major change is the introduction of the Control Room, which allows you to color and rename your base, giving you the option to have different aesthetics and identifiers for your various homes across Sector Zero. You can also manage power options, view the weather, and look for hull breaches in this module. There have been many “home comforts” added in the new game as well, meaning that your new base will probably feel much more individualized and realistic (even if there isn’t a need to shower or dance around to music on your jukebox) if you so choose.

As soon as you get access to the new Recyclotron you should take advantage of it, as the new module allows you to break down items you no longer need to their constituent parts. The Power Transmitter can also be an incredibly helpful new module to send power from one well-maintained location to a new one. Adding Quantum Lockers around your bases can also allow you quick access to materials from place to place without having to actually carry them all the way there.

Changes to building a base above ground have been introduced as well. These are to accommodate the increase of exploration that will happen there. When building above ground you can now place a multipurpose room wherever you want and the hatch that you attach to it will create a set of stairs down to the ground, allowing easy access to land bases that was much harder to achieve in the first game. I would recommend building your Snowfox hoverpad near an above-ground base to keep easy tabs on it.

Tips for the Best Below Zero Seabase Locations

During my own playthrough of Below Zero, I’ve found that building your initial seabase in Twisty Bridges, closest to your initial drop pod, provides an ideal location with access to essentially all early-game materials and plenty of fauna for food and water. The nearby Arctic Kelp Forrest allows access to Creepvine (and its seed clusters) as well as Sea Monkey nests which contain a variety of fragments that will help you develop the initial tools you will need for exploration and progression to deeper dives. Finally, its central location also allows you to travel to all parts of the map equally quickly while giving you a place to stop and refresh or drop off a full inventory if you’re making long haul trips from one side of the map to another. This location also allows you quick access to other, deeper regions of the game such as the Thermal Spires and the Purple Vents which contain more mid-game materials and locations.

Those in the community have also mentioned locations such as the geysers within the Thermal Spires biome and the Lilypad Islands biome as ideal locations to set up shop. Within the Thermal Spires you can use the Thermal Plant to collect energy and have closer access to locations such as the Koppa Mining Site, Delta Island, and the Tree Spires. The Lilypad Islands are perhaps more dangerous and less central but have great access to a variety of materials and plants that are used in mid to late-game crafting.

As you progress further into the game it will likely become necessary to build a base in-land as a protection from cold weather and as a place to drop off the materials you gather there. While there isn’t really any ‘perfect’ place to do this I would recommend bringing all the supplies necessary for the basics of a base when you do this – enough materials for a multipurpose room, a hatch, a fabricator, storage lockers, and some way of generating power. While there are some materials for these things in places like the Glacial Basin, they can sometimes be hard to find and you’ll save yourself a lot of time doing this.

Our Other Subnautica: Below Zero Guides

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  • Finding the Koppa Mining Site
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  • Resident Evil Village Guide – How to Get Juicy Game

If you have any tips to building the ultimate seabase in Below Zero that we failed to mention, let us know down below! If this guide helped you out then you could also share it to help out others on their journey through Sector Zero.