Look, if there’s one thing survival games love is making sure you stay hydrated—and StarRupture is no exception. Even when you’re stranded on an alien planet, your body still needs water to function. The good news? This hostile world actually has water sources. The bad news? You can’t just walk up to a lake and start chugging.
If you’ve been watching your hydration meter tick down while frantically searching for a way to drink water, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about finding and consuming water in StarRupture.
Finding Your First Water Source in StarRupture
Water in StarRupture isn’t as straightforward as you might expect. You can’t simply approach a river or lake and drink directly from it (trust me, I wish it worked that way too). Instead, you’ll need to look for water sources that appear as small waterways or lakes scattered across the map.
Once you’ve located one of these water sources, don’t try to interact with the water itself. Instead, keep your eyes peeled for special plants growing around the water’s edge—these are your ticket to hydration.
What Are Hydrobulbs and How Do You Use Them?
The plants you’re looking for are called Hydrobulbs, and they’re essentially nature’s water bottles in StarRupture. These glowing, bulbous plants can be collected and consumed to restore your hydration levels.
Here’s what makes Hydrobulbs valuable:
- Hydration boost: Each Hydrobulb restores 15 points of hydration when consumed
- Data Points source: You can also analyze them at the Analyzing Station for 5 Data Points
- Easy to collect: They’re abundant around water sources, making them perfect for mass collection early game
How To Drink Hydrobulbs
Once you’ve collected some Hydrobulbs, here’s how to actually use them:
- Open your inventory
- Find the Hydrobulb in your items list
- Press the expand button (usually right-click on PC)
- Select the Use option
- Your character will consume the Hydrobulb and restore their hydration meter
It’s honestly pretty simple once you know where to look. I recommend stockpiling these whenever you’re near water sources—you’ll thank yourself later when you’re exploring far from any lakes.
Upgrading Your Hydration Game
Hydrobulbs are great for beginners, but they’re just the starting point. As you progress in StarRupture and unlock more crafting options at the Recipe Station, you can create much more efficient hydration items.
Advanced Hydration Items You Can Craft:
- Aqua Fluid – Your first upgrade from raw Hydrobulbs
- Aqua Bar – Portable and convenient
- Aqua Chew – Quick consumption option
- Aqua Gel – More concentrated hydration
- Aqua Stim Shards – Enhanced effects
- Aqua Block Capsules – Top-tier hydration solution
Each of these upgraded items provides better hydration efficiency and takes up less inventory space, which becomes increasingly important as you explore more of the map and gather other essential resources like Calcium or Meteorite Hearts.
Other Food and Hydration Sources
Water isn’t your only concern in StarRupture—you’ll also need to manage your hunger. Fortunately, the planet offers several food sources that can help keep you alive:
Natural food sources:
- Prickler – Found in specific areas
- Figler – Another harvestable plant
Crafted nutrition items:
- Nutri Fluid
- Nutri Bar
- Nutri Chew
- Nutri Gel
- Nutri Stim Shards
- Nutri Block Capsules
These nutrition items work similarly to the Aqua series but focus on hunger instead of hydration. Managing both stats is crucial for survival, especially when you’re out exploring or learning how to destroy buildings and rails.
Pro Tips for Managing Hydration
- Always carry extra Hydrobulbs during exploration—you never know when you’ll be far from water
- Unlock the Recipe Station ASAP to start crafting more efficient hydration items
- Balance your inventory between hydration items, healing tools, and other essentials
- Use the Analyzing Station strategically—Hydrobulbs give decent Data Points early game
- Mark water sources on your map so you can return when needed
For more survival tips and character-specific strategies, check out our other StarRupture guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink directly from lakes or rivers in StarRupture?
No, you cannot drink directly from water sources in StarRupture. You must collect Hydrobulbs (the plants growing near water) and consume them from your inventory to restore hydration.
How much hydration does a Hydrobulb restore?
Each Hydrobulb restores 15 points of hydration when consumed. They’re abundant around water sources, so you can easily collect multiple at once to keep your hydration levels stable.
What’s the best way to stay hydrated in the late game?
Once you unlock the Recipe Station, focus on crafting advanced hydration items like Aqua Gel, Aqua Stim Shards, or Aqua Block Capsules. These provide more efficient hydration per inventory slot compared to raw Hydrobulbs.
Should I use Hydrobulbs for Data Points or drinking water?
Early in the game, prioritize drinking Hydrobulbs to stay hydrated since they’re easy to find. Once you have a steady supply and have unlocked better hydration items, you can start analyzing them for the 5 Data Points they provide at the Analyzing Station.
Ready to dive deeper into StarRupture? Grab the game on Steam and visit the official website for more information. Don’t forget to stock up on grenades for when things get tough out there!
