TL;DR
- Scan 3 Tadpole Fragments to unlock the blueprint.
- Build a large base with a Moonpool, Tadpole Dock, and Vehicle Fabricator.
- Craft the Tadpole using 2x Titanium Ingot, 1x Glass, 1x System Chip, and 1x Power Cell.
- The Tadpole provides unlimited oxygen while you pilot it and has a default crush depth of 250 meters.
- Upgrades like the Scout Ray Chassis and Depth Module extend what you can do with it.
Swimming everywhere in Subnautica 2 gets old fast. The Tadpole is your first personal submarine and the single biggest upgrade to your exploration setup in the early game. It generates its own oxygen, moves faster than swimming, and opens up deeper areas of the ocean that are simply out of reach on foot.
Getting one takes a bit of setup. You need to scan fragments, gather mid-game materials, and build the right infrastructure in your base. This guide walks you through the full process from start to finish.
What Is the Tadpole in Subnautica 2?
The Tadpole is a compact, egg-shaped one-person submarine. It is the first vehicle you can build in Subnautica 2 and acts as a direct successor to the Seamoth from the original game. It protects you from hostile creatures, provides unlimited oxygen while you’re inside it, and lets you explore far deeper than you could while free swimming.
By default, it can dive to a maximum of 250 meters before taking pressure damage. With upgrades, that limit can be pushed to 450 meters. It also has a hardpoint on its back where you can attach a Portable Storage, making it excellent for resource-gathering runs.
If you’re playing on Creative Mode, the Tadpole blueprint is already unlocked at the start. In Survival Mode, you need to scan fragments and build the required base infrastructure first.
Step 1: Find and Scan 3 Tadpole Fragments
You need to scan at least three Tadpole Fragments to unlock the vehicle blueprint. Fragments are scattered around the early-game waters near wrecks and colony ruins. Here are the most accessible locations:
Tadpole Fragment Location 1 — Old Habitat (370m North)
This fragment is at the back of the Old Habitat colony ruins, roughly 370 meters due north of the Lifepod. NOA will send you here during the early black box recording missions, so you’ll likely pass it naturally.
Tadpole Fragment Location 2 — 280m East-Northeast (Canyon Current)
Head 280 meters east-northeast of the Lifepod. There is a current that pulls you down a canyon. The Tadpole Fragment is next to a cargo container with a Hydroelectric Turbine. Ride the current down to find it.
Tadpole Fragment Location 3 — Cicada Wreck / Lander Garage (380m ENE)
Follow the same canyon current a bit further, and you’ll arrive at a crashed ship called the Cicada Wreck. The fragment is next to a scannable Bioreactor inside the Lander Garage area.
Tadpole Fragment Location 4 — 420m North-Northeast (Alterra Crash Plateau)
This fragment sits on a plateau near a crashed Alterra ship, approximately 420 meters north-northeast of the Lifepod. The Ruby blackbox recording is right next to it, so you may already be in the area if you’re following story objectives.
Tadpole Fragment Location 5 — Northeast Drop-Off (Crater Edge)
Head northeast from the Lifepod, cross the drop-off, and follow the wall straight down toward the crater edge. You’ll find colony wreckage in the area. The Tadpole Fragment is among the debris.
You only need three scans to unlock the blueprint. Pick whichever locations are easiest for you to reach based on your current oxygen supply and gear. Make sure you have your Scanner ready before heading out.
Note: The Tadpole Pens story location also contains multiple fragments, but you need the heat tolerance adaptation before entering. See our guide on how to get the heat tolerance trait before attempting that area.
Step 2: Set Up Your Base for the Tadpole
You cannot build the Tadpole directly from the Lifepod Fabricator. You need a proper base setup with at least three components: a Moonpool, a Tadpole Dock, and a Vehicle Fabricator. All three must be in place before you can craft the vehicle.
If you haven’t started building a base yet, check out our guide on how to unlock the Habitat Builder and our breakdown of what to build in your base first.
Build a Large Enough Room
Start by building a large base room with plenty of open space underneath. The Tadpole Dock extends a significant distance downward from the Moonpool floor. If there are obstructions below, the Tadpole won’t be able to dock. Building your base over deeper water gives you the clearance you need. Many players recommend having at least four interconnected rooms before attempting this build.
Build the Moonpool
The Moonpool is the core structure your Tadpole launches and docks from. It requires 5x Titanium to build. Place it inside your large room with the empty space below it. The Tadpole Dock and Vehicle Fabricator must both be attached directly to the sides of the Moonpool.
Need Titanium? Our guide on how to get Titanium in Subnautica 2 will help.
Build the Tadpole Dock
The Tadpole Dock automatically recharges your Tadpole’s Power Cell while the base is powered. Attach it to one side of the Moonpool. You don’t need it to build the Tadpole, but you’ll absolutely want it before going on any serious dive. Running out of power mid-ocean is a painful situation.
Materials for the Tadpole Dock:
- 2x Titanium Ingot
- 1x Silver Ingot
- 2x Copper Wire
For Silver, check our guide on where to find Silver in Subnautica 2. For Copper, see where to find Copper. All ingots are made using the Processor — see our guide on how to build a Processor and craft ingots.
Build the Vehicle Fabricator
The Vehicle Fabricator is what you actually use to craft the Tadpole. Attach it to a different side of the Moonpool from the Tadpole Dock.
Materials for the Vehicle Fabricator:
- 2x Titanium Ingot
- 1x Copper Ingot
- 2x Glass
Glass is made from Quartz at the Fabricator. See our guide on how to get Quartz in Subnautica 2 if you need help sourcing it.
Step 3: Gather the Materials to Craft the Tadpole
With the Vehicle Fabricator in place, you’re almost ready. Now you need the actual crafting materials for the Tadpole itself.
Tadpole Core Vehicle materials:
- 2x Titanium Ingot
- 1x Glass
- 1x System Chip
- 1x Power Cell
How to Craft a System Chip
The System Chip is made from a Wiring Kit and 2x Quartz. The Wiring Kit itself requires Silver and Copper. Make sure you have both materials farmed before you start the crafting chain.
How to Craft a Power Cell
The Power Cell is the trickiest part. It requires:
- 2x Basic Battery
- 1x Strong Acid
- 1x Salt
Strong Acid comes from Necrolei Cysts found in the Jelly Barrens north of the Lifepod, roughly 321 meters northwest near coral formations. You can read our full guide on how to get Necrolei Cysts and Strong Acid.
Salt is easy to find in nearby caves. Our guide on how to get Salt in Subnautica 2 shows exactly where to look. It’s worth crafting an extra Power Cell as a backup once you’ve made your first one.
Step 4: Build the Tadpole
With all three Moonpool structures built and your materials ready, walk up to the Vehicle Fabricator and interact with it. Select Vehicles and then select Tadpole. Confirm the craft and your submarine will appear in the Moonpool below.
To get inside, face the Tadpole and select the Pilot prompt. You’re now ready to explore the deeper ocean.
How the Tadpole Works
Here are the key things to know once you have the Tadpole:
- Oxygen: The Tadpole generates unlimited oxygen while you’re inside it. You can explore indefinitely without watching your air meter.
- Power: The vehicle has 100 power that depletes as you drive. Dock it at the Tadpole Dock to recharge passively, or manually swap in a fresh Power Cell through the hatch on top.
- Durability: The Tadpole starts with 100 durability. It takes damage from creature attacks and from bumping into obstacles. Use the Repair Tool to restore it. Unlock this tool as early as possible.
- Crush Depth: Default maximum depth is 250 meters. Going deeper causes hull damage. Use the Depth Module upgrade to extend this to 450 meters.
- Noise: The Tadpole is loud. In early areas this doesn’t matter much, but in predator-heavy zones it can attract Leviathans. The Cavitation Muffler module reduces this risk.
- Storage: Attach a Portable Storage to the hardpoint on the back for dedicated resource-gathering runs.
- Co-op: Friends can grab onto the side latches while you drive. See our full Subnautica 2 co-op multiplayer guide for more details.
Tadpole Upgrades and Chassis
Once you have the Tadpole, you can improve it significantly. Upgrades come in two types: chassis attachments built at the Vehicle Fabricator, and upgrade modules crafted at the Modification Station.
The Modification Station requires 2x Titanium, 2x Celestine, and 2x Copper to build. Equip upgrade modules by interacting with the slot compartment on top of the Tadpole. You can fit up to four modules at once, and some can be stacked.
Scout Ray Chassis
This maximizes the Tadpole’s acceleration, top speed, and turn rate. It’s the best chassis for fast solo exploration and scouting runs. The blueprint is found inside the Tadpole Pens story location.
Materials: 2x Plasteel Ingot, 1x Advanced Wiring Kit, 1x Dedicated Core, 1x Strong Acid.
Haul Chassis
Adds catamaran cargo pods, a second hardpoint for utility tools, and seating for up to three additional passengers. Best choice for resource runs and co-op transport. Unlock by scanning Haul Chassis fragments.
Depth Module Mk. I
Increases the Tadpole’s maximum safe depth from 250 meters to 450 meters. Essential before diving into deeper biomes. This module does not stack.
Materials: 3x Celestine, 2x Enameled Glass, 1x System Chip.
Engine Efficiency Module
Reduces power consumption by 20% per module. Can be stacked up to four times for a maximum of 80% power reduction. Great for long exploration sessions.
Materials: 1x Titanium Ingot, 2x Glass, 1x System Chip.
Cavitation Muffler
Reduces the noise the Tadpole produces, making it safer to drive through areas with aggressive predators and Leviathans.
Common Tadpole Building Problems (And How to Fix Them)
The Tadpole Dock Won’t Place
This almost always means there isn’t enough vertical clearance below the Moonpool. Demolish and rebuild the base in a location over deeper water. Demolishing returns all your materials, so you won’t lose anything.
The Moonpool Blueprint Isn’t Unlocking
The Moonpool blueprint unlocks automatically after you scan your second Tadpole Fragment. If you haven’t scanned two yet, keep searching. If it still doesn’t appear after two scans, try scanning a third.
Can’t Find the Vehicle Fabricator Blueprint
The Vehicle Fabricator blueprint is found inside the Tadpole Pens story location. You need the heat tolerance adaptation to safely enter that area. Don’t attempt it without unlocking that trait first. Use the Scanner Station to help track down the materials you need.
Running Out of Oxygen Trying to Reach Fragments
The Standard Air Tank upgrade and Air Bladder help significantly with deeper fragment locations. The Wakemaker also speeds up your swimming so you spend less time in the water and use less oxygen overall.
Tips Before You Build the Tadpole
- Have your Processor running before you start gathering materials. Almost everything requires ingots, and you don’t want to stop mid-build to set it up.
- Build your base in advance so it’s large enough. Trying to expand the base after placing the Moonpool often causes placement issues.
- Craft an extra Power Cell immediately after building the Tadpole. You’ll want a spare for long dives before you have the Tadpole Dock running.
- Always keep the Repair Tool equipped when piloting. The Tadpole takes damage easily, and without it, you risk losing your vehicle mid-dive.
- If you die while exploring, the Tadpole stays where you left it. Read our guide on what happens when you die in Subnautica 2 so you know how to recover your situation.
For a wider view of smart early-game decisions, check our best early upgrades and progression path guide and our beginner tips and tricks for Subnautica 2.
More Subnautica 2 Guides
- How to get Sulfur
- How to get Rubber from Lucifer Rotsac
- How to harvest large resource nodes
- Where to find Lead
- How to get Fiber and Fibrous Pulp
- How to get an Acidic Raion Pouch
- How to unlock blueprints and crafting recipes
- How to swim faster
- How to get the Flashlight
- Subnautica 2 Early Access launch times
Subnautica 2 is available now on Steam and Xbox, including Xbox Game Pass.
