TL;DR
- Fibrous Pulp comes from underwater plants cut with the Survival Multitool.
- Best plants: Whip Gorgon, Feather Kelp, Macaron Sponge, Lucifer Rotsac, Curtain Gorgon.
- Most plants are within 300 meters of your Lifepod.
- Turn Fibrous Pulp into Fiber at the Fabricator under Basic Materials.
- Fiber is used to craft Fiber Mesh, Basic Fins, First Aid Kits, and the Rebreather.
- Fibrous Pulp can also be cooked into Oily Salad for food.
If you just started Subnautica 2 and you are trying to craft Basic Fins or the Rebreather, you are going to need Fiber. And Fiber comes from Fibrous Pulp. This guide will walk you through every step — what Fibrous Pulp is, where to find it, how to harvest it, and how to turn it into Fiber.
New to the game? Check out our Subnautica 2 beginner tips before diving in.
What Is Fibrous Pulp in Subnautica 2?
Fibrous Pulp is a raw plant material. The in-game description calls it “raw, fibrous biomatter.” You harvest it from underwater flora, and it is one of the first resources you will need after leaving your Lifepod.
It has two main uses. You can process it at the Fabricator to make Fiber, or you can cook it into Oily Salad, one of the earliest food recipes available to you.
Fiber itself is used in 9 different crafting recipes. So you are going to want a steady supply of Fibrous Pulp from the very start.
What You Need Before You Start: The Survival Multitool
You cannot harvest Fibrous Pulp with your bare hands. You need a Survival Multitool first.
The good news is that this tool is one of the first things you can craft. The blueprint is unlocked from day one. To craft it, you only need 2 Titanium Ore. Head to the Fabricator inside your Lifepod and build it from the crafting menu.
If you are not sure where to find Titanium or how the Fabricator works, see our guide on finding early resources in Subnautica 2. Once you have the Survival Multitool, you are ready to start harvesting.
Also make sure you have unlocked your basic crafting recipes. Our Subnautica 2 blueprint unlock guide can help if you are confused about the crafting system.
How to Harvest Fibrous Pulp
Walk or swim up to any of the plants listed below. Equip your Survival Multitool and use it on the plant. You will get Fibrous Pulp added to your inventory.
Some plants like Lucifer Rotsac will respawn their branches after a short time. That means you can farm the same plants repeatedly without travelling far.
One tip: carry a Portable Locker with you. There is one inside the cave directly under your Lifepod. Bringing it lets you store extra Fibrous Pulp on the go instead of running back to base constantly.
Where to Find Fibrous Pulp: All Plant Locations
The following plants all give Fibrous Pulp when cut with the Survival Multitool. Most of them are very close to your starting Lifepod.
Whip Gorgon
This is the easiest one to find right at the start. Look directly beneath your Lifepod in the shallow water. Whip Gorgon looks like thick, red tufts of tentacle grass. The tricky part is that it blends in with nearby seagrass, which you cannot harvest. Look carefully — Whip Gorgon has a slightly different, fuller shape.
Cut it with the Survival Multitool and you will get Fibrous Pulp quickly without any swimming or exploration needed.
Feather Kelp
Feather Kelp is dark pink in color and grows on rocks inside caves. There is a cave just 100 meters northwest of the Lifepod on the sea floor that is packed with Feather Kelp. You will find tons of it growing on the rock surfaces.
In fact, Feather Kelp grows in most caves throughout the early game area. If you explore any cave, chances are you will find some. This is one of the best bulk sources early on.
Macaron Sponge
Head 302 meters northeast of your Lifepod at a depth of 30 meters. You will find a large cluster of Macaron Sponge growing on the rock surface. Because they grow in a group, you can grab a lot of Fibrous Pulp from a single trip here.
Lucifer Rotsac
Lucifer Rotsac grows around the base of your starter area. Cut its branches for Fibrous Pulp. The best part is that the branches respawn after a short time, making this one of the most reliable farming spots in the early game. Come back every so often and harvest the same plants again.
There is also a cluster of Lucifer Rotsac on top of Research Facility, located 1,290 meters east of the Lifepod at a depth of 127 meters. This is more of a mid-game location, but useful if you find yourself in that area.
Need Lucifer Rotsac for rubber crafting too? Check out our Subnautica 2 early upgrades guide for the full progression path.
Curtain Gorgon
Curtain Gorgon is a mushroom-type plant that grows on corals near the Lifepod. It is one of the best sources in the very early game. You will find plenty of them in the caves near the Lifepod, often alongside Feather Kelp.
Freesia Flower
This small flower becomes more useful later in the game, especially once you reach the Axum biome. The Axum biome has fewer Fibrous Pulp sources than the starter area, and Freesia Flower is one of the reliable ones there. Keep an eye out for it once you move deeper into the game.
Fibrous Pulp Farming Tips
- Start near the Lifepod. Whip Gorgon, Curtain Gorgon, and Lucifer Rotsac are all within swimming distance. You do not need to go far in the first hour.
- Check every cave. Feather Kelp almost always grows inside caves. Every cave you explore is a chance to stock up.
- Use the Portable Locker. Grab the one from the cave under your Lifepod. It saves constant back-and-forth trips.
- Farm Lucifer Rotsac repeatedly. Since it respawns, it is your most reliable long-term source early on.
- Expand your inventory. Interact with Biobeds when you find them to increase your carry capacity.
- Visit the northeast Macaron Sponge cluster. 302 meters northeast, 30 meters deep. One trip can fill your inventory.
If you want to move through the water faster while farming, read our guide on how to swim faster in Subnautica 2.
How to Craft Fiber from Fibrous Pulp
Once you have Fibrous Pulp in your inventory, go to the Fabricator. This is the machine inside your Lifepod. It already has power from the start of the game.
Open the Fabricator menu and go to the Resources tab. Look for the Basic Materials section — that is the second section from the left. You will see the Fiber recipe there. As long as you have Fibrous Pulp in your inventory, it will be available to craft.
Select it and craft. That is it. You now have Fiber.
Important note for base builders: If you build your own Fabricator at a base, it will not have power automatically. You need to connect it to a power source first. The Lifepod Fabricator always works, so use that if you are just starting out. Want to know more about base building? See our guide on what to build in your base first.
What Is Fiber Used For in Subnautica 2?
Fiber is used in 9 crafting recipes. Here are the most important ones you will need early:
- Fiber Mesh — A key crafting material used in multiple recipes.
- Basic Fins — Lets you swim significantly faster. A must-have early upgrade.
- Rebreather — Essential for exploring deeper water without running out of oxygen.
- Basic First Aid Kit — Heals you. Fiber Mesh is required for this.
- Enhanced First Aid Kit — An upgraded version of the First Aid Kit.
The Rebreather in particular is one of the most important items you will need as you explore deeper. It requires Fiber Mesh, so building up a stock of Fibrous Pulp is worth doing early. Check out our guide on how to unlock the Habitat Builder as you progress.
Can You Use Fibrous Pulp for Food?
Yes. Fibrous Pulp is also a food ingredient. You can cook it at a cooking station into Oily Salad. This is one of the very first food recipes available in the game. It is easy to make because Fibrous Pulp is so common.
This means Fibrous Pulp serves double duty — it is both a crafting material and a food source. In the early game, you will likely gather more than you need for crafting, and the extra can go toward keeping your hunger bar full.
For more food options, see our full guide on the best early food sources in Subnautica 2.
Fibrous Pulp in the Axum Biome (Mid-Late Game)
Once you progress further into the game and reach the Axum biome, Fibrous Pulp becomes harder to find. There are fewer plants that give it in this area. Your main options there are:
- Freesia Flower — A small flower found in parts of the Axum biome.
- Lucifer Rotsac — Found on top of Research Facility 1,290 meters east of the Lifepod at 127 meters depth.
Plan ahead. Before you push into the Axum biome, stock up on Fibrous Pulp and convert some to Fiber. Keep a reserve, because finding more will take longer out there.
Summary: Getting Fiber & Fibrous Pulp Fast
Here is the quick version of everything above:
- Craft a Survival Multitool using 2 Titanium Ore at the Fabricator.
- Swim beneath or near your Lifepod and cut Whip Gorgon, Curtain Gorgon, or Lucifer Rotsac.
- Visit the cave 100 meters northwest for Feather Kelp.
- Go 302 meters northeast at 30 meters depth for a big Macaron Sponge cluster.
- Return to the Fabricator, open the Resources tab, and craft Fiber under Basic Materials.
- Use Fiber to craft Fiber Mesh, Basic Fins, First Aid Kits, or the Rebreather.
Fibrous Pulp is one of those resources that feels overwhelming at first because the plants blend into the background. Once you know which ones to cut, you will never run short. The area around your Lifepod alone has more than enough to keep you stocked for a long time.
Looking for more help getting started? See our complete Subnautica 2 multiplayer co-op guide, learn how to craft the Scanner, or check out how to make water to stay hydrated on your dives. You can grab the game on Steam or Xbox if you haven’t already.
