How to Get a Flashlight in Subnautica 2 (Blueprint Locations)

TL;DR

• The Flashlight blueprint requires scanning two Flashlight fragments — the blueprint does not unlock automatically.
• Fragment 1: In an open container at the bottom of the cave directly under your Lifepod.
• Fragment 2: In an open container inside the Coral Dome cave, 30m east of the Lifepod, about 11m down.
• You need a Scanner to scan the fragments — craft it first before going out.
• Once you have the blueprint, craft the Flashlight in the Personal tab of the Lifepod Fabricator.
• The Flashlight needs a Basic Battery to power it — carry a spare for when it runs out.
• The Wakemaker has a built-in light source and eventually replaces the standalone Flashlight — but the Flashlight is still worth having early.

Why You Need a Flashlight in Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2 takes place on a dark alien ocean world. The moment you dive below the surface and start exploring caves or push into deeper water, the light disappears fast. Caves are nearly pitch black. Without a light source, you will miss copper nodes on walls, fail to spot dangerous plants, and generally stumble around unable to see what you are doing.

The Flashlight is one of the first major tools you should unlock after getting your Scanner. It makes every cave run safer and more productive. This guide covers exactly where to find the two Flashlight fragments you need, how to craft one, and a few tips for using it well.

If you are still stuck on earlier steps, check out our guide on how to fix the “Requires Fully Functional Fabricator” error in Subnautica 2 — getting your base Fabricator working is closely tied to the same progression stage as unlocking the Flashlight.

How the Flashlight Blueprint Works in Subnautica 2

Unlike some basic recipes that unlock automatically, the Flashlight blueprint is not available by default. You need to scan broken Flashlight fragments out in the world using your Scanner tool. Each fragment you scan fills a progress bar. Once you scan two Flashlights, the blueprint unlocks and the recipe appears in your Fabricator.

Each broken Flashlight can only be scanned once. So you need to find two separate fragments — scanning the same one twice does not count. The good news is that both of the easiest fragments are very close to your Lifepod. You can grab both on your first or second dive out without going far at all.

Important: You must have the Scanner crafted and in your hotbar before you go looking. Without it, you cannot scan anything. If you do not have a Scanner yet, build one first — it requires 2x Titanium, 2x Quartz, and 1x Basic Battery, all crafted at the Lifepod Fabricator.

Flashlight Fragment Location 1: Cave Under the Lifepod

This is the closest and easiest Flashlight fragment in the game. It is right underneath you from the moment you surface.

Here is how to find it:

• Dive off your Lifepod and swim straight down into the hole in the ocean floor directly below it.
• Follow the cave down to the bottom.
• Look for an open container at the base of the cave — the Flashlight fragment is sitting inside it.
• Equip your Scanner, aim at the Flashlight, and scan it.

This cave is also a great spot to grab Copper from the walls and Acidic Raion Pouches from the plants inside, so make sure you collect those while you are here too. You can check our Subnautica 2 copper guide for more on what to pick up in this cave.

Flashlight Fragment Location 2: Coral Dome Cave, 30m East

The second Flashlight fragment is also very close — inside the cave beneath the first Coral Dome to the east of your Lifepod.

Here is how to find it:

• Surface from the Lifepod and swim east about 30 meters.
• You will see a large orange Coral Dome sticking out of the water — swim into it.
• Once inside the dome, dive down approximately 11 meters into the cave system beneath it.
• Find the open container inside the cave — the Flashlight fragment is inside.
• Scan it with your Scanner to complete the blueprint unlock.

Watch your oxygen while inside this cave. It is a short dive but the cave can disorient you if you are not careful. Look for blue bubble-emitting plants (Oxygen Tunics) if you need a quick air refill before surfacing.

How to Craft the Flashlight in Subnautica 2

Once you have scanned both fragments, the Flashlight blueprint appears in your Fabricator. Here is how to craft it:

1. Go to your Lifepod Fabricator and open the Personal tab.
2. Find the Flashlight in the tool list.
3. Gather the required materials — the Flashlight needs a small amount of Titanium and a Basic Battery.
4. Craft it and add it to your hotbar.

The Basic Battery is crafted separately in the Resources tab of the Fabricator using 2x Copper and 1x Acidic Raion Pouch. You likely already have these materials from your earlier cave run. If not, the cave directly under the Lifepod has both.

How to Use the Flashlight

Once the Flashlight is in your hotbar, equip it by pressing the corresponding hotbar slot. It turns on automatically when equipped and lights up the area in front of you. It is a handheld beam — not a wide floodlight — so aim it where you need to see.

The Flashlight runs on a Basic Battery. When the battery drains, the light goes out. To replace it, hold the Flashlight in your hand and press R to open the battery swap menu. Navigate to a spare battery and select it to reload. Always carry at least one spare battery before heading into a dark cave.

Other Flashlight Fragment Locations (If You Miss the First Two)

If you somehow miss the two easiest fragments, do not worry. Flashlight fragments appear in multiple locations around the starting area. Here are some additional spots to check:

• Wrecks and debris fields throughout the shallow starting biome — broken Flashlights are often tucked inside or around wreckage. Swim slowly through wrecks and watch for the scanner prompt to appear.
• Supply crates and outpost ruins near your Lifepod — anywhere there are signs of a past colony, there are likely scannable tools nearby.
• Caves heading north from the Lifepod — the area toward the Old Habitat has several cave systems that contain early-game tool fragments.

There are always more fragment locations than you need. The game never leaves you with only one path to a blueprint.

Do You Even Need the Flashlight? What About the Wakemaker?

This is a fair question. The Wakemaker — a pair of propulsion gauntlets that massively increases your swimming speed — also has a built-in light source. Once you unlock and craft the Wakemaker, many players find the standalone Flashlight redundant.

That said, the Flashlight is still worth having in the early game for a few reasons:

• You will unlock and craft the Flashlight well before the Wakemaker becomes available. Do not wait in the dark until you have the better tool.
• Caves in the early hours are genuinely hard to navigate without light. Missing copper nodes, hitting toxic plants, or getting turned around in the dark are all real problems without a Flashlight.
• The Flashlight is cheap and fast to craft. There is no reason not to have one.

So yes — get the Flashlight early. Upgrade to the Wakemaker later. Both serve their purpose at different stages of the game.

Tips for Using the Flashlight Effectively

• Always carry spare batteries — the Flashlight drains over time. Running out of light deep inside a dark cave is not fun. Keep at least one Basic Battery in your inventory whenever you go caving.
• Scan every Flashlight fragment you see even after unlocking the blueprint — scanning an already-unlocked item gives you a free piece of Titanium as compensation. Never skip a scan.
• Add it to your hotbar immediately — the Flashlight does nothing sitting in your inventory. Set a dedicated hotbar slot so you can toggle it quickly.
• Use it in caves before pushing deeper — even shallow caves near the Lifepod are dark enough to make resources hard to see without light. Don’t assume you can see well enough without it.
• Craft a second one as a backup once you have spare batteries — having a pre-charged spare means you never lose light mid-dive while swapping batteries.

What to Do After Getting the Flashlight

The Flashlight is one of the first major milestones in Subnautica 2 progression. Once you have it, the next priorities are the Habitat Builder (to build your base and get a fully functional Fabricator) and the Standard Air Tank (to extend your oxygen for longer dives).

For the full order of what to do, our Subnautica 2 best early upgrades and progression path guide lays it out step by step. And if you are still learning the basics, our Subnautica 2 beginner tips and tricks guide covers everything you need to survive the first few hours without dying repeatedly.

Playing with friends? The Subnautica 2 multiplayer and co-op guide explains how co-op works and how to share progression between players.

About Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2 launched into Early Access on May 14, 2026, developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment and published by Krafton. It runs on Unreal Engine 5 and supports up to four-player co-op. You can get it on PC via Steam or on Xbox Series X/S through the Xbox Store, including Xbox Game Pass. Before you jump in, check our Subnautica 2 release date, platforms, price, and where to play guide and our Subnautica 2 PC requirements guide.

Quick Recap: How to Get a Flashlight in Subnautica 2

• Craft a Scanner first — you cannot unlock blueprints without it.
• Fragment 1: Dive into the cave directly under the Lifepod. Open container at the bottom. Scan the Flashlight inside.
• Fragment 2: Swim 30m east to the first Coral Dome. Dive 11m into the cave below. Open container inside. Scan the Flashlight.
• Blueprint unlocks after two scans.
• Craft the Flashlight in the Personal tab of the Lifepod Fabricator using Titanium and a Basic Battery.
• Press R to swap batteries when it runs out — always carry a spare.
• The Wakemaker eventually replaces it, but get the Flashlight early — you need it long before the Wakemaker is available.