Subnautica 2: How to Unlock All Vehicle Upgrades and Modifications

Subnautica 2 vehicle upgrades are what turn your basic Tadpole into a capable deep-sea machine. Without them, you are capped at 250 metres, burning through power fast, and one leviathan encounter away from losing your vehicle. This guide covers every upgrade module, chassis attachment, and tool modification available in the current Early Access build – where to find the blueprint and what you need to craft each one.

You can get into the game now via Subnautica 2 on Steam or on Xbox Game Preview.

TL;DR

• You need the Modification Station to craft all upgrade modules. Scan it at the Alien Ruins Research Outpost.
• The Modification Station costs 2x Titanium, 2x Celestine, and 2x Copper.
• The Tadpole has four upgrade module slots. Modules can be swapped freely with no material loss.
• Only one chassis can be equipped at a time. Press Q to remove a chassis before switching.
• Depth Module Mk. I and Engine Efficiency are the most important upgrades to get first.
• Engine Efficiency stacks up to four times for an 80% total power reduction.
• The Depth Module raises your crush depth from 250 metres to 450 metres.
• Tool modifications like the Bioscanner and Feedback Resonator are crafted at the Modification Station too.

How Upgrades Work in Subnautica 2

There are two types of vehicle enhancements in Subnautica 2: upgrade modules and chassis attachments.

Upgrade modules are crafted at the Modification Station and slotted into the upgrade compartment on top of your Tadpole, just above the Power Cell hatch. Interact with the hatch to open the module bay and drag modules in from your inventory. Your Tadpole has four module slots. Modules can be removed and swapped at any time with no material loss.

Chassis attachments are structural additions to the Tadpole body. They are built at the Vehicle Fabricator, not the Modification Station. You can only have one chassis equipped at a time. To switch, press Q to detach the current chassis first.

Most upgrade blueprints are unlocked by finding a Recipe Data Card or scanning the relevant equipment in the world. Some are tied to story progression. If you have not built your Tadpole yet, start with our guide on how to build a Tadpole in Subnautica 2.

How to Unlock the Modification Station

Before you can craft any upgrade module, you need the Modification Station built inside your base. Scan the one found inside the Alien Ruins Research Outpost, located roughly 1,300 metres east of your Lifepod near a tall alien tower landmark. One scan is all you need to unlock the blueprint.

Once you have the blueprint, build it using the Habitat Builder. The crafting cost is:

• 2x Titanium
• 2x Celestine
• 2x Copper

Celestine is found in the Alien Ruins biome. If you need help getting it, see our guide on how to get Celestine in Subnautica 2. For Titanium and Copper, check our guides on how to get Titanium and where to find Copper.

All Tadpole Upgrade Modules

Depth Module Mk. I

This is the single most important upgrade in the game. Without it, your Tadpole has a crush depth of 250 metres, which cuts you off from most of the mid and late-game biomes. The Depth Module Mk. I raises that limit to 450 metres.

Blueprint location: Found as a Recipe Data Card inside the Alien Ruins Research Outpost, roughly 1,300 metres east of the Lifepod. Enter the building and look to the right to find the module blinking on a table.

Crafting recipe: 1x Titanium Ingot, 2x Glass, 1x System Chip

Craft this before anything else. Many areas you need to reach for story progression and resource farming are gated behind this upgrade. For more on diving deeper, see our guide on how to go deeper with the Tadpole Depth Module.

Engine Efficiency Module

This reduces how much power the Tadpole’s engines draw from the Power Cell by 20% per module. The best part: it stacks. You can fill all four module slots with Engine Efficiency for an 80% total reduction in power draw, which dramatically extends how far you can travel on a single charge.

Blueprint location: Inside the Alien Ruins Research Outpost, in the same building where you find the Modification Station blueprint. Head inside through the hatch and turn right.

Crafting recipe: 1x Titanium Ingot, 2x Glass, 1x System Chip

A practical tip: once you have the Depth Module installed, fill the remaining three slots with Engine Efficiency. That gives you deep dive capability plus a 60% power reduction, which covers most situations you will face.

Photovoltaic Charger

This module charges the Tadpole’s Power Cell using solar energy. It works in shallow water during the daytime, making it useful for surface and mid-depth routes when you do not want to return to base to recharge.

Blueprint location: Inside an Alterra starship wreck located about 120 metres depth. From the Alien Ruins Research Outpost, head at roughly 120 degrees on the compass until you reach the wreck. Enter through the left door, go straight, turn right at the broken door after repairing it, then take the door in the left corner. The module is in that final room.

Crafting recipe: 1x Copper Ingot, 1x Strong Acid, 1x Troilite

This upgrade pairs well with Engine Efficiency for daytime surface loops. It is not a substitute for a proper charging dock on deep-dive runs, but it extends range on shallower routes. If you need Troilite for the recipe, our Troilite location guide will help. For Strong Acid, check how to get Strong Acid in Subnautica 2.

Cavitation Muffler

This module reduces the noise your Tadpole makes while moving. Predators will not notice you unless you get very close to them. It is the stealth option – better for avoiding encounters entirely than trying to survive them.

Blueprint location: Found at a platform near the eastern edge of the accessible area, past the Alien Ruins at roughly 70 degrees bearing. A Recipe Data Card is on the platform. Stay off the void wall in this area or you risk encountering a Leviathan.

Crafting recipe: 1x Copper Ingot, 1x Creature Enamel, 1x Troilite

If you prefer to avoid creature encounters rather than tank through them, slot this in over Strike Armor. It does not stack, so one is enough. For help dealing with creatures in general, see our guide on how to deal with hostile creatures in Subnautica 2. You can also find Creature Enamel using our guide on where to find Creature Enamel.

Strike Armor

Strike Armor reduces all incoming damage to the Tadpole by 50% when installed. It is a defensive option for routes that take you through creature-dense zones.

Blueprint location: A Recipe Data Card found at a smaller abandoned alien site south-southwest of the main Alien Ruins base, about 50 metres deeper. Start from the abandoned base near the giant alien tower and move in that direction until you reach the secondary site. Pick up the card from the research desk inside.

Crafting recipe: 2x Enameled Glass, 2x Strontium

Strontium is processed from Celestine at the Processor. Strike Armor is worth installing after your Depth Module and Engine Efficiency are already in place. It is a comfort upgrade rather than a core one.

All Tadpole Chassis Attachments

Scout Ray Chassis

The Scout Ray Chassis adds wings to the Tadpole, increasing speed and maneuverability. It makes the vehicle feel noticeably faster in open water and is the better chassis for solo exploration routes.

Blueprint location: Found inside the Tadpole Pens, located around 666 metres east of the Lifepod. Scan the vehicle remains inside the building to the right of the compartment with the investigative beacon. You need the Heat Adaptation upgrade to reach this area safely.

For help with the Tadpole Pens locked door, see our guide on Tadpole Pens keycode and locked door.

Haul Chassis

The Haul Chassis increases the length of the Tadpole and adds extra storage capacity. In multiplayer, it also allows four players to be seated at once. The trade-off is reduced mobility – the vehicle handles more slowly with this attached.

Blueprint location: Also at the Tadpole Pens area, at roughly 290 metres depth. Scan the broken Tadpole beside the module to unlock it. Leave your own Tadpole above 250 metres when diving for this one to avoid pressure damage.

If you are playing with others, the Haul Chassis is very useful for group resource runs. See our Subnautica 2 multiplayer co-op guide for more on how co-op works.

Tool Modifications

Two tool modifications are currently available in Early Access. Both are crafted at the Modification Station and both require Conduit Crystal, which is found in the Karakorum Power Plant area.

Bioscanner

The Bioscanner is an upgraded version of the standard Scanner. It lets you scan flora and fauna to unlock Biomods at the Biolab. It is also required to repair the broken turbine in the Alien Power Plant, which is a campaign objective. The base Scanner is consumed when crafting it.

Blueprint location: Inside the Cicada Wreck (EVA Prep), southeast of the massive alien power plant structure east of the Alien Ruins.

Crafting recipe: 1x Scanner, 2x Enameled Glass, 3x Conduit Crystal

For the full guide on getting this tool, see how to get the Bioscanner in Subnautica 2. For Conduit Crystal, check our guide on where to find Conduit Crystal. For all Biomods you can unlock with it, see our full guide on all Biomods and how to get them.

Feedback Resonator

The Feedback Resonator fires a projectile wave of sound. It breaks shielded Cankers and stuns wildlife, making it very useful in hostile areas. It is an upgrade to the Sonic Resonator and is one of the better tools for dealing with late-game threats.

Blueprint location: Scan fragments in the Cicada Wreck (Therapy Room), east of the Alien Power Plant, and also near the Metal Farms area.

Crafting recipe: 1x Sonic Resonator, 2x Enameled Glass, 2x Conduit Crystal, 2x Strong Acid

For the full breakdown on this tool, see our guide on how to get the Feedback Resonator in Subnautica 2.

Best Upgrade Order to Follow

With limited resources and module slots, here is the order that makes the most sense for most players:

1. Build the Modification Station first. Nothing else unlocks without it.
2. Craft the Depth Module Mk. I. This opens up the mid-game biomes and is required for story progression.
3. Add Engine Efficiency modules. Fill remaining slots for longer range. Two or three is plenty for most runs.
4. Get the Scout Ray Chassis if you are playing solo and want better speed and handling.
5. Craft the Cavitation Muffler or Strike Armor depending on your playstyle. Stealth or tank.
6. Add the Photovoltaic Charger for daytime shallow routes when you want extra range without going back to base.
7. Unlock the Bioscanner before tackling the Alien Power Plant repair mission.
8. Craft the Feedback Resonator for late-game zones with heavy creature presence.

For a broader look at progression, see our guide on the best early upgrades and progression path in Subnautica 2.

Tips for Managing Your Upgrade Slots

• Swap modules based on the route. Deep dive? Depth Module plus Engine Efficiency. Shallow farming loop? Swap in the Photovoltaic Charger. Creature-heavy zone? Cavitation Muffler.
• Modules are never lost when removed. You can swap freely. Do not worry about committing permanently to a loadout.
• Depth Modules do not stack. Two Mk. I modules give no extra benefit over one. Save the slot for something else.
• Engine Efficiency does stack. Up to four times, for 80% total reduction. It is the only module worth filling multiple slots with.
• Cavitation Muffler does not stack. One is the maximum useful amount.

Running out of rare materials when crafting upgrades? Set up a Metal Farm to get a steady supply of Troilite and Atacamite without constant manual farming. It is one of the best late-game structures for sustaining your upgrade progression.

For more on the game, visit the official Subnautica website. And if you are just getting started, our Subnautica 2 beginner tips are a good place to begin.