Best Base Locations in Subnautica 2: Complete Building & Power Guide

The best base locations in Subnautica 2 always strike a balance between space for construction, access to power, and nearby resources. It’s also ideal to have no toothy creatures swimming nearby. But planet Proteus isn’t a resort, so no one promises perfection.

In this guide, we’ll cover what’s needed to build and power a base, and then we’ll walk through the best spots in two key biomes: Coral Gardens and Karakorum.

What Do You Need to Build a Base in Subnautica 2?

If you’re already familiar and want to jump straight to the locations, scroll down. And for those just building their first Builder, we’ll briefly go over the necessary items and how to obtain them.

Here’s the bare minimum:

• Builder Tool – you can’t build anything without it. The blueprint unlocks after scanning two similar devices. One was found under the Arrival Center, the other in Camp One.

• A room blueprint—otherwise, instead of a proper base, you’ll only have corridors and hatches. Look for it in the Old Residential Base, in the Jellyfish Wasteland biome.
• Titanium and Quartz—and plenty of them. These resources are used for walls, cabinets, solar panels, and more. Both can be easily collected in the Coral Gardens.
• “Tadpole” with “Deep Module”—this is only useful if you want to build deep in the Karakorum (below 250m). For the other locations discussed below, you can get by with it for now.

How to Effectively Power a Base in Subnautica 2?

The more equipment you install inside, the more power-hungry your base will be. There are several ways to power it, and the choice depends on the biome and available resources.

• Solar panels are your first and most obvious option in the Coral Gardens. There’s plenty of sun there, and the panels are mounted on the outside. The downside: the power runs out at night unless you’ve installed extra panels.

• Hydroelectric turbines are powered by underwater currents. If you’ve found a suitable spot, place the turbine directly in the current. To transmit power to your base, use power transmitters (also known as wireless channels).
• Power transmitters don’t produce electricity themselves, but they do a great job of transferring it from turbines or thermal reactors to your base.

Power Grid and Power Generators on Proteus

There’s no universal power outlet. Survival on Proteus is dictated by strict rules—biomes, depth, and your current progress determine everything. Want stability? Build a hybrid grid. Relying on one generator type is a recipe for disaster.

Hydroelectric Turbine for Your Base

Look for an underwater current, and the main problem is solved. The Hydroelectric Turbine consistently produces 12 units per second, running 24/7 without any consumables. The basic recipe: 3 Titanium, 3 Copper, and 3 Silver. If you’re lucky enough to find a strong current, build several at once. They can be easily linked to a single node—you’ll need a Power Transmitter (1 Titanium plus 1 Copper), from where a chain extends directly to the airlock in 100-meter increments.

Where to find the blueprints? Search the bottom behind Camp One—there are two fragments located 365 and 390 meters southwest of the Escape Pod facility. Three of these turbines will cover the needs of a huge multi-room base (enough for a transport bay and a crafting station with extra power).

The Bioreactor as a Backup Power Source

The only machine that doesn’t care about the weather outside. The Bioreactor doesn’t require light, temperature, or currents—it can be installed right in the room. You’ll need a Processor, 2 Titanium Ingots, and 2 Copper Ingots. Assembling the blueprint will be a bit of a challenge, as the pieces are scattered around quite a bit:

• The first one is at a depth of 42 meters near the flooded Chapa base (approximately 220 meters southeast of the capsule).
• The second one is lying near some debris 400 meters to the northeast.
• The last one is hidden in a crate near the Zezuran Desert biome (390 meters to the east).

Consumption and output:

• Normal: 10 units/sec (standard consumption).
• Overdrive: 20 units/sec (2x Appetite).
• Off: 0.

A dangerous trap for beginners—on Normal mode, this furnace burns resources even when the external grid completely covers consumption. Turn it off manually. What to burn? Forget raw fish and coral. The optimal choice is Biofuel Blocks. Mix 5 units of Fiber Mass and 3 Penta (or 2 Crab Poop) through the Processor to get the longest-lasting energy drink.

Solar Panels for the Early Game

The starting minimum, unlocked from the very first minutes. Drop 1 Titanium, 1 Copper, and 2 Quartz, and you have electricity. In the Coral Gardens zone, production remains at 8 units/sec. Perfect for a basic Fabricator and an Oxygen Pump. But at night, the rates drop to 1 unit/sec, and at depths below 50 meters, Solar Panels quickly go dark. The conclusion is obvious. We make three or four pieces at the start, while we frantically search for pieces of the turbine.

Thermal Reactor at Magma Vents

The final chord of your power grid. It operates passively, requires no consumables, and generates up to 16 units/sec—the highest possible. It’s quite pricey: 3 Gold, 3 Titanium Ingots, and 3 Copper Ingots. A Power Transmitter is required for connection.

You’ll have to place this colossus directly on a geothermal source. The logic is simple: water colder than 25°C produces a paltry 1 unit/sec, at 75°C you get 11, and the maximum is only achieved at active magma vents. Look for the translucent “doughnut” jellyfish—they’re swarming there. The blueprint pieces are lying on the rocks (Tail Village location, about 500 meters from the capsule at azimuth 110°). The main thing is not to build the structure too close to the vent (the lava will swallow it up). Measure out 5-10 meters and run the cable.

Where to Build a Base in Coral Gardens and Karakorum?

Let’s get down to business. The first region, Coral Gardens, is a good place to start: shallow, bright, and rich in titanium and quartz. The second, Karakorum, is deeper and more dangerous, but the views and resources there are on a whole other level.

The Three Best Locations for a Base at the Beginning of the Game

Choosing a location is a purely personal matter, depending on what you and your crew need. But in general, you want three things: space for construction, resources nearby (titanium, quartz, food), and preferably without any sharp neighbors.

As you develop Proteus, you’ll likely want more than one base. For example, a separate one for mining rare resources in Karakorum. First, we’ll go over the best spots in the Coral Gardens near the main base, and then I’ll show you a couple of spots further in – for the most persistent.

Base near Camp One in the Jellyfish Wasteland

I built my first base about five meters south of Camp One, right in the Jellyfish Wasteland biome. This spot is a perfect balance: close to the camp itself and one of the first Angel Comb Jellies (Anita’s Black Box is also there, by the way). There’s plenty of space, plenty of fish and aquatic slugs, and most importantly, enough sunlight to keep the panels going.

But something else is more interesting. Just a couple hundred meters to the south, there are several underwater currents. Place hydroelectric turbines, and you’ll have power 24/7, with no nighttime outages.

Resources are also in good supply here. Titanium and quartz are found right on the seabed and in shallow caves – enough to last until the very end. And when you reach Celestine and Troilit, then think about a second base in Karakorum.

Building a Base at Tuff Towers

About 180 meters east-southeast of the Escape Pod, at a depth of just 20 meters, you’ll come across an open area with an abandoned outpost. Surrounded by sandstone pillars, the location is picturesque and convenient.

Pros: Plenty of space for building, a couple of shipwrecks nearby—good places to explore for blueprints. Also, there’s a current nearby—use turbines. A little further south is a shallow cave with copper deposits. Aquatic slugs and fish are also available.

Cons? You’ll have to venture a bit further from the starting area. But early in the game, this is actually a plus—less crowds, more resources.

Base Location on the Edge of the Graveyard Biome

This option is for those who don’t mind the heat. About 620 meters east-southeast of the Escape Pod, at a depth of about 80 meters, there’s a huge open area on the border of the Coral Gardens and the Graveyard biome.

The main draw is the hot biome. If you move a little west, you can install Thermal Reactors and draw energy literally from the ground. But there’s a catch.

Important: before heading there, be sure to unlock the “Overheat Resistance” adaptation. To do this, you need to find an Angel Comb Jelly near the Jellyfish Wasteland. Otherwise, the local heat will quickly send you to respawn.

But what resources! Gold and Sulfur—they’re plentiful here. Salt is also abundant. And if you head east, you’ll run straight into the Karakorum region, where late-stage materials are found. So this place is an excellent staging area for deep-sea expansion.

Deep-Sea Bases in the Karakoram Region

We’ve reached the deep sea. The Karakoram region is no longer the resort town of Coral Gardens. It’s darker, deeper, and potentially more dangerous. But the resources and views are on a whole new level. I’ll walk through three proven locations.

Axum Observatory Base

This location is the closest to the starting biome in the Karakoram. It’s located in the western part of the region. The coordinates are approximately 240 meters southwest of the Alien Ruins signal, with a depth of about 140 meters.

I recommend having a Tadpole before setting out. Ideally, you’ll also need a Deep-Sea Module so you can easily dive to 450 meters and collect everything that lies there.

There are plenty of construction sites here. Right next to the Aksum Observatory and the Outpost, you can combine business with pleasure. There are currents scattered throughout the area—install hydroelectric turbines to generate power. The rocks below are full of aquatic slugs (fresh water is guaranteed), and the caves beneath the zone are rich in fish and ore.

Personally, I’d set up a second base here. Why? It offers quick access to the deeper parts of the Karakorum, such as the Metal Extractors. And the Coral Gardens are just a couple of minutes’ swim away. It’s convenient when you need to dash back to the main base for supplies.

Power Plant Base on the Cliffs

Ready to venture further? Then take a closer look at the cliffs with red grass. Landmark: approximately 480 meters east of the Angel Comb Jellies near the Alien Ruins. Depth: about 200 meters.

There’s plenty of space. Nearby is a special place—the Power Plant—and scattered around are ore deposits: Titanium, Quartz, Celestine, Gold, and more.

Food and water won’t be a problem. On the cliffs below, fauna and aquatic slugs are everywhere. Plus, there’s a sunken ship nearby—you can explore for blueprints.

However, there’s a twist. This location is almost at the edge of the map. So, keep an eye out while building to avoid accidentally attracting the attention of Leviathans. No one wants unpleasant neighbors.

Base Near the Alterra Shipwreck

If your goal is to mine rare resources like Troilite, it’s best to build your base right next to the Alterra wreck in the east of the region.

Coordinates: 450 meters east of the Angel Comb Jellies near the Alien Ruins. Depth: 300 meters. So, without a Tadpole Depth Module, there’s nothing to do here.

Pros: Direct access to the Angel Comb Jellies (if you haven’t activated them yet), and the base itself is located right between the Power Plant and the Metal Extractors—an excellent transportation hub. Ore deposits are all around. And if you go just 100 meters below the wreckage, you’ll find Conduit Crystals.

Good luck with your build! And remember: on Proteus, one base is good, but two are even better.

By the way, if you need additional help: here are guides on how to get Concentrated Acid, find Lithium, and how to get a Flashlight.

See the additional guide: Sulfur – Locations, Mistakes, Survival Table.