Choosing where to build your base in Subnautica: Below Zero is one of the most consequential decisions in the game. A well-placed base puts you close to the resources you need, gives you natural power options, offers reasonable structural integrity, and positions you conveniently near the story areas you will need to visit. A poorly-placed base means long travel times, difficult resource runs, and constant frustration. This guide covers the best base locations in Below Zero for different stages of gameplay.
Early Game: Delta Station Area
The Delta Station area is the recommended location for your first Below Zero base. It is close to your starting point, within reach of the early story locations, offers shallow water with good Solar Panel placement options, and has access to the Kelp Forest biome resources nearby. The terrain is stable for base construction, and the creature threat level is manageable for early-game equipment. This location serves well until you begin moving into the mid-game Arctic regions.
Mid-Game: Thermal Lily Area
As you progress through Below Zero’s story, you will need to explore the Thermal Lily area — a beautiful mid-depth biome with significant Thermal Vent activity. Building a secondary base here provides a forward operating point for mid-game story missions and gives you access to Thermal Reactor power generation, which is significantly more efficient than Solar Panels at this depth. The biome’s visual character — pink and orange thermal vents against dark ocean floor — makes this one of the most beautiful base locations in the game.
Deep Game: Fabricator Cavern Access
The Fabricator Cavern is a key late-game story location. Building a base near its entrance provides a convenient resupply point for the demanding final sections of Below Zero’s story. The deep location requires solid hull integrity modules, but the nearby Thermal Vents provide reliable power. This base is more functional than beautiful — the priorities at this stage are power, storage, and quick access to the story locations.
Arctic Surface Base
The Arctic land areas of Below Zero require visits for story progression and resource gathering. A surface base on the edge of the Arctic Spires gives you a safe place to warm up (the Below Zero cold mechanics can be lethal on the surface without proper gear), store land-based resources, and recover before the next Ice Worm gauntlet. Small, functional, and warm is the design priority for surface bases.
Power Source by Location
| Location | Best Power Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Station Area | Solar Panels | Shallow water, good sunlight access |
| Thermal Lily Area | Thermal Reactor | Multiple vents available |
| Fabricator Cavern | Thermal Reactor | Deep, no solar access |
| Arctic Surface | Bioreactor | Portable, works on land |
| Island Areas | Solar + Bioreactor | Mixed — some shadow, some sun |
Base Location Videos on RicardoPlays
Ricardo’s Below Zero series on the RicardoPlays channel includes base tour segments showing his own base placements at each stage of the game. Watching these alongside this guide gives you a concrete visual reference for what each location looks like and how he has optimised each base for its stage of the game. Subscribe to the channel for the full Below Zero series.