Subnautica: Below Zero does not hold your hand. Like its predecessor, it drops you into an alien ocean and expects you to figure things out through exploration, experimentation, and occasional disaster. But there are fundamentals that new players consistently miss — things that would have saved hours of confusion and frustration if someone had explained them at the start. This beginner guide covers your first steps on Planet 4546B, from landing to your first proper base.
Arrival: Your First Minutes
You arrive on Planet 4546B in a Drop Pod — a small emergency shelter that serves as your initial base of operations. The Drop Pod has a Fabricator (for crafting basic equipment), a radio (for story communications), and very limited storage. Your first actions should be: open your inventory and check what you have, open your PDA and read the initial entries, and step outside to survey your immediate environment.
Resist the urge to swim far from the Drop Pod in your first five minutes. Assess your immediate surroundings: what creatures are nearby? What resources are on the ocean floor close by? What does the biome look like? Below Zero’s starting area (near Delta Station) is relatively safe but not perfectly so. Learn the environment before exploring.
Critical Early Crafting Priorities
- Scanner — the most important early tool; scan everything to unlock blueprints and creature database entries
- Seaglide — dramatically increases movement speed; find and scan the three fragments from early wreckage
- Oxygen Tank upgrade — more air means more time to explore without panicking
- Knife — for harvesting plants and defending against small aggressive creatures
- First Aid Kit materials — keep a supply of healing items at all times
- Water Filtration Machine (once you have a base) — solves the water problem permanently
Food and Water: The First Challenge
Hunger and thirst are constant pressures in Survival mode. In the starting area, Bladderfish (small blue fish that float near the surface) provide water when processed in the Fabricator or Survival Knife. Peeper fish (bright yellow, very common) restore both food and water when eaten raw. Your first Fabricator-built item after the Scanner should be either a Water Filtration Machine (requires a base) or a stock of cooked food for the exploration period before you have a base.
Understanding Temperature (New to Below Zero)
Unlike the original Subnautica, Below Zero tracks your body temperature. On the planet’s surface in arctic areas, your temperature drops continuously. Even in the ocean, some deep cold biomes drain your temperature. In the very early game, stay in the warmer, shallower water and avoid extended surface exposure until you have the Cold Suit. If your temperature drops into the danger zone, find warm water or a heated structure quickly.
Story Navigation: Follow the Radio
Below Zero’s story unfolds through radio signals, audio logs, and exploration. The radio in your Drop Pod will periodically receive signals marking locations on your map. These signals are story waypoints — following them in order is the most coherent way to experience the narrative. Do not ignore them in favour of pure survival play; the story locations also contain essential blueprint fragments and resources.
First Base: When and Where
Build your first base as soon as you have the materials for a single module, a Fabricator, and a bed. The best location for your first Below Zero base is close to the Delta Station area — ideally in the shallow water nearby where Solar Panels are viable. A single-room base with a Fabricator, Water Filtration Machine, one bed, and two or three storage lockers is sufficient for the early game and can always be expanded later.
RicardoPlays Below Zero Beginner Guide
The RicardoPlays – Beyond RTS channel has a dedicated Below Zero beginner series that covers your first hours on Planet 4546B in detail. Ricardo’s playthrough begins from scratch and demonstrates each of these fundamentals in practice. If you prefer watching to reading, the channel’s Below Zero content is the ideal companion to this written guide.