Managing oxygen is one of the first major survival hurdles players face in Subnautica 2. Increasing the amount of time you can spend beneath the surface makes exploration safer, helps with scanning resources and wildlife, and allows for smoother progression through the game's underwater world. As you begin venturing into deeper biomes and submerged facilities, having a reliable oxygen strategy becomes essential.
Best Early Oxygen Upgrades
- Craft Air Bladders and a Standard Air Tank
- Take advantage of Oxygen Tunics whenever you encounter them
- Unlock and activate the Oxygen Control Biomod
- Improve movement speed with fins and mobility-focused Biomods
- Use vehicles and outposts as temporary oxygen stations
Air Bladders Are an Excellent Early Investment
One of the first survival tools available through the Fabricator is the Air Bladder. Activating it instantly restores 25 points of oxygen, and it automatically recharges after reaching the surface or interacting with oxygen-producing plants.
Because the required materials are easy to gather near the Lifepod, crafting one or even several Air Bladders early on can significantly increase your exploration range.
Titanium is commonly found scattered around the starting area, while Rubber can be crafted from Lucifer Rotsac, the glowing orange flora found in nearby regions.
Upgrade to a Standard Air Tank Quickly
A Standard Air Tank provides a substantial boost to your oxygen reserves by increasing maximum capacity by 30 points. For many players, obtaining one should be a top priority during the first hours of gameplay.
The most challenging material to acquire is Silver. If you're struggling to locate it, search deeper cave systems roughly 150–200 meters north of the Lifepod. Since Silver is relatively scarce early on, it's wise to save it for the air tank before spending it on other equipment.
Oxygen Tunics Can Extend Every Dive
These distinctive blue plants are scattered throughout the ocean floor and release bubbles that replenish oxygen on contact. Keeping an eye out for Oxygen Tunics while exploring can dramatically reduce the risk of running out of air.
Their bubbles also recharge Air Bladders, making them even more valuable during long underwater expeditions.
Unlock the Oxygen Control Biomod
Bring a Basic Battery to the Welcome Center, located southeast of the Lifepod, and use it to restore power to the facility's Biolab.
Inside, players can activate various Biomods, including Oxygen Control. This passive upgrade reduces oxygen consumption whenever the character remains stationary, making it particularly useful for scanning objects, building structures, or sorting inventory underwater.
Vehicles Provide Safe Oxygen Refills
Unlike normal swimming, sitting inside a vehicle does not consume oxygen. Later in the game, vehicles such as the Tadpole become invaluable tools for exploring dangerous regions.
A common strategy is to leave a vehicle outside an underwater structure and use it as a safe point to replenish oxygen between exploration runs. This becomes especially important in deep zones where oxygen can disappear surprisingly quickly.
Small Bases Can Serve as Underwater Rest Stops
Once you gain access to the Habitat Builder, creating simple oxygen stations becomes possible. Even a single powered room with a hatch can function as a convenient refill location.
Adding Beacons nearby makes these mini-bases easy to locate and can greatly improve efficiency during long exploration sessions.
Mobility Upgrades Help Conserve Oxygen Indirectly
Although movement upgrades don't increase oxygen reserves directly, they reduce travel time and make it easier to reach safety before your supply runs out.
Useful upgrades to pursue early include:
- Fins for a basic swimming speed increase
- Dash and Sea Skimmer Biomods from the Biolab
- The Wakemaker, which becomes available later and improves underwater maneuverability
Oxygen Mistakes New Players Should Avoid
- Avoid pushing into deep areas too soon! Without proper preparation, deep underwater regions can quickly become dangerous. Unless you know oxygen sources are nearby, it's best to postpone lengthy dives until you have better equipment.
- Enter underwater facilities with a full oxygen supply. Large submerged structures can be confusing to navigate and often contain multiple dead ends. Before heading inside, ensure your oxygen reserves are topped up and look for potential refill points during your first visit.
- Stay calm if oxygen runs out. Suffocation isn't the end of the world. Most dropped resources can usually be recovered afterward, so panicking often does more harm than good. Keeping your composure may help you find a last-second route back to safety.
As a Reminder, Rockstar North Turned Into a Fortress to Protect GTA 6.