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Subnautica 2: How to get the Tadpole
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Subnautica 2: How to get the Tadpole

Rock Paper Shotgun » Guides✍ Ollie Toms⏱ 11 min read(3 months ago)

Overview & Key Takeaways

Anyone who played the first Subnautica knows how incredible the feeling was when you constructed your first Seamoth. Well, Subnautica 2 has its own submersible vehicle - the Tadpole. And it's a real game-changer.

The Tadpole is a highly customisable personal submarine which allows you to explore so much further, deeper, and faster than you ever could without it. It's also got a number of tricks up its sleeve, including a handrail for friends to hang onto in multiplayer sessions while you pilot it, and a hard point on the back where you can attach a Portable Locker for extra storage space.

In this guide, I'll show you how to build a Tadpole from scratch as early as possible in your Subnautica 2 playthrough. I'll walk you through where to find the three closest Tadpole Fragments to your Lifepod, how to build everything you need ahead of time (a Moonpool, Vehicle Fabricator, and Tadpole Dock), and of course I'll explain how to get all the materials you need to craft your very own Tadpole.

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Anyone who played the first Subnautica knows how incredible the feeling was when you constructed your first Seamoth. Well, Subnautica 2 has its own submersible vehicle - the Tadpole. And it's a real game-changer.

The Tadpole is a highly customisable personal submarine which allows you to explore so much further, deeper, and faster than you ever could without it. It's also got a number of tricks up its sleeve, including a handrail for friends to hang onto in multiplayer sessions while you pilot it, and a hard point on the back where you can attach a Portable Locker for extra storage space.

In this guide, I'll show you how to build a Tadpole from scratch as early as possible in your Subnautica 2 playthrough. I'll walk you through where to find the three closest Tadpole Fragments to your Lifepod, how to build everything you need ahead of time (a Moonpool, Vehicle Fabricator, and Tadpole Dock), and of course I'll explain how to get all the materials you need to craft your very own Tadpole.

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How to unlock the Tadpole

You must first unlock the Tadpole by scanning three Tadpole Fragments with your Scanner. After this, you will be able to craft a Vehicle Fabricator, a Tadpole, a Moonpool, and even a Tadpole Dock for easy docking with your base. There are many Tadpole Fragments scattered about the ocean, but these are the three closest Tadpole Fragments to the Lifepod:

Tadpole Fragment 1

A partial map of Subnautica 2, with the journey from the Lifepod to a nearby Tadpole Fragment annotated in cyan. A partial map of Subnautica 2, with the journey from the Lifepod to a nearby Tadpole Fragment annotated in cyan.

Image credit: RPS/MapGenie/Unknown Worlds

The player in Subnautica approaches a large piece of wreckage hanging over the edge of a cliff, on their way to finding a Tadpole Fragment. The player in Subnautica approaches a large piece of wreckage hanging over the edge of a cliff, on their way to finding a Tadpole Fragment.

The player in Subnautica approaches a Tadpole Fragment at the bottom of a cliff by some wreckage. The player in Subnautica approaches a Tadpole Fragment at the bottom of a cliff by some wreckage.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

To find the first Tadpole Fragment, swim directly south from the Lifepod for 115 metres. You'll find a large piece of wreckage hanging off the edge of a cliff. Head to the bottom of the cliff immediately below the overhanging wreckage, and you'll find the Tadpole Fragment to scan using your Scanner.

Tadpole Fragment 2

A partial map of Subnautica 2, with the journey from the Lifepod to a nearby Tadpole Fragment annotated in cyan. A partial map of Subnautica 2, with the journey from the Lifepod to a nearby Tadpole Fragment annotated in cyan.

Image credit: RPS/MapGenie/Unknown Worlds

The player in Subnautica approaches a large piece of wreckage hanging over the edge of a cliff, on their way to finding a Tadpole Fragment. The player in Subnautica approaches a large piece of wreckage hanging over the edge of a cliff, on their way to finding a Tadpole Fragment.

The player in Subnautica approaches a red hatch in the side of a cliff, the entrance to a base which contains a Tadpole Fragment. The player in Subnautica approaches a red hatch in the side of a cliff, the entrance to a base which contains a Tadpole Fragment.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

The second Tadpole Fragment nearby is around 250 metres southwest of the Lifepod, at 90m depth. Just beyond another large piece of wreckage hanging off the edge of a cliff, you'll see a red hatch leading into the cliff wall. This is the Colonist Bunker (Unauthorized NoA Modification). Inside, you'll find the second Tadpole Fragment on the wall rack.

Tadpole Fragment 3

A partial map of Subnautica 2, with the journey from the Lifepod to a nearby Tadpole Fragment annotated in cyan. A partial map of Subnautica 2, with the journey from the Lifepod to a nearby Tadpole Fragment annotated in cyan.

Image credit: RPS/MapGenie/Unknown Worlds

The player in Subnautica approaches a large, fast water current flowing through a canyon and under an archway, on their way to finding a Tadpole Fragment. The player in Subnautica approaches a large, fast water current flowing through a canyon and under an archway, on their way to finding a Tadpole Fragment.

The player in Subnautica approaches a Tadpole Fragment next to a platform of wreckage beside a water current. The player in Subnautica approaches a Tadpole Fragment next to a platform of wreckage beside a water current.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

The third Tadpole Fragment you need is 250 metres east-northeast from the Lifepod. You'll come across a large water current which dips down into a canyon in the terrain below. Look under the archway that stretches over that canyon, and you'll see a small platform of wreckage with the third Tadpole Fragment in the seabed beside it.

How to craft the Tadpole

Once you've scanned all three Tadpole Fragments, you'll unlock the ability to craft your own Tadpole back at home. To do so, you'll first need to construct a Moonpool and attach a Vehicle Fabricator to it.

The Moonpool is automatically unlocked once you scan your second Tadpole Fragment. It costs just 5x Titanium to build, so place it in the floor of your base, somewhere with a lot of room around it.

The player in Subnautica 2 constructs a Moonpool in their base using a Habitat Builder tool. The player in Subnautica 2 constructs a Moonpool in their base using a Habitat Builder tool.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

Next, you need to craft a Vehicle Fabricator out of the following materials:

  • 2x Titanium Ingot
  • 1x Copper Ingot
  • 2x Glass

The Ingots are made in a Processor out of their respective ores. If you haven't yet unlocked the Processor, you can find two scannable Processor Fragments inside the Old Habitat base 370 metres directly north of the Lifepod. Glass, meanwhile, is crafted in the Fabricator from Quartz.

The player in Subnautica 2 constructs a Vehicle Fabricator next to the Moonpool in their base using a Habitat Builder tool. The player in Subnautica 2 constructs a Vehicle Fabricator next to the Moonpool in their base using a Habitat Builder tool.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

Once you've built both the Moonpool and the adjoining Vehicle Fabricator, you can interact with the Vehicle Fabricator and use it to craft your Tadpole.

The Tadpole requires the following materials:

  • 2x Titanium Ingot
  • 1x Glass
  • 1x System Chip
  • 1x Power Cell

We covered how to get Titanium Ingots and Glass above. System Chips are made out of Quartz and a Wiring Kit, while Power Cells are made from 2x Basic Batteries, 1x Strong Acid, and 1x Salt.

Strong Acid can be made in the Processor from Necrolei Cysts, found in the Jelly Barrens north of spawn. Salt, meanwhile, can be found abundantly to the east, in the Zezuran Desert where the water grows hotter.

Building a Tadpole Dock

You should also consider constructing a Tadpole Dock on the side of your Moonpool, because this allows you to easily dock your Tadpole in the Moonpool. While docked, the base (as long as it is powered) will gradually replenish the Power Cell inside your Tadpole.

The player in Subnautica 2 constructs a Tadpole Dock next to the Moonpool in their base using a Habitat Builder tool. The player in Subnautica 2 constructs a Tadpole Dock next to the Moonpool in their base using a Habitat Builder tool.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

You can construct a Tadpole Dock out of the following materials:

  • 2x Titanium Ingot
  • 1x Silver Ingot
  • 2x Copper Wire

These are all very straightforward materials to get once you've unlocked the Processor (and provided you know where to find Silver).

Once you've constructed your Tadpole Dock, you'll notice that it extends down into the water beside your Moonpool. While piloting your Tadpole, move up to the Tadpole Dock and it will automatically dock and exit you from the Tadpole and into your base, nice and dry.

Tips for using your Tadpole

The Tadpole is faster than swimming (even using your Wakemaker arm-jets), and as long as it has power and health, it also acts as an unlimited supply of Oxygen for you, which makes it enormously useful for exploring further and deeper than before.

However, it does have some limitations which you do need to bear in mind:

1. Power Cells run out

The player in Subnautica 2 hovers over the Power Cell slot in the top of their Tadpole vehicle. The player in Subnautica 2 hovers over the Power Cell slot in the top of their Tadpole vehicle.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

The Tadpole is powered by its interior Power Cell. When it runs out, you will need to remove it using the Power Cell hatch on the top of the Tadpole and replace it with a new Power Cell.

Alternatively, you can periodically dock the Tadpole with the Tadpole Dock I mentioned above, which will keep its power automatically topped up.

2. The Tadpole makes noise

A close-up of a Marrowbreach, a large predatory shark in Subnautica 2, swimming near the surface. A close-up of a Marrowbreach, a large predatory shark in Subnautica 2, swimming near the surface.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

Exploring with your Tadpole is a much louder business than simply swimming. This won't matter in most cases, but once you get to the more dangerous areas of the map to the far east, your Tadpole may attract the unwanted attention of a Leviathan or two...

3. Creatures can attack your Tadpole

The player in Subnautica 2 pilots their Tadpole towards a startled and aggressive Hammerhead fish. The player in Subnautica 2 pilots their Tadpole towards a startled and aggressive Hammerhead fish.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

The first fish you'll likely come across which takes a fancy to battering your Tadpole is the Hammerhead, which has a habit of ramming just about anything in its way (including other Hammerheads).

But there are other creatures (particularly the more shark-like ones, like Needler Mangos and Marrowbreaches) which will not hesitate to attack your Tadpole. And the Tadpole does have health, so you should work towards unlocking the Repair Tool as soon as possible so you can undo any damage.

4. Keep your Tadpole above 250m depth

A close-up of a section of the Subnautica UI which shows the player's current depth at 250m and a warning that this is the crush depth for the Tadpole vehicle. A close-up of a section of the Subnautica UI which shows the player's current depth at 250m and a warning that this is the crush depth for the Tadpole vehicle.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

By default, your Tadpole can only withstand the water pressure up to a depth of 250 metres. If you try to pilot your Tadpole beyond this depth, it will quickly start to take damage.

5. Your Tadpole needs upgrading

A close-up of a Tadpole vehicle in Subnautica 2, with the distinct fins on either side of the Scout Ray Chassis attachment. A close-up of a Tadpole vehicle in Subnautica 2, with the distinct fins on either side of the Scout Ray Chassis attachment.

Image credit: RPS/Unknown Worlds

Later on, you'll be able to upgrade your Tadpole in two different ways. The first is by unlocking new chassis to attach, such as the Scout Ray Chassis which dramatically improves the Tadpole's speed and mobility.

The second is by unlocking a Modification Station later on down the line. Once you've done this, you can unlock various mods for your Tadpole, including mods for increasing its maximum depth, and for eliminating the amount of noise the Tadpole generates as you pilot it.

That wraps up our primer on how to get your first Tadpole vehicle in Subnautica 2. If you're looking for some of the materials you need, look no further than our guides on how to get Silver, Lead, and Lithium. If you're just starting out building your base, then you can check out our guide on how to Oxygenate (and power) your base. And for everything else, consult our massive list of Subnautica 2 Databank entries.

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