The End Goal of Subnautica: Building a Rocket and Escaping Planet 4546B
As an open world survival game, the core progression in Subnautica revolves around constructing equipment and a means of escaping the alien ocean planet designated 4546B after the player character crash lands. The ultimate goal is to launch off the planet via a rocket of your own construction.
Achieving Escape: Step-by-Step Process
Here is an overview of key milestones you’ll likely achieve when playing towards the end of Subnautica:
- Explore the Surface and Gather Basic Supplies: Scavenge crash site supplies, swim among shallow reefs scanning new wildlife, and build basic tools for managing hunger, thirst and oxygen.
- Establish Main Base: Identify an optimal, central location to construct a multi-room, interconnected base with a moonpool for your vehicles. Resources are finite so choose wisely!
- Unlock Vehicle Blueprints: New crafting recipes for the Seamoth, PRAWN Suit and Cyclops open up deeper exploration and harvesting of rare materials.
- Investigate the Aurora: Several important blueprints and story clues are discovered when braving dangerous conditions to search the crashed starship.
- Activate Planetary Defense System: After discovering the source of the bacterial "Kharaa" infection, players must activate the planet’s defense cannons to open routes off 4546B.
- Craft and Launch Neptune Rocket: The pinnacle achievement in Subnautica – collecting the resources and blueprints to fabricate and successfully launch a rocket from the planet’s surface into orbit.
Constructing the Neptune Rocket
The Neptune Launch Platform provides escape once all component blueprints have been scanned scattered across the world. Key pieces include:
Neptune Gantry – Support structure blueprint found at the Dunes or Mountains crash site.
Neptune Boosters – Rocket boosters obtained at theAurora or Degasi wreck.
Neptune Cockpit – Life support capsule scanned from Prawn Suit wrecks.
Neptune Fuel Reserve – Fuel tanks unlocked south of the Aurora.
Once built, further materials are needed:
| Resource | Quantity Needed |
|---|---|
| Titanium Ingot | x10 |
| Lubricant | x6 |
| Computer Chip | x6 |
| Lead | x2 |
With the rocket fully fueled, players launch safely into orbit escorted by a defense drone, ending the game.
Optimal Upgrade and Base Building Order
Making smooth progress requires having the right gear upgrades before taking on new hostile creatures and extreme depths. Here is the order I would recommend based on in-game experience:
- Fins (Swim Speed)
- High Capacity O2 Tank
- Seaglide (Speed and Light)
- Stasis Rifle (Defense)
- PRAWN Suit Drill Arm
- Cyclops Decoy Tubes
- Cyclops Depth Modules 1-3
I would also recommend having a sizable main base in the Safe Shallows complete with charge station, moonpool, and scanner room before progressing to extreme depths. Maintaining well-stocked forward bases near the Lost River zone can also prove useful.
Dealing with Threats on the Final Stretch
Getting to and from important wrecks for necessary blueprints can involve tense encounters with Leviathan class predators like the Ghost, Sea Dragon and Reaper. Make dealing with threats easier by:
- Bringing armor plating, medicine and backup power cells
- Using perimeter defense systems on Seamoths/Cyclops
- Utilizing noisemaker decoys and silent running
- Employing PRAWN suit grappling hooks for quick getaways
- Having an onboard Growbed with food/water
While no creature has to be fought, proper evasion tactics are key to survival when traversing dangerous territories.
Side Activities Make It Feel Alive
While collecting materials and advancing the plot, be sure to appreciate details that make planet 4546B feel alive like these optional activities:
- Rescuing crewmates and hearing their survival stories
- Curating vibrant alien aquariums in your bases
- Listening to ecosystem sounds with exterior growbeds
- Chasing down time capsules from other players
- Uncovering the history of architectural ruins
Taking time to smell the roses on 4546B builds connection. Building a thriving home-away-from home can make leaving bittersweet.
Multiple Endings and Post-Game Motivation
Subnautica technically has multiple endings depending on when players choose to take off. But the story continues after the credits if you elect to keep playing. Reasons you may want to continue exploring include:
- Completing all achievements/trophies
- Uncovering more alien secrets
- Maxing out your homestead size
- Cataloguing every last species
The open sandbox design means plenty left to accomplish for dedicated survivors even after escape.
Exciting Future Updates
Developer Unknown Worlds continues rolling out Subnautica content updates. Some highlights of planned tweaks and features per recent project roadmaps include:
- Ongoing graphical enhancements
- Balancing habitat power costs
- Adding comfort bonuses to furniture
- New aquatic life variants
- More biome content density
- Additional blueprints/modules
Lots to look forward to on both land and sea!
While these goodies give fans incentive to keep revisiting planet 4546B, escaping remains the prime objective whether playing for the first or fiftieth time. Just be sure not to rush too fast and miss the rich adventure. Safe travels!
