How to Unlock Every Biomod in Subnautica 2

In Subnautica 2, Biomods are special abilities you unlock by scanning the plants and creatures around you. Each Biomod gives you a unique advantage – some help with basic needs like staying hydrated and fed, while others give you new ways to explore, like improved awareness of what’s above you.

You need a Bio Lab machine to install Biomods. You can build one at your base, or use the existing Bio Lab in the abandoned base near your Lifepod. Using the abandoned base lab is a good option early in the game when you don’t have the materials to build your own.

All Biomods in Subnautica 2 Overview

Biomod	Description	How to Get
Dash	Dash in any direction	Unlocked by default
Pathfinder	Release pheromones to track your trail	Unlocked by default
Sonic Echo	Highlight nearby resources	Bioscan the Collector Leviathan
Chum Cloud	Release a cloud of bait to distract predators	Bioscan the Toxic Sponge and Houndgar
Electric Discharge	Emit an electric shock to stun predators	Bioscan the Electric Geordie
Sea Skimmer	Swim faster when close to the seafloor	Unlocked by default
Oxygen Control	Slows oxygen consumption when not moving	Unlocked by default
Bioluminescence	Glow in the dark	Bioscan the Sandspear and Electric Geordie
Homing Sense	Detect nearby bases that have electricity	Bioscan the Surge Jelly and Hammerhead
Water Retention	Gain more water from all sources	Bioscan the Coral Crab
Camouflage	Become invisible to predators when not moving	Bioscan the Bullethead
Threat Sense	Detect nearby threats	Bioscan the Hoverthorn
Dermal Garden	Produce food while swimming	Bioscan the Needler Mango
Slow Metabolism	Food loss is slower	Bioscan the Nibbler Mango
Water Secretion	Gain small packets of drinkable water	Bioscan the Water Slug

Dash – Active Biomod

Skill: Dash in any direction to avoid predators or hazards
How to Get: Unlocked by default

Okay, so as someone who plays a lot, I gotta say Dash is amazing when you’re first starting out. It’s the best early-game Biomod, hands down, and it’s a lifesaver when you’re trying to explore underwater – especially when you’re running low on oxygen. Seriously, it gets you out of so many sticky situations!

You can use this Biomod immediately when you discover a Bio Lab in any abandoned base – you don’t need to scan anything first.

Keep in mind that Dash has a 5-second cooldown, meaning you can’t use it repeatedly. Each dash moves you forward 12 meters.

Pathfinder – Active Biomod

Skill: Release a trail of pheromones you can follow to find your way
How to Get: Unlocked by default

Honestly, I don’t think you need to be great at Pathfinder unless you’re really into that wilderness survival stuff. If you’ve got a good flashlight or even a wakemaker, you’re pretty much covered for finding your way around in the dark, so it’s not a super essential skill for most people, in my opinion.

You can also use Pathfinder sooner rather than later to highlight areas that have the resources you need.

Just like with Dash, there’s nothing you need to unlock before using Pathfinder. As soon as I built my Bio Lab, I was able to equip it – super easy!

Sonic Echo – Active Biomod

Skill: Emit a sonar pulse to highlight nearby resources
How to Get: Bioscan Collector Leviathan

Sonic Echo is a helpful tool for exploring new locations in Biomod. It improves oxygen efficiency by guiding you only to areas with resources to collect.

The signals you get from resource nodes only show you where ores are located. They won’t alert you to the presence of food or crafting plants.

To obtain the Sonic Echo, you’ll need to scan a Collector Leviathan. This large creature appears along the route between the starting area and the Alien Ruins. Head west from the Alien Ruins, and you should be able to see the giant, octopus-like Leviathan when you’re about 500 meters away. It generally stays near the surface, so it’s best to descend to lower depths with the Tadpole or by swimming to find it.

The moment you see the creature, it will steal your Tadpole. Immediately exit the Tadpole and use your Bioscanner to scan it. We suggest equipping the Dash ability – it will help you keep up with the Collector Leviathan.

Camouflage helps you avoid the dangerous Collector Leviathan. When you stay still, this ability makes you invisible.

Scanning will take a bit longer than normal, so it’s a good idea to bring some healing items with you.

Chum Cloud – Active Biomod

Skill: Release a cloud of delicious bait to distract predators
How to Get: Bioscan Toxic Sponge and Houndgar

Chum Cloud is essentially a variation of Pathfinder, used to divert the attention of enemies.

The Biomod releases a green lure that attracts creatures, effectively hiding you from their attention. Just be aware that it has a 20-second cooldown before you can use it again.

To craft this item, you’ll need to scan both the Toxic Sponge plant and the Houndgar fish. The Toxic Sponge is a common plant that grows near your Lifepod. To find it, swim east from the Lifepod and stop at the first coral formation you see. Then, look down and swim towards the cave – you’ll find a Toxic Sponge growing on one of the cave walls.

Houndgars live in the hottest parts of the ocean. To find them, head east from the Lifepod until you’re about 435 meters away. Look for small, blue fish swimming near a large Marrowbreach – those are the Houndgars. Be aware that they’re quick, so scanning them can be tricky.

Electric Discharge – Active Biomod

Skill: Emit an 800-volt electric shock to deter medium and large predators
How to Get: Bioscan Electric Geordie

Electric Discharge is a powerful ability for handling dangerous creatures. When activated, it delivers a shock to all enemies nearby, discouraging them from attacking.

You can unlock this Biomod once you’ve discovered the Alien Ruins. To get there, you’ll need to install the Depth Module on your Tadpole. This will allow you to reach the home of Electric Geordie – a small, blue fish that occasionally releases an electric shock.

To find Electric Geordie, who lives near the Metal Farm, start by going to the Angel Comb in the Alien Ruins. From the Gene Donor’s flower, head northeast and keep going until you see a green glow – that’s the Metal Farm!

You’ll find Electric Geordie close to the Metal Farm antennas. They’re quite small, so it’s a good idea to bring a flashlight with you.

Sea Skimmer – Passive Biomod

Skill: Swim faster when close to underwater surfaces of the seafloor
How to Get: Unlocked by default

The Sea Skimmer is a helpful upgrade for managing your oxygen underwater. To use it, simply swim along the ocean floor.

While it’s probably not helpful in very deep wells due to the risk of hitting the bottom, using this ability with Dash can greatly increase how quickly you move.

Okay, so good news! You don’t even have to unlock the Sea Skimmer ability. It’s one of the skills I started with, so I already had it!

Oxygen Control – Passive Biomod

Skill: Slows oxygen consumption when not moving
How to Get: Unlocked by default

Oxygen Control is really helpful when building a base deep underwater. Because you’re not moving, you only use one unit of oxygen every four seconds. This lets you save a lot of oxygen while you’re building or scanning.

You will have access to this Biomod as soon as you find a Bio Lab.

Bioluminescence – Passive Biomod

Skill: Glow in the dark
How to Get: Bioscan Sandspear and Electric Geordie

If you’re annoyed by constantly needing to recharge flashlights or other devices, bioluminescence offers a great alternative. It provides continuous light without needing batteries or having any usage limits.

You can unlock this ability by scanning two underwater creatures: the Biosca Sandspear and the Electric Goerdie.

The Sandspear is an aggressive fish that can be found near your Lifepod. To locate a cave, swim in the direction of 65 degrees until you’re about 102 meters away from the Lifepod. You should then see a strong current flowing downwards near the cave entrance.

Enter the cave, and close to where you find the Oxygen Tunic, you’ll see a small, flower-like tail sticking up from the seafloor. You can scan it from a distance, but getting too close will cause a Sandspear to burst from the sand and attack.

Now, you need to bioscann Electric Geordies. Begin at the Alien Ruins and head southeast for 355 meters. You’ll find several Electric Geordies near the alien structures close to the ocean floor.

Homing Sense – Passive Biomod

Skill: Detect nearby bases with electrical power
How to Get: Bioscan Surge Jelly and Hammerhead

The Homing Sense skill is really helpful for finding things in the game. Instead of spending ages searching the ocean floor for lost bases, it sends you a signal pointing you right to them.

To obtain this Biomod, begin by scanning a Surge Jelly. Start at the Lifepod and head in the direction of 195 degrees until you’re about 240 meters away. You should then see several Surge Jellies floating near the ocean’s surface.

Now, look for a Hammerhead. Start at the Lifepod and swim towards the 20-degree mark. You’ll find a Hammerhead near the Gene Donor, about 147 meters from the Lifepod.

Water Retention – Passive Biomod

Skill: Gain more water from all sources with enlarged, orca-like kidneys
How to Get: Bioscan Coral Crab

Despite what’s been officially stated, the Water Retention skill doesn’t actually help you gain more water from sources. Instead, it simply makes your hydration level decrease more slowly. Basically, you’ll stay hydrated for longer with this skill active.

You just need a scan from the Coral Crab. Head to 120 degrees until you’re 195 meters from the Lifepod. On the ocean floor, you’ll find a bright orange, round Coral Crab. Approach it to wake it up, and then you can easily scan it.

Camouflage – Passive Biomod

Skill: Become invisible to predators while not moving
How to Get: Bioscan Bullethead

There’s no better camouflage than blending into your surroundings. Scanning a Bullethead unlocks a special ability that allows you to stay perfectly still and safely hide from dangerous creatures.

You can find Bullethead in the Alien Ruins area. Begin at the pre-built base there and head towards the 125-degree mark, venturing further into the region. After traveling about 510 meters from the Alien Ruins, look for a cluster of red flowers on a cliff below the large alien power plant platform.

Near the flower, you’ll see a small, red fish called a Bullethead resting on the rocks. These fish are quick to dart away if disturbed, so be sure to scan it from a distance without waking it up.

Threat Sense – Passive Biomod

Skill: Detect nearby threats with specialized hair cells
How to Get: Bioscan Hoverthorn

In Subnautica 2, the Threat Sense Biomod isn’t very useful. It simply plays a sound when a dangerous creature is close, but you can usually see those creatures yourself before the sound even plays because they’re so large.

Getting this Biomod is simple. Begin at the Alien Ruins and head in a direction of 245 degrees for about 230 meters. You’ll likely reach the Observatory tower, a great location for scanning and catching Hoverthorns.

Dermal Garden – Passive Biomod

Skill: Slowly grow nutrition algae on your skin
How to Get: Bioscan Needler Mango

Growing food directly in the ocean is a smart solution, particularly when you’re a long distance from your base and need a way to produce supplies without relying on the Fabricator.

Using Dermal Garden, you get a small nutrition packet every 3.5 minutes. Each packet restores 5 hunger points.

To get this Biomod, begin at the Alien Ruins and head in a direction of 165 degrees until you’re about 190 meters from the base. Then, swim down, and you’ll see a long, snake-like fish. Be quick when scanning it, because the Needler Mango will shoot darts at you.

Slow Metabolism – Passive Biomod

Skill: Your microbiome becomes more efficient, making food loss slower
How to Get: Bioscan Nibbler Mango

As a big fan of this game, I’ve learned it’s really smart to carry less food when you’re out exploring. It frees up space in your inventory for all the valuable resources you find, letting you upgrade your base much faster! Honestly, going without this skill is risky. You get it by scanning a Nibbler Mango, and trust me, it’s worth the effort!

Begin at the Lifepod and head in the 240-degree direction until you’re 260 meters away. You’ll find a group of aggressive Nibbler Mangos hiding behind a large, dead coral formation. Quickly scan one with your bioscan, then leave the area.

Water Secretion – Passive Biomod

Skill: Slowly fills a water packet by filtering fresh water from the sea
How to Get: Bioscan Water Slug

The Water Slug is a common early-game fish that’s useful for crafting. You can turn it into a bottle of water, but scanning it unlocks a skill that lets you create water whenever you need it.

Okay, so Water Slugs are pretty easy to find – they’re just a common fish. As soon as you leave the Lifepod, look around on the ocean floor. I found a bunch of them hanging out in the bushes if you head about 195 degrees from where you started. Super simple!

This device provides a small packet of water every 150 seconds, increasing your hydration by 5 with each packet.

2026-05-20 17:44