Seabases (Subnautica)
Seabases are installations created by the player through the use of the Habitat Builder.
A Seabase provides an area where the Player can return for oxygen, and serves as an alternative to Lifepod 5 as a base of operations. Within a seabase, the player can construct additional storage space, grow food, access Appliances not available in Lifepod 5, and add aesthetic options. Thus Seabases provide safe havens away from the Safe Shallows the player starts in.
In all Game Modes except Creative Mode, entering a Seabase secures the player's inventory, so if the player dies, they will return to the last Seabase' they visited and keep all the items in their inventory that they had when they were there (unless they later enter a Cyclops or Lifepod 5).
The player will start out with most of the blueprints they need for a basic Seabase; at bare minimum one needs a Compartment, a Hatch, and a power generator (the Solar Panel is unlocked by default). The initial compartment must be built on or near the ground (or on a Foundation, which is not necessary but provides greater hull integrity and a flat surface to work with), but any additional compartments can overhang without any issue, allowing bases to be built over cliffsides. The player can expand once they've gathered more Blueprints.
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Spoiler alert: The following section contains story related material. |
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Degasi Seabases can be found at the center and on the tops of the mountains of the Floating Island, Jellyshroom Cave, and Deep Grand Reef. These abandoned Seabases provide blueprints for additional base components that the player doesn't have access to by default, such as the Multipurpose Room and the Observatory. Other base components, power generators, appliances and furniture, can be found in Wrecks. |
Despite their name, Seabases can be built on land. When on land, Hull Integrity is not a factor, and can be built without the need of additional Reinforcements, Foundations, or Bulkheads. Power is still needed for them to operate, however.
Hull Integrity
Hull Integrity refers to the ability of the player's Seabase to withstand the pressure of the surrounding water. The majority of the modules will lower the integrity once added but the amount will vary by module. As Seabases are built at a greater depth the integrity reduction caused by each module will increase. Hull integrity can be increased by constructing Reinforcement panels, placing a Seabase on or near a Foundation (foundations built on top of rooms will still provide their benefit), or installing Bulkheads on the ends of Compartment modules.
When the hull integrity of a Seabase is less than or equal to zero, it will begin to form hull breaches. Any corridor or room that is connected to the breach will begin flooding with water. Bulkheads can compartmentalize the base and prevent floodwaters from moving between compartments, but if the integrity remains below zero then eventually every compartment will develop a leak and the base will fill completely with water. To avoid this, quickly increase the base's integrity (by either adding strengthening components or removing weak components) and fix all hull breaches in the base using a Repair Tool.
A Seabase that receives damage to its exterior (or even a knife hit from inside) will also spring leaks, but the hull integrity will be unaffected. Therefore, bulkheads are more effective at sealing off flooding if the base comes under attack.
Energy Usage
Energy can be provided to a Seabase by building various types of generators near or inside the Seabase. Any number or combination can be used. Appliances such as the Fabricator will drain energy from the Seabase.
There are currently four generators available to power Seabases:
- Solar Panels, which work best near the surface
- Bioreactors, which consume any organic matter for power
- Thermal Plants, which collect heat energy (use near Lava Geysers and Black Smokers)
- Nuclear Reactors, which consume Reactor Rods made from Uraninite Crystals
Bioreactors and Nuclear Reactors are built inside a Multipurpose Room. Solar Panels and Thermal Plants are built outside, and can be directly attached to the base or connected via Power Transmitters if the distance is too great.
Seabases do not require energy to operate in Creative Mode. A notable exception to this is the ability to dock a Seamoth in a Moonpool, which does require power.
The following Appliances draw power from the Seabase:
- Fabricator
- Battery Charger
- Power Cell Charger
- Modification Station
- Water Filtration Machine
- Spotlight
- Floodlight
- Moonpool
- Vehicle Upgrade Console (fabricator only)
- Scanner Room (fabricator and active scanning, along with recharging the Camera Drones)
Oxygen
Seabases automatically produce Oxygen as long as there is power supplied. If the power is depleted, the Seabase will slowly lose oxygen, until it is completely gone.
Oxygen is always available in any portion of a seabase that is above water, regardless of power.
How to Build a Seabase
- Find a suitable piece of land.
- Equip the Habitat Builder and press RMB (Xbox One:
, PlayStation 4:
) to bring up a crafting menu. - In the Habitat Compartments tab, select the desired module.
- Aim at the desired building place (the outline of the module will become green if the location is valid).
- Adjust the rotation with Mousewheel Up and Mousewheel Down or [ and ] (Xbox One and PlayStation 4:Error: Invalid Button SpecifiedError: Invalid Button Specified).
- Place the module with LMB (Xbox One:
, PlayStation 4:Error: Invalid Button Specified). - Once placed, hold LMB (Xbox One:, PlayStation 4:Error: Invalid Button Specified) to add the required materials to finish the building process.
- Go to Step 2 and repeat for each room you want to build.
To deconstruct a Seabase module, equip the Habitat Builder and hold Q (Xbox One and PlayStation 4:Error: Invalid Button Specified) while facing the module. If enough inventory space is available, the module will be deconstructed and all materials used to create the module will be returned to the player's inventory, one item at a time. Note that everything inside the module and attached to the outside of the module must be deconstructed before the module itself can be deconstructed.
Audio
The Seabase's AI plays various messages that correspond to different circumstances, some accompanied by sound queens:
| Trigger | Dialogue | |
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When Seabase is repaired | "Hull integrity restored. Draining systems initiated." |
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When Seabase or Cyclops has no power | "Warning: Emergency power only. Oxygen production offline." |
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Restoring Seabase's power | "Power restored. All primary systems online." |
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Entering Seabase, Seamoth or Prawn Suit | "Welcome aboard captain." |
Available Modules
| Modules | Description | Hull Integrity |
|---|---|---|
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Provides optimal conditions for flora and fauna. Add a hatch to enter. | 0 Units |
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Provides structural support and prevents flooding. | +3.0 Units |
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Basic tubular compartment. | -1.0 Unit |
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Basic glass-walled compartment. | -2.0 Units |
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L-shaped compartment. | -1.0 Unit |
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L-shaped glass compartment. | -2.0 Units |
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T-shaped compartment. | -1.0 Unit |
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X-shaped compartment. | -1.0 Unit |
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Reinforced habitat foundation. | +2.0 Units |
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Provides an access point to the habitat. | -1.0 Unit |
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Connects two floors. | 0 Units |
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Wall-mounted foliage. Purely decorational. | 0 Units |
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Vehicle docking bay. | -5.0 Units |
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Basic room. | -1.25 Units |
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Compartment with 360 degree views and low structural integrity. | -3.0 Units |
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Increases hull strength. | +7.0 Units |
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Locates resources and wrecks within range. | -1 Units |
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Fixed lighting solution. | 0 Units |
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Build in the Moonpool to upgrade docked vehicles. | 0 Units |
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Vertical base connector. | -0.5 Units |
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Turns seawater into water and salt. | -2.0 Units |
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Observatory window. | -1.0 Unit |
- Note that negative changes to hull integrity increase with depth. For more information see Hull Integrity.
Gallery
<tabber> Screenshots=
An example of a Seabase, including a Multipurpose Room, Moonpool and an Observatory
Ditto at night-time
A Seabase on the Floating Island
Inside a typical Seabase
|-| Concept Art=
Seabase Concept art
Seabase Interior Concept art
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