Subnautica 2 Scanner Recipe: Quartz & Basic Battery Build
This guide walks you through crafting the Scanner in Subnautica 2, using the basic Battery as its core component. You’ll learn exactly where to find Quartz, how to build the Battery from scratch, and the precise steps to assemble the Scanner at a Fabricator.
Ingredients
- 1x Battery (crafted from 1x Copper Ore and 1x Acid Mushroom)
- 1x Quartz
- 1x Titanium (for the Fabricator’s base recipe, if you haven’t already built it)
- Access to a Fabricator (built from 1x Titanium)
Instructions
- Gather Copper Ore: Search limestone outcrops scattered across the Safe Shallows and Kelp Forest biomes. Break them with your survival knife or by hand to collect Copper Ore. You’ll need one piece.
- Harvest Acid Mushrooms: Look for purple, glowing mushrooms growing on the seafloor in the Safe Shallows and Kelp Forest. Pick one by interacting with it. Be careful—they release a small acidic cloud when harvested, but it’s harmless.
- Find Quartz: Quartz appears as small, white, crystal-like clusters on the sandy bottom of the Safe Shallows, Grassy Plateaus, and Kelp Forest. Swim close and press the interact button to pick it up. You only need one piece.
- Build the Battery (if you don’t have one): Open the Fabricator’s menu, navigate to the “Resources� tab, and select “Battery.� It costs 1x Copper Ore and 1x Acid Mushroom. Confirm the craft—it takes about 5 seconds.
- Open the Fabricator: Approach the Fabricator in your base or Lifepod and interact with it.
- Navigate to the Tools tab: Scroll through the Fabricator’s categories until you find “Tools.� The Scanner is listed there.
- Select the Scanner recipe: Highlight the Scanner icon. The required materials will display: 1x Battery and 1x Quartz.
- Craft the Scanner: Press the craft button. The Fabricator will consume the Battery and Quartz, and after a few seconds, the Scanner will be added to your inventory.
- Equip the Scanner: Open your inventory (Tab on PC, or the corresponding button on console), select the Scanner, and equip it to a quick slot. It’s now ready to use for scanning flora, fauna, and fragments.
Tips
- Carry spare materials: Always keep an extra Copper Ore and Acid Mushroom in a locker. Batteries drain quickly when you use the Scanner extensively, and you’ll want to craft replacements without a return trip.
- Scan fragments first: Use your new Scanner on wreck fragments and tech debris before scanning plants. Unlocking blueprints for Seaglide, Repair Tool, and other tools should be your priority.
- Watch your oxygen: Quartz is often in open sand, but Acid Mushrooms can grow in small caves. Keep an eye on your Oâ‚‚ meter and surface or return to your vehicle before it hits zero.
- Battery conservation: The Scanner drains battery only while actively scanning. Release the scan button between targets to stretch battery life.
Serving Suggestions
The Scanner is your primary tool for progression. Use it immediately to scan the following: Limestone Outcrops (unlocks more resource recipes), Metal Salvage (gives Titanium recipes), and Fragments found near wrecks in the Kelp Forest and Grassy Plateaus. Each successful scan adds blueprint progress, so make a habit of scanning every new object you encounter.
Variations
- Replacement Battery: If you’re low on Acid Mushrooms, you can craft a Battery using 1x Copper Ore and 1x Creepvine Seed Cluster instead. Creepvine seed clusters drop from the tall kelp stalks in the Kelp Forest.
- Scanner Module Upgrades: In the mid-game, you can build the Scanner Module for your Seamoth or Prawn Suit, which increases scanning range and speed. It requires a standard Scanner plus other advanced materials, but the basic Scanner remains the core component.
- Emergency Crafting: If you’re caught without a Fabricator, remember that the Lifepod’s Fabricator is always available. You can craft a Battery and Scanner there as long as you have the raw materials in your inventory.
Storage and Reheating
Your Scanner doesn’t spoil, but its battery does. A fully charged Battery provides roughly 20 minutes of continuous scanning. When the battery runs out, the Scanner becomes unusable until you replace it. To replace: open your inventory, drag a fresh Battery from your locker into the Scanner’s battery slot. Store spare Batteries in a wall locker near your Fabricator to keep them charged and ready. There is no way to recharge a drained Battery; you must craft a new one each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find a Scanner already built in the world?
No, the Scanner must always be crafted. However, you can find Scanner fragments in wrecks, but those only unlock the blueprint—they don’t give you a finished tool.
What if I can’t find Quartz anywhere?
Quartz is common in the Safe Shallows, but if you’ve cleared an area, head to the Grassy Plateaus (the red grass biome). It’s abundant there, usually in clusters of two or three on the sandy patches between the grass.
Why won’t the Fabricator let me craft the Battery?
Check that you have both Copper Ore and Acid Mushroom in your inventory, not just in a locker. The Fabricator only pulls from your personal inventory, not from storage containers.
Does the Scanner take damage if I scan hostile creatures?
No, scanning is safe. Hostile creatures like Stalkers or Sand Sharks won’t attack you while you’re scanning them, but they will attack immediately after you finish. Keep your distance or be ready to swim away.
Can I use the Scanner underwater without a vehicle?
Yes, the Scanner works fine while swimming. Just be mindful of your oxygen level and current depth.
Is there a faster way to get Acid Mushrooms?
Acid Mushrooms grow back after a few in-game days. Mark their locations with a beacon or remember the spots, then return later. You can also find them in the Kelp Forest in larger numbers than the Safe Shallows.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.