Biomods function as your primary skill set in Subnautica 2. While some provide active abilities like dashing to evade predators, most act as passive buffs that significantly improve your survivability under the waves.

At the start of your journey, you will only have access to a few options via the Biolab in the Welcome Center. To unlock the full repertoire of Biomods in Subnautica 2, you must reach the Alien Ruins and acquire the Bioscanner upgrade. Once equipped at a Modification Station, you can scan various marine life to expand your abilities.

How to get all Biomods in Subnautica 2

Currently, there are 15 total Biomods available: five active and ten passive. It is important to note that you can only equip one of each type at this time, though the developer roadmap suggests more passive slots are coming in update 1.1.

Starting Biomods

Upon powering up the Welcome Center, you will immediately have access to these four initial options:

  • Dash (Active): Allows you to dash in any direction to avoid hazards or predators.
  • Pathfinder (Active): Leaves a trail of pheromones to help you navigate.
  • Sea Skimmer (Passive): Increases swim speed when near the seafloor or underwater surfaces.
  • Oxygen Control (Passive): Slows your oxygen consumption while remaining stationary.

Unlocking Advanced Active Biomods

To unlock the rest, you must use your Bioscanner on specific creatures found throughout the ocean.

Sonic Echo

  • Effect: Emits a sonar pulse to highlight nearby resources.
  • Scan Target: Collector Leviathan.
  • Location: Found patrolling the gorge between the Tadpole Pens and the Alien Ruins. You can also find two near the green glowing pools in the Metal Farm area. Use Distraction Flares or Camouflage to get close; one bite from this beast is usually fatal.

Electric Discharge

  • Effect: Releases an 800-volt shock to deter medium and large predators.
  • Scan Target: Electric Geordie.
  • Location: Located near the Alien Turbine (east of the Research Outpost) or by the green pools at the Metal Farms. Using a Tadpole as bait is a highly effective way to approach them.

Chum Cloud

  • Effect: Releases a cloud of bait to distract predators.
  • Scan Target: Houndgar and Toxic Sponge.
  • Location: Houndgars can be found near the Cicada shipwreck in the volcanic area (720m southwest of the Alien Ruins). Toxic Sponges are located in a small cave just 30m east of your initial Lifepod.

Essential Passive Biomods for Survival

As you progress, these passive upgrades will become vital for long-term exploration and stealth.

Bioluminescence

  • Effect: Makes you glow in the dark.
  • Scan Target: Sandspear and Electric Geordie.
  • Location: Sandspears are found shimmying in the sand near the seabed in the Shallows, such as a cave 70m west of the Lifepod.

Camouflage

  • Effect: Makes you invisible to predators when standing still.
  • Scan Target: Bullethead.
  • Location: These are often lodged in dark cave walls. A large cluster can be found in a cave 120m northwest of the Alien Ruins Research Outpost.

Water Retention

  • Effect: Increases water gain from all sources via enlarged kidneys.
  • Scan Target: Coral Crab.
  • Location: Found around the rock pillar near Chap's base (250m southeast of the Lifepod) or near the Houndgars at the Cicada shipwreck.

Homing Sense

  • Effect: Detects nearby bases that have electrical power.
  • Scan Target: Surge Jelly and Hammerhead.
  • Location: Surge Jellies are located 250m south of the Lifepod near a large natural currant. Hammerheads are commonly found near the sulfur deposits by Chap's base.