Unofficial planning guide

Subnautica 2 progression route checklist

A useful progression route has one objective, a safe return rule, and enough spare capacity for discoveries. Use this checklist before each expedition instead of trying to solve every crafting and exploration goal in one overloaded run.

Early Access note: names, locations, recipes, and balance can change. This checklist deliberately focuses on route-planning decisions that remain useful across updates.

Before leaving base

1. Name one unlock goal

Choose the blueprint, material category, scan, or infrastructure milestone that makes the trip successful.

2. Set a route boundary

Decide how far or deep you will push before reassessing oxygen, power, storage, and risk.

3. Clear inventory space

Carry the safety essentials your current build requires, then leave enough open slots for the goal materials and unexpected high-value finds.

4. Choose a return trigger

Return when the main objective is complete, critical power reaches your safety threshold, storage fills, or the route becomes unfamiliar enough that navigation risk dominates.

During the route

Solo and co-op adjustments

Solo routes should be shorter and easier to recover because one player handles navigation, inventory, and safety. In co-op, assign a navigator, a goal-material collector, and a flexible support role. Agree on a regroup point before splitting up.

After returning

  1. Deposit and label goal materials.
  2. Craft the planned milestone before spending resources elsewhere.
  3. Record what caused the return.
  4. Remove detours that produced little value.
  5. Choose whether the next run repeats, extends, or branches from this route.

Related RouteForge tools

Start with the beginner route guide, prepare materials with the resource checklist, and divide work with the co-op planner.

Open the interactive planner

Frequently asked questions

How long should an early progression route be?

Keep it short enough that you can repeat it safely and return with the objective materials. Extend only after the basic loop is reliable.

Should I collect every resource I see?

No. Prioritize the route objective and scarce high-value finds. Filling inventory with low-priority materials can force an early return.

How should patches change the route?

Recheck assumptions about resource density, hazards, and travel time, then update only the affected route segment.