Some help you move faster, save oxygen, detect threats, produce water, generate food, distract predators, or scan nearby resources. You start with a small set of Biomods, but the full list only opens up once you get the Bioscanner. The Bioscanner is an upgraded Scanner used to scan specific fauna and flora for Biomod unlocks.
1. How Biomods Work in Subnautica 2
Water Retention biomod
Biomods are character enhancements that you equip through the Biolab. They are split into two categories: Active Biomods and Passive Biomods. Active Biomods are triggered manually, while Passive Biomods stay active as long as they are equipped.
Active Biomods are activated with SHIFT on the keyboard or L3 on the controller. The Biolab interface gives you one Active Biomod slot and six Passive Biomod slots, though you only start with one Passive slot early on.
2. How to Unlock the Biolab
Biolab Blueprint location
The Biolab is inside the Welcome Center, which is one of the first structures near the Lifepod. The clearest location is around 80–95 meters southeast / right of the Lifepod, depending on your starting angle. The facility is powered off when you arrive, so you need a Basic Battery before you can use the Biolab interface.
- Start at the Lifepod and travel about 80–95 meters southeast / right toward the Welcome Center signal.
- Enter the Welcome Center and find the empty power socket on the wall.
- Craft a Basic Battery and insert the Basic Battery into the socket.
- Use the computer to open the Biolab interface and equip your first Biomods.
The Basic Battery requires Copper and Acidic Raion Pouch. Copper is found in underwater caves, while Acidic Raion Pouch comes from orange egg-like flowers in the starting area.
3. Where to Find the Bioscanner
Cicada Wreck Entry Point
The Bioscanner is found inside the Cicada Wreck / EVA Prep at the Blackbox Iso Signal. This is a later-game wreck near the Alien Ruins route, not an early Lifepod-area item.
The easiest way to reach it is to start from the Alien Ruins Research Outpost, then travel about 500 meters southeast to the Cicada Wreck. If you are coming from the Lifepod, the wreck is roughly 1,700–1,785 meters east / east-southeast.
- Progress until the Blackbox Iso Signal appears.
- Travel to the Cicada Wreck / EVA Prep.
- Look for the wreck entrance marked “73.”
- Bring a Scanner and Repair Tool.
- Enter the wreck and move through the EVA Prep area.
- Drop down through the lower broken section.
- Scan the degraded Bioscanner at the bottom.
- Return to base and craft the Bioscanner at the Modification Station.
Scanning Bioscanner
4. How to Craft the Bioscanner
The Bioscanner is crafted at the Modification Station after you scan the degraded version. It is not an early-game craft, because you need materials from later areas.
| Bioscanner Recipe | Amount |
|---|---|
| Scanner | 1 |
| Enameled Glass | 2 |
| Conduit Crystal | 3 |
5. All Active Biomods
Sonic Echo Biomod
Active Biomods are manual abilities. These are best for movement, predator defense, navigation, and resource scanning. You start with Dash and Pathfinder, while the other Active Biomods require the Bioscanner and specific Bio Scans.
| Active Biomod | Effect | How to Unlock | Scan Target Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dash | Dash in any direction to avoid predators or hazards. | Unlocked by default. | Available from the first Biolab / Welcome Center setup. |
| Pathfinder | Release a pheromone trail you can follow to find your way back. | Unlocked by default. | Available from the first Biolab / Welcome Center setup. |
| Sonic Echo | Emit a sonar pulse that highlights nearby resources. | Bio Scan: Collector Leviathan. | Sparse Plains or Karakorum Metal Farm. |
| Electric Discharge | Release an 800-volt electric shock to deter medium and large predators. | Bio Scan: Electric Geordie. | Observatory Island, Power Plant, and Root Canyon. |
| Chum Cloud | Release a bait cloud that distracts predators. | Bio Scan: Toxic Sponge and Houndgar. | Toxic Sponge: Coral Gardens. Houndgar: Graveyard. |
6. All Passive Biomods
Camouflage biomod
Passive Biomods stay active while equipped. These are best for oxygen management, food, water, stealth, movement, base detection, and threat awareness. You start with Sea Skimmer and Oxygen Control, then unlock the rest through Bioscanner targets.
| Passive Biomod | Effect | How to Unlock | Scan Target Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Skimmer | Swim faster when close to underwater surfaces or the seafloor. | Unlocked by default. | Available from the first Biolab / Welcome Center setup. |
| Oxygen Control | Slows oxygen consumption when not moving. | Unlocked by default. | Available from the first Biolab / Welcome Center setup. |
| Bioluminescence | Makes you glow in the dark. | Bio Scan: Sandspear and Electric Geordie. | Sandspear: Anemone Hills. Electric Geordie: Observatory Island, Power Plant, Root Canyon. |
| Camouflage | Become invisible to predators while not moving. | Bio Scan: Bullethead. | Observatory Island and areas near Root Canyon. |
| Water Retention | Gain more water from all sources. | Bio Scan: Coral Crab. | Coral Gardens. |
| Homing Sense | Detect nearby powered bases. | Bio Scan: Surge Jelly and Hammerhead. | Surge Jelly: around 170 m southeast of the Lifepod. Hammerhead: Coral Gardens. |
| Threat Sense | Detect nearby hostile creatures. | Bio Scan: Hoverthorn. | North of the Alien Ruins. |
| Dermal Garden | Slowly grow nutritious algae on your skin. | Bio Scan: Needler Mango. | Needler Nest in the Karakorum region. |
| Slow Metabolism | Reduces food loss / slows hunger drain. | Bio Scan: Nibbler Mango. | Coral Gardens. |
| Water Secretion | Slowly fills a water packet by filtering seawater. | Bio Scan: Water Slug. | Coral Gardens. |
