- Primary Subject: Subnautica 2
- Key Update: The Tadpole is a crucial personal submersible vehicle that generates oxygen, requiring players to scan three out of nine available fragments to unlock its blueprint.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 15, 2026
- Quick Answer: To get the Tadpole in Subnautica 2, scan three fragments across areas like the canyons or Tadpole Pens, then craft it using the Vehicle Fabricator.
The Tadpole is a must-have item in Subnautica 2, but it's a lengthy process to get it.
The Tadpole acts as your personal submersible vehicle, allowing you to explore the depths of the ocean floor. It produces oxygen, so you won't need to worry about finding air pockets while exploring the sea.
Wondering how to get it? Here's everything you need to know.
Where to Find all the Tadpole Fragments
To build the Tadpole, you'll need to find three Tadpole fragments. The blueprint for the Tapole becomes available after scanning at least three fragments, but there are nine you can collect in total.
The first fragment is 280 meters northeast of the Lifepod. Watch out for a current that pulls you down into a canyon, where you’ll find the fragment beside a cargo container and a Hydroelectric Turbine. Keep following that same current to find the second fragment, located 380 meters east-northeast of the Lifepod.
The third Tadpole fragment is located 420 meters northeast of the Lifepod on a plateau near a crashed Alterra ship. There is a Ruby Black Box recording nearby.
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To get the fourth fragment, head a bit farther to 480 meters northeast of the Lifepod. You'll know you're in the right area if you spot the rocky crags near the BFJs. The fifth fragment is 430 meters northwest of the Lifepod, behind the Old Habitat.
For the sixth fragment, head 160 meters southwest of the Lifepod. It’s located on a cliffside ridge near the seabed. The seventh fragment is 300 meters southwest of the Lifepod, tucked away inside a Colonist Bunker.
The eighth fragment is located 515 meters east of the Lifepod in the Zezuran Desert. This area requires heat resistance, so you'll need the Angel Comb Adaptation to enter the area.
For the last and final fragment, head to the Tadpole Pens. You'll naturally visit this area while progressing through the main story.
How to Craft the Tadpole
After scanning three Tadpole Fragments, you'll have the blueprint to build the Tadpole.
Here's everything you need to build the Tadpole:
- Tadpole Core Vehicle - 2 Titanium Ingot, 1 Glass, 1 System Chip, 1 Power Cell
- Moonpool - 5 Titanium
- Tadpole Dock - 2 Titanium Ingot, 1 Silver Ingot, 2 Copper Wire
- Vehicle Fabricator - 2 Titanium Ingot, 1 Copper Ingot, 2 Glass
How to Upgrade the Tadpole
To get upgrades for your Tadpole, you'll need to scan or collect data cards to get its blueprints. There are two upgrade types: structural attachments, which are crafted via the Vehicle Fabricator, and upgrade modules, which are made at the Modification Station.
One attachment you'll want to get is the Tadpole Scout Ray Chassis, which maximizes the Tadpole's acceleration, top speed, and turn rate. The blueprint can be found inside the Tadpole Pens.
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There are plenty of modules you can add to the Tadpole. One is the Engine Efficiency, which reduces power by 20% and stacks up to four times. This can be found in the Alien Base. Another great one is the Depth Module Mark I, which allows the Tadpole to dive deeper. It's located in the NOA Terminal in the Alien Base.
The Photovoltaic Charger module helps charge the Tadpole's power while in shallow waters during the day. This is obtained in the Cicada Wreck (EVA Prep), past the Alien Base. Lastly, the Cavitation Muffler reduces the noise the Tadpole makes and can be found in the Metal Farms area.
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