How To Get Lithium In Subnautica Best Locations And Mining Methods
Surviving the deep ocean of Subnautica requires a constant supply of advanced resources to upgrade your gear and reinforce your underwater base. Among these essential materials, lithium stands out as a critical element needed for crafting Plasteel Ingots, the reinforced diving suit, and structural reinforcements. Finding this shiny gray mineral early on can significantly accelerate your technological progression and keep your operations safe from structural collapses.
Top Early Game Biomes for Lithium Harvesting
For players who are still exploring the shallower regions without advanced diving vehicles, the Mushroom Forest stands as the safest and most abundant location. This biome features massive tree-like structures where lithium pieces can be found directly on the stalks and scattered along the sandy floor. Navigating this area requires minimal defensive equipment since large predators are mostly absent from the immediate territory.
Another excellent location for gathering this resource early on is the Jellyshroom Caves, which are accessible through deep cracks in the Grassy Plateaus. Inside these glowing purple caverns, individual resource crystals lie exposed on the cavern floor and near the base of the massive mushrooms. However, explorers must exercise caution when swimming near the stalks to avoid sudden encounters with aggressive Crabsnakes that nest inside.
Mid Game Expeditions and Danger Zones
As you build better transport options like the Seamoth, venturing to the Enforcement Island becomes a highly lucrative option for resource gathering. The mountain paths and interior cave networks of this dry land mass contain large amounts of lithium embedded along the rock walls. Harvesting here allows players to gather a massive inventory without worrying about oxygen limitations, though small cave crawlers will present minor environmental nuisances.
If you require massive quantities for large-scale base expansions, checking the Sea Treader's Path is a highly reliable option. The massive prehistoric creatures that walk this migratory route constantly unearth buried resources from the ocean floor as they step. Following behind these leviathans allows you to harvest plenty of shale outcrops, which frequently break open to reveal both lithium and diamonds.
Efficient Mining Methods and Tool Utilization
While picking up individual crystals by hand is perfectly fine for basic recipes, serious base builders should utilize specialized equipment for maximum efficiency. The Prawn Suit equipped with a Drill Arm attachment allows players to mine large resource deposits that cannot be harvested manually. These large mineral formations are commonly scattered across the deeper biomes, including the Dunes and the Crash Zone.
To make your scouting operations much easier, deploying a Scanner Room in your target biome will highlight exact resource positions on your heads-up display. Upgrading this structural scanner with range modules ensures that every hidden piece within a several-hundred-meter radius becomes visible instantly. Combining the scanning array with a fast vehicle allows you to fill your storage containers in a fraction of the usual exploration time.