Beacon / Signal

How Beacon / Signal fits the Early Access route

Beacon / Signal is a navigation whose blueprint sits behind the scan economy described on the Vehicles index. Unlock route: Welcome Center. That matters because the scanner economy is the pacing mechanic of the whole Chapter 1–3 build — if the recipe is still locked, you are missing a scan site, not a crafting ingredient. Beacon each fragment location from the map screen before you swim it, and prefer scanning on a dedicated trip rather than mixing it with a materials run.

Getting it efficiently

Three habits make the unlock cheap. First, scan everything you see — early-game rule number one, and it pays for itself later. Second, once the Tadpole is built, do your fragment trips with it: speed and vertical escape beat any loadout, and it doubles as an O2 refuge mid-dive. Third, build a Scanner Station at your main base — it automates fragment scanning in range and quietly finishes partial scans while you do other things. Note: Mark resource spots and wreck locations. Essential for route planning.

Pairing and upgrades

The Standard Air Tank is the priority-one upgrade for any excursion, and Silver (Angel Comb branch, red hatch route) gates it — sort that before chasing deeper unlock routes. For depth work pair the Rebreather with a Portable Oxygen Generator; for vehicle-grade upgrades, the Vehicle Upgrade Console handles depth modules, and the Modification Station handles tool upgrades such as the Feedback Resonator (1 Sonic Resonator + 2 Enameled Glass + 2 Conduit Crystal + 2 Strontium).

Common mistakes

Leaving without a beacon and losing the scan site is the classic one — the alien ocean has no compass zones, so landmarks plus beacons are the only reliable navigation. The second is diving fragment routes on an empty O2 economy: an un-upgraded air supply turns a ten-minute scan into a surface-sprint. The third is crafting prematurely — check that your power source and base storage can support the item's upkeep before committing materials.

FAQ