Flashlight
A personal tool in Subnautica 2 (Early Access). Unlock route: Lifepod cave + northeast wreck scans. Below: what it does, the efficient way to get it, and how it fits the Chapter 1–3 progression.
| Type | Personal tool |
|---|---|
| Unlock | Lifepod cave + northeast wreck scans |
| Notes | Crafted with Coral Mash and Toxic Sponge materials at the fabricator. |
How Flashlight fits the Early Access route
Flashlight is a personal tool whose blueprint sits behind the scan economy described on the Vehicles index. Unlock route: Lifepod cave + northeast wreck scans. 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: Crafted with Coral Mash and Toxic Sponge materials at the fabricator.
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
Where do I scan the fragments for Flashlight?
The unlock row in the table above lists the fragment sets. Route context for every site lives on the Walkthrough and Biomes pages: beacon the site from the map, split the run into a scan leg and a materials leg, and scan everything you see along the way.
What should I bring when unlocking Flashlight?
Standard Air Tank first (Silver route), a charged Scanner, and the Tadpole once it is built. For cave-heavy routes add a Flashlight and a Portable Oxygen Generator; for eastern or deep routes expect predator patrols and carry a decoy.
How do I unlock Flashlight?
Lifepod cave + northeast wreck scans
What role does Flashlight play?
Personal tool
Is it worth building?
Crafted with Coral Mash and Toxic Sponge materials at the fabricator.
Sources and scope
Official update reference. This page is an editorial guide. Its update date records an edit; it does not certify a gameplay test of every numerical value or route. Verify version-sensitive details against your installed game.