Reaper Leviathan

The Reaper Leviathan is the most iconic hostile creature in the Subnautica franchise. It is a 55-meter aquatic predator, roughly the same length as the Cyclops submarine, and is usually the first leviathan-class organism that players encounter.

Appearance and behavior

The Reaper has a serpentine body with four large mandibles surrounding its mouth. It is highly aggressive, patrolling a set territory and always returning to its route after an attack. It can grab the Seamoth or Prawn Suit in its mandibles and deal heavy damage. Each bite deals 80 damage to the player. Its distinctive roar (a low, echoing scream) is audible from a significant distance and has become the sound most associated with the franchise's horror elements.

Subnautica 2 official teaser trailer thumbnail showing underwater scene

Habitat

Approximately 22-25 Reaper Leviathans exist in the game world, distributed across three areas: the Dunes (8 individuals), the Mountains (7), and the Crash Zone surrounding the Aurora wreck (11). The Crash Zone population makes exploring the Aurora wreck (which contains essential blueprints and story content) one of the most tense experiences in the game.

Subnautica 2 official press screenshot showing deep ocean exploration

Cultural impact

For most Subnautica players, the Reaper Leviathan is the defining creature of the franchise. The first encounter (usually triggered by venturing too close to the Aurora wreck or the back of the map) is a widely shared community experience. Countless videos, memes, and discussions revolve around the Reaper's jump-scare potential. The creature's design perfectly exploits the game's core tension: you hear it before you see it, and by the time you see it, it may already be too late to escape.

The Reaper does not appear in Subnautica 2, which takes place on a different planet. The Collector Leviathan fills a similar role as the primary predatory leviathan.