Vehicles

Vehicles in Subnautica 2 are used for exploration and depth progression across Proteus, and are built for both solo and co-op play. In the current Early Access build there is exactly one buildable vehicle: the Tadpole. Two other systems are often grouped with vehicles because they help the player move, but neither is a vehicle: the Wakemaker is a handheld propulsion tool, and the Dive Elevator is a base structure. The Trident, a larger multi-crew submarine, is cut from the launch build but announced as a planned future Early Access addition. No vehicles carry over from prior franchise entries; the lineup is built specifically for Proteus's mechanics rather than reusing earlier models.

The Only Buildable Vehicle: Tadpole

The Tadpole is the sole vehicle the player can build and pilot in the current build. It is a modular single-pilot submersible designed as the primary exploration craft. Its defining feature is a swappable chassis: the same core can be configured for different jobs by changing the chassis fitted to it, so one vehicle covers scouting, hauling, and general exploration depending on the loadout.

Confirmed Tadpole details:

• Single pilot, co-op friendly: One player pilots the Tadpole from inside. In co-op, passengers can ride along by grabbing external handles on the hull, and they still receive oxygen while holding on, so a partner does not have to worry about drowning during the trip.

• Swappable chassis: The Tadpole is modular and accepts different chassis for different roles, rather than being a single fixed configuration.

• Exploration role: It is the workhorse for reaching new areas and gathering, the craft players rely on once they progress past personal mobility tools like the Wakemaker.

• Design: A sleek, manta-ray-inspired profile with swept wings and a large forward window for visibility.

Tadpole Chassis Variants

The Tadpole's chassis can be swapped to change its role. The following variants are documented:

Specific stats for each chassis, such as exact speed, storage capacity, and crush depth, have not been published, so they are not listed here. The Tadpole's crafting recipe and material costs likewise have not been detailed; see Crafting and Resources for how the scan-to-unlock blueprint progression works.

Not Vehicles: Wakemaker and Dive Elevator

Two traversal systems are commonly mistaken for vehicles. Both are documented on their own pages and are summarized here only to make the distinction clear.

Wakemaker (Handheld Tool)

The Wakemaker is a handheld twin-fan propulsion tool, not a vehicle. The player holds it and uses it to boost swim speed; it runs on a battery and renders the player visually obscured while in use. It belongs in the tools and equipment roster. For full details, see the Wakemaker page.

Dive Elevator (Base Structure)

The Dive Elevator is a base structure, not a vehicle. It is a vertical-traversal module that lowers players and objects through the water column, covering roughly 25 meters of descent per unit, stackable to go deeper, and carrying up to four players plus some objects. It is built and placed like other base-building modules. For full details, see the Dive Elevator page.

Cut From Launch: Trident

The Trident is a larger, multi-crew submarine. It is cut from the Early Access launch build, but it has been announced as a planned future Early Access addition, not permanently removed. It is not playable at launch. The Trident left a trace in creature design: the internal brief for the Collector Leviathan describes the creature as disliking "players, tadpoles, tridents, and anything it does not recognise," which shows the Trident was developed far enough to be factored into creature behavior before being held back. See the dedicated Trident page and Cut Content for more.

Future Vehicles

The vehicle roster is set to grow during Early Access. A larger, multi-person submarine (corresponding to the cut Trident) is planned for a later update, potentially closer to the full release. The original-series Prawn Suit is not in Early Access; a mech-suit successor is a future plan only and is not buildable in the current build. No names, final designs, or specifications for these future craft have been confirmed.

Vehicle and Traversal Overview

Vehicle Progression

Subnautica 2 uses a scan-to-unlock blueprint progression. Players scan fragments scattered across the biomes to unlock blueprints, then gather resources to craft what they have unlocked. As players reach deeper, more dangerous areas, they unlock and build better gear, which in turn lets them push further. With the Tadpole as the only buildable vehicle for now, early traversal leans on the Wakemaker and the Dive Elevator, while deeper exploration centers on the Tadpole until the roster expands during Early Access.