Subnautica 2 Guide: All Biomods and How to Unlock Them
Supercharge Your Outer Space Survival Kit by Scanning Alien Flora and Fauna
Quick Answer: To unlock new Biomods beyond your starting four, you must find and scan the degraded Bioscanner inside the Blackbox Iso Signal wreck. After crafting this upgraded tool at a Modification Station, scanning specific flora and fauna out in the wild will unlock powerful new abilities at your Biolab.
Altering your DNA is one of the most powerful progression systems in Subnautica 2. When you first fire up your Biolab, the pickings look incredibly slim. You only have access to two active and two passive abilities. Many players assume this is just a minor feature and ignore it.
Do not make that mistake. Your Biomod roster can grow into a massive arsenal of defensive and utility perks, but the game absolutely refuses to hand you the tool required to unlock them. You have to go hunt down the Bioscanner.
Finding the Bioscanner
Your standard handheld Scanner is completely useless for unlocking new DNA traits. Scanning wildlife with your starter tool does absolutely nothing for your Biolab progression. You need the Bioscanner, an upgraded piece of tech that not only catalogs creatures for DNA extraction but also allows you to scan late-game alien technology.
There is exactly one degraded Bioscanner hidden on the map. Here is how you get your hands on it:
- Look for the Blackbox Iso Signal on your HUD. If you have not unlocked the waypoint yet, grab your compass and swim roughly 1,800 meters East of your Lifepod.
- Look for dark, murky green water surrounded by alien structures.
- Locate the crashed wreckage and bring your Repair Tool to bypass the entrance.
- Navigate through the tight ventilation shafts and wall gaps.
- Descend through a massive broken chamber until you hit the very bottom.
- Pull out your standard Scanner and scan the broken Bioscanner resting on the floor.
Since this wreck is incredibly dark and dangerous, ensure you know exactly how to find and craft a Flashlight in Subnautica 2 before you attempt this deep dive so you do not drown in a pitch-black ventilation shaft.
Crafting Your New Tool
You cannot build this device at a standard Fabricator. The Bioscanner is strictly a mid-game tool, meaning you need to locate and construct a Modification Station inside your base first.
Once your advanced crafting station is powered up, combine these materials:
| Required Material | Quantity |
| Standard Scanner | 1 |
| Enamelled Glass | 2 |
| Conduit Crystal | 3 |
All Active Biomods
Active Biomods are abilities you must manually trigger. With your new Bioscanner equipped, tracking down specific wildlife adds these directly to your Biolab menu.
| Biomod Name | Scan Requirement | Ability Effect |
| Dash | Unlocked by Default | Burst in any direction to dodge aggressive predators or environmental hazards. |
| Pathfinder | Unlocked by Default | Releases a glowing pheromone trail you can easily follow to navigate back through confusing caves. |
| Sonic Echo | Collector Leviathan | Emits a massive sonar pulse that highlights nearby resource nodes through walls. |
| Electric Discharge | Electric Geordie | Fires off an 800-volt electric shock that deters medium and large threats from attacking. |
| Chum Cloud | Toxic Sponge & Houndgar | Releases a dense cloud of bait to instantly distract hungry predators. |
All Passive Biomods
Passive Biomods run in the background 24/7. You do not need to press a button; they just permanently enhance your survival capabilities as long as they remain equipped.
| Biomod Name | Scan Requirement | Ability Effect |
| Sea Skimmer | Unlocked by Default | Increases your overall swim speed when traveling near the seafloor or underwater walls. |
| Oxygen Control | Unlocked by Default | Drastically slows down your oxygen consumption whenever you stop moving. |
| Bioluminescence | Sandspear & Electric Geordie | Makes your body glow in the dark, providing a permanent personal light source. |
| Camouflage | Bullethead | Turns you completely invisible to all predators as long as you remain perfectly still. |
| Water Retention | Coral Crab | Increases the amount of hydration you receive from all food and water sources. |
| Homing Sense | Surge Jelly & Hammerhead | Allows you to detect any nearby player bases that have an active electrical grid. |
| Threat Sense | Hoverthorn | Uses specialized hair cells to detect nearby predators before you can see them. |
| Dermal Garden | Needler Mango | Slowly grows edible, nutritious algae directly on your skin. |
| Slow Metabolism | Nibbler Mango | Modifies your microbiome to reduce how quickly your hunger meter depletes. |
| Water Secretion | Water Slug | Passively filters seawater to slowly fill an emergency water packet. |
The Best Biomods to Equip First
While you can eventually mix and match based on your playstyle, a few of these DNA upgrades are absolute game-changers.
For your passive slots, immediately equip Oxygen Control. You will spend a lot of time hovering in place while scanning fragments or managing your inventory, and saving your air supply during those moments is massive. Your second slot should go to Water Secretion. Completely automating your drinking water supply removes one of the most tedious early-game grinds.
For your active slots, Dash is mandatory for surviving sudden Leviathan ambushes. Once you track down an Electric Geordie, swap your second slot to Electric Discharge. Having an on-demand taser gives you the confidence to explore highly aggressive biomes without constantly running for your life.
