Primary use
Alien blueprints, creature-based biomods and additional passive Biomod slots.
DNA upgrade tool
Bioscanner Guide
The Bioscanner makes new creatures useful even after your starter Scanner has handled the first blueprints. Treat an ability unlock and an extra passive slot as two different rewards: learning a biomod expands your options, while gaining a slot lets you equip more passive effects.
Quick answer: Upgrade 1 Scanner with 2 Enameled Glass and 3 Conduit Crystal at the Modification Station to make a Bioscanner. It analyzes alien technology and creatures for blueprints and biomods. Creature bioscans also advance extra passive slots; read the next slot’s requirement in the Biomod interface and equip abilities at a Biolab.
Reviewed .
Recipe version: PC build 128456 ingredient data; passive slot progression follows official EA 1.1 notes.
Route and unlock plan
Alien Ruins Research Station to Cicada wreckage southeast route.
Step 1
Use the Welcome Center Biolab first
Bring the Basic Battery for the facility and learn how to choose and equip a biomod. EA 1.1 expanded the Biolab unlock pool to six biomods across the world; that does not mean six are equipped at once.
Step 2
Reach Alien Ruins safely
The Bioscanner route belongs after Tadpole travel, depth planning, and Alien Ruins navigation are stable.
Step 3
Upgrade before your creature survey
The linked route continues southeast of the Alien Ruins Research Station toward Cicada wreckage. After blueprint access, bring one Scanner, two Enameled Glass and three Conduit Crystal to the Modification Station.
Step 4
Read the next passive slot requirement
EA 1.1 added extra passive slots earned through creature bioscans and made both the total Bioscans and each slot’s required count visible. Use that progress display to decide when another creature scan is worth the detour.
Step 5
Equip the reward at a Biolab
After a new ability or slot unlocks, revisit your loadout. Keep the next route in mind when choosing passive effects instead of assuming that scanning alone equips a biomod.
Map and route
Open a marker to follow the nearby route and plan your return trip.
landmark
Alien Ruins research base
After the Tadpole Pens objective, cross the open gorge east toward the Alien Ruins Research Station and use the cliffs for cover.
Mid-game research base / PC Gamer Alien Ruins guide
biomod
Bioscanner at Cicada wreckage
PC Gamer places the Bioscanner upgrade in Cicada wreckage southeast of the Alien Ruins Research Station.
Outer southeast wreck route / PC Gamer Alien Ruins guide
resource
Conduit Crystal Angel Comb ledges
From the Alien Ruins Research Base, descend toward the Angel Comb below the Alien Power Plant and check ledges around alien structures.
Below 250 m Sonic Resonator route / PC Gamer Conduit Crystal guide
Player decisions
| Question | Status | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade recipe | Modification Station | 1 Scanner + 2 Enameled Glass + 3 Conduit Crystal. Keep the existing Scanner as the upgrade input. |
| Glass from raw materials | 4 Quartz + 2 Creature Enamel | Each Enameled Glass uses one Glass and one Creature Enamel. Two Quartz make one Glass at the Fabricator. |
| When to chase it | After Alien Ruins access | Do not detour for the Bioscanner during first-hour base setup. The route is more valuable once you can survive the southeast wreck chain. |
| Ability unlocks | More choices | Creature analysis can expand the biomods available for your loadout; check the unlock message to see what you gained. |
| Passive slot unlocks | EA 1.1 progression | Creature bioscans also advance extra passive slots. The displayed next-slot requirement tells you the remaining scan goal. |
| Best paired trip | Route pairing | Pair the route with Conduit Crystal, Alien Ruins material checks, and Modification Station notes if your save is already there. |
Gameplay notes
PC build 128456 recipe data
Crafting cost
One Scanner, two Enameled Glass and three Conduit Crystal; the station is the Modification Station.
Research Station waypoint
Route family
Use the Alien Ruins Research Station as a waypoint before the southeast Cicada wreckage leg. Keep the return route to the station clear.
Official EA 1.1
Passive slot progression
The Adaptive Measures patch added passive slots earned through creature bioscans, with visible total scans and slot requirements.
Six across the world
Biolab unlock pool
EA 1.1 increased the number of biomods unlocked from Biolabs from four to six. This is a pool of abilities, not the number of simultaneously equipped slots.
Different starting rules
Creative mode
EA 1.1 unlocks all biomods by default in Creative mode, so a Creative loadout is not a guide to normal progression.
Useful links
Official Adaptive Measures patch notes
EA 1.1 rules for the six-Biomod Biolab pool, passive slot progression, visible Bioscan counts and Creative mode.
GameSpot Bioscanner guide
Bioscanner upgrade and fragment route.
PC Gamer Alien Ruins guide
Alien Ruins, Research Station and southeast wreck directions.
Sub2Wiki Biomods hub
Biolab choices and the relationship between scans, unlocked abilities and your loadout.
Questions people ask
How do I get the Bioscanner in Subnautica 2?
Follow the Alien Ruins route, then the southeast Cicada wreckage leg linked in this guide. Once the blueprint is available, upgrade one Scanner with two Enameled Glass and three Conduit Crystal at the Modification Station.
Is the Bioscanner different from the normal Scanner?
Yes. The starter Scanner handles normal blueprint and databank scanning. The Bioscanner adds alien-technology and creature research for advanced blueprints and biomods, and its creature scans contribute to extra passive slots after EA 1.1.
How do I unlock more passive Biomod slots?
Scan creatures with the Bioscanner. EA 1.1 added passive-slot progression from these scans and shows both your total Bioscans and the number needed for each slot. Follow the next requirement displayed in your game.
Does the six-Biomod Biolab update give me six equipped slots?
No. The official EA 1.1 change increased the world’s Biolab ability unlock pool to six. Additional passive slots are a separate progression reward from creature bioscans.
Related pages
Enameled Glass
Make the two pieces needed for this upgrade.
Scanner
The tool used as the Bioscanner upgrade input.
Biomods
Biolab choices, creature-based unlocks and loadout planning.
DNA Modification
System-level explanation for Biolab and Bioscanner progression.
Conduit Crystal
Alien Ruins material route connected to Bioscanner planning.
Bioscanner map lead
Open the current route-planning marker.