Vehicle tracker
Tadpole Submersible
The first confirmed player vehicle in Subnautica 2. Unknown Worlds names the Tadpole on the Steam store page, and launch guides document it as the compact early submersible that moves you beyond short oxygen-range dives.
Status as of May 18, 2026: Tadpole name and vehicle role are official. Fragment locations and build chain are drawn from launch-week guide verification; exact depth values and upgrade numbers should still be retested after patches.
Confirmed role
- Official vehicle name. Steam's official description tells players to traverse biomes with the Tadpole submersible.
- Early exploration role. It is the first vehicle most players should work toward after the Welcome Center and a powered starter base.
- Built through the base vehicle chain. Launch guides describe a Moonpool, Tadpole Dock, and Vehicle Fabricator setup after scanning fragments.
- Patch-sensitive details. Crush depth, exact material costs, and upgrade modules should be checked against the current build before being treated as final.
How to unlock it
- Scan Tadpole fragments. Current launch guides point players toward deeper wreck and reef routes after the first base-building loop. Treat the route as a real expedition, not a first-minute swim.
- Build a starter base first. You need the Habitat Builder scans and enough power/storage to support the vehicle work.
- Set up Moonpool pieces. The confirmed player-guide chain is Moonpool, Tadpole Dock, then Vehicle Fabricator.
- Craft the Tadpole through that setup. Do not look for a starter-pod Fabricator recipe or a standalone Vehicle Bay recipe.
What to verify after patches
- Exact Tadpole material cost in the current build.
- Base crush depth and the depth gain per upgrade tier, if upgrades are present.
- Module slots and whether any scanner, cargo, defensive, or mobility modules are available.
- Whether the Tadpole supports any co-op passenger or sharing behavior.
- Power and recharge behavior across Steam, Xbox, and Game Pass builds.