You're five minutes into a fresh save, swimming around the Safe Shallows, and you realize you've already filled your inventory with Acid Mushrooms you don't even need yet. It happens to everyone. Whether you're a veteran or a total newbie, the hunt for all resources in Subnautica common to rare is basically the heartbeat of the game. It’s what drives you deeper, pushes you into the jaws of a Reaper Leviathan, and makes you curse the RNG when you find your tenth piece of Gold instead of the Copper you actually need for a Beacon.
Survival on 4546B isn't just about oxygen; it’s about logistics. You aren't just a survivor; you're a glorified underwater garbageman looking for scrap metal to turn into a high-tech submarine. But here’s the thing: the game doesn't give you a spreadsheet. It gives you biomes, terrifying noises, and a lot of rocks to smack with a survival knife. Understanding the rarity tiers is the difference between a smooth progression and getting stuck because you can't find a single piece of Magnetite.
The Basic Scraps: Everything You Trip Over in the Shallows
Let's talk about the stuff you see the second you climb out of that Lifepod. Titanium is the backbone of your existence. Honestly, it’s the most "common" resource, but you’ll never have enough of it. You get it from Limestone outcrops, sure, but the real pro move is grabbing Metal Salvage. Every piece of salvage is worth four Titanium. You’ll find this scattered everywhere, especially near the Aurora or in the Kelp Forest where Stalkers like to play with it.
Then there's the Copper problem. Copper is technically "common," found in the same Limestone outcrops as Titanium, but it feels rare because every single electronic component requires it. You need it for Copper Wire, which goes into Battery chargers, Power Cells, and Advanced Wiring Kits. Most players find themselves in a "Copper drought" mid-game. If you’re struggling, head to the Mushroom Forest. The outcrops there are plentiful, and it’s generally safer than wandering too close to the Crash Zone.
Don't forget the organics. Acid Mushrooms are everywhere in the Safe Shallows. You use them for Batteries. Quartz is another staple, appearing as those glowing white crystals on the seabed. You need it for Glass, and eventually, for the reinforced windows in your base. It doesn’t respawn, so if you strip-mine the Shallows early on, you’ll have to swim further out to the Grassy Plateaus to find more.
The Mid-Tier Grind: Leaving Your Comfort Zone
Once you have a Seamoth, the game expects you to leave the sunlit water. This is where we start seeing the blue and purple hues of the Grassy Plateaus and the dark greens of the Kelp Forest. This is the realm of Silver and Gold.
✨ Don't miss: Teenager Playing Video Games: What Most Parents Get Wrong About the Screen Time Debate
You find these in Sandstone outcrops. Silver is the "bottleneck" resource of the mid-game. You need it for Wiring Kits, and for some reason, the game loves giving you Gold instead. Gold feels like it should be more valuable, but because you use it less frequently than Silver in early blueprints, you’ll likely end up with a locker full of Gold and zero Silver. It’s a classic Subnautica prank.
Cave Sulfur is a weird one. You can't just find it sitting on a rock. You have to find a Crashfish plant, wait for the little red terror to scream and explode at you, and then loot the nest it left behind. It’s essential for the Repair Tool and Laser Cutter.
Then we have Lithium. You’ll find this mostly as standalone crystals on the walls of the Mushroom Forest or the Jellyshroom Cave. It’s used to reinforce your base walls so the whole thing doesn't implode the moment you add a second floor.
- Lead: Found in Sandstone. Necessary for foundations and Radiation Suits.
- Stalker Teeth: These aren't in rocks. You have to watch Stalkers play with Metal Salvage; they occasionally drop a tooth when they bite the metal. It’s required for Enameled Glass.
- Diamond: Found in Shale outcrops. Start looking in the Mushroom Forest caves or the Island slopes.
The Rare Stuff: Deep Sea Treasures
Now we’re getting into the spicy territory. If you’re looking for all resources in Subnautica common to rare, the "rare" category is where the biome-specific materials live. We’re talking about things that require you to dive below 300 or 500 meters.
Magnetite is the big one here. It’s a dark, jagged mineral found almost exclusively in the Jellyshroom Cave (look near the thermal vents) and the Mountain Island. It’s vital for the HUD Chip and some of the best Seamoth upgrades.
🔗 Read more: Swimmers Tube Crossword Clue: Why Snorkel and Inner Tube Aren't the Same Thing
Then there’s Ruby. These glowing red gems are found on the walls of the Grand Reef and the Lost River. You need them for Aerogel, which is a component of the Prawn Suit and various high-end modules. Rubies are easy to spot because they pop against the dark blue water, but they usually hang out near things that want to eat you, like Crabsquids.
The Lost River and Beyond
The Lost River is a goldmine—well, a Nickel mine, actually. Nickel Ore appears as small silver-grey chunks on the floor of the Lost River, often hidden under the green brine. You must have a Prawn Suit or a Seamoth with Depth Module MK3 to get here safely.
Crystalline Sulfur is another Lost River exclusive. It looks like yellow lumps sitting right inside the toxic green brine pools. You have to take damage or use a Prawn Suit to grab it. This is used for late-game upgrades and the Neptune Escape Rocket.
The Ultra-Rare: The Final Tier
At the very bottom of the rarity list—and the bottom of the map—are the resources that only exist in the hottest, deepest places.
- Kyanite: These are brilliant blue crystals found only in the Inactive Lava Zone and the Lava Lakes. You cannot harvest them by hand; you need the Prawn Suit Drill Arm. Kyanite is the key to reaching the very end of the game’s story.
- Ion Cubes: These aren't natural. They are found in Alien Bases. While they are "limited" in number, there is a Large Resource Deposit in the Primary Containment Facility that provides an infinite supply if you have a Drill Arm.
- Hatching Enzymes: Technically a crafted resource, but the ingredients (Sea Crown, Ghost Weed, etc.) are some of the rarest flora in the game.
Navigating the Resource Map
The secret to mastering all resources in Subnautica common to rare isn't just knowing what they look like; it's knowing the "biomes of least resistance."
💡 You might also like: Stuck on Today's Connections? Here is How to Actually Solve the NYT Grid Without Losing Your Mind
For example, many players go to the Aurora for Titanium. That's fine, but it's dangerous. Instead, the Mushroom Forest is a haven for Lithium and Copper with almost zero predators. If you need Diamond and Gold early, the Sea Treaders’ Path is a literal infinite farm. The Sea Treaders kick up the ground as they walk, spawning endless Shale outcrops. You can fill a Cyclops with Diamonds in twenty minutes if you’re patient.
Practical Inventory Management Tips
Stop hoarding everything. Seriously. Early on, you only need enough for your next two blueprints.
Build a Scanner Room as soon as possible. It is the single most important tool for finding rare resources like Magnetite or Stalker Teeth. Once you upgrade the range and get the HUD Chip, the game goes from "blindly searching" to "shopping at a grocery store."
If you're heading into the Deep Grand Reef or the Lost River, bring a Beacon. You don't want to find a vein of Nickel and then forget how to get back to it. Marking resource-rich "nodes" saves hours of wandering.
Focus your energy on getting the Prawn Suit Drill Arm. Once you can drill large resource deposits, "rarity" becomes a suggestion rather than a rule. You'll find massive chunks of Kyanite and Titanium that provide 10-20 units of resource per node.
To finish your journey on 4546B, start by setting up a secondary base in the Lost River at the Junction (the big open area with the glowing tree). This area is safe, beautiful, and puts you within arm's reach of Nickel, Ruby, and Crystalline Sulfur. From there, the transition to the Lava Zones for Kyanite is a short trip, allowing you to bypass the constant backtracking to the surface. Your goal should be to minimize travel time so you can focus on the story and final construction phases.