Subnautica 2 Biomods Guide — All 15 Abilities & Unlocks
All 15 Biomods in Subnautica 2: 5 Active + 10 Passive abilities, creature scan unlocks, effect stats & best loadouts. Bioscanner & Biolab guide included.
Last updated: 2026-05-29
Biomod System Overview
Biomods are Subnautica 2's player ability system, replacing the original game's fragment-and-blueprint upgrade chain. Unlock abilities by scanning specific creatures with the Bioscanner, then equip them at the Biolab.
The EA build has 15 Biomods: 5 Active + 10 Passive. Active abilities use hotbar slots and fire on input. Passive abilities are always on. Current limitation: you can only equip 1 Active and 1 Passive at a time.
Important: Creatures scanned with the regular Scanner do NOT count toward Biomod unlocks. You must re-scan them with the Bioscanner.
Prerequisite: Getting the Bioscanner
Crafting station: Modification Station
Recipe: Scanner ×1 + Enameled Glass ×2 + Conduit Crystal ×3
How to unlock: Follow the main story to the Blackbox Iso Signal wreckage (~1,800m east of the Lifepod) to obtain the blueprint.
Active Biomods (5)
Dash — Default
Effect: Dash in any direction to evade predators
Cooldown: 5 seconds
Unlock: Available by default
Your core escape ability. When a Collector Leviathan or Houndgar lunges, hit Dash to burst out of their attack cone. The most practical Active biomod in early game.
Pathfinder — Default
Effect: Release glowing yellow particles to mark your path
Duration: 4–5 minutes | Cooldown: None
Unlock: Available by default
Essential for cave exploration. Use it in the complex Coral Gardens cave systems or Observatory ruins to avoid getting lost.
Sonic Echo
Effect: Emit a sonar pulse highlighting nearby ore deposits (light blue circle on HUD)
Unlock: Scan Collector Leviathan
A mineral radar. Extremely efficient in mining zones — perfect for locating Celestine and Atacamite deposits. The Collector Leviathan patrols the gorge between the Tadpole Pens and the Alien Ruins, and two more spawn in the Metal Farm area.
Electric Discharge
Effect: Deliver an 800-volt shock to deter medium and large predators
Limitation: Does not work inside the Tadpole
Unlock: Scan Electric Geordie
Self-defense while swimming. When caught outside your Tadpole by a predator, the shock makes them flinch and back off. Electric Geordies are found in Coral Gardens.
Chum Cloud
Effect: Launch a bait orb 10m forward that explodes into a distraction cloud
Cooldown: 20 seconds
Unlock: Scan Toxic Sponge + Houndgar
Active defense. Best used with Dash — deploy the cloud to divert attention, then Dash away.
Passive Biomods (10)
Sea Skimmer — Default
Effect: Swim faster when close to surfaces or the seafloor
Unlock: Available by default
Must be very close to a surface to trigger. Hug the seabed for a noticeable speed boost.
Oxygen Control — Default
Effect: Reduces oxygen consumption by 75% when stationary
Unlock: Available by default
Emergency lifeline. When running low on air, stop swimming to dramatically extend your survival window.
Bioluminescence
Effect: Your body glows, providing light in dark environments
Unlock: Scan Sandspear + Electric Geordie
Essential for cave exploration. Provides ambient light without using a tool slot.
Camouflage
Effect: Become invisible to predators while stationary
Limitation: Does not work inside the Tadpole
Unlock: Scan Bullethead
Highly effective against the Collector Leviathan. When one approaches, stop moving to go invisible and wait for it to pass.
Water Retention
Effect: All water sources restore ×2 hydration (e.g. Water gives +80 instead of +40)
Unlock: Scan Coral Crab
Halves the water you need to carry, freeing inventory space. Great for long expeditions.
Homing Sense
Effect: Detects nearby powered bases (lightning ping on HUD)
Unlock: Scan Surge Jelly + Hammerhead
Navigation aid for multi-base setups. Quickly orient yourself toward the nearest base when far from home.
Threat Sense
Effect: Detects threats within a 50m radius (audio ping when triggered)
Unlock: Scan Hoverthorn
Deep-sea safety net. Early warning of approaching hostile creatures gives you time to react.
Dermal Garden
Effect: Slowly grows edible algae on your skin — +5 food every 3.5 minutes (stacks)
Unlock: Scan Needler Mango
Passive food generation. Pairs well with Slow Metabolism for near-zero food maintenance.
Slow Metabolism
Effect: Food meter decreases 42% slower
Unlock: Scan Nibbler Mango
Effectively doubles your food efficiency. Combined with Dermal Garden, you can nearly ignore hunger.
Water Secretion
Effect: Filters fresh water from the sea — +5 hydration every 3.5 minutes (stacks)
Unlock: Scan Water Slug
Passive water generation. Combine with Water Retention for minimal water supply needs.
Recommended Loadouts
Explorer: Active: Dash (escape) + Passive: Camouflage (hide from Leviathans). Best for deep-sea exploration and dangerous biomes.
Miner: Active: Sonic Echo (detect ore) + Passive: Threat Sense (predator alert). Best for mining operations.
Long Expedition: Active: Pathfinder (mark route) + Passive: Slow Metabolism or Water Retention (reduce supply needs). Best for long-distance trips.
FAQ
Q: Can I equip multiple Biomods at once?
A: In the EA build, you can only equip 1 Active and 1 Passive. The Biolab shows 7 slots total, but only 2 are currently usable — the rest are locked. Future updates may unlock more.
Q: Do normal Scanner scans count toward Biomod unlocks?
A: No. You must re-scan creatures with the Bioscanner. Previous scans with the regular Scanner do not count.
Q: Do Camouflage and Electric Discharge work inside the Tadpole?
A: No. Both only work while swimming on foot. Inside the Tadpole, use the Cavitation Muffler to reduce detection instead.
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