Subnautica 2 Strontium — How to Get It & What It's For
How to get Strontium in Subnautica 2: refine it from Celestine ×2 at the Processor (30s). Feeds the Cavitation Muffler, Strike Armor and more.
Last updated: 2026-06-15
What is Strontium and how do you get it?
Strontium is a radioactive element refined from Celestine — it's not a mineral you mine in the wild, but a processed intermediate. You can't dig it off the seabed; you gather Celestine first, then refine it into Strontium at the Processor.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Station | Processor |
| Recipe | Celestine ×2 → Strontium ×1 |
| Time | ~30 seconds |
| Unlock | Available from the start — no fragments |
Where does Celestine come from?
Since Strontium is gated by Celestine, the key is a steady Celestine supply. Celestine spawns in the deep Karakorum (~250–500m) and gives 3 per node by hand (better than the 2 from the Sonic Resonator), so hand-mining is the way. See the Celestine guide for exact spots and tips.
💡 Because 2 Celestine make only 1 Strontium, over-gather Celestine on your Karakorum runs and batch-refine at the Processor back home — it saves repeat dives.
What is Strontium used for?
Strontium is a key late-game upgrade material, almost all of it feeding vehicle mods at the Modification Station:
| Upgrade | Effect |
|---|---|
| Cavitation Muffler | Quiets the Tadpole — less likely to alert the Collector Leviathan |
| Feedback Resonator | Sonic upgrade that shatters hardened Bloom Cankers |
| Strike Armor | Reduces physical damage from collisions and attacks |
| Tadpole Haul Chassis | A dockable passenger/cargo chassis |
Gathering & refining tips
Strontium runs through several genuinely useful vehicle upgrades, so it's worth keeping in stock. Place a Processor near your storage and batch-convert Celestine; refine a few spare Strontium during downtime so you're not scrambling for ore when you want a Cavitation Muffler, Strike Armor or Feedback Resonator. Since Celestine also goes into the Depth Module Mk.1 and the Modification Station itself, budget your supply rather than refining your whole stock into Strontium at once.
Plan around the 2-to-1 ratio: a Cavitation Muffler, Strike Armor or Feedback Resonator can each call for two or more Strontium, so a full set of mods quietly eats well over a dozen Celestine. The 30-second processing time adds up too, which is exactly why batching wins — queue several conversions while you sort loot or plan the next dive instead of refining one at a time mid-expedition.
FAQ
Q: How do I get Strontium?
A: You can't mine it directly — refine it at the Processor from Celestine ×2 (~30s per Strontium).
Q: Where do I mine Celestine?
A: The deep Karakorum (~250–500m); hand-mining gives 3 per node, better than the Sonic Resonator's 2.
Q: What is Strontium used for?
A: Late-game upgrades — the Cavitation Muffler, Feedback Resonator, Strike Armor and Tadpole Haul Chassis.
Q: Where do I refine it?
A: At the Processor, available from the start with no fragments to unlock.
Q: How much should I stockpile?
A: Match it to the upgrades you plan to build; since 2 Celestine make 1 Strontium, refine a few extra at a time.
Q: Is there any other way to get Strontium?
A: No. Refining Celestine ×2 at the Processor is the only source — there's no Strontium ore to mine, so a steady Celestine supply is the whole game.
Q: Does refining Celestine waste it?
A: Only if you over-refine — Celestine is also needed for the Depth Module Mk.1 and the Modification Station, so keep some raw.
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