Subnautica 2 Tadpole Pens Keycode & Scout Ray Blueprint
Subnautica 2 Tadpole Pens location: 675m east of the Lifepod, 150m deep. Get Zip black box keycode, prep Heat Tolerance, and scan Scout Ray Blueprint.
Last updated: 2026-06-29
Quick answer: the Tadpole Pens are about 675m east of the Lifepod, with the entrance around 150m deep. You do not type a numeric keycode manually. Find Zip's black box in the hot caves southwest of the facility, interact with it, then return to the door and press the button.
What are the Tadpole Pens?
The Tadpole Pens are a mid-game story facility tied to the Tadpole progression path. They are not the place where you build your first Tadpole, but they do push the story forward and hold important vehicle-related scans. Most players get stuck on one of three questions: where the entrance is, where the door code comes from, or what to scan once inside.
Location: about 675m east of the Lifepod
From the Lifepod, head roughly due east toward the hot caves and volcanic vents. The facility entrance sits at about 150m depth, so reaching the door does not require a depth module by itself. The risky part is the deeper hot cave route for Zip's black box.
Direction: about 675m east of the Lifepod
Entrance depth: about 150m
Area: near hot caves and volcanic vents
Navigation: use the interactive map and nearby Tadpole Pens / Tadpole Cove landmarks if you are circling the heat zone.
What to bring before you go
- Rebreather: oxygen drains faster below 100m, and the black box route goes deeper than the door.
- Heat Tolerance: hot caves deal continuous heat damage; unlock it through Angel Comb progression first.
- Tadpole: useful for the approach, but park it safely before going below the base 250m crush depth.
- Scanner: you came here for scans; forgetting it turns the trip into a wasted dive.
Where is the keycode? Find Zip's black box
The locked door does not use a manual number pad. The access key is stored in a colonist black box belonging to Zip. From the facility, head south-southwest on a bearing of about 195° through the ravine with lava pipes overhead, then take the glowing blue tunnel to the southwest and descend deeper. The black box is around 310m depth. Interact with it and the access data saves to your PDA automatically.
- Reach the Tadpole Pens door and confirm it is locked.
- Move south-southwest from the facility, about 195° on the compass, through the lava-pipe ravine.
- Enter the ground cave, take the glowing blue tunnel to the southwest, and descend to about 310m.
- Look near the large purple growth for Zip's black box.
- Interact with it, return to the Tadpole Pens door, and press the button.
Important: Zip's black box is deeper than the base Tadpole's 250m safe limit. If you do not have a depth module yet, leave the Tadpole at the cave mouth or another safe depth and swim the last stretch with Rebreather + Heat Tolerance.
What should you scan inside?
| Target | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Scout Ray Chassis blueprint | Unlocks the speed and handling chassis route for your Tadpole. |
| Moonpool Recipe Data Card | Connects into vehicle docking and base infrastructure progression. |
| NOA terminal | Advances the main story and points you toward the next objective. |
What to do after Tadpole Pens
After the facility, return to base and turn the scans into practical upgrades. If your vehicle setup is still rough, stabilize your Vehicle Fabricator, power, and charging route first. If you already have the Tadpole online, the next useful goals are Depth Module Mk.1, the Scout Ray Chassis, and deeper resource runs.
FAQ
Q: Is Tadpole Pens where you build the Tadpole?
A: No. Your first Tadpole comes from scanned fragments, the Vehicle Fabricator, and materials. Tadpole Pens is more of a mid-game story and vehicle-upgrade stop.
Q: What is the Tadpole Pens keycode?
A: There is no manual number to enter. Get Zip's black box and the PDA stores the door access automatically.
Q: Can I go without a depth module?
A: You can reach the door, but Zip's black box is around 310m. Do not drive an unupgraded Tadpole below 250m; swim the last section instead.
Q: Why am I taking damage in the hot cave?
A: You need Heat Tolerance. Finish the Angel Comb adaptation step before attempting the black box route.
Sources checked on 2026-06-29: current site data, in-repo Tadpole guide, official Steam Early Access page, and PC Gamer Tadpole guide. Early Access routes can change; verify against the latest patch notes if a future update changes progression.
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