How to investigate the Tadpole Pens in Subnautica 2

In Subnautica 2, after discovering multiple Blackbox entries and learning more about the whereabouts of various colonists who came before you, your next task will be to investigate the Tadpole pens for more clues. However, there’s a catch—we need a passcode to enter the facility.

Although you can explore the area’s first couple of rooms, you can’t fully unlock it until you find an access key to activate a locked door. Here’s a deep dive on how to investigate the Tadpole Pens in Subnautica 2.

Tadpole Pens access keycode location in Subnautica 2

Investigating the Tadpole Pens requires visiting Zip’s Blackbox location, 350 meters southwest of the facility. After arriving at the Tadpole Pens and exploring its interior, you’ll find a separate signal marker leading you to “Blackbox – Zip.” The access key is next to the Blackbox.

I recommend having access to the Tadpole mini submarine before exploring these areas. Although you can swim around, the far distance make it a slow process, and the depths you’ll be exploring will cause rapid oxygen drain regardless of your unlocked Adaptations. There are also multiple aggressive fish that’ll attack you near the Tadpole Pens, Zip’s Blackbox, and all throughout the volcanic ocean biome that you’ll be exploring.

While past Blackbox locations just required beelining it to their quest markers, you’ll instead want to detour into a cave hold in the ocean floor once you’re about 150 meters away from its location.

As you approach the Zip Blackbox quest marker, you’ll eventually reach a small cave with the Blackbox and a purple tentacle-like tendril on the ground. Atop this tentacle is a small databank label “Tziporah “ZIP” Malk” that, upon interacting with it, will grant you the access keycode for the Tadpole Pens doorway. You’ll also find a Thermal Plant to scan.

Once you interact with the databank, you’ll earn a new entry, “Kurul Level Access Key.” You can now exit the cave, make the trek back to the Tadpole Pens, and press the button in front of the hatch door to enter the rest of the facility. If you don’t remember which direction to go, you’ll still have the “investigate the Tadpole Pens” quest marker to lead the way until you unlock this last door.

If you’re struggling to pick up resources around the map and want more inventory spaces before exploring beyond this point in the story, check out our list of every Biobed Adaptation location in Subnautica 2, or click the tags below to explore our growing guide collection.

The post How to investigate the Tadpole Pens in Subnautica 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Tadpole is your best friend when it comes to deep-sea exploration in Subnautica 2, and we can improve it with some extremely useful upgrades. The upgrades come in different shapes and sizes, but they all improve your submarine in one way or another.

You’ll have to find all the upgrade modules manually, and this guide is here to help you out.

How to find all Tadpode upgrades in Subnautica 2

Before I dive deep, you should note that there’s no fixed way to find these upgrade modules. My sequence is the most optimum one, and you’ll save a lot of time.

Scout Ray Chassis location

This is the only upgrade module that’s not located around the Alien Ruins Research Outpost. Instead, you’ll need to head to the Tadpole Pens in the warm area of the ocean. Head inside, and continue on the straight path. You’ll find the Scout Ray in the Moonpool; scan with your scanner, and we are done.

I highly recommend upgrading to the Scout Ray if you’ve th resources. This chassis gives a huge speed bump to your Tadpole, and it will help save a lot of time during the next steps.

Engine Efficiency upgrade location

Head east from your Lifepod and you’ll find the Alien Ruins Research Outpost at approximately 1300m. Head inside, and turn right. You’ll find the Engine Efficiency upgrade module.

Strike Armor upgrade location

From the Research Outpost, travel between 195 and 210 degrees on the compass. You should aim for a depth of approximately 190m (go gradually instead of taking a sharp dive).

You’ll find the platform with the Strike Armor upgrade at around 60m from the outpost.

Cavitation Muffler upgrade location

This is the furthest upgrade module to find. Return to the front of the outpost. Head to deeper depths while aiming at around 75 degrees east on the compass. You’ll come across the above structure in the image (this is the Power Center). Go past the arc shown in the picture, and then past the pillar.

The screen will become greener, and you’ll find a set of colorful alien plants to your right. Keep to your left, and keep going deeper targetting around 350m of depth. At around 370m of depth, you’ll find a platform on the edge of the cliff on the left (it’s extremely close to the early access area boundary).

Here, you’ll find the Cavitation Muffler upgrade. You should return to the Outpost after obtaining this module.

Photovoltaic Charger upgrade location

Head towards 120 degrees on the compass from the outpost. You’ll find the Blackbox – Iso marker that you should use as your guide. Keep a steady depth of 120m and head straight. You’ll come across an Alterra starship wreck. Park your Tadpole and head inside using the door on the left.

Head straight, turn right, and you’ll find a broken door. Repair the door, and head inside. Then turn left and go to the next room. Take the door to the left corner, and you’ll come across the room with the ISO. The module is diagonally opposite to the dining table that has the ISO on it.

Depth Module Mk. I upgrade location

Return to the front of the Research Outpost. Aim at 165 degrees on the compass, and you’ll find the Blackbox – Ruby 2 pop up on your screen. Head to the spot and reach the bottom layer of the location. You can enter through the broken rocks; I entered through a narrow spot on the left (leave your Tadpole), and you’ll find Ruby 2’s black box.

You’ll also find a broken-down Tadpole, with the Depth Module Mk. 1 beside it.

Haul Chassis upgrade locations

To get the Haul Chassis, you’ll need to scan three fragments. The first one is located just by the Depth Module Mk. 1 upgrade. Once done, return to the Research Outpost and head straight targeting between East and 105 degrees on the compass.

Go past the dome of the Power Center (stick strictly to 105 degrees now), and head straight. Keep heading straight, and you’ll reach another Alterra shipwreck at about 200m depth.

The second Haul Chassis part is on a platform to the left.

To find the final one, you can refer to this guide, which states the location of the final Angel Comb. You’ll want to go past the Angel Comb and head straight, following the root until you reach an acidic pool.

Look to your left past the alien structures after entering the pool room, and you’ll find your final chassis part.

Complete the scan, and your Tadpole will now be able to equip the Haul Chassis.

The post All Tadpole upgrade locations in Subnautica 2 and how to find them appeared first on Destructoid.