Regional overview
Think in regions before individual biomes
The current world forms a broad west-to-east expedition: build capability in Coral Gardens, survive the exposed Sparse Plains, then use Karakorum Ruins as the advanced objective region.Coral Gardens
The Lifepod, Welcome Center, first wrecks, Silver routes, heat progression, and Tadpole infrastructure all sit within this broad starting ecosystem.
Shallows → Plateaus → GraveyardSparse Plains
Open terrain and limited cover separate the safer starting region from the ruins. The Collector turns this crossing into a preparation check.
Graveyard → rock-cover crossing → RuinsKarakorum Ruins
The Observatory, Power Plant, Metal Farms, deep wrecks, rare resources, and the current story culmination occupy this far-reaching ruin complex.
Overgrown Ruins → Power Plant → Root CanyonRepresentative destinations
What each major biome contributes
This field guide focuses on the destinations that meaningfully change equipment, materials, story access, or base strategy. Smaller connective zones still matter for navigation.Shallows
Bright coral terrain, caves, and the densest concentration of opening survival resources.
- Resources
- Titanium · Copper · Quartz · Fibrous Pulp · Water Slugs
- Landmarks
- Lifepod · Welcome Center · Anita's Garden
- Prepare
- No special protection; improve oxygen before deep caves.
Plateaus
Layered formations, ravines, currents, abandoned facilities, and productive early mineral caves.
- Resources
- Silver · Copper · Quartz · Titanium · Cherimoya Rotsac
- Landmarks
- Camp One · Old Habitat · Sophie's Retreat
- Prepare
- Fins, upgraded air, and a visible return signal.
Necrolei Hills
Glowing growths, rolling terrain, wreckage, and distinctive nighttime visibility.
- Resources
- Necrolei Cyst · Silver · Copper · Quartz · Acidic Raion Pouches
- Landmarks
- Hills wrecks · Plateaus boundary · Necrolei caves
- Prepare
- Survival Multitool and a light for dense growth.
Lead Zone
A compact current-fed cave network with concentrated Lead and a technology-rich wreck.
- Resources
- Lead · Quartz · Copper · Titanium
- Landmarks
- Lander Garage wreck · current tunnels
- Prepare
- Sonic Resonator for bulk deposits; preserve the exit bearing.
Dolerite Spires
Sparse spires and wreck routes surrounding the enormous Great Jaw encounter.
- Resources
- Lithium · Silver · Titanium · Quartz · Copper
- Landmarks
- Quaker's Meetinghouse · Canteen wreck · Spires wrecks
- Prepare
- Mobility, upgraded oxygen, and strict distance from the Great Jaw's center.
Graveyard
A volcanic landscape of red water, coral remains, deep caves, wreckage, and thermal energy.
- Resources
- Gold · Sulfur · Salt · Quartz · Copper · Titanium
- Landmarks
- Tailings Village · Tadpole Pens · Empty Hold · Hot Cave Basecamp
- Prepare
- Heat Tolerance, Tadpole, Rebreather, and deeper oxygen support.
Sparse Plains
An exposed crossing with scattered formations, limited protection, and a roaming Collector Leviathan.
- Resources
- Celestine · Salt · Titanium · Copper · Quartz
- Landmarks
- Collector territory · rock-cover route · Dragon's Scale Coral
- Prepare
- Fast Tadpole, repaired hull, spare power, healing, and a committed heading.
Overgrown Ruins
Monumental Axum architecture surrounded by red terrain, gateway structures, caves, and deep vertical routes.
- Resources
- Lead · Salt · Titanium · Copper · Quartz · Freesia Flower
- Landmarks
- Axum Observatory · Rosetta Stone · Research Outpost
- Prepare
- Tadpole and a Depth Module for lower deposits and structure routes.
Karakorum Metal Farms
Ancient production infrastructure, hostile deep fauna, bacterial systems, and scarce fabrication inputs.
- Resources
- Troilite · Atacamite · Axum Bacterial Culture · Celestine
- Landmarks
- Metal Farms · deep Axum structures · Collector territory
- Prepare
- Depth Module, Repair Tool, advanced defenses, and spare batteries.
Root Canyon
A very deep canyon beneath the ruin network with vertical roots, wrecks, and late-game resource routes.
- Resources
- Celestine · Atacamite · Silver · Gold · Sulfur · Salt
- Landmarks
- Therapy Room wreck · Stairway to Heaven wreck · lower controls
- Prepare
- Depth Module, Rebreather, repair supplies, and a disciplined power budget.
Recommended order
Progress through the map in six expeditions
New materials and tools appear close to the routes that first demand them. Finish the preparation objective before treating the next region as routine territory.Stabilize the Shallows
Craft core tools, improve oxygen, power the Welcome Center, and establish a return-bearing habit.
Work the Plateaus
Gather Silver, inspect Old Habitat, and unlock the infrastructure for a practical first base.
Prepare for heat
Resolve the Bloom route, obtain Heat Tolerance, and gather supplies for volcanic exploration.
Open the Graveyard
Build the Tadpole, scan vehicle infrastructure, and collect Gold, Sulfur, and Salt.
Cross Sparse Plains
Repair first, use solid cover, keep moving, and do not turn the crossing into a farming run.
Stage from the Ruins
Set up near the Observatory, then descend toward the Power Plant, Metal Farms, and Root Canyon.
Habitat planning
Choose a base for its job
A strong campaign usually needs one dependable Coral Gardens base and one advanced Ruins hub. Specialist outposts only need enough power, storage, oxygen, and safety to support their route.Shallows
Close to the Lifepod, water, food, common resources, and the Welcome Center.
Plateaus
Excellent Silver access, useful technology, central routes, and enough space to expand.
Necrolei Hills
Glowing terrain and strong early resource access without committing to deep hazards.
Graveyard
Reliable heat power and mid-game metals, balanced against heat and predator risk.
Overgrown Ruins
The best staging position for the Observatory, Power Plant, wrecks, and deep routes.
Lead Zone
A compact supply base when bulk Lead and nearby wreck technology are the priority.
Recommended network
Plateaus base + Overgrown Ruins hub
The first handles common fabrication and shallow gathering. The second shortens every Power Plant, Observatory, Metal Farm, and deep-wreck expedition.Environmental gates
Do not solve equipment checks with extra healing
Heat, pressure, oxygen, and Leviathan exposure are route gates. The correct upgrade changes the expedition more than carrying another stack of recovery items.Deep caves and Root Canyon
Upgrade the Tadpole depth limit, wear the Rebreather, and preserve tool power for repairs and emergency ascent.
Graveyard routes
Obtain Heat Tolerance before committing to red-water caves and volcanic resource runs.
Sparse Plains crossing
Repair before departure, use rock formations as cover, maintain speed, and avoid stopping to gather mid-crossing.
Power Plant network
Bring the Bioscanner, Feedback Resonator, processed materials, and enough cargo capacity for multi-stage repairs.
World boundary
The Void is a warning, not a destination
Red boundary feedback and Shiver Leviathans mark the edge of the current playable world. There are no resource or story rewards worth continuing into it.- Red boundary lines appear
- The terrain falls away without landmarks
- Shiver Leviathans begin enforcing the edge
Route selected