The ocean in Subnautica 2 turns pitch black fast, and swimming blind through caves is a reliable way to miss resources or collide with something dangerous. The Flashlight solves that problem, and you can unlock it early without traveling far from your starting point. Both Blueprint Fragments sit within a short swim of your Lifepod, so you can grab them in a single dive session before the early game even gets going.
How to Unlock the Flashlight Blueprint in Subnautica 2
You need to scan two Flashlight Fragments to unlock the Flashlight Blueprint in your Fabricator. The order does not matter. Neither Fragment requires special gear or deep exploration to reach. You just need your Scanner and a bit of oxygen management.
Once the blueprint unlocks, the Flashlight appears in the Fabricator crafting menu. It will not show up at all until you scan both Fragments, so if you see a partial blueprint, you are still missing one scan.
All Flashlight Fragment Locations in Subnautica 2
Fragment 1: Cave Directly Below the Lifepod
Look straight down from your Lifepod and you will see a large opening leading into a cave formation. Dive straight down into it. At the bottom of the cave, near an Acid Raion, you will find a broken metal container. The Flashlight Fragment sits inside that container. Scan it to collect Fragment 1.
While you are down there, check the area for an abandoned Portable Locker. These sometimes contain useful items and provide extra storage for your early runs.
Fragment 2: Rock Formation to the East
Turn east from the Lifepod. Around 30 meters out, you will spot a large rock formation visible from the surface. Swim toward it and drop through the hole at the top. Inside, you will find another open metal container with the second Flashlight Fragment.
If you do not find it there, a second confirmed spawn sits approximately 110 meters from the Lifepod to the northwest, between 250 and 300 degrees on your compass. Look for a cluster of corals poking above the waterline. The cave entrance sits directly beneath those corals, and a downward air current pulls you into it. Inside you will find a lab bench area, a Wavemaker fragment, a portable locker, and the final Flashlight Fragment in another open metal container.
Fragment 2 appears to have more than one possible location near the Lifepod. If the rock formation to the east comes up empty, head northwest to the coral cluster.
Flashlight Fragments also appear in ship wrecks and abandoned colonies scattered across the world. If you find one of those early, scanning it counts toward the blueprint unlock just the same.
How to Craft the Flashlight in Subnautica 2
Once you scan both Fragments, head to any Fabricator and build the Flashlight using these materials:
| Item | Crafting Station | Recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Flashlight | Fabricator | Titanium x2, Quartz x1, Basic Battery x1 |
Where to Find Each Material
Titanium is the easiest material in this recipe. You will find it constantly while exploring the Safe Shallows biome, both on the ocean floor surface and inside caves. You have likely already collected some before you even look for Flashlight Fragments.
For more advanced crafting that requires processed materials, check out how to get Titanium Ingots in Subnautica 2, though raw Titanium is all you need here.
Quartz takes a few extra seconds to track down because it does not lie loose on the floor. It embeds inside Coral Domes, the large circular orange coral structures you will spot around the Safe Shallows. Look for the milky white appearance to identify it quickly.
Basic Battery is the only component that requires crafting before you can build the Flashlight. To craft it, you need:
- Copper x2: Found in caves throughout the Safe Shallows. Rock arches also carry it. Caves give you the highest concentration, so go there first.
- Acidic Raion Pouch x1: Harvested from the bright purple, brain-like plants using your Survival Multitool. These plants appear in the Safe Shallows caves alongside the Copper you are already collecting.
Craft the Basic Battery first, then build the Flashlight at the Fabricator.
How to Use the Flashlight in Subnautica 2
Assign the Flashlight to any quick slot in your inventory bar. Equip it, then toggle it on using the on-screen hotkeys shown on your HUD.
One important behavior to keep in mind: the Flashlight stays active only while it sits in your currently selected quick slot. The moment you switch to your Scanner or Survival Multitool, the Flashlight turns off automatically. Reselect it to turn it back on. Plan your loadout before long dives, since quick slot space is limited and carrying a Scanner, Survival Multitool, and Flashlight together can feel restrictive.
How Long Will You Actually Use the Flashlight?
The Flashlight is primarily an early to mid-game tool. It earns its place during the first several hours, when caves are your only way to collect critical resources and navigating them without light means missing materials or running into threats you cannot see coming.
Once you craft the Wakemaker, you gain a built-in light source that toggles independently without taking up a dedicated quick slot. The Tadpole vehicle also carries its own lighting. At that point, keeping a separate Flashlight in your loadout stops making practical sense given the limited inventory space.
Until you reach that stage, the Flashlight is the best answer to darkness in Subnautica 2. Grab both Fragments early, build one at your first Fabricator, and stop guessing at cave walls. Play Now!
