Subnautica 2 Tadpole Fragments: Locations and Blueprint Unlock

The Tadpole is the first submersible you can build in Subnautica 2, and it stays locked behind a fragment hunt until you scan three pieces of broken Tadpole hulls left behind by other Pioneers. Scanning the third fragment unlocks the crafting recipe along with two essential base modules you need to actually build the thing.

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Quick answer: Scan three Tadpole Fragments with the Scanner. The second scan unlocks the Moonpool blueprint, the third unlocks both the Vehicle Fabricator blueprint and the Tadpole itself.

What you need before searching

Fragments sit between roughly 90 and 125 meters deep around wreckage and old colonist structures, so you need oxygen management gear before you head out. Open the character menu and turn on all landmark signals first, which makes wreck sites and Blackboxes visible from a distance.

Tadpole fragment locations

You only need three scans total, but the fragments are scattered across multiple wreck sites and bunkers. The cluster south of the Lifepod is the safest and most reliable run because all three pieces sit within one crater. The Blackbox and bunker routes are useful if you have already explored further out.

Cluster route: wreckage crater south of the Lifepod

Step 1: Face bearing S 195 from the Lifepod and swim about 145 meters across the surface. You will see a large debris field below with a deep crater carved into the seabed.

Step 2: Dive into the crater between 90 and 125 meters. The first fragment rests on a piece of metal debris near the rim. Use the Scanner, then deploy the Air Bladder to surface and refill oxygen.

Step 3: Dive back down and swim counter-clockwise around the crater's outer edge. Look for a circular hatch on a section of the crashed ship and enter the compartment. Scan the second fragment inside. The Moonpool blueprint unlocks for the Builder Tool here.

Step 4: Exit and continue counter-clockwise past the large clam-like structure. The third fragment lies on the sandy floor as the crater deepens. Scan it to unlock the Vehicle Fabricator blueprint and the Tadpole recipe.

Alternate fragment locations

If the cluster route is contested or you have already pulled fragments elsewhere, the following spots each contain one fragment. Mixing and matching works — the game only checks the total scan count.

The Tadpole Pens hold two fragments and the Moonpool blueprint crate on the desk next to the docked Tadpole, but you cannot safely reach the area until you have cured the Angel Comb and earned heat tolerance.

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Note: The Colonist Bunker contains a biobed that grants an inventory expansion. Scan everything inside while you are there.

What unlocks at each scan

The blueprint chain is staged across the three scans, so you do not need to track down separate Moonpool or Vehicle Fabricator fragments. Both base modules drop automatically as you progress through the Tadpole fragments.

You will see notifications on the left side of the screen confirming each unlock. Once all three are scanned, the Tadpole appears as a buildable vehicle inside any Vehicle Fabricator placed on a Moonpool edge.

How to verify the unlock worked

Open the Builder Tool and check the Standard Elements category. The Moonpool should appear under base pieces, and the Vehicle Fabricator should appear under vehicles. Place a Moonpool with enough vertical clearance underneath, attach the Vehicle Fabricator to one of its edges, and interact with it. The Tadpole recipe appears in the fabricator menu, requiring two Titanium Ingots, one Glass, one System Chip, and one Power Cell.

If the Tadpole option does not appear, you are missing a scan. Return to the wreckage crater and confirm all three fragments registered — partial scans do not count, and the Scanner has to fully complete its animation for each piece.