Route Guide
First Hour Route
A cautious opening route that makes later resource and map work easier.
- Stabilize oxygen, food, and water
Do not turn the first dive into a deep route. Build a safety buffer before chasing rare materials. - Prioritize scanning and starter tools
Scan fragments and unlock the core survival/tool chain before Tadpole Pens or deep alien-region routes. - Place a compact powered base
A small base with storage turns resource trips into planned runs instead of panic inventory management. - Mark Silver and Lead search routes
Silver and Lead are early recipe blockers. Keep notes on which wreck or node loop actually worked. - Treat Angel Comb as a route gate
Bring the correct resonator tool and clear connected infected targets before expecting the center to open. - Delay Tadpole Pens until prepared
Current guides frame Tadpole Pens as a later objective connected to heat tolerance and black box progress.
Recommended Next Pages
After the route, keep Silver, Lead, and Locations open while planning deeper trips.
Why This Route Is Conservative
The first hour is where players accidentally create future problems: scattered storage, half-scanned fragments, no marked routes, and a habit of chasing every signal as soon as it appears. This route keeps the opening narrow so your next session has a base, materials, and a clear target.
When To Leave The Starter Loop
Leave the starter loop once you can return to base reliably, identify early mineral routes, and craft without emptying your entire inventory. If you still cannot repeat a Silver or Lead run, hold off on advanced locations such as alien ruins, Tadpole Pens, or deep vehicle routes.
Co-op First-Hour Notes
In a co-op start, split jobs instead of everyone chasing the same marker. One player scans, one gathers flexible materials, and one marks the route back. After ten minutes, regroup at base and decide the next blocker together.