You’re freezing. Your oxygen is ticking down. You finally found the blueprint for the Prawn Suit or the Seatruck depth modules, but there’s a massive roadblock staring you in the face. You need Subnautica Below Zero lithium. It’s the literal backbone of mid-to-late game progression, yet it feels like the game hides it just well enough to be annoying. Honestly, if you don't know exactly which crevices to peek into, you’ll spend three hours swimming in circles around the Twisty Bridges while a Brute Shark tries to take a chunk out of your flippers.
Lithium isn't just another resource. It's the difference between a flimsy base that leaks the second you add a window and a deep-sea fortress that can withstand the crushing pressure of the Crystal Caves. You need it for Plasteel Ingots. You need those ingots for basically everything cool.
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The Best Early Game Spots for Lithium
Most players make the mistake of looking for lithium in the shallow areas. You won't find it in the Shallow Twisty Bridges. Don't bother. You've got to go deeper, or specifically, you've got to find the Purple Vents. This biome is a bit of a double-edged sword. It’s shallow enough that you won't drown immediately, but it's home to Cryptosuchus—those loud, annoying predators that sound way scarier than they actually are. Just punch them once or hit them with the Seatruck; they’re cowards.
The sea floor in the Purple Vents is littered with loose lithium. It looks like a dull, gray, metallic chunk. It doesn't hide in outcrops like copper or silver does. It’s just... there. Waiting.
Another solid bet is the Thermal Spires. Look around the base of the large rock formations and near the vents themselves. Just watch your temperature gauge. Getting cooked while hunting for crafting materials is a classic rookie move. If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, head toward the Delta Island docks. If you follow the underwater rock walls around the island, especially near the Thermal Spires border, you’ll find lithium tucked into the vertical folds of the terrain.
Deep Mining and the Prawn Suit
Once you have the Prawn Suit, the game changes. You aren't just picking up scraps anymore. You’re harvesting.
Deep Lilypads Submarine? That place is a goldmine—well, a lithium mine. The large resource deposits there require the Drill Arm. If you’re still swimming around picking up individual pieces by hand at this stage of the game, you’re wasting your time. One large deposit can net you enough lithium to build a whole fleet of vehicles.
Why Subnautica Below Zero Lithium is the Real Bottleneck
Why do we care so much about this specific element? Plasteel.
In the original Subnautica, lithium was plentiful in the Mushroom Forest. In Below Zero, the distribution feels stingier. You need it for the Reinforced Dive Suit, which is mandatory if you don't want to die from heat in the deeper biomes. You need it for the Seatruck Horsepower Upgrade. Most importantly, you need it for the structural integrity of your habitat.
Basically, every time you want to make your life easier or your base prettier, the game demands more lithium. It’s the "tax" you pay for progressing.
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Arctic Spires: The Land Option
A lot of people forget that Planet 4546B has dry land. I get it; the land movement feels a bit clunky compared to the fluid swimming. But if you head to the Arctic Spires—the area with the Ice Worms—you can find lithium in the caves.
Is it worth the risk of being impaled by a giant subterranean worm? Maybe. If you have the Snowfox, it’s a quick trip. If you’re on foot, it’s a nightmare. I’d personally stick to the water, but if you’re already up there for the story beats, keep your eyes peeled for those gray chunks in the tunnels.
Finding Lithium in the Deep Areas
If you’ve pushed past the early game, you’re likely spending time in the Crystal Caves or the Fabricator Caverns.
Lithium is everywhere here. It’s scattered on the floor near the giant purple crystals. The catch? The Shadow Leviathans. These things are bioluminescent nightmares that want to swallow your Seatruck whole.
My advice? Use the Perimeter Defense System. It’s the "get out of jail free" card for Subnautica Below Zero. When the Shadow Leviathan grabs you, give it a little zap. It’ll let go, and you can go back to grabbing lithium from the cave floor. It’s a stressful way to farm, but it’s efficient.
The Ore Detector Trick
Don't sleep on the Mineral Detector. I know, it takes up an inventory slot and feels like a gadget you’ll never use. But if you set it to search for lithium while you’re in the Purple Vents or the Lilypad Islands, it makes the hunt 500% faster. It’ll point you toward pieces hidden in the sea grass that you’d otherwise swim right past.
Crafting Priorities: What to Build First
Don't spend your first five pieces of lithium on base reinforcements. That's a trap. You can use Bulkheads to keep your base from collapsing, and they don't require lithium.
- Seatruck Depth Upgrade Mk1: This is your priority. You can't reach the better lithium spots without it.
- Reinforced Dive Suit: Essential for surviving the heat and the nibbles from smaller predators.
- Plasteel Ingots for the Prawn Suit: The Prawn is the king of resource gathering.
- Habitat Reinforcements: Only do this once you have a steady supply.
Common Misconceptions About Below Zero Resources
I've seen people claim that lithium spawns inside Large Quartz Outcrops. It doesn't. You might be thinking of the original game or just getting your ores mixed up. In Below Zero, lithium is almost always a standalone pickup or a large resource deposit.
Also, some players think the Sea Monkeys will bring you lithium if you have a blueprint pinned. While Sea Monkeys are adorable little hoarders who can bring you resources, relying on them for lithium is like relying on the lottery to pay your rent. They might bring you a piece of titanium or some copper, but don't count on them for the rare stuff when you're in a hurry. Just go to the Purple Vents.
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Strategic Mineral Gathering
If you're planning a big build, take the Seatruck with at least two Storage Modules. Head to the Lilypad Islands. Park the truck near the top of the "stalks" and swim down into the crevices. There's a high density of lithium there, often tucked away near the Galena Outcrops.
Make sure you have a Pathfinder Tool. Those caves under the Lilypads can get confusing, and drowning because you couldn't find the exit while carrying a pocket full of lithium is a special kind of heartbreak.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
- Empty your inventory: Leave the extra food and water at home. You need the space.
- Craft the Mineral Detector: Set it specifically to lithium.
- Target the Purple Vents first: It’s the lowest risk for the highest reward early on.
- Bring Beacons: When you find a large deposit you can't mine yet (because you lack the Prawn Drill Arm), drop a beacon. You won't remember where it was. Trust me.
- Upgrade your Tank: You’ll be doing a lot of "bottom-combing," so the High Capacity O2 Tank is a must.
Stop overthinking it. Get in your Seatruck, head East/Southeast from the starting pod, find the purple bubbles coming out of the ground, and look at the floor. You’ll have a locker full of lithium in twenty minutes.
Once you've secured your lithium supply, your next move should be focusing on the bridge to the Arctic Spires. You'll need those Plasteel Ingots to build the hydraulic fluid required to extend the bridge. That's where the real story starts to move. If you've got the lithium, you've got the power to survive the deeper, darker parts of 4546B. Go get it.