What to know
- The Improved Fins blueprint is located near the Alien Wreckage biome roughly 1,300 meters east of the starting lifepod.
- You must scan three separate blueprint fragments before the recipe becomes available.
- Several hostile Needle Fish patrol the area, especially around towers and cavern entrances.
- Crafting the fins later requires a Conduit Crystal, which is locked behind deeper progression and Tadpole upgrades.
If you want faster underwater movement in Subnautica 2, the Improved Fins upgrade is one of the most valuable equipment unlocks in the early-to-mid game. The extra mobility makes exploration safer, helps conserve oxygen during long dives, and improves overall traversal efficiency when moving between deep biomes. However, unlocking the blueprint takes some exploration around the dangerous Alien Wreckage zone.
Quick overview of the Improved Fins blueprint hunt
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Upgrade | Improved Fins |
| Region | Alien Wreckage |
| Distance from Lifepod | About 1,300m east |
| Fragments Needed | 3 |
| Main Threats | Needle Fish |
| Recommended Vehicle | Tadpole |
| Important Resource Later | Conduit Crystal |
| Depth Risk | Moderate to High |
Where the Alien Wreckage is located
The Alien Wreckage area is positioned roughly 1.3 kilometers east of your starting lifepod. The biome is recognizable by its alien structures, vertical tower formations, cavern systems, and scattered wreckage debris.
This zone becomes significantly easier to navigate if you already have a vehicle with decent depth capacity. A standard setup may struggle in some deeper sections, so upgrading your Tadpole beforehand is highly recommended.
How to unlock the Improved Fins blueprint
Unlike some simple unlocks in the game, the Improved Fins recipe is divided into three separate blueprint fragments. You must locate and scan every fragment before the crafting recipe becomes available in your fabricator.
Each fragment is hidden in a different part of the Alien Wreckage zone.
How to find the first Improved Fins blueprint
Step 1
Travel to the main Alien Wreckage waypoint area. Once you arrive, begin searching underneath the primary structure rather than staying near the surface-level ruins.
Step 2
Look beneath the central platform area where debris and alien structures intersect. The first blueprint fragment is positioned underneath the main waypoint zone.
Step 3
Use your scanner on the fragment to register the first blueprint piece. This is usually the easiest fragment to obtain.
How to find the second Improved Fins blueprint
Step 1
Return toward the tower section of the Alien Wreckage biome. From there, locate an opening or hole that leads deeper into the cavern network.
Step 2
Follow the tunnel path carefully until you reach a larger cavern area containing pads and alien debris.
Step 3
Search around the nearby data pad location. The second blueprint fragment is positioned in this cavern section.
Step 4
Scan the fragment before leaving the area.
This route commonly contains Needle Fish, which can attack unexpectedly while you scan objects or navigate tight cave spaces. Keep moving and avoid remaining stationary for too long.
How to find the third Improved Fins blueprint
Step 1
Head back toward the initial tower area near the wreckage.
Step 2
Instead of moving through the central route, explore the large cavern located to the right side of the tower structures.
Step 3
Search inside crates and debris piles within the cavern. The final blueprint fragment is hidden inside a crate near sulfur deposits.
Step 4
Scan the fragment to complete the blueprint collection and permanently unlock the Improved Fins recipe.
Blueprint fragment all locations
| Fragment | Area | Landmark |
|---|---|---|
| First Fragment | Under main wreckage zone | Beneath central waypoint |
| Second Fragment | Deep cavern pathway | Near pads and data pad |
| Third Fragment | Right-side cavern | Inside crate near sulfur |
Why the Improved Fins are worth getting
The Improved Fins significantly boost your underwater mobility. While the upgrade may seem simple at first glance, the extra speed becomes extremely useful during longer expeditions.
The fins help with:
| Benefit | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Faster swimming | Reduces travel time |
| Better oxygen efficiency | Reach locations quicker |
| Easier escape from threats | Improved survivability |
| Better exploration flow | Less downtime between objectives |
Because many mid-game biomes in Subnautica 2 involve vertical traversal and dangerous wildlife, movement speed becomes increasingly important.
Although scanning all three fragments unlocks the blueprint itself, you still cannot immediately craft the Improved Fins unless you gather the required materials.
One of the key ingredients is the Conduit Crystal, a deeper-zone resource that requires better vehicle upgrades to safely access.
This means the blueprint is technically an early unlock, but the final crafting process is usually completed later in progression once you improve your depth capabilities.
Managing depth and survival during the search
Needle Fish are especially problematic in the Alien Wreckage biome because they patrol narrow spaces where mobility is restricted. They often attack while players are scanning fragments or opening crates.
Some parts of the wreckage zone may exceed your current safe diving limit. If your vehicle begins warning about crush depth, avoid pushing deeper until you upgrade your equipment.
You should also conserve oxygen carefully while exploring cavern systems since several sections have long tunnel routes with limited escape paths.
Unlocking the Improved Fins in Subnautica 2 requires careful exploration of the dangerous Alien Wreckage biome, but the reward is easily worth the effort. The three blueprint fragments are spread across underground caverns, tower pathways, and hidden crates, making this one of the more exploration-heavy equipment unlocks in the game. Once crafted, the fins dramatically improve movement efficiency and make deep biome traversal much more manageable.
