Where to Find Lead in Subnautica 2
Lead in Subnautica 2 sits northeast of the lifepod in the Leadzone. Where nodes and deposits spawn, the Coral Crab trick, and what lead crafts.
You need Lead for the Sonic Resonator, which you need to break the big resonatable deposits. That makes lead a bottleneck early on. It also has far fewer spawns than silver. These are the spawns in the game files.
The quick answer
The databank entry for lead says: “Lead deposits are present northeast of the lifepod, on the seafloor and on rock formations.” In the game files that area is the Leadzone, one of the named areas of Coral Gardens.
Lead by biome
| Biome | Lead spawns |
|---|---|
| Coral Gardens | 30 |
| Axum Ruins | 8 |
| Total | 38 |
There are also 50 lead spawns in Scorpius, an area our site doesn’t cover yet, so they’re not in this table.
Compare that with 359 silver spawns in the same biomes (see our silver guide). Lead is scarce, so don’t waste it.
No loose lead
Every lead spawn is either a Lead Node you break or a Lead Deposit, which is resonatable. The game doesn’t place any loose lead pickups. Look on the seafloor and on rock formations, like the databank says.
The Coral Crab trick
This is the most useful find. Coral Crabs drop lead:
| Where | Lead drop chance |
|---|---|
| Coral Gardens, Leadzone | 100% |
| Coral Gardens, North Raceway | 8% |
| Coral Gardens, South Raceway | 8% |
Every crab in the Leadzone is guaranteed lead. If the nodes are gone, go after the crabs.
What lead makes
| Recipe | Lead | Other inputs | Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic Resonator | 2 | 1 Basic Battery, 2 Titanium Ingot, 1 Wiring Kit | Fabricator |
| Sugar of Saturn | 1 | 1 Salt | Fabricator |
| Germanium Ingot | 2 | none | Processor (120 s) |
Lead is toxic
The item description reads “Slow neurotoxin”, and the data backs that up. With the Mineral Nibbler biomod, each lead you nibble gives 90 food but takes 45 health. That’s a bad trade unless you’re desperate.
Sources
- Game data from Subnautica 2 build 3388.
FAQ
Where is lead in Subnautica 2?
Northeast of the lifepod, on the seafloor and on rock formations. The databank points you there, and the game files call the area the Leadzone, part of Coral Gardens.
Why can't I find loose lead?
There isn't any. Every lead spawn in the game files is a node or a deposit, so you always have to break something.
Do Coral Crabs drop lead?
Yes. In the Leadzone they drop lead 100% of the time. In North Raceway and South Raceway the chance is 8%.
What is lead used for in Subnautica 2?
The Sonic Resonator (2 lead), Sugar of Saturn (1 lead and 1 salt), and Germanium Ingots at the Processor (2 lead each).
