If you’ve spent any time navigating the frozen tundra and icy underwater caves of Subnautica Below Zero, you’ve probably stumbled on half-buried wreckage from Alterra’s failed expeditions. One of the most valuable of these sites is the mercury 2 bow subnautica below zero players can find tucked into the western edge of the Glacial Basin. I wrote this guide after wasting three separate trips trying to explore the site underprepared, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from the exact location and required gear to hidden loot and secret lore you might miss on your first run.
Where to Find the Mercury 2 Bow in Subnautica Below Zero
The Mercury 2 bow is located in the western section of the Glacial Basin, roughly 800 meters west of the Phi Robotics Center landing pad. You’ll spot the curved, rusted metal edge of the bow sticking out of a snow-covered ice ledge, surrounded by tall, jagged ice spires. The entrance to the interior is a cracked open panel on the lower port side of the wreck, partially covered by loose ice chunks you can break with your survival knife.
You don’t want to attempt this trip until you have the right gear to handle the Glacial Basin’s harsh conditions and local wildlife. I learned this the hard way when I showed up with only a level 1 cold suit and a basic Seaglide, and had to turn back 10 minutes in because my cold meter was draining faster than I could use heat packs. To make the trip smooth, pack these essential items before you leave:
- Level 2 Cold Suit (minimum, Level 3 is preferred for extended exploration of the surrounding area)
- Seatruck with Depth Upgrade MK1 and Perimeter Defense to ward off aggressive ice worms
- Repair tool, scanner, and at least 2 spare oxygen tanks for navigating the flooded interior sections
- Flare gun or upgraded headlamp for navigating dark, ice-covered interior spaces with limited natural light
Park your Seatruck in the small, sheltered ice cave right next to the wreck entrance instead of leaving it out in the open. Ice worms patrol the flat ice areas nearby, and they can easily knock your Seatruck off the ledge into the deep water below if you leave it unprotected. I lost 3 hours worth of collected resources this way on my first trip, so trust me on this one.
What Loot and Upgrades You Can Get From the Mercury 2 Bow
The Mercury 2 bow is one of the most useful mid-game wreck sites for players looking to unlock key upgrades faster. The most important item you’ll find here are fragments for the parallel processing unit, a critical component for building the Seatruck Depth Upgrade MK2 and the late-game rocket launch platform. There are three separate fragments scattered around the interior, so if you scan all three during your first visit, you won’t have to hunt for them in other, more dangerous wreck sites later.
You’ll also find multiple supply crates scattered around the wreck, filled with useful resources like titanium, lithium, first aid kits, purified water, and nutrient blocks. There’s a locked supply cabinet in the back of the bow that you can open by repairing the broken door panel with your repair tool. Inside, you’ll find a free Seatruck storage module upgrade, which adds two extra storage slots to your vehicle for longer exploration trips.
If you take the time to explore the small ice cave off the starboard side of the wreck, you’ll find a large lithium deposit vein and a few diamond nodes tucked behind a pile of loose ice. Lithium is hard to find in the early to mid-game, so this is a great spot to stock up if you’re working on upgrading your tools or building a larger base. Just watch out for small ice crawlers that hide in the cave’s dark corners, they’ll jump at you if you get too close.
Hidden Lore Tied to the Mercury 2 Bow Site
The Mercury 2 was an Alterra supply ship sent to 4546B to investigate the disappearance of the Degasi crew, the same group that crashed on the tropical section of the planet in the original Subnautica. The ship was hit by a mysterious energy pulse as it entered the atmosphere, causing it to break apart into three separate sections mid-flight: the bow, midsection, and stern, all scattered across different areas of the frozen region.
You’ll find 6 data pads scattered around the bow’s interior, written by the ship’s captain, Elara Voss. The logs detail the moments leading up to the crash, the initial survival efforts of the crew, and their attempts to contact Alterra for rescue. One of the logs mentions the crew spotting a large, unidentified creature moving under the ice near the crash site, which is a subtle hint for the Ice Worm Leviathan you’ll encounter later when exploring the deeper parts of the Glacial Basin.
If you collect all the data pads from all three Mercury 2 wreck sections, you’ll unlock a hidden voice log that gives you a clue about the location of a hidden Architect artifact deep under the ice. You don’t have to collect the logs to progress through the main story, but they add a ton of context to Alterra’s real motivations for exploring 4546B, and fill in gaps between the original Subnautica and Below Zero’s storylines.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting the Mercury 2 Bow
One of the most common mistakes players make is not placing a beacon at the site once they find it. The Glacial Basin looks almost identical everywhere when it’s snowing, and it’s extremely easy to get turned around and lose track of the wreck’s location if you don’t mark it. I spent 2 hours wandering around the basin in a blizzard trying to find the bow again on my second trip, so place a beacon as soon as you arrive to save yourself the headache.
Another mistake is rushing through the interior without checking every corner. The parallel processing unit fragments are tucked in hard-to-spot spots, including one behind a fallen storage rack near the front of the bow. I missed that fragment on my first run, and had to come back a second time because I was in a hurry to get to the Phi Robotics Center. Take 10 extra minutes to scan every room, and you’ll leave with all the fragments you need.
Don’t skip bringing a repair tool just to save inventory space. The locked supply cabinet with the free Seatruck storage module is only accessible if you can repair the broken door panel, and the upgrade is worth far more than the single inventory slot the repair tool takes up. You’ll also need the repair tool to fix any small cracks in your suit if you get hit by falling ice chunks inside the wreck.
Finally, don’t stick around the area after dark if you can avoid it. Ice worms are far more active at night, and the cold meter drains twice as fast when the sun goes down. If you arrive at the site late in the in-game day, consider sleeping in your Seatruck overnight before you start exploring, so you have plenty of daylight to work with.
The Mercury 2 bow is one of the most rewarding mid-game exploration sites in Subnautica Below Zero, and it’s well worth adding to your to-do list as soon as you unlock the level 2 cold suit. It gives you access to critical upgrades, hard-to-find resources, and fun lore details that make the game’s story feel even more immersive. Whether you’re chasing upgrades, lore, or just a fun new area to explore, the mercury 2 bow subnautica below zero site is a stop you won’t regret making on your journey across 4546B’s frozen wastes.
