If you’ve ever wandered the icy biomes of Subnautica Below Zero wondering where the missing shuttle parts went, you’re not alone. Tracking down Subnautica Below Zero Mercury 2 locations was one of the most frustrating side quests I bungled on my first playthrough, mostly because I kept missing small clues tucked into frozen caves and sunken wrecks. This guide cuts through the confusion, walking you through every part location, the hazards you’ll face along the way, and what you get for putting the whole shuttle back together. You won’t need any late-game gear to grab most parts, either, as long as you come prepared for cold snaps and aggressive local wildlife.
What Are the Subnautica Below Zero Mercury 2 Locations?
The Mercury 2 shuttle broke into three large, distinct sections when it crashed on 4546B, each holding unique loot and story logs that fill in gaps about Alterra’s early operations on the planet. You’ll need to visit all three to complete the side quest, and each sits in a different biome with unique challenges. Before you head out, make sure you have at least a level 1 cold suit, a sea truck with at least one storage module, and a repulsion cannon to clear loose ice blocks that block entry to some sections. The three core Mercury 2 locations you’ll need to visit are:
- Mercury 2 Upper Section in the East Arctic Biome
- Mercury 2 Mid Section in the Glacial Connection Tunnels
- Mercury 2 Lower Section near the Phi Robotics Center Landing Site
You can visit these in any order, but I recommend starting with the upper section first, since it’s the easiest to access early in the game, no advanced diving gear required. You’ll also pick up a few useful loot drops here that will make exploring the other two locations much easier, including extra cold suit insulation and a spare battery for your scanner. Each section has hidden loot caches tucked in wall compartments, so make sure you scan every corner once you’re inside.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough to Access Each Mercury 2 Section
First, head to the East Arctic Biome, roughly 800 meters east of your starting drop pod. You’ll spot the upper half of the shuttle sticking out of a shallow ice shelf, half submerged in frigid water. The entrance is on the underside of the section, so you’ll need to dive 15 meters down to get in. Watch out for ice worms if you walk across the ice to get here, they’ll pop up without warning if you make too much noise. Once inside, you can grab the first data log, a few med kits, and the navigation module you need to cross-reference the other two locations. Next, the mid section in the Glacial Connection Tunnels. You’ll need to head to the entrance of the tunnels just west of the Glacial Basin border. The mid section is wedged between two ice walls about 200 meters into the tunnel system. You’ll have to use your repulsion cannon to move a large ice chunk out of the entry hatch, so make sure you have enough charge left before you head down. There are a few small predators in the tunnels, but they’re easy to avoid if you move quickly. The last lower section is the hardest to find, tucked behind a snowdrift just north of the Phi Robotics Center landing site. You won’t see it from the main path, so you’ll have to scan the cliff edges to the left of the center’s front door to spot the broken hull peeking out from under the snow. There’s a small cave entrance next to the hull that leads inside, where you’ll find the final data log and the engine part you need to complete the shuttle assembly.
Top Loot and Story Rewards for Collecting All Mercury 2 Parts
A lot of players skip this side quest because they assume it only gives irrelevant story logs, but that’s far from the truth. Once you collect all three sections and take them back to the repair station at the Delta Island docking bay, you’ll unlock a handful of rewards that make the rest of your playthrough much smoother. First, you’ll get a full cold suit durability upgrade that cuts cold damage by 50% across all biomes, which is a game changer when you’re exploring the deep Glacial Basin later on. You’ll also get a free mod for your sea truck that increases its top speed by 20%, no extra crafting required. The story logs you collect also fill in key context about why Alterra abandoned the planet before Robin arrived, including details about the original frozen leviathan research teams that went missing. You don’t have to complete this quest to beat the main story, but I always make time for it on every playthrough. The cold suit upgrade alone saves you so many resources you’d otherwise spend on hot peppers and heat packs, and the sea truck speed mod makes traversing large biomes way less tedious. It’s also a fun, low-stakes break from hunting down alien artifacts for the main storyline.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hunting for Mercury 2 Locations
I made almost every possible mistake when I first looked for these parts, so I can save you a few hours of wandering with these quick tips. First, don’t try to explore the lower section before you have at least a level 1 cold suit. The area around the Phi Robotics Center is way colder than the East Arctic, and you’ll freeze to death in less than two minutes if you don’t have proper insulation. Another common mistake is forgetting to bring extra scanner batteries. A lot of the sections are covered in ice that blocks your scanner range, so you’ll have to wander a bit to get a clear signal on the parts, which drains your battery fast. I learned that the hard way when I ran out of scanner battery 10 feet from the lower section and had to hike all the way back to my sea truck to grab a spare. I usually bring two spares with me, just in case. Don’t waste time trying to break ice blocks with your knife either. It won’t work, and you’ll just waste durability on your tool. The repulsion cannon is the only tool that can move the large ice chunks blocking the entry hatches, so make sure you craft one before you head out. If you don’t have the blueprint for it yet, you can find it in the wreckage near the starting pod, just 200 meters south of your drop location. One last thing: don’t ignore the small beacons you’ll pick up from the first Mercury 2 section. They ping the exact locations of the other two sections, so you don’t have to guess where to go next. I skipped reading the data log the first time, so I wandered the Glacial Basin for three hours before I stumbled on the mid section by accident.
Tracking down Subnautica Below Zero Mercury 2 locations doesn’t have to be the frustrating chore it was for me on my first run. With the right gear, a clear order of operations, and a heads up on common mistakes, you can grab all three parts in less than 45 minutes, even early in your playthrough. The rewards are more than worth the small effort, and the extra story context makes the whole planet feel a lot more lived in and mysterious. Next time you’re looking for a quick side quest to break up your main story progress, give this one a shot – you won’t regret it.
