If you’ve hit the mid to late game grind in Subnautica, you’ve probably already run into the frustrating wall of not having enough nickel for upgrades like the Prawn Suit’s drill arm or the Cyclops’ depth modules. A huge number of players search for were 2 find nickel subnautica every week, because it’s one of the first resources that forces you to leave the relative safety of shallow biomes for darker, more dangerous areas. I’ve put over 300 hours into Subnautica across 7 full playthroughs, so I’ve tested every possible nickel spawn spot to find the easiest, lowest-risk options for every skill level. You don’t have to waste 2 hours wandering the wrong biomes or getting chased by Ghost Leviathans to get the ore you need.
Key Biomes to Check When Looking for Were 2 Find Nickel Subnautica Spots
Nickel only spawns in deep, dark biomes below 500m, so you can cross all shallow, sunlit areas off your list immediately. The most consistent spawns are found in three core biomes, each with different risk levels and ore density. First is the Lost River, the most reliable spot for nickel in the entire game. It’s a vast, cave-like biome accessible via multiple entrances across the map, with nickel spawning both as small loose clusters on walls and floors, and large mineral deposits that require a drill arm to mine.
The second most accessible spot is the Deep Grand Reef, which sits below the shallower Grand Reef biome. Nickel spawns here are less dense than the Lost River, but you won’t run into Ghost Leviathans in most parts of the Deep Grand Reef, making it a good option if you’re not ready to face the Lost River’s bigger predators yet. The third spot is the Inactive Lava Zone, which has very dense nickel spawns but also far more aggressive creatures like Sea Dragon Leviathans. You won’t find nickel in any shallow biomes above 500m depth, so don’t waste time searching the Safe Shallows, Kelp Forest, or Mushroom Forest for it.
Low-Risk Nickel Farming Routes for New Players
If you’re still working on unlocking late-game gear, you don’t need a fully upgraded Prawn Suit or Cyclops to get enough nickel for your first depth upgrades. The best low-risk route uses the Blood Kelp Trench entrance to the Lost River, which sits at around 500m depth. You can reach this entrance with a Seamoth equipped with the MK2 depth module, no other special gear required.
When you enter the Lost River through this entrance, stick strictly to the left wall. You’ll find small nickel clusters every 20 to 30 meters along the corridor, and you won’t go deep enough into the biome to run into any Ghost Leviathans. The only predators you’ll encounter here are small River Prowlers, which you can easily outrun with your Seamoth or fend off with a single hit from the survival knife if you’re out of your vehicle. Make sure you bring a scanner and keep an eye on your oxygen levels if you’re leaving your vehicle to mine, because the Lost River’s corridors twist and turn, and it’s easy to get disoriented if you wander too far from your Seamoth. I used this route exclusively on my first playthrough when I was terrified of the Lost River’s bigger creatures, and I could get 10 to 15 pieces of nickel per 10-minute run with zero risk of losing my vehicle.
Efficient Late-Game Nickel Farming Strategies
Once you have a Prawn Suit with a drill arm and MK3 depth module, you can farm nickel 3 to 4 times faster than you can with just a Seamoth. The best spot for late-game farming is the Lost River Junction, a central area in the middle of the biome that has multiple large nickel deposits scattered across its floors and walls. You don’t have to go far into the junction to find these deposits, and you can usually fill up your Prawn Suit’s storage in less than 15 minutes per run.
You can make these runs even more efficient by pairing your nickel farming with other resource collection. The Lost River also has dense spawns of lead, copper, and crystalline sulfur, so you can stock up on all your late-game crafting materials in one trip. If you own a Cyclops, you can park it just inside the Lost River entrance as a mobile base, so you don’t have to travel all the way back to your main base to drop off ore between runs. One large nickel deposit gives you 15 to 20 ore, which is enough for multiple upgrades in one go. For maximum efficiency, bring the following gear on every late-game farming run:
You don’t need to go into the Active Lava Zone for nickel, even in the late game. You’ll get far more ore far faster in the Lost River, with way less risk of running into Sea Dragon Leviathans that can destroy your vehicle in just a few hits. The only time I ever farm nickel in the Lava Zone is when I’m already there collecting kyanite for my final endgame upgrades.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Searching for Nickel
Even experienced players make simple mistakes that turn nickel farming into a frustrating, time-consuming chore. The first and most common mistake is wasting time in biomes where nickel never spawns. I’ve seen new players spend hours searching the Mushroom Forest or Grassy Plateaus for nickel, even though it never spawns above 500m. Save yourself the time and head straight for the deep biomes we covered earlier.
The second big mistake is going too deep into the Lost River too early. You don’t need to go past the outer corridors to get enough nickel for your first set of depth upgrades, so don’t risk running into Ghost Leviathans until you have a properly upgraded vehicle and weapons to defend yourself. Never leave your vehicle unattended in the Lost River for more than a minute or two, because River Prowlers and other predators will attack it if you’re gone too long, and you don’t want to get stranded deep underground without a way to get back to the surface.
The third mistake is not marking good spawn spots with beacons. Once you find a stretch of corridor with lots of nickel spawns, drop a beacon so you can come back to it later instead of searching for it again on your next run. Always mark nickel spawn spots you find with a beacon, especially if they’re in low-risk areas you can access early on. Small clusters of nickel might not seem worth marking, but they add up fast when you need just a few more pieces of ore for an upgrade, and you won’t have to make a full run to the Lost River Junction to get them.
At the end of the day, finding nickel doesn't have to be the stressful, time-consuming grind many new players make it out to be. Whether you're just looking for enough ore to make your first depth module or you're stocking up for a full base upgrade, the tips in this guide make answering the were 2 find nickel subnautica question far easier than trial and error. Take it slow, stick to the low-risk routes until you're properly equipped, and you'll never run out of nickel for your crafting needs again. I still use the same outer Lost River route for quick nickel runs on my current playthrough, because it's just that reliable.
