Dunes
Vast sandy desert biome stretching across the western seafloor. Home to Reaper Leviathans and rich mineral deposits.
Quick Facts
Overview
The Dunes are a vast, open sandy desert stretching across the western seafloor of Subnautica 2. Unlike the structured ecosystems of the Kelp Forest or Grand Reef, the Dunes are defined by their emptiness — endless rolling sand dunes broken only by scattered rock formations, mineral deposits, and the occasional wreck. This openness is precisely what makes the biome so dangerous: there is nowhere to hide.
The Dunes are the primary territory of the Reaper Leviathan, one of the most fearsome predators in the game. These massive creatures patrol the open sand, using their echolocation roars to detect prey across vast distances. A Reaper can grab a Seamoth and crush it in seconds, making the Dunes one of the few biomes where even a vehicle does not guarantee safety. The sandy terrain also harbours Bonesharks and Sandsharks, ambush predators that burrow into the seafloor and strike from below.
Despite the extreme danger, the Dunes are extraordinarily rich in minerals. Titanium, Lithium, and Diamond deposits are exposed across the sandy floor in densities rarely found elsewhere. Scattered wrecks contain valuable scannable fragments for advanced blueprints. For well-equipped divers willing to risk Reaper territory, the Dunes offer some of the highest resource yields in the game — but the margin for error is razor-thin.
Resources
The Dunes are extraordinarily rich in minerals. The vast sandy expanse exposes large Titanium, Lithium, and Diamond deposits directly on the seafloor, and scattered wrecks provide additional salvage and scannable fragments.
Titanium
Abundant across the sandy floor. Refined from metal salvage and outcrops for base building.
Lithium
Exposed in large deposits on the seafloor. Essential for vehicle upgrades and reinforced plating.
Diamond
From shale outcrops scattered across the dunes. Used in advanced tool and weapon crafting.
Creatures
The Dunes are dominated by the Reaper Leviathan, an apex predator capable of destroying vehicles. Bonesharks patrol the open water, while Sandsharks burrow into the sandy floor to ambush prey. This is one of the most dangerous predator ecosystems in the game.
Reaper Leviathan
Apex predator of the Dunes. Can grab and destroy Seamoths. Extreme danger — avoid at all costs.
Boneshark
Aggressive predator patrolling the open water. Attacks divers and vehicles on sight.
Sandshark
Ambush predator that burrows into the sandy seafloor. Strikes from below without warning.
Exploration Tips
Travel by Seamoth
The Dunes are too vast and dangerous for free-swimming. A Seamoth provides the speed to cross open water quickly and the durability to survive a predator encounter long enough to escape. Never explore the Dunes on foot.
Avoid Open Water
Reaper Leviathans hunt in the open central areas of the Dunes. Stick to the edges and seafloor contours where cover is available. The less time you spend in open water, the lower your chances of a fatal encounter.
Listen for Roars
Reaper Leviathans announce their presence with distinctive roars that carry across vast distances. If you hear a roar, immediately assess your surroundings and change course. The roar is your earliest and most reliable warning system.
Scan Wrecks Fast
Wrecks in the Dunes contain high-value fragments but are exposed in predator territory. Scan quickly, grab salvage, and move on. Do not linger — every second in the open increases your risk of a Reaper encounter.
Map Locations
The Dunes stretch across the western seafloor at 150–400m depth. Use the interactive map to mark Reaper Leviathan patrol zones, locate mineral deposits, and plan safe Seamoth routes through the open sand.
View on Interactive Map →Related Biomes
Crash Zone
0–50m — the irradiated shallow-water zone bordering the Dunes, home to the Aurora wreck.
Grassy Plateaus
100–200m — sandy red-grass plains that transition toward the Dunes at their western edge.
Sparse Reef
50–200m — low-visibility open plains that border the shallower edges of the Dunes.
Related Guides
Predator Encyclopedia
Every hostile creature, its attack patterns, and how to avoid or repel it. Essential reading before entering Reaper territory.
Seamoth & Vehicle Guide
How to build, upgrade, and maintain the Seamoth — your primary survival tool in the Dunes.
Resource Farming Routes
Optimized routes for gathering Titanium, Lithium, and Diamond — including safe paths through the Dunes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are the Dunes?
Extremely dangerous. The Dunes are the primary territory of the Reaper Leviathan, one of the most lethal predators in the game. Reapers can grab and destroy a Seamoth in seconds, and their patrol zones span large portions of the open seafloor. Bonesharks and Sandsharks add additional threat layers. The Dunes should only be explored with a fully equipped Seamoth, a clear escape route, and constant audio awareness for Reaper roars.
What resources are in the Dunes?
The Dunes are rich in Titanium, Lithium, and Diamond. The vast sandy expanse exposes large mineral deposits directly on the seafloor, and scattered wrecks provide additional salvage and scannable fragments for advanced blueprints. The resource density is among the highest in the game, which is precisely why the biome is so dangerous — the rewards are real, but so are the Reapers.
What equipment do I need for the Dunes?
A Seamoth is essential for both depth coverage and quick escapes from Reaper Leviathans. Equip a Reinforced Suit for survivability, a repair tool to patch vehicle damage after encounters, and always carry medkits. A Scanner is recommended for capturing fragment blueprints from the wrecks. Never enter the Dunes without a vehicle — free-swimming is a death sentence in Reaper territory.
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