Surface & Shallow Biomes (0-100m)
Safe Shallows
Your starting zone and the safest area on Proteus. Abundant basic resources and passive creatures.
- Resources: Titanium, Copper, Quartz, Acid Mushrooms, Creepvine
- Creatures: Peepers, Holefish, Bladderfish (passive)
- Hazards: Minimal — safe for beginners
- Points of Interest: Lifepod 5, Welcome Center, basic wrecks
Kelp Forest
Towering creepvine forests that provide essential early-game materials.
- Resources: Creepvine, Creepvine Seed Clusters, Silver Ore (in sandstone)
- Creatures: Stalkers (aggressive if provoked), Garryfish
- Hazards: Stalkers may bite if you take their metal salvage
- Points of Interest: Multiple wrecks with fragments
Grassy Plateaus
Red grass-covered plains rich in resources and exploration opportunities.
- Resources: Gold, Silver, Lead, Quartz
- Creatures: Sandsharks (buried ambush predators)
- Hazards: Sandshark ambushes from below
- Points of Interest: Large wrecks, abandoned bases
The Grassy Plateaus are the perfect location for your first real base — central location, good resources, and moderate depth.
Mid-Depth Biomes (100-300m)
Twisty Bridges
Strange organic bridges connecting coral towers. Beautiful but disorienting.
- Resources: Titanium, Copper, Table Coral
- Creatures: Squidsharks (aggressive)
- Hazards: Easy to get lost in the maze-like structure
Purple Vents
Thermally active zone with unique geology and dangerous inhabitants.
- Resources: Silver, Gold, Ruby, Lithium
- Creatures: Cryptosuchus packs (highly aggressive)
- Hazards: Extreme heat near vents, aggressive pack hunters
Tree Spires
Massive thermal spires that serve as landmarks across the region.
- Resources: Magnetite, Diamond, Nickel
- Creatures: Chelicerate (leviathan-class, extremely dangerous)
- Hazards: Leviathan patrols — avoid at all costs without upgraded vehicle
Chelicerates are leviathan-class predators. They can destroy unupgraded vehicles in 2-3 hits. Do not enter Tree Spires without Depth Module MK2+ and Perimeter Defense.
Deep Biomes (300-600m)
Crystal Caves
Beautiful but dangerous crystal formations create a maze-like environment.
- Resources: Kyanite, Diamond, Ruby, Quartz
- Creatures: Shadow Leviathans (apex predators)
- Hazards: Crushing depths, extreme predators, maze-like navigation
Fabrictor Caverns
Deep industrial remains with valuable technology to scan.
- Resources: Ion Cubes, advanced technology fragments
- Creatures: Warpers (teleporting threats)
- Hazards: Warpers can teleport you out of your vehicle
Abyssal Depths (600m+)
World Edge / Void
The map boundary drops into an endless abyss.
- Resources: None
- Creatures: Ghost Leviathans (will chase you indefinitely)
- Hazards: Do not enter — instant death zone
Lava Zones
The deepest reachable areas. Extreme heat and unique resources.
- Resources: Kyanite, Sulfur, Ion Cubes
- Creatures: Sea Dragon Leviathans
- Hazards: Extreme heat (requires reinforced suit), lava damage
Biome Quick Reference
| Depth | Biome | Risk | Key Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-50m | Safe Shallows | ★☆☆ | Titanium, Copper, Quartz |
| 30-80m | Kelp Forest | ★★☆ | Silver, Creepvine |
| 50-150m | Grassy Plateaus | ★★☆ | Gold, Lead, Silver |
| 100-250m | Twisty Bridges | ★★★ | Table Coral |
| 150-300m | Purple Vents | ★★★ | Ruby, Lithium |
| 200-400m | Tree Spires | ★★★★★ | Magnetite, Diamond |
| 300-600m | Crystal Caves | ★★★★★ | Kyanite, Diamond |
| 600m+ | Lava Zones | ★★★★★ | Kyanite, Sulfur |
Navigation Tips
- Beacons are your friend: Place beacons at your base, vehicle, and important locations.
- Follow the terrain: Unique geological features help identify biomes without scanning.
- Listen to audio cues: Different biomes have distinct ambient sounds and creature calls.
- Depth meter: Always watch your depth. Many dangers correlate with specific depth ranges.
- Day/night cycle: Visibility is worse at night. Plan deep expeditions during daylight.