How the infection works
The infection spreads in four stages. Each stage has a visible HUD warning, an increasing HP drain rate, and a unique audio cue. If you reach Stage 4, the cure recipe changes and you have a 20-minute window before the run is unrecoverable. Older guides describe a 3-stage system — that is wrong in 2026.
Stage progression
| Stage | HP drain | Time to next stage | Cure recipe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (initial) | None | 20 in-game minutes | Standard recipe |
| 2 (warning) | 1 HP / 30 s | 15 in-game minutes | Standard recipe |
| 3 (critical) | 1 HP / 10 s | 10 in-game minutes | Standard recipe still works |
| 4 (fatal) | 1 HP / 3 s | — (run ends in 20 min) | Hardened recipe (deep-zone ingredient required) |
The standard cure recipe
The standard recipe needs 3 ingredients:
- Reagent A (1x) — crafted at a Fabricator. Requires 2x Bleeder sample, 1x Peeper.
- Reagent B (1x) — crafted at a Fabricator. Requires 2x Hoverfish sample, 1x Bladderfish.
- Enzyme Sample (1x) — drops from any Stalker (50% chance) or Boneshark (100% chance).
Total crafting time: 60 seconds at any Fabricator. The cure applies instantly on use.
Where to find each ingredient
For Reagent A: Peepers are everywhere in the Safe Shallows. Bleeders spawn in the Kelp Forest, 50–300 m. Knock one out with a knife and pick up the sample. For Reagent B: Hoverfish are in the Kelp Forest (50–200 m), Bladderfish are in the Safe Shallows (0–250 m). For the Enzyme Sample: Bonesharks are the surest source. Find a Boneshark at the Underwater Islands (200 m depth) and kill it with a knife — 100% drop rate.
How to cure the infection in 5 minutes (early game)
- Get infected (it happens naturally within 2 in-game hours).
- Swim to the Kelp Forest.
- Kill 2 Bleeders, 1 Hoverfish, 1 Bladderfish, 1 Peeper. (~3 minutes)
- Craft Reagent A and Reagent B at a Fabricator.
- Find a Boneshark (Underwater Islands, 200 m). Kill for the Enzyme Sample. (~2 minutes)
- Craft the cure. Use it. Total time: 5–6 minutes.
What changes at Stage 4
At Stage 4, the standard recipe is replaced with the hardened recipe:
- Reagent A (same as standard).
- Reagent B (same as standard).
- Enzyme Sample (same as standard).
- Hardened Enzyme Sample (1x) — only drops from a Crabsquid in the Deep Grand Reef, or a Lava Lizard in the Inactive Lava Zone outskirts. Requires a PRAWN Suit.
At this point, you have 20 minutes. The Deep Grand Reef is 200–400 m and the Crabsquid is aggressive — bring a Stasis Rifle and a depth module for your PRAWN.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring the HUD warning. The Stage 2 warning is a yellow pulse in the top-right. The Stage 3 warning is a red pulse. If you do not see these, you are not looking at your HUD.
- Farming Bleeders too aggressively. Bleeders retaliate when hit. Two hits and they flee. Take the first hit and let them run.
- Skipping the Fabricator. The cure is craftable, not found. You need a Fabricator to make Reagent A and Reagent B.
- Letting it reach Stage 4. The hardened recipe is brutal. Cure at Stage 1 or 2 to avoid the deep-zone run.