If you are trying to move faster in Subnautica 2 before the bigger vehicles start showing up, the Wakemaker is one of the best early upgrades to chase. This guide breaks down where to find the three required fragments, what materials you need for crafting, and how to get everything together without wasting time aimlessly swimming around the early biomes.
Why the Wakemaker matters early
Early survival in Subnautica 2 can feel a little slow. You spend a lot of time scouting nearby zones, checking crates, dipping into caves, and constantly managing oxygen while trying to avoid getting lost. That makes any movement upgrade a huge quality-of-life boost, and the Wakemaker fits that role perfectly.
While there are other ways to improve mobility, the Wakemaker stands out because it gives you a more reliable boost to traversal long before your vehicle options really open up. If you are still in that awkward early-game phase where every trip feels longer than it should, this tool is absolutely worth prioritizing.
How to unlock the Wakemaker blueprint
You cannot just build the Wakemaker immediately. First, you need to scan three Wakemaker fragments with your Scanner. Once all three are scanned, the blueprint becomes available, assuming you also have access to the proper crafting setup.
The good news is that these fragments can be found relatively early, and they are all close enough to your Lifepod that you do not need to mount some massive expedition just to get started.
Wakemaker fragment locations
Here is a clean breakdown of the three fragment spots you should check.
Fragment 1: Northwest of the Lifepod
Your first stop is about 95 meters northwest of the Lifepod.
Head in that direction and keep an eye out for a platform surrounded by coral domes and scattered metal crates. This area is easy to miss if you are only scanning the horizon, so make sure you look carefully around the structures and debris. One of the crates in this spot contains the first Wakemaker fragment.
It is a pretty manageable trip, so this is a great first target if you want to start progress on the blueprint right away.
Fragment 2: North of the Lifepod
The second fragment is around 125 meters north of the Lifepod.
As you approach, watch for blue lights off to the right side and a metal platform with several tables placed on top. Nearby crates are the key here. Inside one of them, you will find the second Wakemaker fragment. This area is also useful because you can grab extra resources while you are there, including copper wire components that may help later.
If you are efficient, this stop can save you a little time during the crafting phase.
Fragment 3: Farther north past a landmark
The final fragment is farther out, around 210 meters north of the Lifepod.
This one is tucked inside a metal crate near another platform. As you travel, you will pass a Digestion Angel Comb, which serves as a helpful landmark to confirm you are headed the right way. Once you reach the platform and surrounding crates, search carefully until you find the last fragment.
After scanning this third piece, the Wakemaker blueprint should be unlocked.
What you need before crafting
Unlocking the blueprint is only part of the process. To actually craft the Wakemaker, you need a functioning Fabricator and access to base-building progression.
That means you should also make sure you have scanned the necessary Habitat Tools to unlock base construction. Once your base is established and your Fabricator is up and running, you can finally build the Wakemaker.
This extra step is important because a lot of players get the fragments first and then wonder why the item still is not craftable.
Wakemaker crafting materials
Once the blueprint and crafting station are ready, gather these components:
- Silver
- Wire kit
- Grease
- Battery
These are not the rarest materials in the game, but a couple of them can slow you down if you do not know where to look.
Where to find the materials
Silver
One of the nearest places to search for silver is about 120 meters north of the Lifepod, beneath a Coral Dome cave.
This cave is one of the better early resource spots, and while silver may not be piled everywhere, you should be able to collect enough for the Wakemaker if you search carefully. If that area comes up short, another option is heading farther out toward the Old Habitat, where more silver can be found.
The Coral Dome cave is usually the more convenient choice for early crafting runs.
Wire kit
If you already picked up spare silver and found useful supplies near the second fragment location, the wire kit should be simple to handle.
This part is less about finding a secret location and more about being efficient with your route. Gather what you can while hunting fragments so you are not doubling back later.
Grease
For grease, you will need Lucifer Rotsacs.
These can be harvested from Cradle Shootroot plants around the Lifepod region. During your search, look for orange-yellow bulbs growing inside blue plant structures. They stand out once you know what you are looking for, but they are easy to swim past if you are distracted by terrain or wildlife.
This is one of those materials that sounds more intimidating than it really is. Once you identify the right plant, collecting enough is straightforward.
Battery
The battery is the most basic requirement, but that does not always mean you will have one on hand.
If you have been lucky with crate loot, you may already have a battery ready to go. If not, you can craft one with two copper and one Acidic Raion Pouch.
Copper can be found in the same general cave systems you explored for silver, especially around the Coral Dome cave. Acidic Raion Pouches come from pink-purple cave plants, so check underground areas as you explore.
Best route to get everything done quickly
If you want to minimize backtracking, try this approach:
- Scan the first two fragments near the Lifepod.
- Grab any useful crate loot along the way, especially crafting materials.
- Head north to collect the third fragment.
- Search the Coral Dome cave for silver and copper.
- Harvest Lucifer Rotsacs near the Lifepod area.
- Craft or loot a battery.
- Return to your Fabricator and build the Wakemaker.
This route keeps your travel focused and makes the whole process feel much smoother.
Final thoughts
The Wakemaker is one of those early-game tools that feels immediately rewarding. Subnautica 2 is all about exploration, but exploration gets a lot more fun when you are not constantly crawling from point to point at default swim speed. By grabbing the three fragments early and collecting the crafting materials in the same general region, you can unlock a major movement upgrade without turning the process into a huge grind.
If you are still building out your early toolkit, the Wakemaker is an excellent priority. It makes every trip faster, every scavenging run more efficient, and every return to base a little less painful. In a survival game where time, oxygen, and positioning all matter, that kind of advantage goes a long way.
