Subnautica Silver Ore cannot be used to build as many individual items or upgrades as other crafting materials. Still, it's worth cultivating as it's a key part of the wiring kit. Like other ores and precious metals in the Unknown Worlds underwater survival game, silver is found in a cavalcade of biomes across 4546B.
Although obtaining material from specific outcrops is highly RNG dependent, there are a few places you can explore that are A.) easier to access and B.) produce more money more efficiently due to their access facility. The guide below tells you why you need the money, as well as where to find it.
What is silver ore used for in Subnautica?
Silver ore is used to build:
- Large capacity O2 tank (manufacturer)
- Wiring kit (manufacturer)
- Med Kit Maker (Habitat Builder)
- Improved the speed of the scanner room (scanner room)
Arguably the most important craft items are the Large Capacity O2 Tank (x1 ore) and the Hardwire Kit (x2 ore). The larger O2 tank is essential for performing deeper dives and exploring the different parts of the Shrimp and Cyclops, while the Hardwire Kit is used in a variety of other crafting recipes, such as those for Rebreather, Propulsion Cannon, Battery Charger, and Suite.
The hardwire kit is what you will need to farm silver ore.
Where is Silver Ore in Subnautica?
This resource can be found in virtually every biome on planet 4546B, from the Kelp Forest to the Bulb Zone and everywhere in between.
At the start of the game, you'll want to look for outcrops of sandstone on the seabed and attached to the sides of hills and seamounts. They look like round, medium brown rocks (as opposed to the more oblong, tan/light brown limestone outcrops).
These are found most abundantly at the start of game in the grassy plateau biome, as well as at the edge of the kelp forest biome when it touches the grassy plateau.
Note that sandstone outcrops are also sources of gold and lead, two other materials you will need. You can even get gold from the areas above, like I did a few times.
From your Segway, go northeast (the wreckage of the Aurora will be on your right). Keep going through the safe shallows until it drops into the grassy plateau area. There will be red grass on the seabed in this area.
Once the area drops down, turn left and go north sticking along the cliff. When you get to the large green kelp forests (they will be on your left) you will start to notice caves in the cliff. Look around and in these caves for sandstone.
You can also venture into the grassy plateau and look for sandstone attached to the pillars there and in the caves that lead down to the mushroom forest, but this area is deep and dangerous. Not only will you need the high capacity O2 tank to effectively navigate this area (which you'll need silver ore to build), but you'll also likely need the seaglide to ensure you can reach the surface more quickly. Also be on the lookout for bone sharks.
You can also go to the grassy plateau/kelp forest area to the south/southwest of the deposit. Neither area is really more dangerous than the other, it seems, and I haven't found either area to be more effective than the other. The two grassy plateau areas also start at about the same distance from the deposit (about 260 meters).
That's all there is to know about how to find silver ore in Subnautica's early game, and once you know what to look for, you'll be able to find the crafting resource in many places. other biomes. For more on Subnautica, be sure to check out our other guides. Happy exploring.
