Welcome to Proteus
You've crash-landed on an alien ocean world. Your lifepod is your only sanctuary in an ocean full of wonders and dangers. This guide will walk you through your critical first hours.
First 30 Minutes: Critical Priorities
1. Check Your Surroundings
Before leaving your lifepod, look around. Note the location of your pod relative to visible landmarks. The Welcome Center is usually nearby and contains essential early-game resources.
2. Gather Basic Resources
Start by collecting these immediately:
- Titanium: From metal salvage and limestone outcrops. Essential for tools.
- Silicone Rubber: From creepvine seed clusters. Used for fins and O2 tanks.
- Copper Ore: From limestone outcrops. Needed for wiring and batteries.
- Acid Mushrooms: For batteries and early energy.
3. Craft Essential Tools
Priority crafting order:
- Scanner: Unlock blueprints by scanning everything.
- Survival Knife: Harvest coral and defend yourself.
- Standard O2 Tank: Double your dive time.
- Fins: Swim faster to escape threats.
- Flashlight: Essential for cave exploration.
Scan everything you see — fragments, plants, creatures. The more you scan, the more blueprints you unlock. Many critical recipes are hidden behind scans.
Survival Fundamentals
Oxygen Management
Oxygen is your most precious resource. Always monitor your O2 meter and plan your routes with air pockets in mind. Surface frequently until you upgrade your tank.
| O2 Source | Duration | How to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Base O2 | Unlimited | Build a base with O2 generator |
| Standard O2 Tank | 75s | Crafted at fabricator |
| High Capacity Tank | 135s | Blueprint from data box |
| Rebreather | Deep dives | Crafted, reduces deep-depth O2 drain |
Food and Water
Early game food sources:
- Bladderfish: Catch near surface. Good for water (bladderfish water).
- Garryfish / Peepers: Common edible fish.
- Creepvine: Edible samples for emergency food.
Build a Water Filtration Machine in your base as soon as possible for unlimited clean water.
Don't eat raw food without checking — some creatures are toxic. Always cook fish at a fabricator when possible.
Building Your First Base
Once you have a habitat builder, find a safe location:
- Shallow area (under 100m) for easy access
- Near resources but away from hostile creatures
- Flat terrain for easy construction
- Near thermal vents or solar access for power
Essential first rooms:
- Multipurpose Room: Core living space.
- Solar Panel: Early power source.
- Fabricator: Crafting station.
- Storage: Lockers for organizing resources.
Exploring Deeper
As you upgrade equipment, gradually push deeper:
| Depth | Requirements | What to Find |
|---|---|---|
| 0-50m | Basic gear | Safe zone, basic resources |
| 50-100m | Standard O2, fins | More fragments, better resources |
| 100-200m | Seamoth / Tadpole, high-cap O2 | Data boxes, wrecks, rare materials |
| 200m+ | Vehicle with depth module | Story locations, endgame resources |
Story Progression Tips
Follow these signals to advance the story:
- Check your PDA regularly for new coordinates.
- Follow radio signals when they appear.
- Investigate alien structures and abandoned bases.
- Scan everything in story locations.
Build a scanner room at your base to locate nearby resources and wrecks. It saves hours of searching.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Going too deep too soon: Stick to shallow areas until you have vehicle + O2 upgrades.
- Ignoring base power: Always have more power generation than consumption.
- Not scanning enough: Many players miss critical blueprints by not scanning fragments.
- Carrying too much: Inventory space is limited. Store resources at your base.
- Exploring at night unprepared: Visibility drops significantly. Carry a flashlight or sleep until day.
What's Next?
Once you're comfortable with basics, explore these guides:
- Build a vehicle (Tadpole submersible) to reach deeper biomes
- Find blueprints for base upgrades and better equipment
- Follow the story signals to uncover the mystery of Proteus
- Explore different biomes for unique resources