The Seamoth and the Prawn Suit are two of the most important piloted vehicles in Subnautica 2. Both unlock early-to-mid game exploration, but they serve very different roles. The Seamoth is a fast, nimble one-person submersible built for scouting and travel, while the Prawn Suit is a heavy exoskeleton designed for deep-sea mining, combat, and extreme-pressure environments. This guide breaks down every major category so you can decide which one fits your playstyle.
Overview: Seamoth vs Prawn Suit
The Seamoth and the Prawn Suit are two of the most important piloted vehicles in Subnautica 2. Both unlock early-to-mid game exploration, but they serve very different roles. The Seamoth is a fast, nimble one-person submersible built for scouting and travel, while the Prawn Suit is a heavy exoskeleton designed for deep-sea mining, combat, and extreme-pressure environments. This guide breaks down every major category so you can decide which one fits your playstyle.
Side-by-Side Specifications
| Stat | Seamoth | Prawn Suit |
|---|---|---|
| Max Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Base Depth Limit | 200 m | 400 m |
| Max Depth (fully upgraded) | 900 m | 1700 m |
| Top Speed | ~19 m/s (boost) | ~14 m/s (with grappling hook) |
| Storage | None (add perimeter module for 16 slots) | 48 slots (2 storage modules) |
| Build Cost (approx.) | Titanium, Lubricant, Glass, Power Cell | Titanium, Lithium, Glass, Aerogel, Computer Chip, Power Cell |
| Blueprint Source | Mobile Vehicle Bay fragments | Mobile Vehicle Bay fragments (deeper wrecks) |
Speed and Mobility
The Seamoth wins hands down in pure travel speed. With the engine efficiency module and a fully charged power cell, it can cross biomes in minutes and its boost lets you dodge aggressive fauna with ease. The Prawn Suit is noticeably slower on flat terrain, but it compensates with the grappling hook arm. A skilled pilot can chain grapple swings to cover huge distances, and the jump jet upgrade lets you launch out of trenches and over obstacles that the Seamoth cannot reach.
- Seamoth: best for daily commutes, scanning runs, and kiting predators.
- Prawn Suit: best for vertical movement, cliff scaling, and reaching the deepest zones.
Depth and Pressure Rating
Depth is the single biggest differentiator. A stock Seamoth caps at 200 m and tops out at 900 m with three depth modules. The Prawn Suit starts at 400 m and reaches 1700 m fully upgraded, which means it can enter the lava zones and deep grand reef where the Seamoth would be crushed instantly. If your goal is to reach endgame resource nodes like Kyanite and Nickel, the Prawn Suit is mandatory.
Utility and Combat
The Prawn Suit is a workhorse. The drill arm chews through large resource deposits that you cannot mine by hand, and the grappling arm turns it into a mobile anchor. The torpedo arm and propulsion cannon add combat and utility options. The Seamoth has the perimeter defense system, which stuns attackers, and the sonar module, which reveals nearby terrain and creatures. Neither vehicle is a true combat platform, but the Prawn Suit can survive Leviathan attacks far better thanks to its higher hull integrity.
Cost and Accessibility
The Seamoth is cheaper and available earlier. Most players scan the fragments in the safe shallows and grassy plateaus wrecks within the first few hours. The Prawn Suit requires Lithium, Aerogel, and deeper-wreck fragments, so it typically comes online after you already have a Seamoth. A smart progression path is: build the Seamoth first, use it to gather resources and scan Prawn fragments, then build the Prawn Suit for deep exploration.
Final Verdict
Neither vehicle is strictly better because they fill different niches. Build the Seamoth first if you value speed, affordability, and early-game scouting. Build the Prawn Suit when you are ready to mine large deposits, dive below 900 m, and tackle the late-game biomes. Most experienced players keep both: the Seamoth for quick trips and the Prawn Suit for serious deep-sea expeditions.
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