How to Protect Your Cuddlefish in Subnautica: A Comprehensive Guide
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Protecting your adorable Cuddlefish in the vast and dangerous world of Subnautica is a crucial task for any dedicated player. These friendly companions are not only a source of joy but also a vulnerable presence that requires care and attention. The key to protecting them lies in a combination of careful management, strategic base placement, and an understanding of their behaviors and vulnerabilities.
The most direct way to protect your Cuddlefish is to keep them primarily within your base. This involves using the following strategies:
- Safe Housing: Utilize the Alien Containment unit to hatch your Cuddlefish eggs. Once hatched, keep them in this controlled environment as long as possible. This is the safest place for them until you are ready to allow them outside.
- Strategic Moonpool Deployment: When you decide to take your Cuddlefish out, use a Moonpool to provide a safe entry and exit point. This eliminates the need for them to traverse open water, which is often teeming with threats. Use your Propulsion Cannon to gently transport them into and out of the Moonpool, avoiding any accidental damage.
- “Stay Put” Command: Teach your Cuddlefish to stay in one area by using the right-click command. When you’re ready to explore, command it to stay near your base. This reduces the risk of it wandering off into danger zones and makes it easier to locate them upon your return.
- Avoiding Hazardous Areas: Be mindful of the biomes you explore with your Cuddlefish. Steer clear of areas known to be frequented by aggressive creatures, like the Reaper Leviathan in the Dunes or the Ghost Leviathans in the Lost River.
- Regular Monitoring: Keep an eye on your Cuddlefish’s well-being, even when it’s staying put. Check its patrol radius for potential threats. Remember, the Cuddlefish has a considerable 10,000 HP, but it’s not invincible and can still be killed by predators.
Beyond these basic steps, understanding their vulnerabilities and taking preventative measures is essential for long-term safety. Remember, a little planning goes a long way in ensuring that your Cuddlefish thrives.
Understanding Cuddlefish Vulnerabilities
The Threat of Predators
The biggest threat to your Cuddlefish in Subnautica is, without a doubt, the various predators that inhabit the game world. Creatures such as Stalkers, Sand Sharks, and Leviathan-class beings can and will attack your Cuddlefish if they are not properly protected. Even though Cuddlefish have high health, a direct attack from a larger creature will take them down, and if you aren’t paying attention they can be killed very quickly. The key is to keep your Cuddlefish close to the safety of your base.
Infection Risks
While the primary infection in the game is related to the player, it’s important to note that Cuddlefish can also get infected. Although the game doesn’t explicitly show them visibly changing from this, the implications for their health are never good. Maintaining a clean habitat for your Cuddlefish is crucial to keep them in top condition.
Environmental Factors
Cuttlefish in real life are sensitive to heavy metals. While Subnautica doesn’t replicate this perfectly, it’s wise to avoid using copper or other potentially harmful materials in the vicinity of your Cuddlefish’s habitat. This includes copper wires or chiller coils. Clean, oxygenated water is essential for their health and well-being. Keep the interior of your base as clean as possible.
Advanced Strategies for Cuddlefish Protection
Building a Cuddlefish-Friendly Base
When constructing your base, consider where your Cuddlefish will roam. Select a location with a flat area and minimal predator presence. The safe shallows or grassy plateaus are often ideal choices. Incorporate lots of windows into your base design so that you can monitor their location, even when inside.
Relocation Strategies
If you do need to move your Cuddlefish to a new base location, always use the Propulsion Cannon and a Moonpool for a safe transfer. Do not swim them from location to location. This minimizes exposure to the dangers of open water.
Managing Multiple Cuddlefish
If you have multiple Cuddlefish, it might be advisable to keep them in separate Alien Containment units and only release them individually or in small groups to ensure you can keep a close watch over them. With a little extra effort you can build multiple bases that are in close proximity to one another to allow for some variety in their environment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can Cuddlefish run away in Subnautica?
No, Cuddlefish will not run away if they are commanded to stay put. They will patrol a small radius around the spot where you told them to stay. However, they can get lost or attacked if allowed to wander too far, especially in dangerous biomes.
2. How do I get a Cuddlefish in Subnautica?
You must find Cuddlefish eggs hidden around the world. Once found, these eggs need to be incubated in an Alien Containment unit. The eggs will eventually hatch, giving you a new Cuddlefish pet.
3. Where can I find Cuddlefish eggs?
Cuddlefish eggs can be found in the following locations:
* Deep Grand Reef Degasi Base
* Dunes Sinkhole
* Lost River Laboratory Cache
* Mushroom Forest Caves (Both Northeastern and Northwestern)
4. What happens when I tell my Cuddlefish to stop following me?
When you tell your Cuddlefish to stop following, it will create a patrol radius around that location and stay there until you tell it to follow you again.
5. Can you put a Cuddlefish back in the Alien Containment unit after releasing it?
No, once a medium/large creature, like the Cuddlefish, has been released from the Alien Containment unit, you cannot put it back in without using glitches.
6. Can Cuddlefish be eaten by other creatures?
Yes, unfortunately, Cuddlefish can be eaten by other creatures if they are not protected. Therefore, strategic placement and regular monitoring are key.
7. Are Cuddlefish intelligent?
Yes, Cuddlefish are based on real-world cuttlefish which are considered to be quite intelligent. In Subnautica, they exhibit social awareness, complex group interactions, and social intelligence.
8. How much health does a Cuddlefish have?
Cuddlefish have 10,000 HP. While this is quite a lot, they are not invincible and can still be killed by predators.
9. What is the purpose of a Cuddlefish in Subnautica?
The Cuddlefish serves as a friendly, herbivorous pet and provides psychological support during the often lonely and scary exploration of Planet 4546B.
10. Can I tame other creatures in Subnautica?
You can’t exactly “tame” creatures, but some, like Stalkers, will become docile and tolerant of you if you release them from alien containment and feed them fish and scrap metal.
11. Is the Cuddlefish a Leviathan?
No, the Cuddlefish is not a Leviathan-class creature. There are references to a hypothetical “Cuddlefish Leviathan,” but they do not exist within the actual game.
12. Does the Cuddlefish grow?
No, the Cuddlefish does not grow. You can only obtain them by hatching an egg. They always remain the same size.
13. Can you eat a Cuddlefish?
No, you cannot eat a Cuddlefish in the game. They are meant to be pets, not a food source.
14. What is the deadliest Leviathan in Subnautica?
The Sea Dragon Leviathan is one of the deadliest Leviathans due to its ability to destroy structures and shoot fireballs, second only to the Sea Emperor.
15. Can you avoid infection in Subnautica?
No, you are infected from the moment you hit the water and eat or drink anything. The closest thing to “avoiding” it is managing your infection level through some foreknowledge about in-game progression which can notably alter the first-time experience.
By understanding their vulnerabilities and employing these strategies, you can significantly increase your Cuddlefish’s chances of survival and enjoy their companionship throughout your Subnautica journey. Always prioritize their safety and take the necessary precautions to ensure that they remain safe and content in their underwater environment.