I surfaced coughing, the HUD still pulsing “Data retrieved.” A shadow the size of a transport grazed the edge of my torch; I couldn’t afford another panic. I learned the hard way that finding the Tadpole means planning every breath and every turn.
Tadpole blueprint fragment locations in Subnautica 2
The compass needle ticks to 190° on the first run — that’s your landmark. You only need three fragments to assemble the Tadpole; I found them all inside predictable wreckage and coral formations that rarely host the biggest predators. Think of the first site as a shallow crossroads: roughly 145 m from the lifepod at about 90 m depth, marked by a coral reef with scattered debris to the left.
Swim past the reef and you’ll hit the first crash site. Scan the fragment, then surface to refill your oxygen unless you’ve already fitted a larger tank. My go-to routine: grab the fragment, fast ascent, refill, and then return — fewer surprises that way.
Where are the fragments located?
Two are clustered near that reef and wreckage; the second sits behind a hatch inside a small sealed room, and the third is tucked at the base of a much larger coral structure a little farther out. On my runs the second fragment was on a shelf inside the hatch room — an obvious reward for anyone who takes the right corridor and keeps calm.
A practical route and air management
The compass and your map are the two smallest tools that save the most time. I run the same loop: surface, compass to 190°, swim to the reef, sweep left for wreckage, then back to the hatch room on the right path. The hatch room doubles as a short-term air pocket where you can refill, which makes the second fragment the easiest grab if you’re careful.
Run a bigger oxygen tank if you can afford it — in-game gear upgrades are cheap compared to the frustration of multiple failed runs. For players on Steam or the Epic Games Store who track guides on sites like Moyens I/O, treating the hatch room as a staging point makes the whole sequence feel surgical rather than reckless.
Do I need an upgraded oxygen tank to get the Tadpole?
No, you can reach all three fragments with a standard tank if you play conservatively, but an upgraded oxygen tank saves time and limits risk. I recommend the upgrade if you value fewer surface trips; it’s a time-for-money trade most players on Steam accept willingly.
Final fragment, risk management, and build
The large coral formation sits deeper and darker, and your lungs will remind you of that. The third fragment rests at the foot of a massive reef — grab it fast, save immediately, and get vertical. The coral feels like a broken cathedral; it looks beautiful and it will steal your air if you stop to admire it.
Once you have all three fragments, the blueprint compiles in your fabricator. I like to build the Tadpole as soon as I can because it changes how you approach exploration; the small craft feels like a key to new corridors and quieter places. The hatch room that helped you survive the second fragment will be less useful once you have the Tadpole — it’s a small safe that buys you options.
How many fragments are required to build the Tadpole?
Three fragments total. Scan each one to add it to the blueprint database; the fabricator will list the completed blueprint and the materials required. If you’re tracking progress on community sites or Discord channels for Unknown Worlds Entertainment titles, this is the common stat players share first.
Use your scanner, watch the compass, and respect your oxygen meter — those three little tools prevent the big mistakes. Do you still think the risk of one more run is worth the payoff?