Subnautica 2 Guide: All Leviathans and How to Survive Them
Getting your shiny new submarine crushed into a tin can by an apex predator is a miserable way to end an expedition.
Subnautica 2 drops you onto a brand new planet, and that means you have to learn an entirely new food chain. Proteus currently features five distinct Leviathans in Early Access. Some are docile background anomalies, but the majority actively want to turn you into their next meal. Before you accidentally wander into the wrong biome and lose a full inventory of rare resources, you need to know exactly what is lurking in the dark and how to counter it.
The Master Leviathan List
Proteus is massive, and these creatures stick to very specific territories. I put together a hard data breakdown of every apex lifeform currently in the game so you know exactly where to watch your back.
Surviving the Collector Leviathan
This massive squid is the primary threat you will face during your mid-game progression. It aggressively patrols the transition zones you have to cross to reach the Observatory and Root Canyon.
Evasion Tactics
You get a clear warning before the Collector strikes. If you hear a massive roar and the background music suddenly shifts, you are in its crosshairs. Don't try to out-swim it with basic gear. I highly recommend attaching the Scout Ray Chassis to your Tadpole to boost your speed and turn rate. If things get too hot, swim straight up to the surface or cross into a different biome boundary to drop its aggro. Equipping defensive Biomods like Dash or Electric Discharge also gives you a fighting chance to escape if you get cornered.
How to Scan It
Scanning the Collector is mandatory if you want to unlock the Sonic Echo Biomod, but doing it safely requires a trick. Don't swim at it empty-handed. Ride your Tadpole into its territory and let it attack your vehicle. Once the squid grabs your sub, hop out, pull your Scanner, and log the creature while it is locked in the attack animation. Swim away immediately and repair your damaged Tadpole later. You can also use a Distraction Flare or the Camouflage Biomod to sneak up on it.
Escaping the Great Jaw
The Great Jaw is a biological trap disguised as a giant clam. You will find it sitting among the rocky spires of the Tufa Towers biome.
The Risk and Reward
You don't actually have to swim inside to scan the creature itself. Just point your Scanner at the outer shell. The real reason you want to risk this encounter is the loot. The central organ holds valuable Lithium deposits, Metal Salvage, and a scannable Portable Oxygen Generator.
Beating the Trap
The interior is laced with sensitive tendrils. If you break one, the shell snaps shut, trapping you inside and releasing lethal toxins. Before you even attempt to harvest the Lithium with your Sonic Resonator, make sure you have an Air Bladder equipped. If you trip the alarm, pop the Air Bladder immediately to rocket toward the surface before the jaws lock. Equipping Improved Fins and a Wavemaker will also give you the burst speed needed to slip out in time.
Facing the Shiver Leviathan
The Shiver Leviathan only exists to punish you for swimming out of bounds. If you cross the red border into the Void, this creature will hunt you down.
Scanning the Border Guard
There is absolutely zero reason to fight this thing, but completionists will still want the scanner data. If you are playing solo, hover right on the edge of the red border. Use your Camouflage Biomod to turn invisible, wait for the beast to approach, and hit it with your Scanner before darting back into the safe zone.
If you are playing multiplayer, the strategy is much funnier. Have your friend swim out as bait. While the Shiver Leviathan is distracted eating your co-op partner, you can safely log the scan from a distance.
The Peaceful Giants
Not everything on Proteus wants to kill you. A couple of these massive organisms are perfectly safe to approach.
Deepwing Brooder and The World Tree
The Deepwing Brooder is completely docile and travels in packs, leaving clouds of eggs behind. Because it can spawn literally anywhere on the map, actually finding one requires pure luck. The World Tree is more of an environmental set piece. You can spot this mysterious organism looming on the horizon just by coming up from the deep ocean and looking across the skyline.
What About the Reaper?
If you are terrified of running into the Reaper Leviathan from the original game, you can relax. Because this is an entirely different planet, none of the classic Leviathans return. You can, however, unlock a commemorative Reaper Leviathan statue to place inside your base just to remind yourself of the good old days.
Still struggling to survive on Proteus? Check out my complete Subnautica 2 Guide Hub for base building tips, resource maps, and more.
