Subnautica lithium guide: every biome where lithium spawns, the 31.5% Shale Outcrop drop rate, and every recipe that needs it from Plasteel to Prawn upgrades.
Subnautica Lithium — Where to Find It and Every Crafting Use
Lithium is one of Subnautica's most demanded raw materials because it sits in the middle of almost every endgame recipe: it's the second ingredient in Plasteel Ingots (2 Lithium + 1 Titanium Ingot), which feed the Cyclops, Prawn Suit and every depth module beyond MK1. You get it from Shale Outcrops at a 31.5% drop rate, from loose chunks on the seabed, and from large resource deposits that are especially plentiful in the Lost River, Mountains and Mountain Island caves. The fastest early source is the Deep Sparse Reef, where loose lithium litters the floor around Lifepod 19.
Official resources: Steam store page · Official Subnautica Wiki — Lithium · IGN Subnautica page
Per the official Subnautica Wiki: "Lithium is a raw material found in many Biomes. Lithium can be found in single form both above and below water, as well as in shale outcrops... Its main use is to create the high strength Lithium/Titanium alloy known as plasteel."
How Lithium Spawns — the Three Sources
Lithium comes from exactly three places, and knowing which one you're looking at changes how you farm it:
- Shale Outcrops — breakable nodes with a 31.5% chance of lithium (the rest is 38.5% Diamond and 30% Gold). This is the consistent source: every biome except Safe Shallows, Kelp Forest and Grassy Plateaus spawns Shale.
- Loose items on the seabed — single lithium crystals lying in the open. The Deep Sparse Reef is famous for this: a wide area of the seafloor around Lifepod 19 is covered in them, and you can grab a dozen in one swim.
- Large Resource Deposits — the big glowing nodes that need a Prawn Suit Drill Arm. Each deposit yields 8–16 lithium, and the densest fields are in the Lost River (Bone Fields, Tree Cove), the Mountains, and the Mountain Island caves.
On the Sea Treader's Path, the walking Sea Treader Leviathans churn up fresh Shale Outcrops with every step. Follow a Treader for a few minutes, then sweep the trail behind it with a Seamoth — you'll collect lithium, gold and diamonds without hunting a single node. It's the community's favorite mid-game lithium farm.
Best Lithium Locations by Game Stage
| Stage | Where to go | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Deep Sparse Reef (around Lifepod 19) | Loose lithium on the seabed — ~12+ pieces per sweep |
| Early | Mountain Island caves | Shale outcrops everywhere inside the tunnel system |
| Mid | Mushroom Forest | Shale on the giant tree trunks and scattered seabed chunks |
| Mid | Jellyshroom Cave | Shale-heavy floors; the Degasi base sits right there |
| Late | Lost River (Bone Fields / Tree Cove / Junction) | Large deposits — the best drill spot in the game |
| Late | Mountains & Mountain Island | Large deposits + Shale |
Every one of these locations is confirmed by both the official wiki's biome list and the interactive map at subnauticamap.io.
What Lithium Is Used For
Lithium's real value is that it's consumed in bulk by the mid-game: the Cyclops costs 3 Plasteel Ingots = 6 lithium just for the hull, and that's before any depth modules. Full consumption list (from the official wiki recipe tables):
| Recipe | Lithium needed |
|---|---|
| Plasteel Ingot (Fabricator) | 2 (per ingot) |
| Prawn Suit Depth Module MK2 (Modification Station) | 2 |
| Prawn Suit Grappling Arm (Vehicle Upgrade Console) | 1 |
| Prawn Suit Drill Arm (Vehicle Upgrade Console) | 1 |
| Prawn Suit Jump Jet Upgrade | 1 |
| Cyclops Decoy Tube Upgrade | 2 |
| Hull Reinforcement | 1 |
| Large Room Glass Dome | 2 |
| Multipurpose Room Glass Dome | 1 |
| Ultra High Capacity Tank (Modification Station) | 4 |
| Ultra Glide Fins | 1 |
| Swim Charge Fins | 1 |
A typical endgame push (Cyclops + MK2/MK3 depth chain + Prawn MK2 + glass domes) burns 25–35 lithium. The mistake new players make is treating lithium like copper — it's not everywhere, and running out mid-build is the most common reason people ask where it is. When you reach the Lost River, drill every large deposit you see; that's the difference between a smooth late game and a scavenger hunt.
Lithium vs Other Ores — Quick Comparison
New players often confuse the outcrop economy, so here's the full picture (rates from the official wiki's Shale Outcrop page and the equivalent outcrop pages):
| Ore | Main source | Drop rate | Key uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium | Shale (31.5%), seabed, deposits | 31.5% | Plasteel, Prawn/Cyclops mods |
| Diamond | Shale (38.5%), seabed | 38.5% | Laser Cutter, Modification Station |
| Gold | Sandstone + Shale | Sandstone 25% / Shale 30% | Wiring kits, computer chips |
| Silver | Sandstone (37.5%) | 37.5% | Wiring Kit, computer chips |
| Lead | Sandstone (37.5%), deposits | 37.5% | Radiation Suit, Cyclops, reactor rods |
| Copper | Limestone (67%) | 67% | Wiring, batteries, everything |
| Nickel Ore | Lost River only | — | Cyclops/Prawn MK2 depth modules |
If you're hunting silver or lead, look for Sandstone Outcrops — common in the Grassy Plateaus, Kelp Forest, Bulb Zone and Sparse Reef. They drop Silver and Lead at 37.5% each. Shale never drops silver or lead. This is the #1 source of "where do I find silver" confusion, so check our Subnautica sparse reef guide for a sandstone-heavy route that also hands you lithium.
How to Farm Lithium Efficiently
- Early: swim the Deep Sparse Reef floor once — no tools required, just grab loose lithium. Two runs give you a Plasteel Ingot's worth.
- Mid: take a Seamoth to the Sea Treader's Path and shadow a Treader for the churned Shale; break everything and sort the lithium from the gold/diamonds at your base.
- Late: with the Prawn + Drill Arm, drop to the Lost River Bone Fields and drill every deposit. Bring a Cyclops or a Prawn docked near the Cove Tree so you don't haul 16-lithium chunks across the map — our Subnautica lost river guide has the safest routes down.
- If you're short one piece and impatient, the console command
item lithium 5exists — see the Subnautica console commands guide for the full cheat list (note: console use disables achievements on that save).
FAQ
Where can I find lithium in Subnautica?
Three ways: break Shale Outcrops (31.5% drop), grab loose seabed chunks (Deep Sparse Reef around Lifepod 19 is the best early spot), or drill large deposits in the Lost River, Mountains and Mountain Island caves with a Prawn Suit.
What is lithium used for in Subnautica?
Mostly Plasteel Ingots (2 lithium each), which the Cyclops, Prawn Suit and glass domes consume. It's also a component of Prawn Suit arms, Jump Jet, Cyclops Decoy Tube Upgrade, and the Ultra High Capacity Tank.
Do Shale Outcrops always drop lithium?
No — Shale drops Diamond 38.5%, Lithium 31.5% and Gold 30% of the time. Farming a large number of Shale outcrops is the only reliable way to collect lithium from them.
Where is the best place to farm lithium?
Late game: the Lost River Bone Fields and Tree Cove large deposits (8–16 per node). Early game: the Deep Sparse Reef loose seabed lithium. The Sea Treader's Path is the best Shale-based mid-game farm.
How do I find lead and silver in Subnautica?
From Sandstone Outcrops — Silver and Lead each drop at 37.5%. Sandstone is common in Grassy Plateaus, Kelp Forest, Bulb Zone and the Sparse Reef. Lead also appears as large deposits in the same regions.
Related Guides
- Subnautica Modification Station — Fragments, Recipe & Upgrades
- Subnautica Lost River — Entrances, Biomes and Resources
- Subnautica Sparse Reef — Biome Guide, Resources and Dangers
- Subnautica Cyclops Guide — Fragments, Upgrades and Pilot Tips
Last updated: August 13, 2026.
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