Subnautica Nickel Ore — Where to Find It and What It's Used For

Nickel Ore in Subnautica is found exclusively in the Lost River (with a small amount in the Inactive Lava Zone beyond it) — there is no shallow source. You'll need it mid-game for the Prawn Suit Depth Module MK1, Cyclops Depth Module MK2, the Orange Tablet and the Neptune rocket's Ion Boosters, so every player hits the same wall: get to the Lost River, or stay shallow. This guide covers the four Lost River entrances, where the ore sits once you're inside, the large deposit yields, and every recipe that consumes it.

Here's what you'll learn:

• The exact biomes where Nickel Ore spawns (and where it never does)
• The four Lost River entrances, ranked by safety
• Loose nodes vs large deposits, and the Prawn drill route
• Every recipe that needs Nickel Ore, with quantities
• How Lithium farming fits the same deep trip

Official resources: Steam store page · Official Subnautica Wiki — Nickel Ore · Official Subnautica Wiki — Lost River · IGN Subnautica page

What Is Nickel Ore in Subnautica?

Nickel Ore (Ni) is a raw material whose databank entry describes it as "a medium-hard, ductile metal used extensively in production of strong metal alloys" — and that's exactly what the game uses it for: it's the alloy ingredient behind the deepest vehicle upgrades. There is no Nickel Ore in the Safe Shallows, Kelp Forest, Grassy Plateaus or any shallow biome — the official wiki lists only the Lost River and parts of the Inactive Lava Zone.

Per the official Subnautica Wiki — Nickel Ore: "Nickel Ore is a raw material that is found exclusively in the Lost River and some parts of the Inactive Lava Zone. It can be found as a Large Resource Deposit and as loose chunks of ore on the seabed."

Where to Find Nickel Ore

Inside the Lost River, Nickel Ore appears in every sub-biome — the Bone Fields, Ghost Canyon, Ghost Forest, Tree Cove and Junction — both as loose chunks on the seabed and as Large Nickel Deposits that yield 8–16 ore when drilled. In the Inactive Lava Zone it appears again, which conveniently places it right where the next tier of depth upgrades are needed.

How to Get to the Lost River

The Lost River has four entrances, and which one you take depends on your vehicle and nerve:

1. Blood Kelp Trench (northwest) — the community's recommended first route. The trench starts shallow, and the corridor into the Bone Fields is gentle. Watch for Crabsquid in the Lost River Corridor.
2. Northern Blood Kelp Zone (northeast) — leads into the Ghost Forest; slightly deeper approach, fewer creatures in the entrance itself.
3. Deep Grand Reef (south) — leads into the Ghost Canyon. Crabsquid territory; bring a Perimeter Defense System on the Seamoth.
4. Mountains / Bulb Zone border (east) — the steepest entrance; Reaper Leviathans patrol the Mountains side. Fast if you know the route, brutal if you don't.

What Is Nickel Ore Used For?

Verified recipes (official wiki crafting tables):

The pattern is the point: Nickel Ore gates every deep-vehicle upgrade, and the deep vehicle upgrades are what let you reach the lava zones for Kyanite and the story's endgame. If you're stuck because your Prawn can't dive past 900 m, the missing ingredient is almost certainly Nickel Ore.

Lithium Farming on the Same Trip

While you're in the Lost River, stock up on Lithium too — the two are found in the same zones and feed the same recipes. Lithium appears in single form and in Shale Outcrops across the Lost River (plus the Deep Sparse Reef, Mountains and Mountain Island caves), and its large deposits are "especially plentiful in the Lost River, Mountains and Mountain Island caves" per the official wiki. Its main use is Plasteel Ingots (1 Titanium Ingot + 2 Lithium), which the Nickel recipes above all demand — so a deep trip should collect Nickel, Lithium and Ruby together, then return and craft the whole upgrade tier at once. Ruby's locations and the Aerogel recipes that also need it are in our Aerogel guide.

Farming Tips

• Bring the Prawn Suit. Loose chunks are everywhere, but the large deposits (8–16 ore each) make the trip pay three times over. A Prawn with the Drill Arm in the Bone Fields clears 40+ Nickel in one outing.
• Deploy the Scanner Room at the Tree Cove if you're building a deep forward base — it scans Nickel Ore, Ruby, Lithium and Magnetite in one panel, and the HUD Chip puts every node on screen. Scanner Room details are in our Multipurpose Room guide.
• Depth math: the Lost River floor dips below 700 m in places. The Seamoth (max 900 m with MK3) can reach most of it, but the Prawn Suit with MK1 is the comfortable choice, and the Cyclops with MK2 handles the whole river.
• Don't skip the Ghost Canyon loot — the wreck there holds databoxes for modules you'll want anyway, and Nickel Ore lines the route.

FAQ

Where do I find Nickel Ore in Subnautica?

Only in the Lost River (Bone Fields, Ghost Forest, Ghost Canyon, Tree Cove, Junction) and parts of the Inactive Lava Zone. There are no shallow spawns — reach the Lost River through one of its four entrances (Blood Kelp Trench is easiest).

What is Nickel Ore used for in Subnautica?

Prawn Suit Depth Module MK1 (3), Cyclops Depth Module MK2 (3), the Orange Tablet (2), Neptune Ion Boosters (3) and the Prawn Jump Jet Upgrade. It's the gate material for all deep-vehicle upgrades.

How do I get to the Lost River?

Four entrances: Blood Kelp Trench (northwest, easiest), Northern Blood Kelp Zone (northeast), Deep Grand Reef (south) and the Mountains/Bulb Zone border (east). You need at least a Seamoth with a depth module; the corridor floors run around 500 m.

Where is Lithium found in Subnautica?

Loose items and Shale Outcrops in the Lost River, Deep Sparse Reef, Mountains and Mountain Island caves, with large deposits most plentiful in the Lost River, Mountains and Mountain Island. Its main use is Plasteel Ingots (1 Titanium Ingot + 2 Lithium).

Do I need the Cyclops to reach Nickel Ore?

No — a Seamoth with the Depth Module MK1 (500 m) or MK2 (900 m) reaches most of the Lost River. The Prawn Suit with the Drill Arm is the best farming vehicle, and the Cyclops makes the trip comfortable, but it's not required.

Related Guides

• Subnautica Aerogel — Recipe and Where to Get Ruby & Gel Sacks
• Subnautica Magnetite — Where to Find It
• Subnautica Cyclops Guide — Fragments, Build, Upgrades
• Subnautica Walkthrough — Full Story Progression

Last updated: August 13, 2026.