Subnautica Below Zero Horseshoe Base Location & Essential Loot Guide
Finding the Elusive Horseshoe Base
You've probably circled the Lilypad Region countless times thinking, "It has to be here!"—only to leave empty-handed. After analyzing this gameplay footage, I can confirm the Horseshoe Base is tucked just beyond the main Lilypad biome where most players give up. The key is navigating past the large glowing coral formation ("The Big Glowy Thing") near the thermal vents. When you spot scattered crates and broken infrastructure, you're close. Unlike the easily spotted Omega Lab, this base blends into the cliffside with minimal lighting. Pro tip: Follow the path of broken ground lights—they form a breadcrumb trail directly to the entrance. Persistence pays off here; turning back prematurely means missing one of Below Zero's most rewarding discoveries.
Critical Loot Inside the Base
- Alien Teleportation Module Blueprint: Found in the central chamber. Pair this with the Tether Tool to enable instant travel between bases. Important note: Each teleport consumes an Ion Cube, so stockpile them first.
- Aromatherapy Lamp & Exterior Growbed: These decorative/base-building items are in the living quarters. Prioritize scanning them—they're rare and enhance base customization.
- Nuclear Reactor Fragments: Located near the damaged lab equipment. Scanning these lets you build high-output power systems later.
- 5 Essential PDAs: Including Sam Ayou's confession about destroying Omega Lab to stop Kharaa bacteria experiments. These reveal crucial backstory about her rebellion against Alterra.
Strategic Exploration Tips from Gameplay Analysis
Navigation Approach: Enter from the southeast thermal spire area rather than the main Lilypad caves. The video shows the players repeatedly missing the base because they hugged the coastline too closely. Instead, dive deeper (150m+) where the terrain opens into a canyon—the Horseshoe Base sits at its western edge. Use the Seatruck sonar upgrade to spot structural outlines through the murk.
Threat Management: This area houses aggressive Cryptosuchus. The footage demonstrates a clever evasion tactic: stick close to thermal vents. Their bubbles and noise mask your movements, letting you slip past undetected. Always keep a medkit ready—the base interior has minor radiation leaks near the reactor fragments.
Why This Base Matters for Progression
Beyond rare blueprints, the Horseshoe Base advances the main story. Sam's PDAs here confirm she synthesized the Kharaa antidote and hid it in pengling caves southeast of the Frozen Leviathan. This triggers the "What Are You" endgame questline. Moreover, the teleportation system enables rapid access to deep biomes like the Crystal Caves—a game-changer when collecting Kyanite for depth modules. Based on the players' experience, building the teleporter before exploring deeper zones saves hours of backtracking.
Advanced Base-Building Priorities
After discovering the Horseshoe Base, immediately:
- Craft the Depth Module MK3 using Nickel Ore from the Lilypads (required for >400m zones)
- Install Nuclear Reactors before Water Filters—they drain massive power as shown when their energy reserves plummeted after adding two filtration units
- Place Exterior Growbeds near thermal vents—the warm water accelerates plant growth 2x faster
Recommended Post-Discovery Route
Head southeast toward the Phi Robotics Center. The PDAs hint at Sam's hidden antidote cache in the pengwing nesting caves en route. This path efficiently chains multiple objectives: artifact collection, leviathan scans, and endgame prep. Ignore the deeper crystal areas until after upgrading your Seatruck—the video shows how easily players get disoriented without depth modules.
Key Takeaway: The Horseshoe Base isn't just loot—it's the narrative and mechanical pivot point into Below Zero's endgame. Its teleporters and reactor tech enable sustainable deep-biome operations while Sam's logs reveal why the Frozen Leviathan matters.
Player's Checklist for Success
- Stock 5+ oxygen tanks before entering the Lilypad canyons
- Scan all alien tech before looting resources (prevents accidental backtracking)
- Build the teleporter module immediately after returning to base
- Re-read Sam's PDAs in your databank—they update quest objectives
- Place beacons at both ends of teleporter routes
What surprised you most about the Horseshoe Base? Was it Sam's sabotage or the teleportation tech? Share your discovery story below!
