Unlock Answer
The Degraded Habitat Builder is a broken, scan-able version of the base-building tool found in ruined structures. Scanning two of them with the Scanner unlocks the Habitat Builder recipe. Each target contributes one scan toward the two required.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Target | Degraded Habitat Builder |
| Required tool | Scanner |
| Scans needed | 2 |
| Unlocks | Habitat Builder recipe |
Prerequisites
- Scanner — must be crafted before any scan works. Recipe: 2 Titanium, 2 Quartz, 1 Basic Battery.
- Two separate targets — each scan target can be used only once.
How to Identify
The Degraded Habitat Builder looks like a worn, non-functional version of the Habitat Builder — similar shape but visibly damaged. It appears on the Scanner’s HUD as a highlighted object when you are near ruined structures.
Scan Checklist
- Craft the Scanner
- Search ruined buildings, caves, and debris near the starting area
- Look for a highlighted object on the Scanner HUD
- Scan the first target
- Find a second target in a different location
- Scan the second target
- Check the Fabricator for the unlocked Habitat Builder recipe
Where to Search
The targets appear in the same early-game areas as other base-building debris:
- Ruined buildings along early routes — check rooms, corridors, and collapsed sections.
- Cave entrances near the starting zone — targets sometimes appear just inside.
- Larger ruined structures — these often contain multiple scan-friendly objects.
Any area with base-building debris or scattered structural parts is worth checking.
Common Blockers
- Only one scan done — the recipe stays locked after a single scan. Mark the first location and keep searching.
- Scanner not built — scanning requires the Scanner tool. Craft it at the Fabricator first.
- Already scanned the same target — each Degraded Habitat Builder is single-use. Look for a second target in a different spot.
- Recipe still hidden after two scans — check the Fabricator; the unlock enables the recipe, not a free Habitat Builder.
Next Action
Once both scans are complete, the Habitat Builder recipe becomes available. See the Habitat Builder Crafting page for material counts and the base-building guide.